How many years have you served in the army before? How many years have you served in the Russian army before? Rear of the USSR

In pre-revolutionary Russia:

Until 1874, military service was carried out by recruits (peasants and townspeople). At first, military service was indefinite; from 1793, the service period was reduced to 25 years. Gradually it decreased - and by the time military reform 1874 was already 7 years.

After the reform, conscription was replaced by universal conscription. The total service life in the ground forces was 15 years (directly in service - 6 years, and the rest of the time in the reserve), the total service period in the navy was 10 years (direct service - 7 years).

In 1906, the period of active military service was reduced to 3 years. Then, in August-December 1914, general mobilization- in connection with the outbreak of the First World War.

After the revolution of 1917 and civil war a new army began to form in the new state.

IN THE USSR:

Based on various decrees and resolutions of the Central Executive Committee, the length of service was changed several times until the law on compulsory military service was adopted in 1925.

In the ground forces until the beginning of the Great Patriotic War it was 2 years. In aviation: from 1925 to 1928 - 3 years, from 1928 to 1939 - 2 years, from 1939 to 1941 - again 3 years. It also varied in the navy. So, from 1924 to 1928 you had to serve for 4 years, from 1928 to 1939 - 3 years, from 1939 - 5 years.

After the Great Patriotic War (with the beginning of which mobilization was carried out again), a new law on universal conscription was adopted already in 1949. In accordance with it, men were drafted into the ground forces and aviation for 3 years, and into the navy for 4 years.

In 1967, a new law on universal conscription was adopted, the service life was shortened and was 2 years for those sent to the ground forces and aviation, and 3 years for the navy.

In modern Russia:

In 1993, the normative act that existed in the USSR was repealed - the Russian Federation Law “On Military Duty and Military Service” came into force. Initially, the document reduced the service life to 18 months (i.e. 1.5 years), and in the fleet - to 2 years.

In 1996, in connection with the beginning Chechen campaign A new law came into force, according to which the duration of service in the army and navy was equal - and amounted to 2 years.

In the early 2000s, preparations for division began in Russia military service by conscription and by contract - and at the same time reducing the period of conscription service from 2 years to 1 year. For the first time, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that the Russian leadership plans to reduce the length of conscription military service back in 2002.

The transition took place in stages: for example, young people who joined the army in the fall of 2007 had to serve for 1.5 years. And since January 2008, the service life has been 12 months - 1 year.

In November 2012, the media, following a statement by the chairman of the State Duma Committee on Defense, reported that the length of service in the Russian army would be revised again. Thus, according to the chairman of the committee, Vladimir Komoyedov, the optimal length of service is one and a half years, and the reduction of service to 1 year was a “political decision” and in fact has a bad effect on the combat readiness of the army.

A source in the Kremlin almost immediately refuted this, recalling the president’s implemented initiative to reduce deadlines.

These are photographs from a Soviet photo album of the 80s of the USSR Armed Forces with comments taken from the Great Soviet Encyclopedia.

“...from the taiga to the British seas: the Red Army is the strongest,” they sang in a Soviet song. During World War II, the Red Army became Soviet and, together with the Navy, Civil Defense Troops, border and internal troops, formed the Armed Forces of the USSR.

The Armed Forces of the USSR are a military organization of the Soviet state, designed to protect the socialist gains of the Soviet people, freedom and independence of the Soviet Union. Together with the armed forces of other socialist countries, they ensure the security of the entire socialist community from the attacks of aggressors.

Construction battalion members at BAM.

Sappers in action.

The Armed Forces of the USSR are divided into types: Strategic Missile Forces, Ground Forces, Air Defense Forces, Air Force, Navy, and also include the Rear Services of the Armed Forces, headquarters and Civil Defense troops. The branches of the Armed Forces, in turn, are divided into types of troops, types of forces (Navy) and special forces, which organizationally consist of subunits, units, and formations. The Armed Forces also include border and internal troops. The Armed Forces of the USSR have a unified system of organization and recruitment, centralized management, uniform principles of training and education of personnel and training of command personnel, a general procedure for serving as privates, non-commissioned officers and officers.

Direct leadership of the Armed Forces is exercised by the USSR Ministry of Defense. All branches of the Armed Forces, the rear of the Armed Forces, headquarters and Civil Defense troops are subordinate to him. Each branch of the Armed Forces is led by a corresponding commander-in-chief, who is a deputy. Minister of Defense The border and internal troops are led, respectively, by the State Security Committee under the Council of Ministers of the USSR and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the USSR. The Ministry of Defense includes the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the USSR, the directorates of the commanders-in-chief of the branches of the Armed Forces, the Logistics Directorate of the Armed Forces, the main and central directorates (the Main Personnel Directorate, the Central Financial Directorate, the Administrative Department, etc.), as well as military administrative bodies and civil service institutions. defense The Ministry of Defense, among other tasks, is entrusted with: developing plans for the construction and development of the Armed Forces in peacetime and war time, improving the organization of troops, weapons, military equipment, providing the Armed Forces with weapons and all types of material supplies, managing the operational and combat training of troops and a number of other functions determined by the requirements of state defense. The leadership of party political work in the Armed Forces of the CPSU Central Committee is carried out through the Main Political Directorate Soviet army and the Navy, operating as a department of the CPSU Central Committee. It directs political bodies, army and navy party and Komsomol organizations, ensures party influence on all aspects of the life of military personnel, directs the activities of political bodies and party organizations to increase the combat readiness of troops, strengthen military discipline and the political and moral state of personnel.

Crossing on a pontoon.

Artillery crew during an exercise. Material and technical support for the Armed Forces is carried out by departments and logistics services subordinate to the Deputy Minister of Defense - Chief of Logistics of the Armed Forces.

The territory of the USSR is divided into military districts. A military district may cover the territories of several territories, republics or regions. To fulfill allied obligations to jointly ensure the security of socialist states, groups are temporarily located in the territories of the GDR, Poland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia. Soviet troops. In the branches of the Armed Forces, military districts, groups of troops, air defense districts, and fleets, military councils have been created that have the right to consider and decide all important issues of the life and activities of the troops of the corresponding branch of the Armed Forces or district. They bear full responsibility to the Central Committee of the CPSU, the government and the Minister of Defense of the USSR for the implementation of party and government decisions in the Armed Forces, as well as orders of the Minister of Defense.

On a submarine.

Against the backdrop of the Motherland monument in the hero city of Volgograd.

