Workers 'and Peasants' Red Army (abbr. RKKA): predecessor of the modern Russian army

After the October Revolution of 1917 (this is what Russian historiographers called this event until the end of the 30s), Marxism became the dominant ideology throughout almost the entire area of ​​the former Russian Empire. It immediately became clear that not all provisions of this theory, declared science, have a specific practical value. Namely, Karl Marx declared the uselessness of the armed forces in the country of victorious socialism. To protect the borders, in his opinion, it was completely enough to simply arm the proletarians, and they would somehow do it themselves...

Down with the army!

At first everything was like that. After the publication of the decree “On Peace,” the Bolsheviks abolished the army and ended the war in a one-sided manner, which made them incredibly happy former enemies- Austria-Hungary and Germany. Soon, again, it became clear that these actions were hasty, and the young Russian republic had plenty of opponents, and few were able to defend it.

"Com on military affairs" and its creators

The new defense department was first dubbed not the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army (Red Army transcript), but much more simply - the Committee on Naval Affairs (the unfortunate "committee for military affairs"). The leaders of this department - Krylenko, Dybenko and Antonov-Ovsienko - were uneducated people, but resourceful. Their upcoming fate, like that of the creator of the Red Army himself, Comrade. L. D. Trotsky, has been interpreted by historians in many ways. At first they were declared heroes, although from V.I. Lenin’s article “A Hard but Necessary Lesson” (02.24.1918) one can realize that some of them screwed up significantly. Later they were shot or killed by other methods, but that’s later.

Creation of the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army

At the beginning of 1918, things at the fronts became completely dismal. The socialist fatherland was under threat, as was announced in a corresponding address dated February 22. The next day, the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army was created, at least on paper. Less than a month had passed before L. D. Trotsky, who became the People's Commissar for War and Chairman of the Revolutionary Military Council (RVS), realized that the situation could be corrected only by applying the most stringent measures. There were few people willing to voluntarily fight for the power of the soviets, and few were able to manage them at all.

The formations of the Red Guard were more like peasant bands than standing troops. Without recruiting royal military experts (officers), it was virtually impossible to do the job, and these people seemed very unreliable in a class sense. Then Trotsky, with his characteristic resourcefulness, came up with the idea of ​​placing a commissar with a Mauser next to each competent commander in order to “keep them under control.”

Decoding the Red Army, like the abbreviation itself, was difficult for the Bolshevik leaders. Some of them had difficulty pronouncing the letter “r”, and those who could master it still stumbled periodically. This did not prevent many streets in large towns from being named in honor of the 10th anniversary, and later the 20th anniversary of the Red Army.

And, of course, the “worker-peasant” movement could not do without forced mobilization, nor could it do without the most severe measures to increase discipline. The decoding of the Red Army pointed to the right of the proletarians to defend the socialist fatherland. At the same time, they should have kept in mind the inevitability of punishment for any attempt to evade this duty.

Differences between the SA and the Red Army

The decoding of the Red Army as the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army retained its name right until 1946, going through very painful stages of development of the Armed Forces of the USSR, defeat and victory. Having become Russian, she preserved many traditions that had their origins in the era of the Civil and Great Russian Wars. The institution of military commissars (political instructors) either gained strength or weakened depending on the political and strategic situation on the fronts. The tasks posed to the Red Army changed, as did its military doctrine.

Ultimately, to replace internationalism, which presupposed a quick world revolution, a special Russian patriotism has arrived. The military personnel of the USSR were instilled with the idea that the working people of capitalist countries do not have a homeland, only the happy residents of the Russian republics and other “people’s democratic” entities have one. This was not true, all people have a homeland, and not just the soldiers of the Red Army.

The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army was the name of the Ground Forces of the young Soviet state in 1918-1922 and until 1946. The Red Army was created almost out of nothing. Its prototype was the detachments of the Red Guards, which were formed following the February coup of 1917, and the units that went over to the side of the revolutionaries tsarist army. Despite everything, she was able to become a formidable force and won during the civil war.

The guarantee of success in the construction of the Red Army was the use of the combat experience of old pre-revolutionary army personnel. So-called military experts, namely officers and generals who served “the Tsar and the Fatherland,” began to be enlisted en masse into the ranks of the Red Army. Their total number during the civil war in the Red Army was up to fifty thousand people.

