Establishment of Military Ranks
Presidium of the Supreme Soviet, Edict on the Establishment of Military Ranks of Higher Commanding Personnel of the Red Army. May 7, 1940
Original Source: Vedomosti Verkhovnogo Soveta SSSR, No. 5 (19 The following military ranks of higher commanding personnel of the Red Army shall be established:
- For Combined Arms Commanders:
(1) Major-general
(2) Lieutenant-general
(3) Colonel-general
(4) General of the Army
(5) Marshal of the Soviet Union
II. For Commanders of Arms:
A. Artillery
(1) Major-general of artillery
(2) Lieutenant-general of artillery
(3) Colonel-general of artillery
B. Aviation
(1) Major-general of aviation
(2) Lieutenant-general of aviation
(3) Colonel-general of aviation
C. Tank troops
(1) Major-general of tank troops
(2) Lieutenant-general of tank troops
(3) Colonel-general of tank troops
D. Communications troops
(1) Major-general of communications troops
(2) Lieutenant-general of communications troops
(3) Colonel-general of communications troops
E. Engineer troops
(1) Major-general of engineer troops
(2) Lieutenant-general of engineer troops
(3) Colonel-general of engineer troops
F. Technical troops (chemical, railroad, automobile, topographical)
(1) Major-general of technical troops
(2) Lieutenant-general of technical troops
(3) Colonel-general of technical troops
III. For Quartermasters:
(1) Major-general of the quartermaster service
(2) Lieutenant-general of the quartermaster service
(3) Colonel-general of the quartermaster service
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Source:** Harold J. Berman and Miroslav Kerner, ed., Documents on Soviet Military Law and Administration (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1955), pp. 43-44.