Shoulder straps of the XIX-XX centuries
(1854-1917)
Officers and generals
The appearance of galloon shoulder straps with insignia of rank on the uniforms of officers and generals of the Russian Army is associated with the introduction on April 29, 1854 of the soldier's marching overcoat (the only difference was that the new officer's overcoat, unlike the soldiers' overcoats, had side slit pockets with valves).
In the picture on the left: an officer's marching overcoat, model 1854.
This overcoat was introduced only for wartime and lasted a little over a year.
At the same time, by the same Order, galloon shoulder straps are introduced for this greatcoat (Order of the Military Department No. 53 of 1854).
From the author. Until that time, apparently the only statutory sample of the officers 'and generals' outerwear was the so-called "Nikolayevskaya overcoat", on which no insignia at all were placed.
Studying numerous paintings, drawings of the 19th century, you come to the conclusion that the Nikolaev greatcoat was not suitable for the war and few people wore it in field conditions.
Apparently, officers often used a frock coat with epaulettes as a marching overcoat. In general, the coat was intended for everyday wear out of order, and not as outerwear for winter.
But in the books of that time, there are often references to frock coats with warm lining, frock coats "with cotton" and even frock coats "with fur". Such a warm frock coat was quite suitable as a replacement for the Nikolaev overcoat.
However, the same expensive cloth was used for frock coats as for uniforms. And by the middle of the 19th century, the army is becoming more and more massive, which entails not only an increase in the number of the officer corps, but also the increasing involvement of persons in the officer corps who have no income, except for the officer's salary, which at that time was very meager. There is a need to reduce the cost of military uniforms. This was partially solved by the introduction of officer's marching overcoats made of coarse, but durable and warm soldier's cloth, and the replacement of very expensive epaulettes with relatively cheap galloon shoulder straps.
By the way, this characteristic type of overcoat with a cape and often with a fastened fur collar is called "Nikolaevskaya", in general, it is erroneous. She appeared in the era of Alexander I.
In the picture on the right, an officer of the Butyrka infantry regiment in 1812.
Obviously, they began to call her Nikolaev after the appearance of a marching overcoat with shoulder straps. Probably, wishing to emphasize the backwardness in military affairs of this or that general, they used to say in the last quarter of the 19th century: "Well, he still wears the Nikolayev overcoat." However, this is more my speculation.
Actually, in 1910 this Nikolaev overcoat with a fur lining and a fur collar was preserved as an outer garment out of order along with a coat (in fact, this is also an overcoat, but already of a different cut than a marching model 1854). Although the Nikolaev greatcoat was rarely worn by anyone.
Initially, and I ask you to pay special attention to this, officers and generals had to wear soldier's shoulder straps (pentagonal), the color assigned to the regiment, but 1 1/2 inches wide (67mm.). And galloons are sewn on this shoulder strap of a soldier's standard.
Let me remind you that the soldier's shoulder strap in those days was soft, 1.25 inches wide (56mm.). Shoulder length (from shoulder seam to collar).
Shoulder straps 1854
Generals 1854
On a shoulder strap 1.5 inches (67 mm) wide, a braid 2 inches (51 mm) wide was sewn to designate generals' ranks. Thus, the shoulder strap field of 8 mm remained open.from the side and top edges. The type of galloon is "… from the galloon assigned to the collars of the general's hussar Hungarian women …".
Note that later the drawing of the general's braid on the shoulder straps will change noticeably, although the general character of the drawing will remain..
The color of the braid is the color of the instrument metal of the shelf, i.e. gold or silver. Asterisks indicating the rank of the opposite color, i.e. gold on a silver braid, silver on gold. Metal forged. The diameter of the circle into which the 1/4 inch (11 mm) sprocket fits.
Number of stars:
* 2 - Major General.
* 3 - Lieutenant General.
* without asterisks - general (from infantry, from cavalry, general feldsekhmeister, general engineer).
* crossed wands - Field Marshal.
From the author. Often they ask why the Major General had not one, but two stars on his shoulder straps and epaulets. I believe that the number of stars in tsarist Russia was determined not by the name of the rank, but by its class according to the Table of Ranks. The ranks of generals included five classes (from V to I). Hence - the fifth class - 1 star, the fourth class - 2 stars, the third class - 3 stars, the second class - no stars, the first class - crossed wands. In the civil service, by 1827, the V class existed (state councilor), but in the army this class did not exist. The next rank of colonel (VI class) was immediately followed by the rank of major general (IV class). Therefore, the Major General has not one, but two stars.