Beginning of the formation of the Red Army

In January 1918, the decree of the Council of People's Commissars “On the Red Army” was published, which noted that all citizens of the new Republic at least eighteen years of age could join its ranks. The date of publication of this resolution can be considered the beginning of the formation of the Red Army.

Organizational structure, composition of the Red Army

At first, the main unit of the Red Army was made up of separate detachments, which were military units with independent farms. The heads of the detachments were the Soviets, which included one military leader and two military commissars. They had small headquarters and inspectorates.

When combat experience was gained with the involvement of military experts, full-fledged units, units, formations (brigades, divisions, corps), institutions and establishments began to be formed in the ranks of the Red Army.

Organizationally, the Red Army corresponded to its class characteristics and military needs of the beginning of the last century. The structure of the combined arms formations of the Red Army consisted of:

• Rifle Corps, which had two to four divisions;
• Divisions, which included three rifle regiments, an artillery regiment and a technical unit;
• A regiment that had three battalions, an artillery battalion and technical units;
• Cavalry Corps with two cavalry divisions;
• Cavalry division with 4-6 regiments, artillery, armored units, technical units.

Red Army uniform

The Red Guards had no established rules forms of clothing. It was distinguished only by a red armband or a red ribbon on its headdress, and individual units were distinguished by Red Guard breastplates. At the beginning of the formation of the Red Army, they were allowed to wear the old uniform without insignia or a random uniform, as well as civilian clothes.

British and American-made French jackets have been very popular since 1919. Commanders, commissars and political workers had their own preferences; they could be seen in leather caps and jackets. Cavalrymen preferred hussar trousers (chakchirs) and dolmans, as well as uhlan jackets.

In the early Red Army, officers were rejected as “relics of tsarism.” The use of this word was banned and it was replaced by “commander”. At the same time, shoulder straps and military ranks were abolished. Their names were replaced by positions, in particular, “division commanders” or “comoral commanders”.

In January 1919, a table describing the insignia was introduced; it established eleven insignia for command personnel from the squad commander to the front commander. The report card determined the wearing of badges, the material for which was red instrument cloth, on the left sleeve.

The presence of a red star as a symbol of the Red Army

The first official emblem indicating that a soldier belonged to the Red Army was introduced in 1918 and was a wreath of laurel and oak branches. A red star was placed inside the wreath, as well as a plow and a hammer in the center. In the same year, headdresses began to be decorated with cockade badges with a red enamel five-pointed star with a plow and a hammer in the center.

Composition of the workers' and peasants' red army

Rifle troops of the Red Army

Rifle troops were considered the main branch of the military, the main backbone of the Red Army. In 1920, it was the rifle regiments that made up greatest number soldiers of the Red Army, later separate rifle corps of the Red Army were organized. They included: rifle battalions, regimental artillery, small units (signals, engineers and others), and the headquarters of the Red Army regiment. Rifle battalions included rifle and machine gun companies, battalion artillery and the headquarters of the Red Army battalion. Rifle companies included rifle and machine gun platoons. The rifle platoon included squads. The squad was considered the smallest organizational unit in the rifle troops. The squad was armed with rifles, light machine guns, hand grenades and a grenade launcher.

Artillery of the Red Army

The Red Army also included artillery regiments. They included artillery divisions and the headquarters of the Red Army regiment. The artillery division included batteries and division control. There are platoons in the battery. The platoon consisted of 4 guns. It is also known about the breakthrough artillery corps. They were part of the artillery, part of the reserves led by the Supreme High Command.

Red Army Cavalry

The main units in the cavalry were cavalry regiments. The regiments included saber and machine gun squadrons, regimental artillery, technical units and the headquarters of the Red Army cavalry. Saber and machine gun squadrons included platoons. Platoons were built from sections. Cavalry units began to organize together with the Red Army in 1918. From the disbanded units of the former army, only three cavalry regiments were accepted into the Red Army.

Armored troops of the Red Army

Red Army tanks manufactured at KhPZ

Since the 1920s, the Soviet Union began producing its own tanks. At the same time, the concept for the combat use of troops was laid down. Later, the Red Army charter specifically noted combat use tanks, as well as their interaction with infantry. In particular, the second part of the charter approved the most important conditions success:

• The sudden appearance of tanks together with attacking infantry, simultaneous and massive use over a wide area in order to disperse the enemy’s artillery and other anti-armor weapons;
• The use of echeloning of tanks in depth with the synchronous formation of a reserve from among them, which will allow developing attacks to great depths;
• close interaction of tanks with infantry, which secures the points they occupy.

