Generals in the Russian Federation, as in any other country, are among the highest officers. To indicate the highest ranks in the military and power structures of Russia, general epaulettes are used.
When were the shoulder straps introduced?
In the history of Russia epaulettes began to be used during the reign of Peter I. Initially, they were intended only for soldiers. Over time, they began to use the officers. Since there was no uniform shoulder strap, they performed a discriminating function poorly. It was possible to fix this by introducing the form of various colors: each battalion or regiment had its own color scheme. Officer's epaulettes were hexagonal, and soldier's - pentagonal. General's epaulettes in those days were galuns of golden or silver color without stars. Similar insignia were used until 1917.
After the October Revolution, soldier and general epaulettes were canceled, since they were perceived as enemy in Soviet Russia. They were saved by the White Guards. The insignia became a counterrevolutionary symbol, and the officer corps carrying them was called the "gold hunters." A similar situation persisted until the very beginning of World War II.
Who wears epaulettes in Russia today?
Today, on the territory of the Russian Federation, as in some other states, the right to wear epaulettes has not only the personnel of the Armed Forces. Shoulder straps are used in the prosecutor's office, police, tax and environmental inspectorates, railway, sea, river and civil aviation.
Who are the generals?
The rank of general belongs to the highest officer ranks, for each of which the corresponding general epaulettes are provided. Ranks, which previously differed from each other depending on the type of troops, today have become one. The Russian army provides for the following ranks:
- major general;
- lieutenant general;
- Colonel General
- the general.
What do general epaulets look like?
After the Decree of the President of Russia in May 1994, a new uniform was introduced for army officers of the Russian Federation. The sizes, colors and shape of shoulder straps have been changed. Now they do not reach the collar of the tunic. Shoulder straps, both sewn and removable, became hexagonal. Their upper part contains a button that performs a decorative function. Today shoulder straps have a width of 50 mm, a length of 150 mm.
General stars on uniform are located depending on the rank in one vertical row:
- one star has shoulder straps of the major general;
- the wearing of two stars is provided on the shoulder straps of the lieutenant general;
- Colonel General wears three stars;
- the general is four.
After 2013, in the Russian army, general uniform of all types began to be equipped with a combined arms emblem and one large star. Compared to the Marshal’s star, the star of the General of the Russian Army is smaller. But the rank of marshal in various branches of the army was abandoned back in 1993. The Marshall Star, a distinction adopted in 1981, was then canceled.
What colors are used?
After the adoption of the 1994 law, the parade uniform of the generals is equipped with shoulder straps of golden color with sewn-in stars, whose diameter is 22 mm. In the ground forces of the Russian Federation for the general shoulder straps, the presence of a red border is provided, for the airborne forces, airborne forces and aviation - blue.
Green uniforms with a red fringing are sewn onto the everyday uniforms of army generals. In the airborne troops and the military space forces of Russia, generals in everyday life wear green epaulets with a blue fringing. For aviation, wearing blue shoulder straps with a blue trim is provided. In the field, the color of the shoulder strap is green. Green stars are sewn on them.
According to the charter, general shirts of white color are intended for white shirts. Golden stars are sewn on them.
On green shirts - shoulder straps of green color and golden stars. For aviation generals, wearing blue shirts and blue epaulets with gold-colored stars sewn in is provided. For the shirt epaulettes of the generals of justice, veterinary and medical services, wearing the appropriate emblems is mandatory. For everyday wear, generals use stitched shoulder straps. Removable only apply to shirts.
Other distinguishing means
The ranks of the senior officers can be identified, not only using the stars sewn on general shoulder straps. The photo below presents the design features of these distinguishing means. On July 31, in 2014, the President of the Russian Federation signed a decree on the creation of a new epaulet. It is possible to recognize the general of the army of the Armed Forces of Russia using the line edging.
For the generals of the army of the Russian Federation it is red, for the Air Force - blue. The ranks of the FSB generals on uniform have a cornflower blue piping. Red stars are sewn on shoulder straps. The Federal Service for the Protection of Special Objects under the President of the Russian Federation also uses a cornflower piping for epaulettes of generals. For these services, golden stars are provided. The general uniform is characterized by a special texture: even the field uniform is equipped with epaulets embroidered with threads. This makes it possible to distinguish the three-star epaulettes worn by the Colonel General from the epaulets of the ensigns. Their fastening to clothes is carried out with the help of a special coupling and half-elastic.
When wearing a black leather jacket, generals use epaulettes - couplings.
What are epaulets of police generals?
In their appearance, the general epaulettes of the Ministry of Internal Affairs almost do not differ from the army ones. In the police, the postscript is added to the ranks of the generals - not of the “army”, but of the “police”. The following titles are available:
- Police Major General;
- police lieutenant general;
- Colonel General of the police.
The police general of Russia is a special rank of the highest commanding staff. This title can be obtained by the Minister of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation. Today, he received Kolokoltsev V.A. In the Ministry of Internal Affairs, generals use epaulettes on which large-sized stars are sewn. There are no gaps on these shoulder straps.