The formation of the Armed Forces by privates, sergeants and senior officers is carried out by calling up Soviet citizens for active military service, which, according to the Constitution of the USSR and the Law on General Military Duty of 1967, is an honorable duty of citizens of the USSR (see Military duty in the USSR). Conscription is carried out by order of the Minister of Defense everywhere 2 times a year: in May - June and in November - December. Male citizens who have reached the age of 18 by the day of conscription are called up for active military service for a period of service from 1.5 to 3 years, depending on their education and the type of Armed Forces. An additional source of recruitment is the admission of military personnel and reserve personnel on a voluntary basis to the positions of warrant officers and midshipmen, as well as for long-term service. Officer cadres are recruited at on a voluntary basis. Officers are trained in higher and secondary military schools of the relevant branches of the Armed Forces and branches of the military; political officers - in higher military-political schools. To prepare young men for entry into higher military educational establishments There are Suvorov and Nakhimov schools. Advanced training of officers is carried out at higher advanced training courses for officers, as well as in the system of combat and political training. Leading command, political, engineering and other officer cadres are trained in military, air force, naval and special academies.

Communication with the commander.

Solemn ceremony of taking the oath.

The history of the Soviet Army and Navy began with the formation of the world's first socialist state. After the victory of the October Revolution of 1917, the Soviet people had to not only build a new society, but also defend it with arms in hand from internal counter-revolution and repeated attacks by international imperialism. The Armed Forces of the USSR were created directly by the Communist Party under the leadership. V.I. Lenin, based on the provisions of the Marxist-Leninist teaching on war and the army. By the resolution of the 2nd All-Russian Congress of Soviets of October 26 (November 8), 1917, during the formation of the Soviet government, a Committee on Military and Naval Affairs was created consisting of V. A. Antonov-Ovseenko, N. V. Krylenko, P. E. Dybenko; from October 27 (November 9), 1917 it was called the Council of People's Commissars for Military and Naval Affairs, from December 1917 - the College of Military Commissars, from February 1918 - 2 People's Commissars: for military and naval affairs. The main armed force in overthrowing the rule of the bourgeoisie and landowners and winning the power of the working people were the Red Guard and the revolutionary sailors of the Baltic Fleet, soldiers of the Petrograd and other garrisons. Relying on the working class and the peasant poor, they played a major role in the victory of the October Revolution of 1917, in the defense of the young Soviet republic in the center and locally, in the defeat at the end of 1917 - beginning of 1918 of the counter-revolutionary uprisings of Kerensky - Krasnov near Petrograd, Kaledin on the Don, Dutov in the Southern Urals, in ensuring the Triumphal March Soviet power throughout Russia.

Army amateur activities.

“... The Red Guards did the noblest and greatest historical work of liberating the working people and the exploited from the oppression of the exploiters” (Lenin V.I., Poln. sobr. soch., 5th ed., vol. 36, p. 177).

At the beginning of 1918, it became obvious that the forces of the Red Guard, as well as detachments of revolutionary soldiers and sailors, were clearly not enough to reliably defend the Soviet state. In an effort to strangle the revolution, the imperialist states, primarily Germany, undertook an intervention against the young Soviet Republic, which merged with the rise of internal counter-revolution: White Guard rebellions and conspiracies of the Socialist Revolutionaries, Mensheviks, and the remnants of various bourgeois parties. Regular armed forces were needed that could protect the Soviet state from numerous enemies.

On January 15 (28), 1918, the Council of People's Commissars adopted a decree on the creation of the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army (RKKA), and on January 29 (February 11) - a decree on the creation of the Workers' and Peasants' Red Fleet (RKKF) on a voluntary basis. Direct supervision of the formation of the Red Army was carried out by the All-Russian Collegium, established by the Council of People's Commissars on January 15 (28), 1918 under the People's Commissariat for Military Affairs. In connection with Germany’s violation of the truce and its troops going on the offensive, the Soviet government on February 22 addressed the people with a decree-appeal written by Lenin, “The Socialist Fatherland is in Danger!” This decree marked the beginning of the mass enrollment of volunteers in the Red Army and the formation of many of its units. In commemoration of the general mobilization of revolutionary forces to defend the socialist Fatherland, as well as the courageous resistance of the Red Army units to the invaders, February 23 is celebrated annually in the USSR as a national holiday - the Day of the Soviet Army and Navy.

In the army bath.

Physical training.

During the Civil War of 1918–20, the construction of the Red Army and the Red Army was carried out exclusively difficult conditions. The country's economy was undermined railway transport disorganized, the army was supplied with food irregularly, and there were not enough weapons and uniforms. The army did not have the required number of command personnel; Means. Some of the officers of the old army were on the side of the counter-revolution. The peasantry, from which the rank and file and junior command staff were mainly recruited, devastated by the First World War of 1914–18, were not inclined to voluntarily join the army. All these difficulties were aggravated by the sabotage of the old bureaucracy, the bourgeois intelligentsia and the kulaks.

Veteran and conscript.

From January to May 1918, the Red Army and the Red Red Army Fleet were staffed with volunteers, the command staff (up to the regiment commander) was selected; the number of volunteer units was extremely insufficient. By April 20, 1918, the Red Army numbered only 196 thousand people. Staffing the army with volunteers and electing command personnel could not ensure the creation of a massive regular army, which was necessary in the international situation and in the context of the expanding scale of the Civil War. On March 4, 1918, the Supreme Military Council was formed to guide military operations and the organization of the army. On April 8, the Council of People's Commissars adopted a decree on the establishment of volost, district, provincial and district commissariats for military affairs; on May 8, instead of the All-Russian Collegium for the formation of the Red Army, the All-Russian Main Staff (Vseroglavshtab) was created - the highest executive body in charge of the mobilization, formation, organization and training of troops . By decree of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee on April 22, universal military training of workers (Vsevobuch) was introduced, and military department bodies began to appoint command personnel. Due to the lack of qualified command personnel, former officers and generals were recruited into the army and navy; The Institute of Military Commissars was formed.

Military ID.

On July 10, 1918, the 5th All-Russian Congress of Soviets adopted a resolution “On the organization of the Red Army” on the basis of universal military service for workers aged 18 to 40 years. The transition to compulsory military service made it possible to sharply increase the size of the Red Army. By the beginning of September 1918, there were already 550 thousand people in its ranks. On September 6, 1918, simultaneously with the declaration of martial law in the country, instead of the Supreme Military Council, the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic (RVSR) was created, whose functions included operational and organizational control of the troops. In September 1918, the functions and personnel of the People's Commissariat for Military Affairs were transferred to the RVSR, and in December 1918 - the People's Commissariat for Maritime Affairs (became part of the RVSR as the Naval Department). The RVSR led the active army through its member - the commander-in-chief of all the armed forces of the Republic (commander-in-chief: from September 1918 - I. I. Vatsetis, from July 1919 - S. S. Kamenev). On September 6, 1918, the Field Headquarters of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic was established (February 10, 1921, merged with the All-Russian Headquarters into the Headquarters of the Red Army), subordinate to the commander-in-chief and engaged in training troops and directing military operations.

Political information.

Party political work in the army and navy was carried out by the Central Committee of the RCP (b) through the All-Russian Bureau of Military Commissars (created on April 8, 1918), which on April 18, 1919, by decision of the 8th Party Congress, was replaced by a department of the RVSR, renamed on May 26, 1919 to the Political Directorate (PUR) under the RVSR, which was also a department of the Central Committee of the RCP (o). In the troops, party political work was carried out by political departments and party organizations (cells).