By the way, when in 1943 new insignia (shoulder straps and asterisks) were introduced into the Red Army, the major general was given one star, thus leaving no room for a possible return to the rank of brigade commander (brigadier general or something like that). Although even then there was a need for that. Indeed, in the tank corps of 1943 there were not tank divisions, but tank brigades. There were no tank divisions. There were also separate rifle brigades, marine brigades, and airborne brigades.
True, after the war, they completely went over to the divisions. Brigades as military formations, in general, from the nomenclature of formations of our army, with very rare exceptions, have disappeared, and the need for an intermediate rank between colonel and major general seems to have disappeared.
But now, when the army is switching over to the brigade system in general, the need for a rank between colonel (regiment commander) and major general (division commander) is greater than ever. For a brigade commander, the rank of colonel is not enough, and the rank of major general is too much. And if you enter the rank of brigadier general, then what insignia should he give? General's epaulette without stars? But today it will look ridiculous.
Staff officers 1854
On the shoulder strap, to designate the headquarters officers' ranks, three stripes were sewn along the shoulder strap "from the galloon assigned to the cavalry harness, sewn (slightly departing from the edges of the shoulder strap in three rows, with two gaps of 1/8 inches".
However, this braid was 1.025 inches (26 mm) wide. Clearance width 1/8 vershok (5.6mm.). Thus, if you follow the "Historical description", the width of the headquarters officer's shoulder strap should have been 2 by 26mm. + 2 by 5.6mm, but only 89mm.
And at the same time, in the illustrations for the same edition, we see a staff officer's shoulder strap the same width as the general's one, i.e. 67mm. In the middle there is a belt braid with a width of 26 mm, and to the left and right of it, retreating by 5.5 - 5.6 mm. two narrow braid (11mm.) of a special design, which later in the Description of the officer's uniform of the 1861 edition will be described as … "in the middle there are slanting stripes, and along the edges of the town". Later, this type of braid will be called "staff officer braid".
The edges of the shoulder strap remain free by 3.9-4.1 mm.
Here I specifically show enlarged types, galloons, which were used on the shoulder straps of the headquarters officers of the Russian Army.
From the author. Please pay attention to the fact that with the external similarity of the lace pattern, the shoulder straps of the Russian Army before 1917. and the Red (Soviet) Army since 1943. still differ considerably. This is how people are caught embroidering the monograms of Nicholas II on Soviet officer shoulder straps and selling them under the guise of genuine tsarist shoulder straps, which are now in great fashion. If the seller honestly says that this is a remake, then he can only be blamed for mistakes, but if he foaming at the mouth assures that this is his great-grandfather's shoulder strap, which he personally accidentally found in the attic, it is better not to deal with such a person.
The color of the braid is the color of the instrument metal of the shelf, i.e. gold or silver. Asterisks indicating the rank of the opposite color, i.e. gold on a silver braid, silver on gold. Metal forged. The diameter of the circle into which the 1/4 inch (11 mm) sprocket fits.
Number of stars:
* major - 2 stars, * lieutenant colonel - 3 stars, * Colonel - no stars.
From the author. And again, they often ask why the major has not one (as now), but two stars on his shoulder straps. In general, it is difficult to explain, especially since if you go from the very bottom, then everything goes logically up to the major. The most junior officer, a warrant officer, has 1 star, then 2, 3 and 4 stars in ranks. And the most senior chief officer rank - the captain, has shoulder straps without stars.
It would be correct to give the youngest of the staff officers one star too. But they gave me two.
Personally, I find only one explanation for this (although not particularly convincing) - until 1798 there were two ranks in the army in the 8th grade - seconds major and prime major.
But by the time the stars were introduced on epaulettes (in 1827), only one major rank remained. Obviously, in memory of the two major ranks of the past, the major was given not one, but two stars. It is possible that one asterisk was kind of reserved. At that time, debates continued whether it was advisable to have only one major rank.
