GPW Soviet Diplomatic Ranks / Tunics

[DougD]

I just thought I would throw a basic guide up to WWII Soviet Diplomatic uniforms and ranks.

This first chart shows the 1943-1947 shouldboard ranks. What would be the "Marshal of the USSR" rank was only held by Molotov and only as of 1945. It was Minister of Foreign Affairs of the USSR. Before then the highest rank would what we would call in the army a branch marshal; one large star and no state seal (see jpeg below).

The next on that level (4,3,2,1 star) would what we would say are generals for lack of a better term. Officers are on the bottom row.

The boards are quite a bit narrower then are army type boards, and are backed in red on the back. The crossed leaf insignia could be either metal or embroidered.

DD

[DougD]

Unlike army officers, diplomatic service officers had to have matching collar and cuff rank. I was only planning on doing this article on "generals" rank uniforms, so the cuff rank is limited to those higher ranks ( with the exception of the lowest cuff rank; belongs to the highest regular officer rank)

Both of the "marshals" board rank tunics would share the same cuff embroidery; note the red star that is added for the "marshals" rank. The cuffs in between the highest officer and the marshals are for each rank of "generals" ; i.e. going from high to low and 4 to 1.

These charts are from an old issue of "Zeughaus" in an article done by the high end collector Kutsenko.

DD

[DougD]

This is a one star "general" of the diplomatic service; called a Soventik 2nd Class.

Its difficult to see in this photo, but he has the one star on the boards and it matches the cuff rank.

These tunics tended, but not always, to come with a formal dinner vest.

DD

[DougD]

This tunic is, as one might expect, super rare; a 1943-1945 diplomatic "marshal" to one of Molotovs deputies (can't give name; client likes to keep them secret). Note the really heavy cuffs with embroidered red star.

DD

[DougD]

These are the slightly out of focus cuffs of the Diplomatic Marshal; the embroidery is real gold and of the finest quality.

DD

[DougD]

Another slightly out of focus shot, of his board and collar.

DD

[Tal Inbar]

:)

What GREAT uniforms!

What is the book from which you scaned the ranks?

Tal

[DougD]

The rank charts are from an old issue of the Russian collectors magazine "Zueghaus". They do alot of good articles from all eras of Russian history. All in Russian, but well done enough its worth struggling through the articles.

DD

[Tal Inbar]

Maybe you will have the time to scan some covers and post an entry in the references section?

T

[DougD]

what i can do. most articles are about uniforms, soe have medals. There was a neat article about soviet officers who wore Tsarist awards on their uniforms.

DD