Not a trace remains of the military potential of the former Soviet republics.

At the end of February, the commander of the Airborne Forces, General Vladimir Shamanov, said that the Russian Airborne Forces could be sent to perform combat missions as a rapid reaction force outside of Russia, for example, to countries participating in the Collective Security Treaty. "Our Version" sorted out what military forces remained in the former Soviet republics: whom Russia would have to protect, and who to look at through the scope.

More than 20 years ago, in December 1991, Armed forces The USSR numbering 4210 thousand people were fragmented and turned into 15 independent armies. Some managed to succeed more in development, others never became full-fledged armies. Meanwhile, all these armed formations are somewhat similar and have common features with the Russian army.

The most powerful ally is Belarus, the weakest is Kyrgyzstan

As the head of the scientific and analytical center for the problems of national security Anatoly Tsyganok, the Arms of Russia news agency, the main allies of Russia are the armies of the countries participating in the Collective Security Treaty - these are Belarus, Kazakhstan and Armenia, in addition, the CSTO includes Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.

Belarus is the most combat-ready ally of Russia. And it is no coincidence: at the time of the collapse Soviet Union the concentration of military formations and units on its territory was the highest in Europe. In addition, a huge number of warehouses with military equipment and various military equipment. On the territory of the country there were nuclear weapon which it was decided to abandon.

For two decades, the size of the Belarusian army has decreased from 280 to 62 thousand people. The number of armored vehicles has decreased by 1.5-2 times and amounts to more than 4 thousand tanks and armored personnel carriers, but the number of planes, helicopters and modern air defense systems among zealous Belarusians is growing. More than 300 aircraft are in service.

The army of Kazakhstan was created on the basis of military facilities and formations of the Central Asian and partly Turkestan military districts. From the armament of the republic got Combat vehicles 70s, bred from Eastern Europe. Also, the Strategic Missile Forces and strategic aviation were deployed on the territory of the republic, in exchange for their transfer to Russia, Kazakhstan received conventional weapons. Today, the Air Force has more than a hundred combat aircraft. The land component is 1 thousand tanks, 2.5 thousand infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers, more than 800 various artillery systems and guns. The Kazakh fleet has 9 patrol boats.

The army of Kazakhstan is constantly decreasing, today the number of personnel is about 65 thousand people. There are no problems with the recruitment of troops in Kazakhstan, here they managed to do what they talk about a lot in Russia: a career in state institutions is closed to those who have not served.

The basis for the national army of Armenia was the units and military equipment of the 7th army of the former Transcaucasian military district. This is the only army in the post-Soviet space, the number of which has grown, and almost tripled. Most experts rate it as the most combat-ready in the Transcaucasus. Personnel - 60 thousand people, a hundred tanks, 200 armored personnel carriers, more than 200 artillery systems, about 50 combat aircraft and attack helicopters. Since 2004, Russia has been supplying weapons to Armenia at a relatively low prices as a member of the CSTO. In 2005, Armenia managed to get $7 million to re-equip the army from the United States as well.

Tajikistan inherited a minimum of weapons from the Soviet army, so there is a catastrophic lack of equipment in the troops. Although officially the army of Tajikistan consists of four brigades, an anti-aircraft missile and a helicopter regiment, but, in fact, several battalions are combat-ready. A big problem with officers, half of the posts are vacant, most of the current officers do not have higher education.

Kyrgyzstan is also a rather weak ally. According to experts, the army in this country, by and large, does not exist, its weapons were sold and plundered. During the Tulip Revolution, the military did not influence the situation. The personnel of the military is about 8 thousand people, but about 500-600 people really know how to fight, the so-called consolidated units, which are formed exclusively from officers. And this is despite the active work of American instructors in the country.

The army of Moldova is under the control of the Romanian special services

After the collapse of the USSR, Ukraine inherited a powerful modern army - three very strong military districts, three air armies, and even nuclear forces. Initially, the total strength of the Ukrainian army was about 800 thousand people, while the troops were fully equipped with the most modern military equipment. At one time, Ukraine ranked fourth in the world in terms of military potential, it was said that if a war broke out between Russia and Ukraine, it was still unknown who would win. However, in 20 years this powerful force was squandered. Military equipment was stolen, rotted or sold. The total sale of the army brought Ukraine into the group of the world's leading arms exporters. About 6 thousand tanks and 1 thousand combat aircraft remained in service.

The basis of the armed forces of Uzbekistan was the Turkestan military district. The country's army employs 65 thousand people, and it is estimated as the most combat-ready in Central Asia. The armament is Soviet, from the early 80s, its stocks are large, only there are more than 2 thousand tanks in storage, however, far from all the equipment is in good order. But there are agreements on the supply of modern artillery systems, transport and combat helicopters, air defense systems and ammunition from Russia. There are no problems with staffing, it is prestigious to serve in the army, there are benefits, service is a social lift.

Parts of the former Turkestan military district became the basis of the Turkmen army. Today 34 thousand people serve. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, a large amount of military equipment remained on the territory of Turkmenistan, which belonged to the units withdrawn from Afghanistan. More than fifty tanks are in service, 300 various kinds aircraft. But, even despite this potential, experts are skeptical about the combat capability of the Turkmen troops. The issue of military personnel is acute in the republic, Russian military specialists left the country back in the 90s, locals do not master military affairs well. There is a shortage of officers in the troops, even at parades the planes are piloted by invited pilots from Ukraine.

The army of Azerbaijan was formed from parts of the former Transcaucasian military district and part of the Caspian flotilla. At present, its number is estimated at about 70 thousand people. With the help of foreign specialists, NATO standards are being introduced. At the same time, the military department of the state is buying up military equipment and weapons from Ukraine. Efforts are being made to establish their own military-industrial complex, small arms, mortars and even armored vehicles are already being produced. The main problem of the Azerbaijani army is total corruption.

The 6,000-strong army of Moldova is in a deplorable state. Equipment and weapons are almost completely out of order. The exodus of officers due to low salaries further exacerbates the disaster. NATO has repeatedly initiated various options for "military reforms", but attempts have only further reduced the defense capability. At the same time, the army is practically under the control of the Romanian special services.

The Latvian Air Force consists of "maize"

The armies of all the former Baltic republics are members of NATO, in fact, they are potential adversaries for Russia, but there is no need to fear them - the number of these armies is quite small and, like everyone else, there are problems with funding.

Lithuania is the most militarized Baltic republic, with 10,000 military personnel guarding the interests of the republic, of which almost 11% are women. The Lithuanian army is armed with weapons and equipment of American and Western European production, but there are still samples of Soviet production. There is even a fleet - two small anti-submarine ships and four patrol boats. The issue of purchasing combat helicopters is being decided.

The Estonian Defense Army is more than 5 thousand people, who are consolidated into eight battalions and an artillery division. The fleet is a faulty corvette, two boats and four boat minesweepers. There are a hundred guns in service, but the trouble is with armored vehicles, during the exercises they periodically rent a tank from their Latvian neighbors.

In Latvia, the army, equal in number to the Estonian, consists of an infantry battalion, an artillery battalion and three training centers. There are three T-55 training tanks in service, the main striking force of the Air Force is the An-2 "maize", the Navy consists of patrol boats, minesweepers, boats - mine hunters and self-propelled barges, in the near future, local shipbuilders promise to build their own warships

The army of Georgia is the only one with whom Russia had to fight today, its strength was clearly shown by the results of the eight-day war in 2008. The armed forces of the republic were created on the basis of the Soviet units of the Transcaucasian Military District. Now the number of armed forces of Georgia is 37 thousand people. Until 2003, the Georgian army was armed with obsolete Soviet equipment, but after the Rose Revolution, its modernization began. NATO countries supplied weapons to this republic free of charge, thus the country's military budget in 2007 increased 50 times and reached a maximum of $780 million. Georgians are trying to be trained by foreign instructors. After the war with Russia, almost a third of this formidable army was destroyed and put out of action. Now Georgia is actively restoring its military potential.

Article 31

In order to protect the socialist gains, the peaceful labor of the Soviet people, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the state, the Armed Forces of the USSR were created and universal military duty was established.

Article 32 Chapter 5

Responsibilities of government agencies public organizations, officials and citizens to ensure the security of the country and strengthen its defense capability are determined by the legislation of the USSR.

Management

The highest state leadership in the field of defense of the country, on the basis of laws, was carried out by the highest bodies of state power and administration of the USSR, guided by the policy Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU), directing the work of the entire state apparatus in such a way that, when solving any issues of governing the country, the interests of strengthening its defense capability are necessarily taken into account: - The Defense Council of the USSR (Council of Workers' and Peasants' Defense of the RSFSR), the Supreme Soviet of the USSR (Article (Art.) 73 and 108 of the Constitution of the USSR), the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR (Article 121 of the Constitution of the USSR), the Council of Ministers of the USSR (Council of People's Commissars of the RSFSR) (Article 131 of the Constitution of the USSR).