In 1919, based on the decisions of the 8th Party Congress, the transition to a regular mass army was completed, with a strong proletarian, politically conscious, personnel core, a unified recruitment system, a stable organization of troops, centralized control and an effective party-political apparatus. The construction of the Armed Forces of the USSR took place in a bitter struggle with the “military opposition”, which opposed the creation of a regular army, defended the remnants of partisanship in command and control of troops and the conduct of war, and underestimated the role of old military specialists.

By the end of 1919, the size of the Red Army reached 3 million people, by the fall of 1920 - 5.5 million people. The share of workers was 15%, peasants - 77%, others - 8%. In total, during 1918–20, 88 rifle and 29 cavalry divisions, 67 air detachments (300–400 aircraft), as well as a number of artillery and armored units and subunits were formed. There were 2 spare (reserve) armies (Republic and South-Eastern Front) and units of the Vsevobuch, in which about 800 thousand people were trained. During the Civil War, 6 military academies and over 150 courses and schools (October 1920) trained 40 thousand commanders from workers and peasants. On August 1, 1920, there were about 300 thousand communists in the Red Army and Navy (about 1/2 of the entire party), who were the cementing core of the army and navy. About 50 thousand of them died a heroic death during the Civil War.

In the summer and autumn of 1918, active troops began to be consolidated into armies and fronts led by revolutionary military councils (RMC) of 2-4 members. By the fall of 1919, there were 7 fronts, each with 2–5 armies. In total, the fronts had 16-18 combined arms armies, one Cavalry Army (1st) and several separate cavalry corps. In 1920 the 2nd Cavalry Army was formed.

During the fight against the interventionists and the White Guards, mainly the weapons of the old army were used. At the same time, the emergency measures taken by the party to establish the military industry and the unparalleled heroism of the working class made it possible to move to the organized supply of Soviet-made weapons, ammunition and uniforms to the Red Army. The average monthly production of rifles in 1920 was more than 56 thousand units, cartridges - 58 million units. In 1919, aviation enterprises built 258 and repaired 50 aircraft.

Along with the creation of the Red Army, Soviet military science arose and developed, based on the Marxist-Leninist teaching on war and the army, the practice of the revolutionary struggle of the masses, the achievements of military theory of the past, creatively revised in relation to new conditions. The first regulations of the Red Army were published: in 1918 - Charter internal service, Charter of garrison service, Field regulations, in 1919 - Disciplinary regulations. A great contribution to Soviet military science were Lenin’s provisions on the essence and nature of war, the role of the masses, the social system, and the economy in achieving victory. Already at that time it was clearly evident character traits Soviet military art: revolutionary creative activity; intransigence to the template; the ability to determine the direction of the main attack; a reasonable combination of offensive and defensive actions; pursuit of the enemy until his complete destruction, etc.

After the victorious end of the Civil War and the decisive defeat of the combined forces of interventionists and White Guards, the Red Army was transferred to a peaceful position and by the end of 1924 its strength was reduced by 10 times. Simultaneously with demobilization, the Armed Forces were strengthened. In 1923, the united People's Commissariat for Military and Naval Affairs was recreated. As a result of the military reform of 1924–25, the central apparatus was reduced and updated, new staff levels of units and formations were introduced, the social composition of command personnel was improved, and new regulations, manuals and guidelines were developed and implemented. The most important issue of military reform was the transition to a mixed system of recruiting troops, which made it possible to have a small personnel army in peacetime with minimal expenditure of funds for its maintenance in combination with territorial police formations of internal districts (see Territorial police structure). Most of the formations and units of the border districts, technical and special troops, and the Navy remained personnel. Instead of L. D. Trotsky (since 1918 - People's Commissar for Military Affairs and Chairman of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic), who sought to tear the Red Army and Navy away from the party leadership, on January 26, 1925, M. V. Frunze was appointed Chairman of the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR and People's Commissar for Military and Naval Affairs, after his death of which K.E. Voroshilov became People's Commissar.

The first all-Union law “On Compulsory Military Service,” adopted on September 18, 1925 by the Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR, consolidated the measures taken during the military reform. This law determined the organizational structure of the Armed Forces, which included the Ground Forces (infantry, cavalry, artillery, armored forces, engineering troops, signal troops), Air Force and Naval Forces, troops of the United State Political Administration (OGPU) and the USSR escort guards. Their number in 1927 was 586 thousand people.

In the 30s on the basis of the successes achieved in building socialism, further improvement of the Armed Forces took place; their territorial and personnel structure ceased to meet the needs of state defense. In 1935–38, a transition was made from the territorial personnel system to a unified personnel structure of the Armed Forces. In 1937, there were 1.5 million people in the ranks of the army and navy, in June 1941 - about 5 million people. On June 20, 1934, the Central Executive Committee of the USSR abolished the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR and renamed the People's Commissariat for Military and Naval Affairs into the People's Commissariat of Defense of the USSR. In November 1934, the Military Council of the People's Commissariat of Defense was created, in 1937 military councils in the districts, and in 1935 the Headquarters of the Red Army was transformed into the General Staff. In 1937, the all-Union People's Commissariat of the Navy was created; The political directorate of the Red Army was renamed the Main Directorate of Political Propaganda, and the political directorates of districts and political departments of formations were renamed into directorates and departments of political propaganda. On May 10, 1937, by decree of the Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR, the institution of military commissars was introduced, responsible together with the commanders for the political and moral state of the troops, operational and mobilization readiness, the condition of weapons and military equipment; in 1938 the main military councils of the Red Army were established; Army and Navy.

On September 1, 1939, the law “On General Military Duty” was adopted, which abolished the previously existing restrictions on conscription into the army and navy for certain categories of the population and proclaimed military service an honorable duty of all citizens of the USSR, regardless of their class affiliation.