Chief Officers 1854
On the shoulder strap, to designate the chief officer ranks, two stripes of the same braid as the middle braid (26mm.) On the headquarters officer's pursuit were sewn along the shoulder strap. The clearance between the braids is also 1.8 inches (5.6 mm).
The color of the braid is the color of the instrument metal of the shelf, i.e. gold or silver. Asterisks indicating the rank of the opposite color, i.e. gold on a silver braid, silver on gold. Metal forged. The diameter of the circle into which the 1/4 inch (11 mm) sprocket fits.
Number of stars:
* ensign - 1 star, * second lieutenant - 2 stars, * lieutenant - 3 stars, * staff captain - 4 stars, * captain - no stars.
Shoulder straps 1855
The first experience of wearing epaulettes turned out to be successful, and their practicality turned out to be undeniable. And already on March 12, 1855, Emperor Alexander II, who ascended the throne, ordered to replace epaulettes for everyday wear with epaulettes on the newly introduced vice-half caftans.
So epaulettes are gradually starting to leave the officer's uniform. By 1883, they will remain only in full dress.
On May 20, 1855, the soldier's marching overcoat was replaced with a double-breasted cloth coat (cloak). True, in everyday life they also began to call him an overcoat. On a new coat, in all cases, only shoulder straps are worn. Stars on shoulder straps are ordered to be embroidered with silver thread on gold shoulder straps and gold thread on silver shoulder straps.
From the author. From that time until the end of the existence of the Russian Army, the stars on the epaulettes should have been forged metal, and embroidered on the shoulder straps. In any case, in the Rules for wearing a uniform by officers of the 1910 edition, this norm was preserved.
However, it is difficult to say how strictly the officers followed these rules. The discipline of military uniform in those days was significantly lower than in Soviet times.
In November 1855, the type of shoulder straps changed. By order of the Minister of War of November 30, 1855. Liberties in the width of the shoulder straps, so common before, were now not allowed. Strictly 67 mm. (1 1/2 inches). The shoulder strap is sewn into the shoulder seam with the lower edge, and the upper one is fastened with a button with a diameter of 19mm. The color of the button is the same as the color of the braid. The upper edge of the shoulder strap is cut like on epaulettes. Since that time, the shoulder straps of the officer's model differ from the soldier ones in that they are hexagonal, not pentagonal.
At the same time, the shoulder straps themselves remain soft.
Generals 1855
The galloon of the general's shoulder strap has changed in design and in width. The old braid was 2 inches (51 mm) wide, the new one was 1 1/4 inches (56 mm) wide. Thus, the cloth field of the shoulder strap protruded beyond the edges of the braid by 1/8 vershok (5, 6 mm).
The picture to the left shows a braid worn by generals on shoulder straps from May 1854 to November 1855, to the right, which was introduced in 1855 and which has survived to this day.
From the author. Please pay attention to the width and frequency of large zigzags, as well as the pattern of small zigzags running between large ones. At first glance, this is imperceptible, but in fact it is very significant and can help lovers of uniformism and reenactors of military uniforms to avoid mistakes and distinguish low-quality remakes from genuine products of those times. And sometimes it can help to date a photograph, a painting.
The upper end of the braid is now folded over the upper edge of the shoulder strap. The number of stars on shoulder straps by rank remains unchanged.
It should be noted that the place of the stars on the shoulder straps of both generals and officers was not rigidly determined in place, as it is today. They were supposed to be located on the sides of the ciphers (regiment number or monogram of the highest chief), the third is higher. So that the stars form the ends of an equilateral triangle. If this was impossible due to the size of the encryption, then the asterisks were placed above the encryption.
Staff officers 1855
Like the generals, the braids on the staff officer's shoulder straps skirted the upper edge. The middle braid (harness) received a width of not 1.025 inches (26 mm), as on the shoulder straps of the 1854 model, but 1/2 inch (22 mm). The gaps between the middle and side braids are 1/8 inches (5.6 mm). The side braids, as before, are 1/4 inch (11 mm) wide.
Asterisks sewn in the opposite color to the braid with a diameter of 11 mm. Those. stars are embroidered on a gold braid with silver thread, and on a silver braid with gold thread.