The USSR Defense Council coordinated the activities of the bodies of the Soviet state in the field of strengthening defense, approving the main directions for the development of the USSR Armed Forces. The USSR Defense Council was headed by the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU, Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.

Supreme Commanders.

• - - Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin, Generalissimo of the Soviet Union,
• - - Mikhail Sergeevich Gorbachev, Colonel.

Military command and control bodies (OVU)

The direct management of the construction of the USSR Armed Forces, their life and combat activities was carried out by the OVU.

The OVU system included:

The governing bodies of the SA and the Navy, united by the USSR Ministry of Defense (MO) of the USSR (People's Commissariat of Defense, Ministry of the Armed Forces, War Department), headed by the Minister of Defense of the USSR (Head of the Military Department of the USSR) (Article of the Constitution of the USSR); - control bodies of the border troops, subordinate to the State Security Committee (KGB) of the USSR, headed by the Chairman of the KGB of the USSR, (Article of the Constitution of the USSR); - control bodies of internal troops subordinate to the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) of the USSR, headed by the Minister of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the USSR, (Article of the Constitution of the USSR).

According to the nature of the tasks performed and the scope of competence in the system of educational institutions, the following differed:

1. Central OVU.
2. Bodies of military control of military districts (VO) (groups of troops), fleets.
3. Bodies of military command and control of military formations and units.
4. local military authorities.
5. Chiefs of garrisons (senior naval commanders) and military commandants.

Story

• Workers 'and Peasants' Red Army (RKKA) (from January 15 (28) - to February)
• Workers 'and Peasants' Red Fleet (RKKF) (from January 29 (11) February - to February)
• Workers 'and Peasants' Red Air Fleet (RKKVF)
• Border Troops (Border Guard, Border Service, BOHR)
• Internal Troops (Troops of the Internal Guard of the Republic (VOKhR Troops) and the State Escort Guard)
• Soviet Army, (from February 25 to the beginning of the year), the official name of the main part of the USSR Armed Forces. It included the Strategic Missile Forces, SV, Air Defense Forces, Air Force and other formations, except for the Navy, Border Troops of the KGB of the USSR, Internal Troops of the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs.

population

Structure

The armed forces consisted of types, and also included the rear of the USSR Armed Forces, the headquarters and troops of the Civil Defense (GO) of the USSR, the internal troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) of the USSR, the border troops of the State Security Committee (KGB) of the USSR. Page 158.

Kinds

Strategic Rocket Forces (RVSN) of the USSR Armed Forces, (1960)

Rocket (RT-23 UTTH "Molodets") as part of the railway missile system

Type of the USSR Armed Forces - the main strike force of the Armed Forces, which was in constant combat readiness.

• Missile armies, missile corps, missile divisions (Headquarters in the cities (city) Vinnitsa, Smolensk, Vladimir, Kirov (Kirov Oblast), Omsk, Chita, Blagoveshchensk, Khabarovsk, Orenburg, Tatishchevo, Novomoskovsk, Nikolaev, Lvov, Uzhgorod, Dzhambul)
• State Central Interspecific Range
• 10th Test Site (in the Kazakh SSR)
• 4th Central Research Institute (Yubileiny, Moscow Region, RSFSR)
• educational establishments (Military Academy in Moscow, military schools in Serpukhov, Rostov-on-Don, Stavropol)
• arsenals and central repair plants, storage bases for weapons and military equipment

In addition, there were units and institutions of special troops and rear in the Strategic Missile Forces. Headquarters city of Vlasikha.

• - - M. I. Nedelin, Chief Marshal of Artillery
• - - K. S. Moskalenko, Marshal of the Soviet Union
• - - S. S. Biryuzov, Marshal of the Soviet Union
• - - N. I. Krylov, Marshal of the Soviet Union
• - - V. F. Tolubko, General of the Army, since 1983 Chief Marshal of Artillery
• - - Yu. P. Maksimov, General of the Army

Ground Forces (SV) of the USSR Armed Forces, (1946)

In the design of ceremonial events, on posters, in drawings on postal envelopes and postcards, the image of a conditional decorative "flag of the Ground Forces" was used in the form of a red rectangular panel with a large red five-pointed star in the center, with a gold (yellow) border. This "flag" was never approved and was not made of fabric.

Commanders-in-Chief who were Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR (years)

• - - G.K. Zhukov, Marshal of the Soviet Union
• - - I. S. Konev, Marshal of the Soviet Union
• - - I. S. Konev, Marshal of the Soviet Union
• - - R. Ya. Malinovsky, Marshal of the Soviet Union
• - - A. A. Grechko, Marshal of the Soviet Union
• - - V. I. Chuikov, Marshal of the Soviet Union
• - - I. G. Pavlovsky, army general
• - - V. I. Petrov, Marshal of the Soviet Union
• - - E. F. Ivanovsky, army general
• - - V. I. Varennikov, General of the Army
• - - V. M. Semenov, army general

The NE of the USSR was divided according to the territorial principle into military districts (groups of troops), military garrisons:

• Moscow Military District (OLMVO)
• Leningrad Military District (LenVO)
• Baltic Military District (PribVO)
• Carpathian Military District (PrikVO)
• Odessa Military District (KOdVO)
• North Caucasian Military District (KSKVO)
• Transcaucasian Military District (ZakVO)
• Volga Military District (PriVO)
• Central Asian Military District (SAVO)
• Turkestan Military District (TurkVO)
• Ural Military District (UrVO)
• Siberian Military District (SibVO)
• Trans-Baikal Military District (ZabVO)
• Far Eastern Military District (KDVO)
• (GSVG), later - Western Group of Forces (ZGV)

Air Defense Forces (Air Defense) of the USSR Armed Forces, (g.).

They included:

• Troops of rocket and space defense;
• Radiotechnical Air Defense Troops, city;
• Fighter aviation (air defense aviation);
• Air Defense Electronic Warfare Troops.
• Special Troops.

In addition, there were rear units and institutions in the Air Defense Forces.

Air Defense Forces were divided according to the territorial principle into air defense districts (groups of troops):

• Air defense district (group of forces) - associations of air defense forces designed to protect the most important administrative, industrial centers and regions of the country, groupings of the Armed Forces, important military and other facilities within the established boundaries. In the Armed Forces, the air defense districts were created after the Great Patriotic War on the basis of the air defense of the fronts and the military. In the city, the air defense districts were reorganized into air defense areas, and in the city they were recreated.

• Moscow Air Defense District - was intended to cover the most important administrative and economic objects of the Northern, Central, Central Black Earth and Volga-Vyatka economic regions of the USSR from enemy air attacks. In November, the Moscow Air Defense Zone was formed, which was transformed in the city into the Moscow Special Air Defense Army, deployed in the Air Defense of the Moscow Military District. After the war, the Moscow Air Defense District was created on its basis, then the Air Defense District. In August, the Moscow Air Defense District was transformed into the Moscow Air Defense District. In the city, after the liquidation of the Baku Air Defense District, it became the only association of this type in the USSR.

• Baku Air Defense District.

The USSR air defense was headed by the commander-in-chief, who was the deputy minister of defense of the USSR. He was subordinated to the General Staff and Air Defense Directorates of the USSR.

Commanders-in-Chief who were Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR

• -1952 - L. A. Govorov, Marshal of the Soviet Union
• -1954 - K. A. Vershinin, Colonel General
• -1955 - L. A. Govorov, Marshal of the Soviet Union
• -1962 - S. S. Biryuzov, Marshal of the Soviet Union
• -1966 - V. A. Sudets, Air Marshal
• -1978 - P. F. Batitsky, army general, since 1968 Marshal of the Soviet Union
• -1987 - A. I. Koldunov, Colonel General, since 1984 Chief Air Marshal
• - - I. M. Tretyak, army general

Air Force (VVS) USSR Armed Forces, (1946)

The Air Force organizationally consisted of aviation branches: bomber, fighter-bomber, fighter, reconnaissance, communications and sanitary. At the same time, the Air Force was divided into types of aviation: front-line, long-range, military transport, and auxiliary. They had in their composition special troops (special purpose (special forces)), units and institutions of the rear.

The USSR Air Force was headed by the commander-in-chief (Head, Head of the Main Directorate, Commander) who was the Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR. He was subordinated to the Main Headquarters and Directorates of the USSR Air Force

Headquarters city of Moscow.