The social composition of the army improved: from 40 to 50% of soldiers and junior commanders were representatives of the working class. In 1939, there were 14 military academies, 63 military schools of the Ground Forces and 14 Navy, 32 flight and flight technical schools. On September 22, 1935, personal military ranks were introduced (see Military ranks), and on May 7, 1940, general and admiral ranks were introduced. In terms of technical equipment, the Armed Forces during the pre-war five-year plans (1929–40) rose to the level of the armies of advanced capitalist states. In the Ground Forces in 1939 compared to 1930, the number of artillery increased; 7 times, including anti-tank and tank - 70 times. The number of tanks increased 2.5 times from 1934 to 1939. Along with the quantitative growth of weapons and military equipment, their quality has improved. A noticeable step has been made in increasing the rate of fire of small arms. Mechanization and motorization of all types of troops increased. Air defense, engineering, communications, and chemical defense troops were armed with new technical means. Based on the successes of aircraft and engine manufacturing, the Air Force further developed. In 1939, compared to 1930, the total number of aircraft increased by 6.5 times. The Navy began construction of surface ships of various classes, submarines, torpedo boats, as well as naval aircraft. Compared to 1939, the volume of military production in 1940 increased by more than 1/3. Through the efforts of the design bureau teams of A. I. Mikoyan, M. I. Gurevich, A. S. Yakovlev, S. A. Lavochkin, S. V. Ilyushin, V. M. Petlyakov and others, and workers in the aviation industry, various types were created fighter aircraft: Yak-1, MiG-Z, LaGG-Z, Pe-2 dive bomber, Il-2 attack aircraft. The design teams of Zh. Ya. Kotin, M. I. Koshkin, A. A. Morozov, I. A. Kucherenko put on mass production the world's best heavy and medium tanks KV-1 and T-34. The design bureaus of V. G. Grabin, I. I. Ivanov, F. I. Petrov and others created new original types of artillery guns and mortars, many of which entered mass production. From May 1940 to the start of the Great Patriotic War of 1941–45, the gun fleet increased by more than 1.2 times. Designers Yu. A. Pobedonostsev, I. I. Gvai, V. A. Artemyev, F. I. Poyda and others created rocket weapons for salvo firing at areas. A large group of designers and scientists - A. N. Krylov, P. N. Papkovich, V. L. Pozdyunin, V. I. Kostenko, A. N. Maslov, B. M. Malinin, V. F. Popov and others. , developed several new types of warships that were put into mass production. Factories producing small arms, ammunition, fuels and lubricants, etc. achieved great success in 1940–41.

Increased technical equipment made it possible on the eve of the war to significantly improve the organizational structure of the troops. The rifle divisions included tanks, powerful divisional artillery, anti-tank and anti-aircraft artillery, which significantly increased their firepower. Further development received the organization of reserve artillery of the High Command (RGK). Instead of separate tank and armored brigades, which since 1939 had been the main formations of armored forces, the formation of larger formations began - tank and mechanized divisions. The airborne troops began to form airborne corps, and the Air Force began to switch to a divisional organization in 1940. The Navy organized formations and associations intended for joint actions with ground forces and for conducting independent operations.

Military strategy, operational art and tactics received further development. In the mid-30s. The theory of deep combat and deep operations is being developed, reflecting qualitative changes in the technical equipment of troops - a fundamentally new theory of conducting operations by massive, highly mobile, well-equipped armies. Theoretical provisions were tested during maneuvers and exercises, as well as during the combat operations of the Red Army in the area of Lake Khasan, river. Khalkhin Gol, in the Soviet-Finnish war 1939-40. Many charters and instructions were developed anew. In 1940, the troops received the Infantry Combat Regulations (Part 1), draft Field Regulations and Infantry Combat Regulations (Part 2), the Tank Forces Combat Regulations, the Combat Regulations, the Guard Service Regulations, etc. On May 7, 1940, S. was appointed People's Commissar of Defense. K. Timoshenko.

Despite the measures taken, the preparation of the Armed Forces to repel the aggression being prepared by German fascism was not completed. The reorganization of the Armed Forces on a new technical basis was not completed by the beginning of the war. Most of the formations transferred to new states were not fully equipped with weapons and military equipment, as well as vehicles. Many mid- and senior-level commanders lacked experience in modern warfare.

Great Patriotic War. the war of 1941–45 was the most difficult test for the Soviet people and the Armed Forces of the USSR. The fascist German troops, due to the surprise of the attack, lengthy preparations for war, 2 years of experience in military operations in Europe, superiority in the number of weapons, the number of troops and other temporary advantages, were able to advance hundreds of kilometers in the first months of the war, regardless of losses deep into Soviet territory. The CPSU and the Soviet government did everything necessary to eliminate the mortal threat hanging over the country. From the beginning of the war, the deployment of the Armed Forces was carried out in an organized manner and in a short time. By July 1, 1941, 5.3 million people were called up from the reserves. The entire life of the country was restructured on a military basis. The main sectors of the economy switched to the production of military products. In July - November 1941, 1,360 large enterprises, mainly of defense significance, were evacuated from front-line areas. On June 30, 1941, an emergency body was formed - the State Defense Committee (GKO) under the chairmanship of I.V. Stalin. On July 19, 1941, J.V. Stalin was appointed People's Commissar of Defense, who on August 8 also became the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. The State Defense Committee led the entire life of the country, combining the efforts of the rear and the front, the activities of all government agencies, party and public organizations to completely defeat the enemy. Fundamental issues of governing the state and waging war were decided by the Party Central Committee - the Politburo, the Organizing Bureau and the Secretariat. Decisions made were implemented through the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR, the State Defense Committee and the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command, created on August 8, 1941. The Headquarters carried out strategic leadership of the Armed Forces with the help of its working body - the General Staff. The most important issues of warfare were discussed at joint meetings of the Politburo of the Central Committee, the State Defense Committee and Headquarters.

Since the beginning of the war, the training of officers has been expanded by increasing the number of students at academies, school cadets and reducing the duration of training, creating a large number of courses for accelerated training of junior officers, especially among soldiers and sergeants. From September 1941, units that distinguished themselves began to be given the name Guards (see Soviet Guard).
Thanks to the emergency measures taken by the CPSU and the Soviet government, mass heroism and unprecedented self-sacrifice of the Soviet people, army and navy soldiers, by the end of 1941 it was possible to stop the enemy on the approaches to Moscow, Leningrad and other vital centers of the country. During the Battle of Moscow of 1941–42, the first major defeat to the enemy was inflicted throughout World War II. This battle dispelled the myth of the invincibility of the Nazi army, thwarted the “blitzkrieg” plan, and was the beginning of a decisive turn in the war in favor of the USSR.

In the summer of 1942, the center of military operations moved to the southern wing of the Soviet-German front. The enemy was eager for the Volga, the oil of the Caucasus, and the grain-growing regions of the Don and Kuban. The Party and the Soviet government made every effort to stop the enemy and continued to increase the power of the Armed Forces. By the spring of 1942, the Armed Forces included 5.5 million people in the active army alone. From mid-1942, industry began to increase the output of military products and more fully meet the needs of the front. If in 1941 15,735 aircraft were produced, then in 1942 there were already 25,436, tanks, respectively, 6,590 and 24,446, and ammunition production almost doubled. In 1942, 575 thousand officers were sent to the army. In the Battle of Stalingrad 1942-1943, Soviet troops defeated the enemy and seized the strategic initiative. This victory was the beginning of a radical change not only in the Great Patriotic War, but also in the entire 2nd World War.

In 1943, military production developed rapidly: the production of aircraft increased by 137.1% compared to 1942, warships by 123%, submachine guns by 134.3%, shells by 116.9%, and aerial bombs by 173.3%. Overall, military production increased by 17%, and fascist Germany by 12%. The Soviet defense industry managed to surpass the enemy not only in the quantity of weapons, but also in their quality. The massive production of artillery pieces made it possible to strengthen divisional artillery, create corps, army artillery and powerful reserve artillery of the Supreme High Command (RVGK), new units and units of rocket, anti-tank and anti-aircraft artillery. A significant number of tank and mechanized corps were formed, most of which were later consolidated into a tank. army. Armored and mechanized troops became the main striking force of the Ground Forces (by the end of 1943 they included 5 tank armies, 24 tank and 13 mechanized corps). The composition of air divisions, corps and air armies has increased.
The significant strengthening of the power of the Soviet Armed Forces and the increased military skill of its military leaders allowed Battle of Kursk 1943 inflict a major defeat on fascist troops, which placed fascist Germany before a military catastrophe.