Note. Since 1814, the colors of the shoulder straps of the lower ranks, and naturally since 1854 and the officer's shoulder straps, were determined by the order of the regiment in the division. So in the first regiment of the division, shoulder straps are red, in the second - white, in the third light blue. For the fourth regiments, shoulder straps are dark green with red edging. In the grenadier regiments, shoulder straps are yellow. All artillery and engineering troops have red shoulder straps. It's in the army.
In the guard, shoulder straps in all regiments are red.
The cavalry units had their own peculiarities of the colors of the shoulder straps.
In addition, there were numerous deviations in the colors of shoulder straps from the general rules, which were dictated either by the historically accepted colors for a given regiment, or by the wishes of the emperor. And the rules themselves were not established once and for all. They changed periodically.
It should also be noted that all generals, as well as officers serving in non-regiments, were assigned to certain regiments and, accordingly, wore regimental shoulder straps.
Chief Officers 1855
On the chief officer's shoulder straps, two shoulder straps were sewn with a width of 1/2 inches (22 mm). From the edges of the shoulder straps, they retreated, as on the previous ones, by 1/8 inches (5.6 mm.) top (11 mm).
From the author. Please note that the clearance on the shoulder straps of the chief officers in 1855 is very wide. Twice as wide as that of the headquarters officers.
Asterisks sewn in the opposite color to the braid with a diameter of 11 mm. Those. stars are embroidered on a gold braid with silver thread, and on a silver braid with gold thread.
The shoulder straps shown above for clarity are shown only with insignia of ranks. However, it is worth remembering that in the times described, shoulder straps had a double function - an external determinant of ranks and a determinant of a soldier's belonging to a particular regiment. The second function was to some extent carried out due to the colors of the shoulder straps, but in full due to the attachment of monograms, numbers and letters indicating the number of the regiment on the shoulder straps.
Monograms were also placed on the shoulder straps. The monogram system is so complex that a separate article will be required. For now, we will restrict ourselves to brief information.
On the shoulder straps, monograms and ciphers are the same as on epaulettes. The stars were sewn on shoulder straps in the shape of a triangle and were located as follows - the two lower stars on both sides of the encryption (or, in the absence of space, above it), and on shoulder straps without encryption - at a distance of 7/8 inches (38.9 mm.) From their lower the edges. The height of letters and numbers of the encryption in the general case was equal to 1 vershok (4.4 cm).
On shoulder straps with a braid edging in the upper edge of the shoulder strap, it only reached edging.
However, by 1860, and on shoulder straps that did not have edging, the braid was also cut off, not reaching the upper edge of the shoulder strap by about 1/16 inches (2.8mm.)
The picture shows on the left the shoulder strap of a major of the fourth regiment in the division, on the right shoulder strap of the captain of the third regiment in the division (on the chase is the monogram of the highest chief of the regiment, the Prince of Orange).
Since the shoulder strap was sewn into the shoulder seam, it was impossible to remove it from the uniform (caftan, half-jacket). Therefore, epaulettes, in cases where they should have been worn, were attached directly over the shoulder strap.
The peculiarity of attaching the epaulette was that it lay completely free on the shoulder. Only the top end was buttoned. It was kept from shifting forward or backward by the so-called. counter-race (also called counter-epaulet, epaulet), which was a loop of narrow braid sewn onto the shoulder. The epaulet was slipped under the counter-race.
When wearing shoulder straps, the counter-race lay under the shoulder strap. In order to put on an epaulette, the shoulder strap was unfastened, passed under the counter-race and fastened again. Then an epaulette was passed under the counter-race, which was then also fastened to the button.
However, such a "sandwich" looked very unfortunate and on March 12, 1859, the Command followed, which allowed to take off epaulettes when epaulettes should be worn. This entailed a change in the design of shoulder straps.
Basically, the method has taken root, in which the shoulder strap was attached due to the strap sewn to the lower edge of the shoulder strap from the inside out. This strap passed under the counter-race, and its upper end was fastened with the same button as the shoulder strap itself.
This fastening was in many ways similar to the fastening of an epaulette with the only difference that under the counter-racer was not a shoulder strap, but its strap.
In the future, this method will remain almost the only one (except for the complete sewing of the shoulder strap). Sewing the lower edge of the shoulder strap into the shoulder seam will remain only on the coat (overcoats), since the wearing of epaulettes on them was not originally intended.