Commanders-in-Chief who were Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR

• - - A. V. Sergeev, Commissioner
• - - A. A. Znamensky,
• - - Ya. I. Alksnis, Commander of the 2nd rank ();
• - - A. D. Loktionov, Colonel General;
• - - Ya. V. Smushkevich, Commander of the 2nd rank, from the city of lieutenant general of aviation;
• - - P. V. Rychagov, lieutenant general of aviation;
• - - P. F. Zhigarev, lieutenant general of aviation;
• - - A. A. Novikov
• - - K. A. Vershinin, Air Marshal;
• - - P. F. Zhigarev, Marshal of Aviation, from the city - Chief Marshal of Aviation;
• - - K. A. Vershinin, Chief Marshal of Aviation;
• - - P. S. Kutakhov, Marshal of Aviation, from the city - Chief Marshal of Aviation;
• - - A. N. Efimov, Air Marshal;
• - - E. I. Shaposhnikov, Air Marshal;

Navy of the USSR Armed Forces.

The flag of the Soviet Navy, a rectangular white panel with an aspect ratio of 2:3, with a narrow blue stripe along the bottom edge; a red star was depicted above the blue stripe on the left side of the flag, and a red hammer and sickle on the right side. The flag was adopted on May 27, 1935 by the decision of the Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR No. 1982/341 "On naval flags Union of the SSR".

The Navy of the USSR organizationally consisted of branches of forces: underwater, surface, naval aviation, coastal missile and artillery troops and marines. It also included ships and vessels of the auxiliary fleet, special forces (special forces) and various services. The main branches of forces were submarine forces and naval aviation. In addition, there were rear units and institutions in the Navy.

IN organizational The Soviet Navy included:

• Red Banner Northern Fleet (1937) (KSF), Northern Fleet;
• Red Banner Pacific Fleet (1935) (KToF), Pacific Fleet;
• red banner Black Sea Fleet(KChF), Black Sea Fleet;
• Twice Red Banner Baltic Fleet (Dv.KBF), Baltic Fleet;
• Red Banner Caspian Flotilla (KKFl), Caspian Flotilla;
• Red Banner Leningrad Naval Base (VMB) (Len VMB);

The USSR Navy was headed by the commander-in-chief (commander, head of the Naval Forces of the Republic, people's commissar, minister), who was the deputy minister of defense of the USSR. He was subordinated to the General Staff and Directorates of the USSR Navy.

The main headquarters of the Navy - Moscow.

The commanders-in-chief, who were the Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR.

• - - V. M. Altvater, Rear Admiral of the Russian Imperial Navy,
• - - V. M. Orlov, from the city of Flagship of the fleet of the 1st rank;
• - - M. V. Viktorov, Flagship of the fleet of the 1st rank;
• - - P. A. Smirnov, Army Commissar of the 1st rank;
• - - MP Frinovsky, Commander of the 1st rank;
• - - N. G. Kuznetsov, Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union;
• - - I. S. Yumashev, Admiral;
• - - N. G. Kuznetsov
• - - S. G. Gorshkov, Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union;
• - - V. N. Chernavin, Admiral of the Fleet;

Rear of the USSR Armed Forces

Forces and means intended for logistic support and technical support services for the troops (forces) of the Armed Forces. They were an integral part of the defense potential of the state and a link between the country's economy and the Armed Forces directly. It included the headquarters of the rear, the main and central departments, services, as well as government bodies, troops and organizations of central subordination, rear structures of the types and branches of the Armed Forces, military districts (groups of troops) and fleets, associations, formations and military units.

• Main military medical department. (GVMU MO USSR) ((1946) (Main Military Sanitary Directorate)
• General Department of Trade. (GUT MO USSR) (1956 glavvoentorg of the Ministry of Trade of the USSR)
• Central Administration of Military Communications. (TsUP VOSO MO USSR) (incl. 1962 to 1992, GU VOSO (1950))
• Central Food Administration. (CPU MO USSR)
• Central ware management. (TsVU MO USSR) (1979) (Department of clothing and household supply, Department of clothing and convoy supply)
• Central Administration of Rocket Fuel and Fuel. (TsURTG USSR Ministry of Defense) (Fuel Supply Service (1979), Fuel and Lubricants Service, Fuel Service Directorate)
• Central Road Administration (CDU of the USSR Ministry of Defense). (Automobile and road department of Logistics of the Kyrgyz Republic (1941), Department of motor transport and road service of the General Staff (1938), Department of motor transport and road service of VOSO)
• Department of Agriculture.
• Office of the Chief of Ecological Security of the USSR Armed Forces.
• Fire, rescue and local defense service of the USSR Armed Forces.
• Railway troops of the USSR Armed Forces.

The logistics of the Armed Forces in the interests of the Armed Forces solved a whole range of tasks, the main of which were: receiving from the economic complex of the state a supply of material resources and rear equipment, storing and providing troops (forces) with them; planning and organization, together with transport ministries and departments, of preparation, operation, technical cover, restoration of communications and Vehicle; transportation of all types of material resources; implementation of operational, supply and other types of military transportation, provision of basing of the Air Force and Navy; technical support of troops (forces) for rear services; organizing and carrying out medical and evacuation, sanitary and anti-epidemic (preventive) measures, medical protection of personnel from weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and adverse environmental factors, carrying out veterinary and sanitary measures and measures of rear services for the chemical protection of troops (forces); control over the organization and condition of fire protection and local defense of troops (forces), assessment environmental situation in the places of deployment of troops (forces), forecasting its development and monitoring the implementation of measures to protect personnel from environmentally harmful effects of natural and man-made nature; commercial and household, apartment-operational and financial support; protection and defense of communications and rear facilities in the rear zones, organization of camps (reception points) for prisoners of war (hostages), their registration and support; providing work on exhumation, identification, burial and reburial of servicemen.

To solve these problems, the Logistics of the Armed Forces included special troops (special forces) (automobile, railway, road, pipeline), formations and parts of material support, medical formations, units and institutions, stationary bases and warehouses with appropriate stocks of materiel, transport commandant's offices, veterinary and sanitary, repair, agricultural, commercial, educational (academy, colleges, faculties and military departments at civil universities) and other institutions.

Headquarters city of Moscow.

Chiefs

• - - A. V. Khrulev, army general;
• - - V. I. Vinogradov, Colonel General ();
• - - I. Kh. Bagramyan, Marshal of the Soviet Union;
• - - S. S. Maryakhin, army general;
• - - S. K. Kurkotkin, Marshal of the Soviet Union;
• - - V. M. Arkhipov, army general;
• - - I. V. Fuzhenko, Colonel General;

Independent branches of the military

Civil Defense Troops (GO) of the USSR

In the city, the direct management of the civil defense is entrusted to the USSR Ministry of Defense, daily - to the head of the civil defense - the deputy minister of defense of the USSR.

There were regiments of civil defense (in major cities USSR), Moscow military school GO (MVUGO), (City of Balashikha), reorganized in the city of Moscow Higher command school road and engineering troops (MVKUDIV), trained specialists for road troops and civil defense troops.

Chiefs

• -1972 - V. I. Chuikov, Marshal of the Soviet Union;
• -1986 - A. T. Altunin, Colonel General, (c) - Army General;
• -1991 - V. L. Govorov, army general;

Border troops of the KGB of the USSR

Border troops - were intended to protect the land, sea and river (lake) borders of the Soviet state. In the USSR, the Border Troops were an integral part of the USSR Armed Forces. The direct leadership of the border troops was carried out by the KGB of the USSR and the Main Directorate of the Border Troops subordinate to it. They consisted of border districts, separate formations (border detachment), units (outpost), special units (subdivisions) and educational institutions. In addition, there were units and units of aviation, sea (river) forces and rear in the Border Troops. The range of tasks solved by the border troops was determined by the law "On the State Border of the USSR", the regulation on the protection of the state border of the USSR, approved by the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on August 5, 1960 ("Vedomosti of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR" 1960, No. 34). The legal status of the personnel of the border troops was regulated by the USSR Law on universal military duty, regulations on military service, charters and instructions.

• Western border region.
• Trans-Baikal border district.
• Baltic border region.
• Kamchatka border district.
• Arctic border district.