Internationalist warriors and pioneers.

Decisive victories were won by the USSR Armed Forces in 1944–45. By this time, they had enormous combat experience, possessed colossal power, and by the beginning of 1945 they numbered 11,365 thousand people. The advantages of the socialist economic system and the vitality of the economic policy of the CPSU and the Soviet government were clearly revealed. In 1943–45, an average of 220 thousand artillery pieces and mortars, 450 thousand machine guns, 40 thousand aircraft, 30 thousand tanks, self-propelled guns and armored vehicles were produced annually. New types of aircraft were produced in large quantities - La-7, Yak-9, Il-10, Tu-2, heavy tanks IS-2, self-propelled artillery systems ISU-122, ISU-152 and SU-100, BM- rocket launchers 31-12, 160 mm mortars and other military equipment. As a result of strategic offensive operations, including near Leningrad and Novgorod, in Crimea, on Right Bank Ukraine, in Belarus, Moldova, the Baltic states and in the Arctic, the Armed Forces cleared Soviet land of invaders. Developing a rapid offensive, Soviet troops in 1945 carried out East Prussian, Vistula-Oder and other operations. IN Berlin operation they achieved the final defeat of Nazi Germany. The Armed Forces completed a great liberation mission - they helped get rid of fascist occupation to the peoples of Eastern and South-Eastern Europe.
Fulfilling its allied obligations, the Soviet Union entered the war with Japan in August 1945. The Armed Forces of the USSR, together with the armed forces of the Mongolian People's Republic, defeated the Japanese Kwantung Army and thereby played a decisive role in ending World War II (see Manchurian Operation 1945).

The leading force of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War was the Communist Party. During the war, she sent over 1.6 million communists to the front; during the war, about 6 million people joined the ranks of the Communist Party.

In an Afghan gorge. The Party and the Soviet government appreciated the exploits of soldiers on the war fronts. Over 7 million soldiers were awarded orders and medals; over 11,600 of them - representatives of 100 nations and nationalities - were awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. About half of all awarded soldiers are communists and Komsomol members.

In the army canteen.

Having defeated the armies of fascist Germany and imperialist Japan, the Armed Forces of the USSR emerged from the war organizationally stronger, equipped with the latest technology, with a sense of fulfilled duty to the Soviet people and all humanity. Mass layoffs of personnel began. On September 4, 1945, the State Defense Committee was abolished, and the Supreme Command Headquarters ceased its activities. On February 25, 1946, instead of the People's Commissariats of Defense and the Navy, a single People's Commissariat of the Armed Forces of the SS was created

Young family.

Armed Forces of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR Armed Forces)- a military organization of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, was intended to protect the Soviet people, freedom and independence of the Soviet Union.

Part USSR Armed Forces included: central authorities military command, Strategic Missile Forces, Ground Forces, Air Force, Air Defense Forces, Navy, Logistics of the Armed Forces, as well as Civil Defense Troops, Internal Troops and Border Troops.

By the mid-1980s, the armed forces of the USSR were the largest in the world in terms of numbers.

Story

After the end of the Civil War, the Red Army was demobilized and by the end of 1923 only about half a million people remained in it.

At the end of 1924, the Revolutionary Military Council adopted a 5-year plan for military development, approved by the III Congress of Soviets of the USSR six months later. It was decided to retain the personnel core of the army and, at the lowest cost, to train as many as possible in military affairs. more people. As a result, over ten years, 3/4 of all divisions became territorial - recruits were in them at training camps for two to three months a year for five years (see the article territorial police structure).

But in 1934 - 1935, military policy changed and 3/4 of all divisions became personnel. In the Ground Forces in 1939, compared to 1930, the number of artillery increased 7 times, including anti-tank and tank artillery - 70 times. Tank forces and the Air Force developed. The number of tanks from 1934 to 1939 increased 2.5 times; in 1939, compared to 1930, the total number of aircraft increased 6.5 times. The construction of surface ships of various classes, submarines, and naval aviation aircraft began. In 1931, airborne troops appeared, which until 1946 were part of the Air Force.

On September 22, 1935, personal military ranks were introduced, and on May 7, 1940, general and admiral ranks were introduced. Command staff suffered heavy losses in 1937 - 1938 as a result of the Great Terror.

On September 1, 1939, the USSR Law “On Universal Military Duty” was adopted, according to which all men fit for health were required to serve in the army for three years, in the navy for five years (according to the previous law of 1925, “disenfranchised” were deprived of voting rights “ non-labor elements" - did not serve in the army, but were enlisted in the rear militia) By this time Armed Forces of the USSR were completely staffed, and their number increased to 2 million people.

Instead of separate tank and armored brigades, which since 1939 had been the main formations of armored forces, the formation of tank and mechanized divisions began. Airborne corps began to be formed in the airborne troops, and in the Air Force they began to switch to a divisional organization in 1940.

During the three years of the Great Patriotic War, the proportion of communists in Armed Forces doubled and by the end of 1944 amounted to 23 percent in the army and 31.5 percent in the navy. At the end of 1944 in Armed Forces There were 3,030,758 communists, accounting for 52.6 percent of the total party strength. During the year, the network of primary party organizations expanded significantly: if on January 1, 1944 there were 67,089 of them in the army and navy, then on January 1, 1945 there were already 78,640

Towards the end of the Great Patriotic War in 1945 Armed Forces of the USSR numbered more than 11 million people, after demobilization - about three million. Then their numbers increased again. But during the Khrushchev Thaw, the USSR began to reduce the number of its Armed Forces: in 1955 - by 640 thousand people, by June 1956 - by 1,200 thousand people.

During Cold War since 1955 Armed Forces of the USSR played a leading role in military organization Warsaw Pact (WTS). Beginning in the 1950s, missile weapons were introduced into the armed forces at an accelerated pace; in 1959, the Strategic Missile Forces were created. At the same time, the number of tanks increased. In terms of the number of tanks, the USSR came out on top in the world, by the 1980s in Soviet armed forces there were more tanks than all other countries combined. A large ocean-going navy was created. The most important direction The development of the country's economy was the build-up of military potential and the arms race. This consumed a significant portion of the national income.

In the period after the Great Patriotic War, the Ministry of Defense of the USSR was systematically entrusted with the task of providing civilian ministries with labor by forming for them military formations, units, military construction detachments, which were used as construction workers. The number of these formations increased from year to year.