Two configurations for using tanks in battle were envisaged:

• To directly support the infantry;
• Being an advanced echelon operating without fire and visual communication with it.

The armored forces had tank units and formations, as well as units armed with armored vehicles. The main tactical units were tank battalions. They included tank companies. Tank companies included tank platoons. The tank platoon had five tanks. The armored car company included platoons. The platoon included three to five armored vehicles.

The first tank brigade was created in 1935 as a reserve of the Commander-in-Chief, and already in 1940, on its basis, a tank division of the Red Army was formed. The same connections were included in mechanized corps.

Air Force (RKKA Air Force)

The Red Army Air Force was formed in 1918. They included separate aviation detachments and were in the district air fleet departments. Later they were reorganized, and they became front-line and army field aviation and aeronautics departments at front-line and combined-arms army headquarters. Such reforms occurred constantly.

Since 1938-1939, aviation in military districts was transferred from brigade to regimental and divisional ones organizational structures. The main tactical units were aviation regiments consisting of 60 aircraft. The activities of the Red Army Air Force were based on inflicting fast and powerful air strikes on the enemy at long distances, inaccessible to other types of troops. The aircraft were armed with high-explosive, fragmentation and incendiary bombs, cannons and machine guns.

The main units of the Air Force were air regiments. The regiments included air squadrons. The air squadron included flights. There were 4-5 aircraft in the flights.

Chemical Troops of the Red Army

The formation of chemical troops in the Red Army began in 1918. In the fall of the same year, the Republican Revolutionary Military Council issued Order No. 220, according to which the Chemical Service of the Red Army was created. By the 1920s, all rifle and cavalry divisions and brigades acquired chemical units. Since 1923, rifle regiments began to be supplemented with anti-gas teams. Thus, chemical units could be encountered in all branches of the military.

Throughout the Great Patriotic War chemical troops had:

• Technical teams (to install smoke screens, as well as to camouflage large or important objects);
• Brigades, battalions and companies for chemical protection;
• Flamethrower battalions and companies;
• Bases;
• Warehouses, etc.

Red Army Signal Troops

The mention of the first units and communications units in the Red Army dates back to 1918, when they were formed. In October 1919, the Signal Troops were given the right to become independent special forces. In 1941 they introduced new position- Chief of the Signal Corps.

Automotive troops of the Red Army

Automotive troops of the Red Army were integral part Armed Forces Rear Soviet Union. They were formed back in the Civil War.

Railway troops of the Red Army

The railway troops of the Red Army were also an integral part of the rear of the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union. They also formed during the Civil War. It was mainly the Railway Troops who laid communication routes and built bridges.

Road troops of the Red Army

The Road Troops of the Red Army were also an integral part of the Rear Services of the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union. They also formed during the Civil War.

By 1943, the Road Troops had:

• 294 separate road battalions;
• 22 military highway departments, which had 110 road commandant areas;
• 7 military road departments, in which there were 40 road detachments;
• 194 horse-drawn transport companies;
• Repair bases;
• Bases for the production of bridge and road devices;
• Educational and other institutions.

Military training system, training of the Red Army

Military education in the Red Army, as a rule, was divided into three levels. The basis of higher military education consisted of a well-developed network of higher military schools. All students there bore the title of cadets. The duration of training ranged from four to five years. Graduates mostly received the military ranks of lieutenants or junior lieutenants, which corresponded to the first positions of “platoon commanders.”

During peacetime, the training program at military schools provided for obtaining higher education. But during wartime it was reduced to secondary special education. The same thing happened with the timing of training. They were rapidly reduced, and then short-term six-month command courses were organized.

A feature of military education in the Soviet Union was the presence of a system in which there were military academies. Studying at such an academy provided higher military education, while the academy Western states trained junior officers.

Red Army Service: personnel

Each Red Army unit appointed a political commissar, or so-called political leaders (political instructors), who had almost unlimited powers; this was reflected in the Charter of the Red Army. In those years, political commissars could easily cancel, at their own discretion, orders from unit and unit commanders that they did not like. Such measures were presented as necessary.

Weapons and military equipment of the Red Army

The formation of the Red Army corresponded to general trends in military-technical development around the world, including:

• Formed tank forces and air forces;
• Mechanization of infantry units and their reorganization as motorized rifle troops;
• Disbanded cavalry;
• Appearing nuclear weapons.