Chiefs

• -1919 - S. G. Shamshev, (Main Directorate of Border Troops (GUP.v.));
• -1920 - V. A. Stepanov, (Department of border supervision);
• - - V. R. Menzhinsky, (special department of the Cheka (border protection));
• -1923 - A. Kh. Artuzov, (department of border troops, department of border guards (OPO));
• -1925 - Ya. K. Olsky, (OPO);
• -1929 - Z. B. Katsnelson, (Main Directorate of the Border Guard (GUPO));
• - S. G. Velezhev, (GUPO);
• 1929-1931 - I. A. Vorontsov, (GUPO);
• -1933 - N. M. Bystrykh, (GUPO);
• -1937 - M. P. Frinovsky, (GUPO) (since 1934 border and internal (GUPiVO)) NKVD of the USSR;
• -1938 - N. K. Kruchinkin, (GUPiVO);
• -1939 - A. A. Kovalev, Main Directorate of Border and internal troops(GUP. V.V.);
• - - G. G. Sokolov
• -1952 - N. P. Stakhanov, lieutenant general (GUP.v.);
• -1953 - P. I. Zyryanov, lieutenant general (GUP.v.);
• -1954 - T. F. Filippov, lieutenant general (GUP.v.);
• -1956 - A. S. Sirotkin, lieutenant general (GUP.v.);
• -1957 - T. A. Strokach, lieutenant general (GUP. V.v.);
• -1972 - P. I. Zyryanov, lieutenant general, (since 1961) colonel general (GUP.v.);
• -1989 - V. A. Matrosov, Colonel General, (since 1978) Army General (GUP.v.);
• -1992 - I. Ya. Kalinichenko, Colonel General (GUP.v.) (since 1991 commander in chief)

Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the USSR

Internal troops Ministry of Internal Affairs of the USSR, an integral part of the USSR Armed Forces. Designed to protect state facilities and perform other service and combat tasks defined in special government decrees assigned to the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs. They guarded the most important objects National economy, as well as socialist property, the personality and rights of citizens, the entire Soviet legal order from the encroachments of criminal elements and performed some other special tasks (protection of places of deprivation of liberty, escort of convicts). The forerunners of the Internal Troops were the Gendarmerie, the Internal Guard Troops of the Republic (VOKhR Troops), the Internal Service Troops, and the Troops of the All-Russian Extraordinary Commission (VChK). The term Internal Troops appeared in the city to designate units of the Cheka serving in the interior of the country, in contrast to the border troops. During the Great Patriotic War, they guarded the rear of the fronts and armies, carried out garrison service in the liberated areas, and participated in the neutralization of enemy agents. Internal troops of the NKVD of the USSR (1941-1946), the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the USSR (1946-1947, 1953-1960, 1968-1991), the Ministry of State Security of the USSR (1947-1953), the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the RSFSR (1960-1962), the MOOP of the RSFSR (1962-1966), MOOP of the USSR (1966-1968), Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation (since 1991):

Chiefs

• -1938 - N. K. Kruchinkin, (Main Directorate of Border and Internal Security (GUPiVO));
• -1939 - A. A. Kovalev, (Main Directorate of Border and Internal Troops (GUP. V.v.));
• -1944 - I. S. Sheredega, major general;
• -1946 - A. N. Apollonov, Colonel General;
• -1953 - P. V. Burmak, lieutenant general;
• -1954 - T. F. Filippov, lieutenant general;
• -1956 - A. S. Sirotkin, lieutenant general;
• -1957 - T. A. Strokach, lieutenant general;
• -1960 - S. I. Donskov, lieutenant general;
• -1961 - G. I. Aleinikov, lieutenant general;
• -1968 - N. I. Pilshchuk, lieutenant general;
• -1986 - I. K. Yakovlev, Colonel General, from the year - Army General;
• -1991 - Yu. V. Shatalin, Colonel General;

Military duty

Universal conscription, established by Soviet law, followed from the constitutional provision, which determines that the defense of the socialist Fatherland is the sacred duty of every citizen of the USSR, and military service in the ranks of the USSR Armed Forces is an honorable duty of Soviet citizens (Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution of the USSR). The legislation on universal conscription has gone through several stages in its development. Reflecting socio-political changes in the life of society and the need to strengthen the defense of the country, it developed from volunteerism to compulsory military service of the working people and from it to universal military duty.

General military duty was characterized by the following main features:

1. it extended only to Soviet citizens;
2. was universal: call for military service all men were subject - citizens of the USSR; only persons serving a criminal sentence and persons in respect of whom an investigation was conducted or a criminal case was considered by a court were not called;
3. it was personal and equal for everyone: it was not allowed to replace a conscript with another person: for evading conscription or from performing duties of military service, the perpetrators were criminally liable;
4. had time limits: the law precisely established the terms of active military service, the number and duration of training camps and age limit stock status;

Conscription under Soviet law was carried out in the following main forms:

• service in the ranks of the USSR Armed Forces within the terms established by law;
• work and service as military builders;
• passing training, verification fees and retraining during the period of state in the reserve of the USSR Armed Forces;

The fulfillment of universal military duty was also preliminary training (military-patriotic education, initial military training (NVP), training of specialists for the Armed Forces, improving general literacy, conducting medical and recreational activities and physical training of young people) for military service:

• passage by students in secondary schools, and by other citizens - in the production of NVP, including training in civil defense, with student youth in general education schools(starting from the 9th grade), in secondary specialized educational institutions (SSUZ), and in educational institutions of the vocational education system (VET) by full-time military leaders. Young men who did not study in daytime (full-time) educational institutions of the CWP passed at training centers created (if there are 15 or more young men who are required to pass the CWP) at enterprises, organizations and collective farms; The NVP program included familiarizing young people with the appointment of the Soviet Armed Forces and their nature, with the duties of military service, the basic requirements of the military oath and military regulations. The heads of enterprises, institutions, collective farms and educational institutions were responsible for ensuring that the NVP covered all young men of pre-conscription and military age.
• acquisition of military specialties in educational organizations SPTO - vocational schools and organizations of the Voluntary Society for Assistance to the Army, Aviation and Navy (DOSAAF), was intended to ensure constant and high combat readiness of the Armed Forces, was advance and provided for the training of specialists (car drivers, electricians, signalmen, paratroopers and others) from among the young men who had reached 17 years of age. In the cities it was produced on the job. At the same time, for the period of passing exams, young men studying were provided with paid leave for 7-15 working days. IN countryside was produced with a break from production at the training camp in the autumn-winter period. In these cases, recruits were kept their jobs, their position and were paid 50% of the average earnings. The expenses for renting a dwelling and travel to and from the place of study were also paid.;
• the study of military affairs and the acquisition of an officer's specialty by students of higher educational institutions (HEI) and secondary vocational schools, who were engaged in training programs for reserve officers;
• compliance with the rules of military registration and other military duties by conscripts and all citizens who are in the reserve of the USSR Armed Forces.

In order to systematically prepare and organize the call for active military service, the territory of the USSR was divided into district (city) recruiting stations. Citizens who turned 17 years old in the year of registration were assigned to them annually during February - March. Registration to recruiting stations served as a means of identifying and studying the quantitative and qualitative composition of the draft contingents. It was produced by district (city) military commissariats (military registration and enlistment offices) at the place of permanent or temporary residence. Determination of the state of health of those assigned was carried out by doctors allocated by decision of the executive committees (executive committees) of district (city) Councils people's deputies from local medical institutions. The persons assigned to the recruiting stations were called conscripts. They were given a special certificate. Citizens subject to registration were required to appear at the military registration and enlistment office within the time period established on the basis of the Law. A change in the recruiting station was allowed only from January 01 to April 01 and from July 01 to October 01 of the year of conscription. At other times of the year, a change in the recruiting station in some cases could be allowed only for good reasons (for example, moving to a new place of residence as part of a family). Conscription of citizens for active military service was held annually everywhere twice a year (in May - June and in November - December) by order of the Minister of Defense of the USSR. In the troops located in remote and some other areas, the draft began a month earlier - in April and October (See: Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of February 25, 1977 ("Vedomosti of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR", 1977, No. 9)) . The number of citizens subject to conscription was established by the Council of Ministers of the USSR. The exact dates for the appearance of citizens at the recruiting stations were determined, in accordance with the Law and on the basis of the order of the Minister of Defense of the USSR, by order of the military commissar. None of the conscripts was exempted from appearing at the recruiting stations (with the exception of the cases established by Article 25 of the Law). Issues related to conscription were resolved by collegiate bodies - draft boards created in the regions, cities under the chairmanship of the relevant military commissars. The commission as their full members included representatives of local Soviet, party, Komsomol organizations and doctors. Personal composition The draft commission was approved by the executive committees of the district (city) Soviets of People's Deputies. The district (city) draft commissions were entrusted with: a) organization of medical examination of recruits; b) making a decision on conscription for active military service and the assignment of those called up according to the type of armed forces and types of troops; c) granting deferrals in accordance with the Law; d) exemption from military duty of conscripts in connection with their illnesses or physical disabilities; When making a decision, the draft commissions were obliged to comprehensively discuss the family and financial situation of the conscript, his state of health, take into account the wishes of the conscript himself, his specialty, the recommendations of the Komsomol and other public organizations. Decisions were made by majority vote. For the management of district (city) draft commissions and control over their activities in the union and autonomous republics, territories, regions and autonomous districts, appropriate commissions were created under the chairmanship of the military commissar of the union or autonomous republic, territories, region or autonomous region. The activities of the draft commissions were controlled by the Soviets of People's Deputies and prosecutorial supervision. For dishonest or biased attitude to the case when resolving the issue of conscription, providing illegal deferrals, members of the draft commissions and doctors involved in the examination of conscripts, as well as other persons who committed abuse, were held liable in accordance with applicable law. The basis for the distribution of conscripts by type of armed forces and combat arms was the principle of industrial qualification and specialty, taking into account the state of health. The same principle was used when conscripting citizens into military construction units (VSO) designed to perform construction and installation work, manufacture structures and parts at industrial and logging enterprises of the USSR Ministry of Defense. The VSO was recruited mainly from conscripts who graduated from construction schools or had construction or related specialties or experience in construction (plumbers, bulldozer operators, cable workers, etc.). The rights, duties and responsibilities of military builders (VStr) were determined by military legislation, and their labor activity was regulated by labor legislation (with some peculiarities in the application of one or the other). The wages of VStrov were made in accordance with the current norms. The mandatory period of work in the VZO was counted in the period of active military service.