On uniforms that were used as ceremonial and ordinary, i.e. which were worn with epaulets and shoulder straps, this counter-race was preserved at the beginning of the 20th century. On all other types of uniforms, instead of a counter-racer, a belt loop was used that was inconspicuous under the shoulder strap.
1861 year
This year, the "Description of the officer's uniform" is published, which indicates:
1. The width of shoulder straps for all officers and generals is 1 1/2 inches (67mm.).
2. The width of the gaps on the headquarters and chief officer's shoulder straps is 1/4 vershok (5.6mm.).
3. The distance between the edge of the braid and the edge of the shoulder strap is 1/4 vershok (5.6mm.).
However, using the standard harness lace of that time: (narrow 1/2 inches (22mm) or wide 5/8 inches (27.8mm.)), It is impossible to achieve regulated gaps and edges with a regulated shoulder strap width. Therefore, the manufacturers of shoulder straps either went to some change in the width of the braids, or to change the width of the shoulder straps.
This position remained until the end of the existence of the Russian Army.
From the author. On the splendidly executed by Alexei Khudyakov (may he forgive me for such a shameless borrowing) drawing of the epaulette of the warrant officer of the 200th Kronshlot Infantry Regiment, the drawing of a wide belt braid is clearly visible. It is also clearly noticeable that the free side edges of the shoulder strap are narrower than the width of the gap, although according to the rules they should be equal.
An asterisk (silver embroidered) is placed above the encryption. Accordingly, the asterisks of the second lieutenant, the lieutenant and the staff captain will be located above the encryption, and not on the sides of it, since there is no place for them there because of the three-digit regiment number.
Sergei Popov in an article in the magazine "Old Zeikhhauz" writes that in the sixties of the 19th century, private production of braids for headquarters and chief officer shoulder straps spread, which were a single braid with one or two colored stripes of the prescribed width woven into it (5.6m.). And the width of such a solid braid was equal to the width of the general's braid (1 1/4 inches (56 mm)). Probably this is so (numerous photographs of the surviving shoulder straps confirm this), although even during the Great War there were shoulder straps made according to the rules (Rules for wearing uniforms by officers of all arms of arms, St. Petersburg, 1910).
Obviously, both types of shoulder straps were in use.
From the author. This is how the understanding of the term "gaps" gradually began to disappear. Initially, these were indeed gaps between the rows of braids. Well, when they became just colored stripes in braid, their early understanding was lost, although the term itself was preserved even in Soviet times.
Circulars of the General Staff No. 23 of 1880 and No. 132 of 1881 were allowed to wear metal plates instead of braid on shoulder straps, on which a braid pattern was stamped.
There were no significant changes in the size of shoulder straps and their elements in subsequent years. Is that in 1884 the rank of major was abolished and the staff officer's shoulder straps with two stars went down in history. Since that time, on shoulder straps with two gaps, there were either no stars at all (Colonel), or there were three of them (Lieutenant Colonel). Note that the rank of lieutenant colonel did not exist in the guard.
It should also be noted that from the very appearance of officer galloon shoulder straps, in addition to ciphers, stars in special types of weapons (artillery, engineering troops), so-called. special signs indicating that the officer belongs to a special type of weapon. For artillerymen, these were crossed barrels of old cannons, for sapper battalions, crossed axes and shovels. As the special forces developed, the number of special signs (now they are called the emblems of the combat arms) and by the middle of the Great War there were more than two dozen of them. Not being able to show them all, we will restrict ourselves to those available to the author. The color of the special signs, with some exceptions, coincided with the color of the braid. They were usually made of brass. For the silver field of epaulettes, they were usually tinned or silver plated.
By the time the First World War began, the officer's shoulder straps looked like this:
From left to right, top row:
* Head-captain of the Training Automobile Company. The special sign of motorists is placed instead of encryption. So it was established with the introduction of insignia for this company.
* Captain of the Caucasian Grand Duke Mikhail Nikolaevich of the Grenadier Artillery Brigade. Galun, like all artillery, is gold, the monogram of the chief of the brigade is gold, as is the special insignia of the grenadier artillery. The special sign is placed above the monogram. The general rule was to place special signs above ciphers or monograms. The third and fourth asterisks were placed above the encryption. And if the officer was given special signs, then the asterisks are higher than the special sign.