The total number of the Red Army in different periods

Official statistics present the following data on the total number of the Red Army at different times:

• From April to September 1918 - almost 200,000 soldiers;
• In September 1919 - 3,000,000 soldiers;
• In the fall of 1920 - 5,500,000 soldiers;
• In January 1925 - 562,000 soldiers;
• In March 1932 - more than 600,000 soldiers;
• In January 1937 - more than 1,500,000 soldiers;
• In February 1939 - more than 1,900,000 soldiers;
• In September 1939 - more than 5,000,000 soldiers;
• In June 1940 - more than 4,000,000 soldiers;
• In June 1941 - more than 5,000,000 soldiers;
• In July 1941 - more than 10,000,000 soldiers;
• Summer 1942 - more than 11,000,000 soldiers;
• In January 1945 - more than 11,300,000 soldiers;
• In February 1946, more than 5,000,000 military personnel.

Red Army losses

There are different data on the human losses of the USSR in the Second World War. Official figures The losses of the Red Army changed many times.

According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, irrecoverable losses in battles on the territory of the Soviet-German front amounted to more than 8,800,000 Red Army soldiers and their commanders. This information came from declassified sources in 1993, according to data obtained from search work, as well as from archival data.

Repressions in the Red Army

Some historians believe that if there had not been pre-war repressions against the commanding staff of the Red Army, it is possible that history, including the Great Patriotic War, could have turned out differently.

During the 1937-1938s, the following were executed from the command staff of the Red Army and the Navy:

• Brigade commanders and equivalents from 887 - 478;
• Division commanders and equivalents from 352 - 293;
• Komkor and equivalent units – 115;
• Marshals and army commanders – 46.

In addition, many commanders simply died in prison, unable to withstand torture, many of them committed suicide.

Subsequently, each military district was subject to a change of 2-3 or more commanders, mainly due to arrests. Their deputies were repressed many times more. On average, 75% of the highest military echelons had little (up to a year) experience in their positions, and the lower echelons had even less experience.

On the results of the repressions, the German military attaché, General E. Kestring, made a report to Berlin in August 1938, which stated approximately the following.

Due to the elimination of many senior officers who had perfected their professionalism over decades of practical and theoretical studies, the Red Army was paralyzed in its operational capabilities.

The lack of experienced command personnel had a negative impact on the training of troops. There was a fear of making decisions, which also had a negative impact.

Thus, due to the mass repressions of 1937-1939, the Red Army approached 1941 completely unprepared. She had to go through the “school of hard knocks” directly during combat operations. However, acquiring such experience cost millions human lives.

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See main article History of the Red Army

Personnel

In general, the military ranks of junior command personnel (sergeants and foremen) of the Red Army correspond to the tsarist non-commissioned officer ranks, the ranks of junior officers - chief officer (the statutory address in the tsarist army is “your honor”), senior officers, from major to colonel - headquarters officers (the statutory address in the tsarist army is “your honor”), senior officers, from major general to marshal - general (“your excellency”).

A more detailed correspondence of ranks can only be established approximately, due to the fact that the very number of military ranks varies. Thus, the rank of lieutenant approximately corresponds to the lieutenant, and the tsarist rank of captain approximately corresponds to the Soviet military rank major.

It should also be noted that the insignia of the Red Army of the 1943 model were also not an exact copy royal, although they were created on their basis. Thus, the rank of colonel in the tsarist army was designated by shoulder straps with two longitudinal stripes and without stars; in the Red Army - two longitudinal stripes, and three medium-sized stars arranged in a triangle.

Repressions 1937-1938

Battle Banner

Battle banner of one of the units of the Red Army during the civil war:

The imperialist army is a weapon of oppression, the Red Army is a weapon of liberation.

For each unit or formation of the Red Army, its sacred Battle Banner. It serves as the main symbol of the unit, and the embodiment of its military glory. In the event of the loss of the Battle Banner, the military unit is subject to disbandment, and those directly responsible for such disgrace are subject to trial. A separate guard post is established to guard the Battle Banner. Each serviceman, passing by the banner, is obliged to give it military salute. On especially solemn occasions, the troops carry out a ritual of solemnly carrying out the Battle Banner. To be included in the banner group directly conducting the ritual is considered a great honor, which is awarded only to the most honored officers and warrant officers.