The law determined: - a single military age for all Soviet citizens - 18 years;

The term of active military service (conscript military service of soldiers and sailors, sergeants and foremen) is 2 - 3 years;

Suspension from conscription, could be granted on three grounds: a) for health reasons - provided to conscripts recognized as temporarily unfit for military service due to illness (Article 36 of the Law); b) by marital status(Article 34 of the Law); c) to continue education (Article 35 of the Law);

Passage of military service.

Military service- a special type of public service, which consists in the fulfillment by Soviet citizens of constitutional military duty as part of the USSR Armed Forces (Article 63, the Constitution of the USSR). Military service was the most active form of citizens exercising their constitutional duty to defend the socialist Fatherland (Articles 31 and 62 of the Constitution of the USSR), was an honorable duty and was assigned only to citizens of the USSR. Foreigners and stateless persons who lived on the territory of the USSR did not carry out military duty and were not enrolled in military service, while they could be accepted for work (service) in civilian Soviet organizations in compliance with the rules established by laws.

Soviet citizens were recruited for military service on a mandatory basis through conscriptions (regular, for training camps and for mobilization) in accordance with the constitutional duty (Article 63 of the Constitution of the USSR), and in accordance with Art. 7 of the Law on General Military Duty (1967), all servicemen and those liable for military service took a military oath of allegiance to their people, their Soviet Motherland and the Soviet government. Military service is characterized by the presence of an institution assigned in accordance with the established article 9 of the Law on universal military duty (1967) personal military ranks , in accordance with which military personnel and those liable for military service were divided into superiors and subordinates, senior and junior, with all the ensuing legal consequences.

In the USSR Armed Forces, about 40% of the conscription contingent registered with the military (assigned to military registration and enlistment offices) was called up.

Forms of military service were installed in accordance with the accepted modern conditions the principle of building the Armed Forces on a permanent personnel basis (a combination of personnel Armed Forces with the presence of a reserve of military-trained citizens liable for military service). Therefore, according to the Law on General Conscription (Article 5), military service was divided into active military service and service in the reserve, each of which proceeded in special forms.

Active military service- service of Soviet citizens in the personnel of the Armed Forces, as part of the corresponding military units, crews of warships, as well as institutions, establishments and other military organizations. Persons enrolled in active military service were called military personnel, they entered into military service relations with the state, were appointed to such positions provided by the states, for which certain military or special training was required.

In accordance with organizational structure Armed Forces, the difference in the nature and scope of the service competence of personnel by the state adopted and used the following forms of active military service:

• urgent military service of soldiers and sailors, sergeants and foremen
• extended military service of sergeants and foremen
• service of ensigns and midshipmen
• officer service, including officers who were called up from the reserve for a period of 2-3 years

As an additional form of active military service, the service of women accepted in peacetime in the USSR Armed Forces on a voluntary basis as soldiers and sailors, sergeants and foremen was used;

The service (work) of military builders was adjacent to the forms of military service.

Service in reserve- periodic performance of military service by citizens enlisted in the reserve of the Armed Forces. Persons in the reserve were called military reserve.

Forms of military service during the state in the reserve were short-term fees and retraining:

• training camps aimed at improving the military and special training of those liable for military service, maintaining it at the level of modern requirements;
• verification fees, which are intended to determine the combat and mobilization readiness of military command and control bodies (OVU);

The legal status of the personnel of the USSR Armed Forces was regulated by:

• Constitution (Basic Law) of the USSR, (1977)
• Law of the USSR on universal military obligation, (1967)
• General military charters of the USSR Armed Forces and the Ship charter
• Regulations on the passage of military service (officers, ensigns and re-enlisted personnel, etc.)
• Combat regulations
• Instructions
• Instructions
• Guides
• Orders
• orders

Reform of the Armed Forces

USSR Armed Forces abroad

• Group of Soviet troops in Germany. (GSVG)
• GSVM. Soviet troops in Mongolia belonged to ZabVO
• Limited contingent of Soviet troops in Afghanistan (OKSVA)
• Base points (PB) of the Soviet Navy: - Tartus in Syria, Cam Ranh in Vietnam, Umm Qasr in Iraq.

Place of the first start R-1

Notes

Literature

• Constitution (Basic Law) of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Adopted at the extraordinary seventh session of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of the ninth convocation on October 07, 1977, Moscow (M.), Publishing house of political literature, 1977, 64 pages (p.);
• Collection of legalizations (SU) of the RSFSR, M, 1918, No. 17, 28, 41;
• SU RSFSR, M, 1923, No. 92;
• War and military affairs. Manual on military affairs for party, Soviet and trade union activists, Military Publishing House, 1933, 564 p.
• The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (BSE), Third Edition, published by the Soviet Encyclopedia publishing house in -1978 in 30 volumes;
• Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of February 25, 1977 (Vedomosti of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, 1977, No. 9));
• Soviet military encyclopedia(SVE), M ., Order of the Red Banner of Labor, military publishing house of the USSR Ministry of Defense in 1977-1979 in 8 volumes;
• Military encyclopedic Dictionary(VES), M., Military Publishing House (VI), 1984, 863 pages with illustrations (ill.), 30 sheets (ill.);
• Fundamentals of Soviet military legislation. Textbook. Under the general editorship of S. S. Maksimov, M., VI, 1978, 312 pages;
• Rear of the Armed Forces. 300 years., Military history album., Ed. V. I. Isakova, V. I. Isakov, D. V. Bulgakov, A. A. Smirnov, L. F. Shumikhina, M., Defenders of the Fatherland, 2000, 336 pages.
• In the Name of Russia: Russian state, army and military education / tutorial on public-state training (OGP) for officers and ensigns of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation / Edited by: V. A. Zolotarev, V. V. Marushchenko, S. S. Avtyushin. - M .: publishing house "Rus-RKB", . - 336 p. + incl.

1. Edited by: V.A. Zolotareva, V.V. Marushchenko, S.S. Avtyushin. In the name of Russia: Russian state, army and military education. - M .: "Rus-RKB", 1999. - S. 336 + incl .. - ISBN 5-86273-020-6

Hello dear.
Some time ago, we had a series of posts about the armies of the countries of the so-called Warsaw Pact. Well, it is quite logical that at least a few words should have been said about the most powerful, strong and efficient army throughout the history of mankind - the Soviet armed forces. For I am deeply convinced that it is stronger and more powerful (despite the beginning centrifugal forces both within the state and within the Armed Forces) an army like ours in the mid-80s of the XX century has never been and never will be in terms of the totality of forces, numbers and capabilities.

