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1993 Berlin, Soviet soldier ID?

Article about: This is a photo of my Dad(Red wind breaker) when they were in Berlin for the 1993 Track and Field world Championship. Could someone please tell me what rank are the soldier in the photo? I j

  1. #1
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    Default 1993 Berlin, Soviet soldier ID?

    I know this section is for the time frame of 1917-1991, But was hoping someone could help with this. It is a photo of my Dad(Red wind breaker) when they were in Berlin for the 1993 Track and Field world Championship.
    Could someone please tell me what rank and possibly the patch on his right arm is of the soldier in the photo?
    1993 Berlin, Soviet soldier ID?

    I just found these photo's of their time there and would like to add to my Dad's "Commie Soldiers" writing on the back.


    Thanks
    Semper Fi
    Phil
    Last edited by AZPhil; 02-15-2021 at 06:54 AM. Reason: Added info to title

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  3. #2

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    His shoulder boards are the flat color red, He is a private or conscript in the army (Rifles). You can also tell by his cap cockade being a red star surrounded by a wreath.

  4. #3

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    1993 Berlin, Soviet soldier ID?
    The M1969 Conscript emblem, which this man is wearing.

    1993 Berlin, Soviet soldier ID?
    The M55 Officer's cockade for reference.

  5. #4
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    Thank you Spenwil73 .

    The wreath on his cap look to surround the star.
    Or is that just the angle of the photo my Mom took?
    Also can you tell what the patch is he has on his right sleeve?
    Semper Fi
    Phil

  6. #5

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    The cockade he is wearing is certainly the wreath emblem, as for the patch it was just another identifier of the owners branch of service, in this case the standard soviet army patch used from 1969-1991. There are a lot of different soviet arm patches. the easiest way to identify them is via color and symbol, however in your photo only the color is the identifying factor here. I hope this also helps. Nice picture by the way, must've been cool seeing these guys while they were still around.
    Click to enlarge the picture Click to enlarge the picture 1993 Berlin, Soviet soldier ID?  

  7. #6

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    Hi Phil,
    This may probably be a little more than you were asking for but "knowledge is power" right?;

    The red facings on the uniform are like German Waffenfarben or "arm of service colours" in many armies.

    Red will always indicate Army but in particular in this case Motor Rifle troops ie mechanised infantry. The red was also used by the ;music medical and Kommandants Service (akin to MP but not the same) branches. Other Army branches used black and Airforce was light blue.

    The cap badge is the Other Ranks (enlisted men) parade cap badge which was always worn in and around Berlin for aesthetic reasons rather than the everyday badge of a single red star with hammer and sickle motif. The chinstrap is the black plastic everyday type which is correct for such circumstances.

    Barely visible on the shoulder board are the Cyrillic letter CA which equate directly to the latin leters SA as in English and represent Soviet Army.

    The rank is of course Pte (private soldier)

    The arm patch is as shown by Spenwil73 and indicates the branch Motor Rifle as mentioned.

    The same patch in other colours indicates; Dark blue - KGB, Green - Border Guards and Russet Brown - MVD (Interior Troops).

    The badges on the left chest are from L-R as seen are; 1st Class Specialist, Exemplary Soldier (Army), Guards Badge, ? Basic Para (?top of canopy just visible) and Sports Badge (1st cl - Red centre, 2nd - blue, 3rd - green. This looks most like blue / 2nd Cl).

    By the date of the photograph the Group of Soviet Forces Germany (GSFG) had become in 1988 the Western Group of Forces (WGF) and whilst the relevant major formation was likely 3rd Red Banner Army at Magdeburg the sub-unit here is probably 6th Separate Guards Motor Rifle Brigade based at Karlshorst in Berlin.

    Interestingly at such events in Berlin many of the SNCO's and officers who wore MR uniforms were not actually MR but "specialists" from certain other organisations (towards the end I actually got one , a Snr Lt to come close to admitting as much, probably because he thought he was going to get something out of me - He didn't )

    OK I can sense your eyes glazing over there so I'll stop now

    I hope this gives you something suitable to add to your old man's photos

    Regards

    Mark
    Last edited by Watchdog; 02-15-2021 at 10:46 AM. Reason: Typo
    "War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. A man who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing he cares more about than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature with no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself."

  8. #7
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    No glazing over here Mark, I love learning! This old dog likes new tricks.
    Excellent information that I read with the same enthusiasm I have when looking through these photo's.

    Fantastic pic of the patch Spenwil73.

    Thanks to both of you for your help and explanations of the Soviets soldier uniform and service.

    Semper Fi
    Phil

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