* Lieutenant Colonel of the 11th Izyum Hussar Regiment. Two asterisks, as it should be on the sides of the encryption, and the third above the encryption.
* Adjutant wing. Rank equal to the colonel. Outwardly, he is distinguished from the colonel by a white edging around the field of a regimental shoulder strap (red here). The monogram of Emperor Nicholas II, as befits the adjutant wing, of the color opposite to the color of the braid.
* Major General of the 50th Division. Most likely, this is the commander of one of the brigades of the division, since the divisional commander wears on his shoulder straps the number of the corps (in Roman numerals), which includes the division.
* Field Marshal General. The last Russian field marshal general was D. A. Milyutin, who died in 1912. There was, however, during the First World War one more person who had the rank of Field Marshal of the Russian Army - King Nicholas I Njegos of Montenegro. But this was what is called the "wedding general". He had nothing to do with the Russian Army. The conferment of this title to him was of a purely political nature.
* 1-special sign of an anti-aircraft artillery vehicle unit, 2-special sign of an anti-aircraft machine-gun motor unit, 3-special sign of a motor-pontoon battalion, 4- special sign of railway units, 5-special sign of grenadier artillery.
Letter and digital ciphers (Order of the military department No. 100 of 1909 and circular of the General Staff No. 7 - 1909):
* Encryption in one row is located at a distance of 1/2 inches (22 mm.) From the bottom edge of the shoulder strap at a height of letters and numbers 7/8 inches (39 mm.).
* Encryption in two rows is located - the bottom row at a distance of 1/2 inches (22 mm.) From the bottom shoulder strap at the height of letters and letters of the bottom row 3/8 inches (16, 7 mm.). The top row is separated from the bottom row by a 1/8 inch (5.6mm) gap. The height of the upper row of letters and numbers is 7/8 inches (39mm.).
The question of the softness or hardness of shoulder straps remains open. The regulations do not say anything about this. Obviously everything here depended on the opinion of the officer. In numerous photographs of the late 19th - early 20th centuries, we see officers in both soft and hard shoulder straps.
It is worth noting that the soft shoulder strap very quickly begins to look rather sloppy. It lies along the contour of the shoulder, i.e. gets bends, kinks. And if we add to this the frequent putting on and taking off of the greatcoat, then the crease of the shoulder strap only intensifies. In addition, the fabric of the shoulder strap, due to wetting and drying in rainy weather, shrinks (decreases in size), while the braid does not change its size. The shoulder strap wrinkles. To a large extent, wrinkling and bending of the shoulder strap can be avoided by placing it inside a solid substrate. But a solid shoulder strap, especially on a uniform under an overcoat, presses on the shoulder.
It seems that the officers each time, depending on personal preferences and amenities, decided for themselves which epaulette suits them best.
Comment. On shoulder straps in letter and number ciphers, there was always a dot after the number and after each combination of letters. And at the same time, the period was not put with monograms.
From the author. From the author. The author was convinced of the merits and demerits of hard and soft shoulder straps from personal experience already with admission to the school in 1966. Following the cadet fashion, I inserted plastic plates into my brand new shoulder straps. The shoulder straps immediately acquired a certain elegance, which I really liked. They lay flat and beautifully on their shoulders. But the very first drill with weapons made me bitterly regret what I had done. These hard shoulder straps hurt my shoulders so much that the same evening I did the opposite procedure, and in all the years of my cadet's life I was not fashionable anymore.
The officer's shoulder straps of the sixties and eighties of the XX century were tough. But they were sewn onto the shoulders of uniforms and overcoats, which did not change their shape due to beading and cotton wool. And at the same time, they did not put pressure on the officer's shoulders. So it was possible to achieve that the shoulder straps did not wrinkle, but did not cause inconvenience to the officer.
Shoulder straps of officers of hussar regiments
Above, shoulder straps were described in their historical development, starting from 1854. However, these shoulder straps were prescribed for all types of weapons, except for the hussar regiments. It is worth recalling that the hussar officers, in addition to the well-known dolomans and mentics, had, as in other branches of the military, frock coats, military uniforms, coats, etc., which differed only in some decorative elements.