Oath

It is mandatory for recruits in any army in the world to take an oath. In the Red Army, this ritual is usually carried out a month after conscription, after the young soldier has completed the course. Before being sworn in, soldiers are prohibited from being entrusted with weapons; There are a number of other restrictions. On the day of the oath, the soldier receives weapons for the first time; he breaks ranks, approaches the commander of his unit, and reads a solemn oath in front of the formation. The oath is traditionally considered important holiday, and is accompanied by the ceremonial removal of the Battle Banner.

The text of the oath was changed several times; the first option sounded like this:

I, a citizen of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, joining the ranks of the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army, take the oath and solemnly swear to be an honest, brave, disciplined, vigilant fighter, strictly keep military and state secrets, unquestioningly carry out all military regulations and orders of commanders, commissars and bosses.

I swear to conscientiously study military affairs, to protect military property in every possible way and to my last breath to be devoted to my people, my Soviet Motherland and the workers' and peasants' government.

I am always ready, by order of the workers' and peasants' government, to defend my Motherland - the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and, as a warrior of the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army, I swear to defend it courageously, skillfully, with dignity and honor, not sparing my blood and life itself to achieve complete victory over the enemy.

If, out of malicious intent, I violate this solemn oath of mine, then may I suffer the severe punishment of Soviet law, the general hatred and contempt of the working people.

Late version

I, a citizen of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, joining the ranks Armed Forces, I take the oath and solemnly swear to be an honest, brave, disciplined, vigilant warrior, to strictly maintain military and state secrets, to unquestioningly carry out all military regulations and orders of commanders and superiors.

I swear to conscientiously study military affairs, to protect military and national property in every possible way, and to be devoted to my people, my Soviet Motherland and the Soviet government until my last breath.

I am always ready, by order of the Soviet government, to defend my Motherland - the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and, as a warrior of the Armed Forces, I swear to defend it courageously, skillfully, with dignity and honor, not sparing my blood and life itself to achieve complete victory over enemy.

If I violate this solemn oath of mine, then may I suffer the severe punishment of Soviet law, the general hatred and contempt of the Soviet people.

Modern version

I (last name, first name, patronymic) solemnly swear allegiance to my Motherland - the Russian Federation.

I swear to sacredly observe its Constitution and laws, to strictly comply with the requirements of military regulations, orders of commanders and superiors.

I swear to fulfill my military duty with dignity, to courageously defend the freedom, independence and constitutional system of Russia, the people and the Fatherland.

After the October Revolution of 1917 (that’s what Soviet historiographers called this event until the end of the thirties), almost throughout the entire territory of the former Russian Empire Marxism became the dominant ideology. It immediately became clear that not all provisions of this theory, declared by science, have immediate practical value. In particular, Karl Marx declared the uselessness of the armed forces in the country of victorious socialism. To protect the borders, in his opinion, it was quite enough to simply arm the proletarians, and they would somehow do it themselves...

Down with the army!

At first everything was like that. After the publication of the decree “On Peace”, the Bolsheviks abolished the army and ended the war unilaterally, which brought incredible joy to their former opponents - Austria-Hungary and Germany. Soon, again, it became clear that these actions were hasty, and the young Soviet republic had more than enough enemies, but there was no one to defend it.

"Com on military affairs" and its creators

The new defense department was at first called not the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army (RKKA transcript), but much more simply - the Committee for Naval Affairs (the notorious “committee for military affairs”). The leaders of this department - Krylenko, Dybenko and Antonov-Ovsienko - were uneducated people, but resourceful. Their further fate, as well as the creator of the Red Army himself, Comrade. L. has been interpreted ambiguously by historians. At first they were declared heroes, although from V.I. Lenin’s article “A Hard but Necessary Lesson” (02/24/1918) it can be understood that some of them screwed up pretty badly. Then they were shot or destroyed in other ways, but that comes later.

Creation of the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army

At the beginning of 1918, things at the fronts became completely gloomy. The socialist fatherland was in danger, as was announced in the corresponding appeal dated February 22. The next day, the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army was created, at least on paper. Less than a month had passed since L. D. Trotsky, who became the People's Commissar for War and Chairman of the Revolutionary Military Council (RVS), realized that the situation could be corrected only by applying the most stringent measures. There were not enough people willing to voluntarily fight for the power of the Soviets, and there was no one at all to lead them.