As the son and grandson of an officer, my fate was to be connected with the Soviet army, but from childhood I firmly decided that this was not mine. Despite respect for officers, and communication with soldiers from a very tender age, and love for weapons and everything military in principle. I have never regretted my choice.
But I decided to launch a series of posts :-)) And I hope you will be interested.
And I suggest starting at the macro level. And then slowly figure it out. The more extensive :-))))
So, as I said above, in my deep conviction, by the mid-80s, the Armed Forces had reached the peak of their power. It was a monstrous organization


The number for 1985 reached as many as 5,350,800 people. It is incomprehensible ... We had more tanks than all countries combined, a huge nuclear arsenal, strong aviation and an ocean fleet.
Despite their size and complexity of tasks, the armed forces of the USSR managed quite well.
All the armed forces of the Soviet Union were divided into the following types
- Ground Forces (SV)
- Air Force(Air Force)
- Air Defense Forces
- Rocket troops strategic purpose(RVSN)
- Navy (Navy)
And Separate types of troops and services of the USSR Armed Forces which included:
- Civil Defense Troops (GO) of the USSR
- Rear of the USSR Armed Forces
- Border troops of the KGB of the USSR
- Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the USSR

De jure, the highest governing body of the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union was the Defense Council of the USSR under the Chairmanship of the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU
The members of the Armed Forces under the USSR SO were: the Chief of the General Staff, the Commanders-in-Chief of the branches of the Armed Forces, the commanders and chiefs of the armed forces and services, some heads of the main and central departments of the USSR Ministry of Defense, a number of commanders of military districts and fleets.


The direct leadership of the USSR Armed Forces was carried out by military command and control bodies (OVU).
The system of military control bodies of the USSR Armed Forces included:
the governing bodies of the SA and the Navy, united by the Ministry of Defense of the USSR, headed by the Minister of Defense of the USSR:
General Staff of the Armed Forces of the USSR (General Staff of the Armed Forces of the USSR):
the governing bodies of the Border Troops, subordinate to the Committee for State Security of the USSR, headed by the Chairman of the KGB of the USSR;
control bodies of the Internal Troops, subordinate to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the USSR, headed by the Minister of Internal Affairs of the USSR.


That is, the Minister of Defense de facto managed the daily activities of the Armed Forces with the help of the General Staff and related structures, but under the vigilant supervision of the party and government :-)

In the USSR, universal conscription enshrined in the Constitution was introduced. The defense of the socialist Fatherland is the sacred duty of every citizen of the USSR, and military service in the ranks of the USSR Armed Forces is the honorable duty of Soviet citizens (Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution of the USSR).
A single draft age for all Soviet citizens is 18;
The term of active military service (conscript military service of soldiers and sailors, sergeants and foremen) is 2-3 years.
After that, they could stay on extra urgent.
By the mid-80s, the following ranks were in the armed forces of the Soviet Union:
Soviet army:
Privates and sergeants
soldiers
Private
corporal

Sergeants
Lance Sergeant
Sergeant
Staff Sergeant
foreman

Ensigns
Ensign
Senior Warrant Officer

junior officers

Ensign
Lieutenant
Senior Lieutenant
Captain

Senior officers
The military ranks of officers of the medical service and justice have the corresponding name.
Major
Lieutenant colonel
Colonel

Senior officer corps
The military ranks of generals of the medical service, aviation and justice have the corresponding name.
Major General
Lieutenant General
Colonel General

Marshal of Artillery, Marshal of Engineering Troops, Marshal of Signal Corps, Marshal of Aviation
army General
Chief Marshal of Artillery, Chief Marshal of Air
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Generalissimo of the Soviet Union

Navy
Ratings
Sailors and soldiers
Private Sailor, Private
Senior sailor, corporal

Sergeants and foremen
Sergeant major 2 articles, junior sergeant
Petty officer 1st article, sergeant
Chief Petty Officer, Senior Sergeant
Chief ship foreman, foreman

Ensigns and midshipmen
Midshipman, ensign
Senior Warrant Officer, Senior Ensign

junior officers
Ensign
Lieutenant
Senior Lieutenant
Lieutenant Commander, Capt.

Senior officers
Captain 3rd rank, Major
Captain 2nd rank, lieutenant colonel
Captain 1st rank, colonel

Senior officer corps
Rear Admiral, Major General
Vice Admiral, Lieutenant General
Admiral, Colonel General
Fleet Admiral
Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union


This is, so to speak, everything at the macro level ... Next time we will go to the micro, and then we will go in detail on each of the genera and species :-)
To be continued
Have a nice time of the day.

The army of the USSR is one of the most powerful military enclaves of the 20th century, for the creation of which considerable resources were spent, primarily human resources. It is worth noting that it was formed relatively quickly and firmly took the place of a leader in world history, primarily due to the heroism and endurance on the verge of human capabilities that Soviet soldiers showed in the fight against the fascist invaders. After the unconditional surrender, perhaps, few of the world powers could dispute the obvious fact: the USSR army was the strongest in the world at that time. However, she retained this unspoken title almost until the end of the last century.

Stages of formation

Throughout its history since the advent of more or less organized form Russian army was famous for her incredible courage, strength and faith in the cause for which the blood of soldiers was shed. The fall of the empire, in particular, entailed not only the demoralization of the armed forces, but also their almost complete destruction. This was also explained by the destructive zeal to eliminate most of the officers. In parallel, red guards were formed from those who wanted to serve new ideas and the newborn state throughout the country. However, the First World War was still going on, despite internal events, Russia did not officially withdraw from it, which means that there was a need for regular connections. This marked the beginning of the formation of the Red Army, in the name of which a year later the phrase "workers' and peasants'" was added. Official birthday - February 23, 1918. At the beginning of the civil strife, there were 800 thousand volunteers in its ranks, a little later - 1.5 million.

The creation of the army of a new, not yet fully formed state was based on such principles as classism, internationalism (citizens from other countries were accepted into the army ranks), elective leadership, dual command, which provided for the mandatory presence of military commissars in all units, the so-called political workers .

Land and sea became the basic components. The army of the USSR became a full-fledged military association only in 1922, that is, when the Soviet Union had already legally begun to exist. Until the disappearance of this state from the world map, the army did not change its external forms. After the formation of the USSR, it was replenished by the NKVD troops.

Organizational and management structure

Both in the RSFSR and later in the USSR, the Council of People's Commissars functioned to perform managerial functions, as well as control over various structures, including the army. The People's Commissar of Defense was created in 1934. During the Great Patriotic War The Headquarters of the Supreme High Command was formed, headed directly by Joseph Stalin. Later, the Ministry of Defense was formed. The same structure has been preserved to this day.

Initially, there was no order in the army. Volunteers formed detachments, each of which was a separate and independent military unit. In an effort to cope with this situation, relevant specialists were attracted to the army, who began to structure it. Initially, rifle and cavalry corps were formed. A powerful technological breakthrough, expressed in the mass production of aircraft, tanks, armored vehicles, contributed to the expansion of the USSR army, mechanized and motorized units appeared in it, and technical units were strengthened. During the war, regular units are transformed into an active army. According to military rules, the entire length of hostilities is divided into fronts, which, in turn, include armies.

From the moment of its appearance, the USSR army numbered almost two hundred thousand fighters; by the time of the attack of Nazi Germany, there were already more than five million people in its ranks.

Types of troops

The armies of the USSR included rifle, artillery troops, cavalry, signal troops, armored vehicles, engineering, chemical, automobile, railway, road troops. In addition, horse cavalry, which was formed simultaneously with the Red Army, also occupied a considerable place. However, the leadership encountered serious difficulties in the formation of this unit: those regions in which formations could be formed were in the power of the White Guards or were occupied by a foreign corps. There was a serious problem with the lack of weapons, professional personnel. As a result, it was possible to form full-fledged cavalry units only by the end of 1919. During civil war such units already reached almost half of the number of infantrymen in some combat actions. In the first months of the war with the then most powerful German army, the cavalry, it must be said, showed itself selflessly and courageously, especially in the battle for Moscow. However, it was all too obvious that their combat power was no match for modern warfare. Therefore, most of these troops were abolished.

firepower of iron

The twentieth century, especially its first half, was marked by rapid military progress. And the Red Army of the USSR, like the military forces of any other country, was actively acquiring new technological capabilities for the maximum destruction of the enemy. This task was greatly simplified by the assembly line production of tanks in the 1920s. When they appeared, military specialists developed a system of productive interaction new technology and infantry. It was this aspect that occupied a central place in the combat charter of the infantry. In particular, surprise was indicated as the main advantage, and among the capabilities of the new technology, they noted the strengthening of positions captured by infantry with their help, the performance of maneuvers to deepen attacks on the enemy.

In addition, the tank armies of the USSR included paramilitary units equipped with armored vehicles. The formation of armies began in 1935, when tank brigades appeared, which later became the base of future mechanized corps. However, at the very beginning of the war, these formations had to be disbanded due to serious losses of equipment. Separate battalions and brigades were again formed. However, by the beginning of the second year of the war, the supply of equipment resumed and was established on a permanent basis, the mechanized troops were restored, and entire tank armies of the USSR were already included in their composition. This is the largest formation in this area. As a rule, they were entrusted with the solution of independent combat missions.