In 1987 - 1991, during Perestroika, a policy of “defensive sufficiency” was proclaimed and in December 1988 unilateral measures to reduce Soviet armed forces. Their total number was reduced by 500 thousand people (12%). Soviet military contingents in Central Europe were unilaterally reduced by 50 thousand people, six tank divisions(about two thousand tanks) were withdrawn from the GDR, Hungary, Czechoslovakia and disbanded. In the European part of the USSR, the number of tanks was reduced by 10 thousand, artillery systems - by 8.5 thousand, combat aircraft - by 820. 75% of Soviet troops were withdrawn from Mongolia, and the number of troops by Far East(opposing the PRC) was reduced by 120 thousand people.

Legal basis

Article 31. Defense of the socialist Fatherland is one of the most important functions of the state and is the business of the entire people.

In order to protect socialist gains, the peaceful labor of the Soviet people, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the state, the Armed Forces of the USSR were created and universal military service was established.

Duty USSR Armed Forces before the people - to reliably defend the socialist Fatherland, to be in constant combat readiness, guaranteeing immediate rebuff to any aggressor.

Article 32. The state ensures the security and defense capability of the country, equips Armed forces USSR everything you need.

The responsibilities of state bodies, public organizations, officials and citizens to ensure the security of the country and strengthen its defense capability are determined by the legislation of the USSR.

Constitution of the USSR 1977

Management

The highest state leadership in the field of national defense on the basis of laws was carried out by the highest bodies state power and management of the USSR, guided by the policy of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU), directing the work of the entire state apparatus in such a way that when resolving any issues of governing the country, the interests of strengthening its defense capability must be taken into account: - Defense Council of the USSR (Council of Workers' and Peasants' Defense of the RSFSR), Supreme Council of the USSR (Articles 73 and 108, Constitution of the USSR), Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR (Article 121, Constitution of the USSR), Council of Ministers of the USSR (Council of People's Commissars of the RSFSR) (Article 131, Constitution of the USSR).

The USSR Defense Council coordinated the activities of the bodies of the Soviet state in the field of strengthening defense and approval of the main directions of development of the USSR Armed Forces. Headed the USSR Defense Council Secretary General Central Committee of the CPSU, Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR.

Supreme Commanders

1923-1924 - Sergei Sergeevich Kamenev,
1941-1953 - Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin, Generalissimo of the Soviet Union,
1990-1991 - Mikhail Sergeevich Gorbachev;
1991-1993 - Evgeny Ivanovich Shaposhnikov, air marshal.

Military authorities

Direct construction management USSR Armed Forces, their lives and combat activities were carried out by the Military Command Bodies (MCB).

The system of military command and control bodies of the USSR Armed Forces included:

The governing bodies of the SA and the Navy, united by the Ministry of Defense of the USSR (People's Commissariat of Defense, Ministry of the Armed Forces, War Ministry), headed by the Minister of Defense of the USSR;

The control bodies of the border troops, subordinate to the State Security Committee of the USSR, headed by the Chairman of the KGB of the USSR;

Internal troops control bodies subordinate to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the USSR, headed by the Minister of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the USSR.

The nature of the tasks performed and the scope of competence in the educational training system varied:

Central OVU.
Military command and control bodies of military districts (groups of forces), fleets.
Military command and control bodies of military formations and units.
Local authorities military administration.
Chiefs of garrisons (senior naval commanders) and military commandants.

Compound

Workers' and Peasants' Red Army (RKKA) (from January 15 (28), 1918 - to February 1946)
Workers' and Peasants' Red Fleet (RKKF) (from January 29 (11) February 1918 - to February 1946)
Workers' and Peasants' Red Air Fleet (RKKVF)
Border Troops (Border Guard, Border Service, Coast Guard)
Internal troops (Internal Guard Troops of the Republic and State Convoy Guard)

Soviet Army (SA) (from February 25, 1946 to the beginning of 1992), the official name of the main part of the USSR Armed Forces. Included Strategic Missile Forces, Ground Forces, Air Defense Forces, Air Force and other formations
USSR Navy (from February 25, 1946 to early 1992)

Number

Structure

On September 1, 1939, the USSR Armed Forces consisted of the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army, the Workers' and Peasants' Navy, border and internal troops.
Sun consisted of types, and also included the rear of the USSR Armed Forces, headquarters and troops of the Civil Defense (CD) of the USSR, internal troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) of the USSR, border troops of the State Security Committee (KGB) of the USSR. Page 158.

Kinds

Strategic Missile Forces (RVSN)

Main striking force USSR Armed Forces, which was in constant combat readiness. The headquarters was located in the city of Vlasikha. The Strategic Missile Forces included:

Military space forces, as part of launch, control and orbital constellation spacecraft military purpose.;
Missile armies, missile corps, missile divisions (headquarters in the cities of Vinnitsa, Smolensk, Vladimir, Kirov (Kirov region), Omsk, Chita, Blagoveshchensk, Khabarovsk, Orenburg, Tatishchevo, Nikolaev, Lvov, Uzhgorod, Dzhambul)
State Central Interspecies Test Site
10th test site (in the Kazakh SSR)
4th Central Research Institute (Yubileiny, Moscow Region, RSFSR)
military educational institutions ( Military Academy in Moscow; military schools in the cities of Kharkov, Serpukhov, Rostov-on-Don, Stavropol)
arsenals and central repair plants, storage bases for weapons and military equipment

In addition, the Strategic Missile Forces had units and institutions of special forces and logistics.

The Strategic Missile Forces were headed by the Commander-in-Chief, who held the position of Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR. The Main Staff and Directorates of the Strategic Missile Forces of the USSR Armed Forces were subordinate to him.

Commanders-in-Chief:

1959-1960 - M. I. Nedelin, chief marshal of artillery
1960-1962 - K. S. Moskalenko, Marshal of the Soviet Union
1962-1963 - S. S. Biryuzov, Marshal of the Soviet Union
1963-1972 - N. I. Krylov, Marshal of the Soviet Union
1972-1985 - V. F. Tolubko, army general, since 1983 chief marshal of artillery
1985-1992 - Yu. P. Maksimov, Army General

Ground Forces (SV)

Ground Forces (1946) - a branch of the USSR Armed Forces, designed to conduct combat operations primarily on land, the most numerous and diverse in weapons and methods of conducting combat operations. According to its combat capabilities, it is capable of independently or in cooperation with other types of armed forces to conduct an offensive in order to defeat enemy troop groups and seize its territory, deliver fire strikes to great depths, repel enemy invasion, its large air and sea landings, firmly hold occupied territories and areas and boundaries. The ground forces included various types of troops, special troops, units and formations special purpose(Sp. N) and services. Organizationally, the ground forces consisted of subunits, units, formations and associations.

The ground forces were divided into types of troops (motorized rifle troops (MSV), tank troops (TV), airborne troops (Airborne Forces), missile forces and artillery, military air defense troops (army branches), army aviation, as well as units and units of special forces ( engineering, communications, radio engineering, chemical, technical support, rear security) In addition, there were logistics units and institutions in the Army.

