Branch Insignia

[Wesley's Dad]

Per RichieC's post with the scan from "The Red Book", notice that the crossed rifles and target insignia is abscent from the branch of service devices.

I have understood, possibly incorrectly, that the enameled crossed rifles and target device associated with Soviet Rifles units was actually a unit achievement distinction and not a branch of service as the other devices are. In other words, there was no generic branch device for "infantry" and not all infantry units were "Rifles" units. Only units raised to "Rifles" status wore this device.

Can someone better or more correctly explain this??

[RedHorseman25]

I have seen the crossed rifles without the "target", and just thought this was an earlier version, but maybe there was a different insignia for rifles, vs regular infantry regiments.

Boridin

[RichieC]

I have seen the crossed rifles without the "target", and just thought this was an earlier version, but maybe there was a different insignia for rifles, vs regular infantry regiments.
Boridin

I think these are the type you are referring to Bruce:

VOKhR (BOXP) - Militarized guards of industrial installations, labor camps, prisons, state railways, communications and the like...

[RedHorseman25]

That is them!

OK, now we all know!

Boridin

[RedHorseman25]

Just got this picture of a list from a book of the late Soviet branch insignia.

I know most of them, but not all. Can anyone list what they all are?



Spaceba

Boridin

[RedHorseman25]

Now I know that the top row on page 198 is Motorized Rifles, Aviation, and VDV (Paratroops).

Row two: is Artillery, Armour, (I think) the third is Naval Infantry, but not sure.

Row Three: I don't know for sure what any of them are.

Page 199

Row One: Transportation Corps, #2 not sure, #3 Mechanics

Row Two: No Idea on either one

Row Three: Medical (the obverse would be Veterinary Corps), Justice Corps (KGB), Musician

Boridin

[Frayer]

I would propose :

Page 198
motor-rifles / aviation / airborne
artillery / tank corps / engineer corps
chemical corps / railroad (railway) / road repair & control

Page 199
motor transport (formerly motorized) / signals & radio-technical / topographic service
contruction units / pipeline units
medical (veterinary in silver - both worn in left/right mirrored pairs) / legal (judge-advocate) / musicians

Explanations of branch insignia (in Russian - go to the links marked "Знаки" for the years of interest to you) :
http://army.armor.kiev.ua/forma/index.shtml

Frayer

[Bob Hritz]

My small collection of branch insignia for the field shoulder boards.

Bob Hritz

[RichieC]

Bob,

I admire your little gathering there. Especially the QM set. It is rare to find a real matched set of those ciphers.

Please though, add at least one rank star to them.

Regards,
Richie

[Bob Hritz]

Thanks Richie.

Now I am looking for a pair of artillery devices and a pair of infantry rifle division (crossed rifles with targets) devices for other shoulder boards I have. Am I just dreaming?

I would love to find the WWII dress shoulder boards, with devices, but have had no luck.



Bob Hritz