The Soviet Union

 

 

General Officer

Rank Insignia, Uniforms and Personality Items

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marshal of the Soviet Union Semyon Timoshenko

 

All of the insignia and uniforms on this page were generously shared by a private collector in the United States.

 

Soviet Army Shoulderboard Insignia of WW2

 

 

Major General

Single silver embroidered star on gold brocade backing, red underlay. 

 

 

Lieutenant General

Two silver embroidered stars on a gold brocade with red underlay (artillery device affixed at top).

 

Colonel General

Three silver embroidered stars on a gold brocade with pink underlay for Infantry.

 

 

General of the Army

Four silver embroidered stars on a gold brocade.  This specimen is an un-finished brocade fabric that has not yet been applied to a board. 

 

Marshal of the Soviet Union

This is a first pattern shoulderboard for the rank of MSU.  This initial design consisted of a single large, silver embroidered star on gold brocade over a red underlay.  This was instituted in January of 1943 and gradually phased out throughout the remainder of 1943.

 

 

Marshal of the Soviet Union

This is the second pattern shoulderboard for the rank of MSU, effective as of April 1943.  The single large, silver embroidered star was now positioned at the bottom of the board.  Centered between the star and the button is the seal of the Soviet Union.  Backing is a gold brocade over a red underlay.  The red bars on the wreath of the seal are indicative of the different republics of the Soviet Union (ie; Belarus, etc.).  During WW2 there were eleven republics, signified by eleven red bars (five at each side and one at the bottom center).  Post war Marshal boards have more bars to indicate the new, additional republics that were added.

 

Marshal of the Soviet Union

Camoflauge colored backing variant for the field uniform of a Marshal of the Soviet Union.

 

Supreme Marshal of the Air Force

A single large, silver embroidered star at the base of the board surrounded by a silver wreath.  Centered between the wreath/star and buton is a silver embroidered bird.  Backing is gold brocade over a blue underlay.

 

Supreme Marshal of Armor

A single large, silver embroidered star at the base of the board surrounded by a silver wreath.  Centered between the wreath/star and buton is a silver embroidered tank.  Backing is gold brocade over a red underlay.

 

 

 

 

Soviet Navy Shoulderboard Insignia of WW2

 

Rear Admiral

One gold embroidered naval admiral star on gold brocade backing, dark blue underlay.

 

 

Vice Admiral

Two gold embroidered naval admiral stars on gold brocade backing, dark blue underlay.

 

Admiral of the Fleet

Four gold embroidered Naval pattern stars on a gold brocade with dark blue underlay.  This was the highest Naval rank attainable until 1944.

 

 

Admiral of the Fleet of The Soviet Union

First pattern shoulderboard for an Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union, resembling the first pattern Marshal of the Soviet Union shoulderboards in that it features a large, single rank star though in the Naval design.

 

 

Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union

Similar in design to the Army style Marshal board, this 2nd pattern version features a single large, gold embroidered star in the Naval pattern featuring black bars and a black anchor on a red pentagon.  The Soviet seal is similar to the army version.  Backing is a gold brocade over a dark blue underlay.  This rank was instituted in 1944 when Stalin appointed Kuznetov from Admiral of the Fleet to Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union.  On an interesting note, Kuznetov had examined the globe on the Soviet Seal of army Marshal boards and noticed there were no continents.  He asked that there be continents included on the globes on Naval boards and was granted his wish.  Thus you will always find continents present in the seal on original examples of this rank.

 

 

 

Soviet Uniforms and Personality Items of WW2

 

Personal Uniform of Josef Stalin as Generalissimo of the Soviet Union

This complete uniform and visor were obtained from one of Stalin’s personal bodyguards. (private collection)

 

 

 

 

NKVD Commisar of State Security Yezhov

Nikolai Yezhov’s personal uniforms, sidearms and effects.  Yezhov initiated the beginning of the Great Purge in which suspected enemies of the soviet state were executed.  Yezhov himself was executed in 1940 along with many others within the NKVD as loyalists to his successor, Beria, were instead put into power. (private collection)

 

 

NKVD Commisar of State Security Beria

Laventry Beria’s uniform.  In November of 1938 Beria replaced Yezhov as head of the NKVD and was part of the Great Purge in which an estimated ten million soviet citizens were executed under his and Yezhov’s direction. (private collection)

 

 

Marshal of the Soviet Union Budenny

Marshal Semyon Budenny’s model 1940 parade dress uniform.  This powder blue uniform is thought to have influenced Hermann Goring’s choice of color when designing his Reichsmarschall uniform.  (private collection)

 

 

 

 

Marshal of the Soviet Union Shaposnikov

Light gray service uniform of Boris Shaposnikov, Chief of Staff of the Army.  Also pictured is an array of his other personal uniforms.  Uniform color often varied with high ranking officers as it tended towards their specific preference.  This is a color that would not normally be available to other officers, but as Marshal of the Soviet Union Shaposnikov was able to exercise his personal preference. The uniforms all exhibit early style 1940 MSU insignia, which consisted solely of collar tab rank insignia with no shoulderboards utilized to show rank.  (private collection)

 

 

 

 

Marshal of the Soviet Union Timoshenko

Semyon Timoshenko’s model 1945 Victory Parade dress uniform.  This is the same uniform that is pictured in wear by Timoshenko at the top of this page. (private collection)

 

 

 

Marshal of the Soviet Union Timoshenko

Semyon Timoshenko’s field tunic with 1940-1943 Marshal of the Soviet Union collar insignia indicating rank. (private collection)

 

 

 

Marshal of the Soviet Union Voroshilov

Uniform of Klim Voroshilov, Commander of the Army from 1926 – 1940.  He did so poorly commanding the Soviet army in Finland that Stalin removed him from command.  He was personally responsible for hundreds of thousands of casualties due to his mismanagement and lack of ability for basic military strategy.  The uniform shown is a model 1935. (private collection)

 

 

 

Marshal of the Soviet Union Voroshilov

Kalim Voroshilov ‘s Model 1935 White Summer Dress uniform and visor. (private collection)

 

 

Marshal of the Soviet Union Zhukov

Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov’s uniform tunic and visor from when he held the rank of General of the Army, indicated by the five star collar insignia utilized from 1940-1943. (private collection)

 

 

 

 

 

Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetov

1944 First pattern for Parade Dress Uniform and Dress Visor belonging to Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetov. (private collection)

 

 

 

Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetov, 1st pattern & 2nd pattern

Two more uniforms belonging to Kuznetov.  The tunic on the left utilizes the first pattern insignia for Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union incorporating a single, large star on the shoulderboards.  The uniform on the right exhibits the 2nd pattern shoulderboards.  Standard admiral visors complete these uniforms and were worn as regular service visors.  (private collection)

 

 

 

Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Kuznetov, White Dress Visor Cap

A white topped version of Kuznetov’s Parade Dress visor cap. (private collection)

 

 

Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Ivan Isakov

Parade Dress Uniform and Dress Visor belonging to Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Isakov. (private collection)