The USSR Army was headed by the Commander-in-Chief, who held the position of Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR. The Main Staff and Directorates of the Ground Forces of the USSR Armed Forces were subordinate to him. The number of ground forces of the USSR in 1989 was 1,596,000 people.

Central Road Construction Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (CDSU MO USSR)

In the design of special events, on posters, in drawings on postal envelopes and postcards, an image of the conventional decorative “flag of the Ground Forces” was used in the form of a red rectangular panel with a large red five-pointed star in the center, with a gold (yellow) border. This “flag” was never approved or made from fabric.

The Ground Forces of the USSR Armed Forces were divided according to the territorial principle into military districts (groups of troops), military garrisons:

Commanders-in-Chief:

1946-1946 - G. K. Zhukov, Marshal of the Soviet Union
1946-1950 - I. S. Konev, Marshal of the Soviet Union
1955-1956 - I. S. Konev, Marshal of the Soviet Union
1956-1957 - R. Ya. Malinovsky, Marshal of the Soviet Union
1957-1960 - A. A. Grechko, Marshal of the Soviet Union
1960-1964 - V.I. Chuikov, Marshal of the Soviet Union
1967-1980 - I. G. Pavlovsky, Army General
1980-1985 - V.I. Petrov, Marshal of the Soviet Union
1985-1989 - E. F. Ivanovsky, Army General
1989-1991 - V. I. Varennikov, Army General
1991-1996 - V. M. Semenov, Army General

Air defense troops

The air defense forces (1948) included:

Rocket and Space Defense Troops;
Air Defense Radio Engineering Troops, 1952;
Anti-aircraft missile forces;
Fighter aviation (air defense aviation);
Air Defense Electronic Warfare Troops.
Special troops.

In addition, the Air Defense Forces had rear units and institutions.

The air defense forces were divided on a territorial basis into air defense districts (groups of troops):

Air defense district (group of forces) - associations of air defense troops designed to protect the most important administrative, industrial centers and regions of the country, armed forces groups, important military and other facilities within established boundaries from air strikes. In the Armed Forces, air defense districts were created after the Great Patriotic War on the basis of the air defense of the fronts and military districts. In 1948, air defense districts were reorganized into air defense districts and recreated in 1954.
Moscow Air Defense District - was intended to provide protection from enemy air attacks against the most important administrative and economic facilities of the Northern, Central, Central Black Earth and Volga-Vyatka economic regions of the USSR. In November 1941, the Moscow Air Defense Zone was formed, transformed in 1943 into the Moscow Special Air Defense Army, deployed in the air defense of the Moscow Military District. After the war, the Moscow Air Defense District was created on its basis, then the Air Defense District. In August 1954, the Moscow Air Defense District was transformed into the Moscow Air Defense District. In 1980, after the liquidation of the Baku Air Defense District, it became the only association of this type in the USSR.
Baku Air Defense District.

The air defense of the USSR was headed by the commander-in-chief, who held the position of Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR. The Main Headquarters and Air Defense Directorates of the USSR were subordinate to him.

Headquarters in Balashikha.

Commanders-in-Chief:

1948-1952 - L. A. Govorov, Marshal of the Soviet Union
1952-1953 - N. N. Nagorny, Colonel General
1953-1954 - K. A. Vershinin, air marshal
1954-1955 - L. A. Govorov, Marshal of the Soviet Union
1955-1962 - S. S. Biryuzov, Marshal of the Soviet Union
1962-1966 - V. A. Sudets, Air Marshal
1966-1978 - P. F. Batitsky, Army General, since 1968 Marshal of the Soviet Union
1978-1987 - A. I. Koldunov, Colonel General, since 1984 Chief Marshal of Aviation
1987-1991 - I. M. Tretyak, Army General

Air Force

The Air Force organizationally consisted of branches of aviation: bomber, fighter-bomber, fighter, reconnaissance, transport, communications and ambulance. At the same time, the Air Force was divided into types of aviation: front-line, long-range, military transport, auxiliary. They included special troops, units and logistics institutions.

The Air Force of the USSR Armed Forces was headed by the Commander-in-Chief (Chief, Head of the Main Directorate, Commander) who held the position of Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR. The Main Headquarters and Directorates of the USSR Air Force were subordinate to him

Headquarters: Moscow.

Commanders-in-Chief:

1921-1922 - Andrey Vasilievich Sergeev, Commissioner
1922-1923 - A. A. Znamensky,
1923-1924 - Arkady Pavlovich Rosengolts,
1924-1931 - Pyotr Ionovich Baranov,
1931-1937 - Yakov Ivanovich Alksnis, Commander of the 2nd rank (1935);
1937-1939 - Alexander Dmitrievich Loktionov, Colonel General;
1939-1940 - Yakov Vladimirovich Smushkevich, Commander of the 2nd rank, since 1940 Lieutenant General of Aviation;
1940-1941 - Pavel Vasilievich Rychagov, lieutenant general of aviation;
1941-1942 - Pavel Fedorovich Zhigarev, lieutenant general of aviation;
1942-1946 - Alexander Alexandrovich Novikov, Air Marshal, since 1944 - Chief Air Marshal;
1946-1949 - Konstantin Andreevich Vershinin, air marshal;
1949-1957 - Pavel Fedorovich Zhigarev, Air Marshal, since 1956 - Chief Air Marshal;
1957-1969 - Konstantin Andreevich Vershinin, Chief Marshal of Aviation;
1969-1984 - Pavel Stepanovich Kutakhov, Air Marshal, since 1972 - Chief Air Marshal;
1984-1990 - Alexander Nikolaevich Efimov, air marshal;
1990-1991 - Evgeny Ivanovich Shaposhnikov, air marshal;

Navy

The USSR Navy organizationally consisted of branches of forces: submarine, surface, naval aviation, coastal missile and artillery forces and marine corps. It also included ships and vessels of the auxiliary fleet, special purpose units (SP) and various services. The main branches of the force were submarine forces and naval aviation. In addition, the unit also had rear services institutions.

Organizationally, the USSR Navy included:

Red Banner Northern Fleet (1937)
Red Banner Pacific Fleet (1935)
Red Banner Black Sea Fleet
Twice Red Banner Baltic Fleet
Red Banner Caspian Flotilla
Red Banner Leningrad Naval Base

The USSR Navy was headed by the Commander-in-Chief (Commander, Head of the Naval Forces of the Republic, People's Commissar, Minister) who held the position of Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR. The Main Staff and Directorates of the USSR Navy were subordinate to him.

The main headquarters of the Navy is Moscow.

Commanders-in-Chief who held the position of Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR:

Rear area of the USSR Armed Forces

Forces and means intended for logistics support and logistics services for technical support of troops (forces) of the Armed Forces. They were an integral part of the state’s defense potential and a link between the country’s economy and the Armed Forces itself. It included the rear headquarters, main and central directorates, services, as well as command and control bodies, troops and organizations of central subordination, rear structures of the branches and branches of the Armed Forces, military districts (groups of forces) and fleets, associations, formations and military units.