On May 7, 1855, the shoulder straps of the hussar officers received a braid, which had the name "hussar zigzag". The generals, who were numbered in the hussar regiments, did not receive a special braid. They wore general braid on their epaulettes.
For simplicity of presentation of the material, we will show only samples of officer hussar shoulder straps of the late period (1913).
To the left of the shoulder straps of the lieutenant colonel of the 14th Mitavsky hussar regiment, to the right of the shoulder straps of the lieutenant colonel of the 11th Izyum hussar regiment. The location of the asterisks is clearly visible - the lower two are on the sides of the encryption, the third is higher. The color of the shoulder straps (gaps, edges) have the same color as the color of the shoulder straps of the lower ranks of these regiments.
However, not only the officers of the hussar regiments had the braid "hussar zigzag" on the shoulder straps.
Already in 1855, the same braid was assigned to the officers of "His Own Imperial Majesty's Convoy" (according to the magazine "Old Zeikhhauz" in March 1856).
And on June 29, 1906, the officers of the Life Guards of the 4th Infantry Imperial Family of the battalion received the gold braid "hussar zigzag". The color of the shoulder straps in this battalion is crimson.
And finally, on July 14, 1916, the hussar zigzag was assigned to the officers of the St. George battalion of protection of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief Headquarters.
Clarifications are needed here. This battalion was formed from among the soldiers awarded the St. George's Crosses. The officers are all with the Order of St. George 4 Art. Both those and others, as a rule, from among those who, due to wounds, diseases, age, could no longer fight in the ranks.
We can say that this battalion became a kind of repetition of the Company of Palace Grenadiers (created in 1827 from among the veterans of past wars), only for the front.
The type of shoulder straps of this battalion is also curious. At the lower ranks, the shoulder strap is orange with black stripes in the center and along the edges.
The officer's shoulder strap of the battalion was distinguished by the fact that it had a black edging, and a central thin black stripe was visible in the gap. The drawing of this shoulder strap, taken from the description approved by the Minister of War, General of Infantry Shuvaev, shows an orange field, black edging.
Departing from the topic. General of Infantry Shuvaev Dmitry Savelyevich. Minister of War from March 15, 1916 to January 3, 1917. By birth of an honorary citizen. Those. not a nobleman, but the son of a man who received only personal nobility. According to some reports, Dmitry Savelievich was the son of a soldier who rose to the rank of junior officer.
Of course, becoming a full general, Shuvaev received hereditary nobility.
This I mean that many even the highest military leaders of the Russian Army were not necessarily counts, princes, landowners, the word "white bone", as Soviet propaganda tried to assure us for many years. And a peasant's son could become a general in the same way as a prince's. Of course, the commoner needed more work and effort for this. So after all, in all other times, the situation was and is now exactly the same. Even in Soviet times, the sons of big bosses had a much better chance of becoming generals than the sons of combine operators or miners.
And in the Civil War, the aristocrats Ignatiev, Brusilov, Potapov were on the side of the Bolsheviks, but the soldiers' children Denikin, Kornilov led the White Movement.
It can be concluded that a person's political views are determined not by his class origin, but by something else.
End of the retreat.
Shoulder straps of reserve and retired officers and generals
Everything described above applies only to officers on active duty.
Officers and generals who were in reserve or retired before 1883 (according to S. Popov) did not have the right to wear epaulettes or shoulder straps, although they usually had the right to wear military clothing as such.
According to VM Glinka's data, officers and generals dismissed from service "with a uniform" did not have the right to wear epaulettes (and with the introduction of epaulettes and theirs) from 1815 to 1896.
Officers and generals in reserve
In 1883 (according to S. Popov) generals and officers who were in reserve and entitled to wear a military uniform were required to have a 3/8 inches (17mm) wide stripe of reverse color galloon on their shoulder straps.
In the picture to the left of the shoulder straps of the staff captain in the reserve, to the right of the shoulder straps of the major general in the reserve.
Please note that the pattern of the general's stripe is somewhat different from the officer's.
I dare to assume that since the officers and generals of the reserve were not listed in certain regiments, they did not carry ciphers and monograms. In any case, according to Schenk's book, monograms on shoulder straps and epaulettes are not worn by adjutant generals, aide-de-camp and major generals of His Majesty's Retinue, who were retired to the reserve, as well as all others who left the Retinue for any reason.