Military aviation

Aviation is another very serious booster of the armed forces. Since the first aircraft began to appear as early as the beginning of the 20th century, combat aviation formations began to form in 1918. However, in the 1930s it became obvious that the Soviet army was considerably inferior in this type of troops due to the rapid development of the aviation industry in the West. Attempts to modernize the equipment in showed all their futility. The Luftwaffe vehicles, which launched their attacks on the Soviet cities on a June morning, took the military command by surprise. It is known that in the first days about two thousand were destroyed, most of them on the ground. After six months of the war, the losses of Soviet aviation amounted to more than 21 thousand aircraft.

The rapid growth in the aviation industry made it possible, after a short time, to achieve parity in the sky with the Luftwaffe fighters. The famous Yak fighters in various modifications made the German aces lose faith in a quick victory. In the future, the air fleet was replenished with modernized attack aircraft, bombers, and fighters.

Other armed forces

Among other types of weapons, a rather significant place during the Second World War was occupied by engineering troops. It was they who were responsible for the construction of fortifications, structures, barriers, mining of territories, technical support for maneuvers, in addition, they helped in creating corridors in mined fields, in overcoming enemy fortifications, barriers and other things. Chemical troops also significantly expanded the scope of their application precisely at that time, each had corresponding departments. In particular, it was they who used flamethrowers and arranged smoke screens.

Ranks in the army of the USSR

As you know, the first thing that the supporters of the revolution fought for was the destruction of everything that even remotely resembled class oppression. That is why the first thing was that the officers were abolished, and with it the ranks and shoulder straps. Instead of the imperial table of ranks, military positions were established. Later, service categories appeared, denoted by the letter "K". To distinguish by position, geometric figures were used - a triangle, a rhombus, a rectangle, by military affiliation - colored buttonholes on the uniform.

However, individual officer ranks in the USSR army were nevertheless restored, although closer to the Second World War. A year before the German attack, the ranks of "general", "admiral" and "lieutenant colonel" were reanimated. Then the official ranks in the technical and rear services were returned. The officer as a military concept, shoulder straps and other ranks finally settled only in 1943. However, not all ranks that existed in pre-revolutionary Russia were restored in the army. former USSR. This fact also influenced the composition of the ranks of the Russian army, since it was the system developed in 1943 that is still used today. Among those not included: non-commissioned officer sergeant major and sergeant major, senior officer second lieutenant, lieutenant, staff captain, as well as cavalry cornet, staff captain, captain. The ensign was restored only in 1972. At the same time, the major, who was removed in 1881, on the contrary, returned.

The completely new ranks include the general of the army of the USSR introduced in 1940, by status he follows the highest rank in the Soviet Union, which is the rank of marshal. The first to receive a new rank were well-known major army leaders Kirill Meretskov and Ivan Tyulenev. Before the start of the war, two more were elevated to this rank - military leaders Joseph Apanasenko and Dmitry Pavlov. During the war, the title "Army General of the USSR" was not awarded until 1943. Then shoulder straps were developed, on which four stars were placed. The first to receive the rank was As a rule, those who were elevated to this rank led the army fronts.

By the end of the war, the Soviet army of the USSR already had eighteen military leaders awarded this title. Ten of them were assigned to the rank of marshal. In the 1970s, the title was no longer awarded for special merits and deeds to the Fatherland, but on the basis of the position held, which implies the assignment of a rank.

A terrible war - a great victory

By the time the Great Patriotic War began, the USSR army was quite strong, perhaps overly bureaucratized and somewhat decapitated due to the repressions arranged by Stalin in the army ranks in 1937-1938, when the commanders were very seriously purged. This was partly the reason that in the first weeks the troops were demoralized, there were many losses of people, both military and civilian, equipment, weapons and other things. Although the army of the USSR and Germany were clearly not in equal positions at the time of the outbreak of the war, at the cost of countless victims, Soviet soldiers defended their homeland, and the first such feat was, of course, the defense of Moscow and keeping the city from the invaders. The war significantly accelerated the training of new aggressive methods, and the Red Soviet Army rapidly transformed into a professional military force, which at first desperately defended the frontiers and conceded them, only forcing the enemy to lose considerably in its ranks, and after a turning point Battle of Stalingrad furiously attacked and drove the enemy away.

The army of the USSR in 1941 consisted of more than five million soldiers. As of June 22, there were about one hundred and twenty thousand guns and mortars from small arms. For a year and a half, the enemy felt quite at ease on Soviet lands and moved inland fairly quickly. Until that moment, until I came across Stalingrad. The defense and the battle for the city opened a new stage in the historical confrontation, which turned into an inglorious flight of the enemy from Russian territory. The peak strength of the USSR army was reached at the beginning of 1945 - 11.36 million fighters.

military duty

At the beginning of its glorious history, the ranks of the Red Army were replenished on a voluntary basis. But after some time, the leadership discovered that under such conditions, at critical moments, the country could be in danger due to the lack of a regular military corps. That is why, since 1918, decrees calling for compulsory military service began to be issued regularly. Then the terms of service were quite loyal, infantrymen and artillerymen served for a year, cavalrymen for two years, in military aviation were called up for three years, in the navy - for four years. Service in the army in the USSR was regulated both by separate legislative acts and by the Constitution. This duty was considered as the most active form of fulfillment of one's civic duty to protect the socialist Fatherland.

As soon as the war ended, the leadership understood that it was impossible to carry out conscriptions in the army in the near future. And therefore, until 1948, no one was called up. Conscripts instead of military service were sent to construction work, the restoration of the entire western part of the country required a lot of hands. The management then issued new edition the law on military service, according to which, young men of age were required to serve for three years, in the navy - for four years. The call was made once a year. Service in the army in the USSR decreased to one year only in 1968, and the number of conscriptions was increased to two.

professional holiday

The modern Russian army has been counting its years since the formation of the first armed formations in the new post-revolutionary Russia. According to historical data, Vladimir Lenin signed a decree on the formation of the Workers 'and Peasants' Red Army on January 28, 1918. German troops were actively advancing, and the Russian army needed new forces. Therefore, on February 22, the authorities appealed to the people with a request to save the Fatherland. Large-scale rallies with slogans and appeals had their effect - crowds of volunteers poured in. Thus, the historical date for the celebration of the professional Army Day appeared. On the same day, it is customary to celebrate the holiday navy. Although, strictly speaking, the official date of the formation of the fleet is considered to be February 11, when Lenin signed the document on its formation.

Note that even after the demise of the Soviet Union, the holiday of the military remained, and it was still celebrated. However, only in 2008, the head of the country Vladimir Putin, by his decree, renamed the national holiday the Defender of the Fatherland Day. The holiday became an official holiday in 2013.

The demoralization and destruction of the army of the Soviets began, of course, with the grand collapse of the country itself. In the hard times of the 1990s, the army was not a priority for the country's leadership, all subordinate institutions, units and other property fell into complete disrepair, were plundered and sold. The military ended up in the backyard of life, no one needed.

In 1979, the Kremlin initiated the last military campaign that marked the beginning of the inglorious end of the great state - the invasion of Afghanistan. The Cold War, which at that time was already in its third decade, exhausted the reserves of the Soviet treasury. During the ten years of the Afghan conflict, human losses on the part of the Union almost reached fifteen thousand fighters. The Afghan campaign, the Cold War, and rivalry with the United States in terms of arms buildup made such gaps in the country's budget that it was no longer possible to overcome them. The withdrawal of troops, which began in 1988, ended in a new state, which did not care about either the army or its fighters.

In the absence of a land front in Europe, the German leadership decided to defeat the Soviet Union during a short-term campaign in the summer and autumn of 1941. To achieve this goal, the most combat-ready unit of the German armed forces 1 was deployed on the border with the USSR.

Wehrmacht

For Operation Barbarossa, out of the 4 headquarters of army groups available in the Wehrmacht, 3 were deployed ("North", "Center" and "South") (75%), out of 13 headquarters of field armies - 8 (61.5%), out of 46 headquarters of army corps - 34 (73.9%), out of 12 motorized corps - 11 (91.7%). In total, 73.5% of the total number of divisions available in the Wehrmacht was allocated for the Eastern Campaign. Most of the troops had combat experience gained in previous military campaigns. So, out of 155 divisions in military operations in Europe in 1939-1941. 127 (81.9%) participated, and the remaining 28 were partially manned by personnel who also had combat experience. In any case, these were the most combat-ready units of the Wehrmacht (see table 1). The German Air Force deployed 60.8% of the flying units, 16.9% of the air defense troops and over 48% of the signal troops and other units to support Operation Barbarossa.