The formations of the Red Guard were more like peasant bands than regular troops. Without the involvement of tsarist military experts (officers), it was almost impossible to set things up, and these people seemed extremely unreliable in a class sense. Then Trotsky, with his characteristic resourcefulness, came up with the idea of ​​placing a commissar with a Mauser next to each competent commander in order to “control.”

Decoding the Red Army, like the abbreviation itself, was difficult for the Bolshevik leaders. Some of them had difficulty pronouncing the letter "r", and those who could master it still stumbled at times. This did not prevent many streets in the future major cities give names in honor of the 10th anniversary, and later the 20th anniversary of the Red Army.

And, of course, the “worker-peasant” movement could not do without forced mobilization, as well as the most severe measures to increase discipline. The decoding of the Red Army pointed to the right of the proletarians to defend the socialist fatherland. At the same time, they should remember the inevitability of punishment for any attempts to evade this duty.

Differences between the SA and the Red Army

The interpretation of the Red Army as the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army retained its name until 1946, having gone through very painful stages of development of the Armed Forces of the USSR, defeat and victory. Having become Soviet, it preserved many traditions that had its origins in the Civil era and the Institute of Military Commissars (political instructors) either gained strength or weakened depending on the political and strategic situation on the fronts. The tasks assigned to the Red Army changed, as did its

Ultimately, internationalism, which assumed an imminent world revolution, was replaced by special Soviet patriotism. The military personnel of the USSR were instilled with the idea that the working people of capitalist countries do not have a homeland, only the happy inhabitants have one Soviet republics and other “people’s democratic” formations. This was not true, all people have a homeland, and not just the soldiers of the Red Army.

RED ARMY - Workers' and Peasants' Red Army (RKKA) from January 1918 to February 1946 official name ground forces, air and naval forces of the RSFSR, then the USSR. Since February 1946 - Soviet Army.

Created by Decree of the Council of People's Commissars of January 15 (28), 1918, signed by V. I. Lenin. At the same time as component army created the Workers' and Peasants' Red Air Fleet(KVF - the first air detachment was organized on October 28 (November 10) to fight the troops of A.F. Kerensky - P.N. Krasnov, advancing on Petrograd) and by the Decree of the Council of People's Commissars of January 29 (February 11) - the Workers' and Peasants' Red Fleet ( RKKF). One of the active organizers of the Red Army was L. D. Trotsky, People's Commissar for Military and Naval Affairs since the spring of 1918. The supreme governing body of the Red Army was the Council of People's Commissars, with direct leadership and management carried out by the Commissariat for Military Affairs.

Initially, the Red Army was formed on a class basis and the principles of voluntariness from among the most conscious citizens of the Republic. To join the army, a recommendation was required from military committees, party, trade union and other mass organizations supporting Soviet power. However, the escalation of the Civil War in Russia in 1918-1922. demanded mass recruitment into the army, and then general, compulsory mobilization - July 10, 1918. The V All-Russian Congress of Soviets legislated the transition to recruiting the army and navy on the basis of universal conscription. In addition, it was decided to use the military experience and knowledge of the “old” military specialists, who made up 48% of the senior command staff. A major role in the construction and victories of the Red Army in Civil War it was played by the first commanders-in-chief I. I. Vatsetis (September 2, 1918 - July 9, 1919) and S. S. Kamenev (July 10, 1919 - April 1, 1924; in 1924 the position of commander-in-chief was abolished), front commanders A. I. Egorov and M N. Tukhachevsky, as well as the advanced “young” military leaders: V. A. Antonov-Ovseenko, V. K. Blyukher, S. M. Budyonny, S. K. Timoshenko, M. F. Frunze, I. E. Yakir and others. Party-political work in the Red Army was carried out by military commissars acting under the leadership of the Central Committee of the RCP (b): K. E. Voroshilov, S. M. Kirov, G. K. Ordzhonikidze, I. V. Stalin and others. Military Institute Commissars existed (with interruptions) until 1942.

In Soviet times, the birthday of the Red Army was celebrated annually (since 1919) on February 23, but this was the day of the first mass recruitment into the army in Petrograd and Moscow due to the need to repel the German troops advancing near Petrograd. Recruitment was carried out on the basis of the decree-appeal “The Socialist Fatherland is in Danger!” (21 February 1918), published 22 February.

Orlov A.S., Georgieva N.G., Georgiev V.A. Historical Dictionary. 2nd ed. M., 2012, p. 251-252.

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