Officers and generals who were dismissed "with uniforms" wore shoulder straps with a special pattern
So the general's zigzag on the pursuit was covered with a strip of 17 mm. a galloon of the opposite color, which in turn has a general's zigzag pattern.
For retired staff officers, the place of the harness braid was used for the braid "hussar zigzag", but with the zigzag itself of the opposite color.
Comment. The 1916 "Textbook for a Private" edition indicates that the middle braid on the pursuit of a retired staff officer was completely the opposite color, and not just a zigzag.
Retired chief officers (according to the 1916 edition of the "Textbook for a Private") wore short rectangular shoulder straps located across the shoulder.
A very special braid was worn by officers who were dismissed due to injury and retired officers, the Knights of St. George. Their parts of the braid adjacent to the gaps had the opposite color.
The figure shows the shoulder straps of a retired major general, a retired lieutenant colonel, a retired lieutenant and a staff captain who was retired due to injury or a retired cavalier of St. George.
By the way, the author is not sure that retired officers could wear the ciphers of their regiments or monograms, as shown in the figure.
In the picture on the right, shoulder straps on an officer's coat on the eve of the First World War. Here is the chief officer of the Grenadier Sapper Battalion.
In October 1914 (Order No. 698 of October 31, 1914) in connection with the outbreak of war for the troops of the Field Army, i.e. for units located at the front and marching units (i.e. units moving to the front), marching shoulder straps were introduced. I quote:
1) Generals, Headquarters and chief officers, doctors and military officials of the active army, in accordance with the protective shoulder straps of the lower ranks, - install cloth shoulder straps, protective, without edging, with oxidized buttons for all parts, with embroidered dark orange (light brown) stripes (tracks) to indicate rank and with oxidized asterisks to indicate rank …
3) On overcoats, instead of protective shoulder straps, officers, military officials and ensigns should be allowed to have shoulder straps made of greatcoat cloth (where the lower ranks have the same).
4) Allow the embroidery of the stripes to be replaced with a patch of narrow ribbons of dark orange or light brown color.
5) Svitsky monogram images on the designated shoulder straps should be embroidered with light brown or dark orange silk, and other encryption and special signs (if any) should be oxidized (burnt), overhead. ….
a) the stripes for designating the rank should be: for generals' ranks - zigzag, for headquarters officers - double, for chief officers - single, all about 1/8 inches wide;
b) shoulder straps: for officer ranks - 1 3/8 - 1 1/2 inches, for doctors and military officials - 1 - 1 1/16 inches …"
Thus, galloon shoulder straps in 1914 gave way to simple and cheap marching shoulder straps on a marching uniform.
However, galloon shoulder straps were preserved for the troops in the rear districts and in both capitals. Although, it should be noted that in February 1916 the commander of the Moscow district, General of artillery I. I. issued an order (No. 160 dated 1916-10-02), in which he demanded that the officers wear in Moscow and in general throughout the entire territory of the district exclusively galloon shoulder straps, and not marching ones, which are prescribed only for the Army in the field. Obviously, the wearing of marching shoulder straps in the rear had become widespread by that time. Everyone apparently wanted to look like seasoned front-line soldiers.
At the same time, on the contrary, in 1916 galloon shoulder straps "come into fashion" in front-line units. This was especially the case for the early officers graduated from wartime warrant officers' schools, who did not have time to flaunt their beautiful full dress uniform and gold shoulder straps in the cities.
When the Bolsheviks came to power in Russia on December 16, 1917, a decree was issued by the All-Russian Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars, abolishing all ranks and ranks in the army and "external distinctions and titles."
Galloon shoulder straps disappeared from the shoulders of Russian officers for a long twenty-five years. The Red Army, created in February 1918, did not have shoulder straps until January 1943.
During the Civil War in the armies of the White Movement, there was a complete disagreement - from the wearing of shoulder straps of the destroyed Russian Army, to the complete denial of shoulder straps and, in general, any insignia. Everything here depended on the opinions of local military leaders, who were quite powerful within their borders. Some of them, such as Ataman Annenkov, generally began to invent their own form and insignia. But this is already a topic for separate articles.
Sources and Literature