German satellites

Together with Germany, its allies were preparing for a war with the USSR: Finland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Italy, who allocated the following forces for waging war (see table 2). In addition, Croatia provided 56 aircraft and up to 1.6 thousand people. By June 22, 1941, there were no Slovak and Italian troops on the border, who arrived later. Consequently, there were 767,100 men, 37 calculated divisions, 5,502 guns and mortars, 306 tanks, and 886 aircraft in the German allied troops deployed there.

All in all, the forces of Germany and its allies on Eastern Front numbered 4,329.5 thousand people, 166 settlement divisions, 42,601 guns and mortars, 4364 tanks, assault and self-propelled guns and 4795 aircraft (of which 51 were at the disposal of the Air Force High Command and, together with 8.5 thousand personnel The Air Force is not taken into account in further calculations).

Red Army

Under the conditions of the outbreak of war in Europe, the armed forces of the Soviet Union continued to increase, and by the summer of 1941 they were the largest army in the world (see Table 3). In the five western border districts, 56.1% of the ground forces and 59.6% of the air force were stationed. In addition, since May 1941, the concentration of 70 divisions of the second strategic echelon from internal military districts and from Far East. By June 22, 16 divisions (10 rifle, 4 tank and 2 motorized) arrived in the western districts, in which there were 201,691 people, 2,746 guns and 1,763 tanks.

The grouping of Soviet troops in the Western theater of operations was quite powerful. The general balance of forces by the morning of June 22, 1941 is presented in Table 4, judging by the data of which the enemy outnumbered the Red Army only in terms of the number of personnel, because his troops were mobilized.

Mandatory clarifications

Although the above data give general idea about the strength of the opposing factions, it should be borne in mind that the Wehrmacht completed the strategic concentration and deployment in the theater of operations, while in the Red Army this process was in full swing. How figuratively described this situation A.V. Shubin, "a dense body was moving from the West to the East at high speed. From the East, a more massive, but looser block was slowly moving forward, the mass of which was growing, but not at a fast enough pace" 2 . Therefore, the correlation of forces at two more levels should be considered. Firstly, this is the balance of forces of the parties in various strategic directions on the scale of the district (front) - army group, and secondly, on individual operational directions in the border zone on the scale of the army - army. At the same time, in the first case, only the ground forces and the Air Force are taken into account, and for the Soviet side, the border troops, artillery and aviation of the Navy are also taken into account, but without information on the personnel of the fleet and internal troops of the NKVD. In the second case, only ground forces are taken into account for both sides.

Northwest

On Northwest direction the troops of the German Army Group North and the Baltic Special Military District (PribOVO) opposed each other. The Wehrmacht had a rather significant superiority in manpower and some in artillery, but was inferior in tanks and aircraft. However, it should be borne in mind that only 8 Soviet divisions were located directly in the 50 km border strip, and another 10 were located 50-100 km from the border. As a result, in the direction of the main attack, the troops of the Army Group "North" managed to achieve a more favorable balance of forces (see Table 5).

Western direction

In the Western direction, the troops of the German Army Group Center and the Western Special Military District (ZapOVO) with part of the forces of the 11th Army of PribOVO confronted each other. For the German command, this direction was the main one in Operation Barbarossa, and therefore Army Group Center was the strongest on the entire front. 40% of all German divisions deployed from the Barents to the Black Sea (including 50% motorized and 52.9% tank) and the largest air fleet of the Luftwaffe (43.8% aircraft) were concentrated here. Only 15 Soviet divisions were located in the offensive zone of Army Group Center in the immediate vicinity of the border, and 14 were located 50-100 km from it. In addition, troops of the 22nd Army from the Ural Military District were concentrated on the territory of the district in the Polotsk region, from which, by June 22, 1941, they arrived at the place 3 rifle divisions, and 21st mechanized corps from the Moscow Military District - with a total strength of 72,016 people, 1241 guns and mortars and 692 tanks. As a result, the troops of the ZAPOVO, contained in peacetime states, were inferior to the enemy only in personnel, but surpassed him in tanks, aircraft, and slightly in artillery. However, unlike the troops of Army Group Center, they did not complete their concentration, which made it possible to smash them piece by piece.

Army Group Center was supposed to carry out a double envelopment of the ZapOVO troops located in the Bialystok ledge, with a blow from Suwalki and Brest to Minsk, so the main forces of the army group were deployed on the flanks. From the south (from Brest) the main blow was delivered. On the northern flank (Suwalki) the 3rd Panzer Group of the Wehrmacht was deployed, which was opposed by units of the 11th Army of PribOVO. Troops of the 43rd Army Corps of the 4th German Army and the 2nd Panzer Group were deployed in the zone of the Soviet 4th Army. In these areas, the enemy was able to achieve significant superiority (see table 6).

Southwest

In the South-Western direction, Army Group South, which united German, Romanian, Hungarian and Croatian troops, was opposed by parts of the Kyiv Special and Odessa Military Districts (KOVO and OdVO). The Soviet grouping in the South-Western direction was the strongest on the entire front, since it was she who was supposed to deliver the main blow to the enemy. However, here too Soviet troops did not complete the concentration and deployment. So, in KOVO in the immediate vicinity of the border there were only 16 divisions, and 14 were located 50-100 km from it. In the OdVO, there were 9 divisions in the 50-km border zone, and 6 were located in the 50-100-km zone. In addition, troops of the 16th and 19th armies arrived on the territory of the districts, from which by June 22 concentrated 10 divisions (7 rifle, 2 tank and 1 motorized) with a total number of 129,675 people, 1505 guns and mortars and 1071 tanks. Even without being staffed according to the wartime staff, the Soviet troops outnumbered the enemy grouping, which had only some superiority in manpower, but was significantly inferior in tanks, aircraft, and somewhat less in artillery. But on the direction of the main attack of Army Group South, where the Soviet 5th Army was opposed by units of the 6th German Army and the 1st Panzer Group, the enemy managed to achieve a better balance of forces for himself (see Table 7).

The situation in the North

The most favorable for the Red Army was the ratio on the front of the Leningrad Military District (LVO), where it was opposed by Finnish troops and units of the German army "Norway". In the Far North, the troops of the Soviet 14th Army were opposed by the German units of the mountain infantry corps "Norway" and the 36th Army Corps, and here the enemy had superiority in manpower and insignificant in artillery (see Table 8). True, it should be borne in mind that, since hostilities on the Soviet-Finnish border began in late June - early July 1941, both sides were building up their forces, and the data given do not reflect the number of troops of the parties by the start of hostilities.

Results

Thus, the German command, having deployed the bulk of the Wehrmacht on the Eastern Front, was unable to achieve overwhelming superiority not only in the zone of the entire future front, but also in the zones of individual army groups. However, the Red Army was not mobilized and did not complete the process of strategic concentration and deployment. As a result, units of the first echelon of covering troops were significantly inferior to the enemy, whose troops were deployed directly at the border. Such an arrangement of Soviet troops made it possible to smash them piece by piece. On the directions of the main attacks of the army groups, the German command managed to create superiority over the troops of the Red Army, which was close to overwhelming. The most favorable balance of forces developed for the Wehrmacht in the zone of Army Group Center, since it was in this direction that the main blow of the entire Eastern campaign was dealt. In other directions, even in the bands of the covering armies, the Soviet superiority in tanks affected. The overall balance of forces allowed the Soviet command to prevent the enemy's superiority even in the directions of his main attacks. But in reality the opposite happened.

Since the Soviet military-political leadership incorrectly assessed the degree of threat of a German attack, the Red Army, having begun in May 1941 the strategic concentration and deployment in the Western theater of operations, which was to be completed by July 15, 1941, was taken by surprise on June 22 and did not have neither offensive nor defensive grouping. Soviet troops were not mobilized, did not have deployed rear structures, and were only completing the creation of command and control bodies in the theater of operations. On the front from the Baltic Sea to the Carpathians, out of 77 divisions of the Red Army covering forces in the first hours of the war, only 38 incompletely mobilized divisions could repulse the enemy, of which only a few managed to take up equipped positions on the border. The rest of the troops were either in places of permanent deployment, or in camps, or on the march. If, however, we take into account that the enemy immediately threw 103 divisions into the offensive, it is clear that an organized entry into the battle and the creation of a solid front of Soviet troops was extremely difficult. By preempting the Soviet troops in strategic deployment, creating powerful operational groupings of their fully combat-ready forces in the chosen directions of the main attack, the German command created favorable conditions for seizing the strategic initiative and successfully carrying out the first offensive operations.

Notes
1. For more details, see: Meltyukhov M.I. Stalin's missed chance. Scramble for Europe 1939-1941 (Documents, facts, judgments). 3rd ed., corrected. and additional M., 2008. S. 354-363.
2. Shubin A.V. The world is on the edge of the abyss. From global crisis to world war. 1929-1941. M., 2004. S. 496.