Main Military Medical Directorate (GVMU USSR Ministry of Defense) (1946) (Main Military Sanitary Directorate)
Main Directorate of Trade (GUT MO USSR) (1956 chief military officer of the Ministry of Trade of the USSR)
Central Directorate of Military Communications (TsUP VOSO MO USSR), incl. 1962 to 1992, GU VOSO (1950)
Central Food Administration (CPU USSR Ministry of Defense)
Central Clothing Directorate (TsVU MO USSR) (1979) (Directorate of Clothing and Household Supply, Directorate of Clothing and Convoy Supply)
Central Directorate of Rocket Fuel and Fuel (TSURTG MO USSR) (Fuel Supply Service (1979), Fuel and Lubricants Service, Fuel Service Directorate)
Central Road Administration (CDU USSR Ministry of Defense). (Automobile and Road Administration of the Home Front of the Kyrgyz Republic (1941), Department of Motor Transport and Road Service of the General Staff (1938), Department of Motor Transport and Road Service of VOSO)
Department of Agriculture.
Chief's Office Environmental safety USSR Armed Forces.
Fire, Rescue and Local Defense Service of the USSR Armed Forces.
Railway troops USSR Armed Forces.

The rear of the Armed Forces, in the interests of the Armed Forces, solved a whole range of tasks, the main of which were: receiving from the economic complex of the state a supply of logistics resources and equipment, storing and providing them to troops (forces); planning and organization, together with transport ministries and departments, of preparation, operation, technical cover, restoration of communication routes and vehicles; transportation of all types of material resources; carrying out operational, supply and other types of military transportation, ensuring the basing of the Air Force and Navy; technical support for troops (forces) in logistics services; organization and implementation of medical and evacuation, sanitary and anti-epidemic (preventive) measures, medical protection of personnel from weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and adverse environmental factors, carrying out veterinary and sanitary measures and activities of rear services chemical protection troops (forces); monitoring the organization and state of fire protection and local defense of troops (forces), assessing the environmental situation in places where troops (forces) are deployed, forecasting its development and monitoring the implementation of measures to protect personnel from environmental harmful effects natural and man-made; trade and household, housing and maintenance and financial support; protection and defense of communications and logistics facilities in the rear zones, organization of camps (reception centers) for prisoners of war (hostages), their accounting and provision; ensuring the exhumation, identification, burial and reburial of military personnel.

To solve these problems, the Rear Armed Forces included special troops (automobile, railway, road, pipeline), formations and material support units, medical formations, units and institutions, stationary bases and warehouses with appropriate supplies of material resources, transport commandant's offices, veterinary - sanitary, repair, agricultural, trade and household, educational (academy, schools, faculties and military departments at civilian universities) and other institutions.

Headquarters: Moscow.

Chiefs:

1941-1951 - A. V. Khrulev, army general;
1951-1958 - V.I. Vinogradov, Colonel General (1944);
1958-1968 - I. Kh. Bagramyan, Marshal of the Soviet Union;
1968-1972 - S. S. Maryakhin, army general;
1972-1988 - S.K. Kurkotkin, Marshal of the Soviet Union;
1988-1991 - V. M. Arkhipov, Army General;
1991-1991 - I. V. Fuzhenko, Colonel General;

Independent branches of the military

Civil Defense Troops (CD) of the USSR

In 1971, direct leadership of the Civil Defense was entrusted to the USSR Ministry of Defense, and day-to-day management was entrusted to the head of the Civil Defense - Deputy Minister of Defense of the USSR.

There were civil defense regiments (in major cities USSR), Moscow military school civil defense (MVUGO, Balashikha), reorganized in 1974 into the Moscow Higher Command School of Road and Engineering Troops (MVKUDIV), trained specialists for road troops and civil defense troops.

Chiefs:

1961-1972 - V.I. Chuikov, Marshal of the Soviet Union;
1972-1986 - A. T. Altunin, Colonel General, (since 1977) - Army General;
1986-1991 - V. L. Govorov, Army General;

Border troops of the KGB of the USSR

Border troops (until 1978 - the KGB under the Council of Ministers of the USSR) - were intended to protect the land, sea and river (lake) borders of the Soviet state. In the USSR, the Border Troops were an integral part of the USSR Armed Forces. The direct management of the border troops was carried out by the KGB of the USSR and the Main Directorate of Border Troops subordinate to it. They consisted of border districts, individual formations (border detachment) and their constituent units that guard the border (border outposts, border commandant's offices, checkpoints), special units (units) and educational institutions. In addition, the Border Troops had aviation units and units (separate aviation regiments, squadrons), sea (river) units (brigades of border ships, boat divisions) and rear units. The range of tasks solved by the border troops was determined by the USSR Law of November 24, 1982 “On the State Border of the USSR”, the regulations on the protection state border USSR, approved on August 5, 1960 by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. Legal status personnel of the border troops was regulated by the USSR Law on universal military service, regulations on military service, charters and instructions.

Border districts and units of central subordination, excluding units and formations transferred from the USSR Ministry of Defense, as of 1991 included:

Red Banner North-Western Border District.
Red Banner Baltic Border District.
Red Banner Western Border District.
Red Banner Transcaucasian Border District
Red Banner Central Asian Border District
Red Banner Eastern Border District
Red Banner Transbaikal Border District.
Red Banner Far Eastern Border District
Red Banner Pacific Border District
North-Eastern border district.
Separate Arctic border detachment.
Separate border control detachment "Moscow"
105th separate border special forces detachment in Germany (operational subordination - Western Group of Forces).
Higher Border Command of the Order of the October Revolution Red Banner School of the KGB of the USSR named after F. E. Dzerzhinsky (Alma-Ata);
Higher Border Command of the Order of the October Revolution Red Banner School of the KGB of the USSR named after Mossovet (Moscow);
Higher border military-political Order of the October Revolution Red Banner School of the KGB of the USSR named after K. E. Voroshilov (Golitsyno town);
Higher Border Command Courses;
Combined The educational center;
2 separate air squads;
2 separate engineering and construction battalions;
Central Hospital of Border Troops;
Central Information and Analytical Center;
Central Archive of Border Troops;
Central Museum of Border Troops;
Faculties and departments at military educational institutions of other departments.

Chiefs:

1918-1919 - S. G. Shamshev, (Main Directorate of Border Troops (GUP.v.));
1919-1920 - V. A. Stepanov, (Border Supervision Department);
1920-1921 - V. R. Menzhinsky, (special department of the Cheka (border protection));
1922-1923 - A. Kh. Artuzov, (department of border troops, department of border guard (OPO));
1923-1925 - Y. K. Olsky, (OPO);
1925-1929 - Z. B. Katsnelson, (Main Directorate of Border Guard (GUPO));
1929 - S. G. Velezhev, (GUPO);
1929-1931 - I. A. Vorontsov, (GUPO);
1931-1933 - N. M. Bystrykh, (GUPO);
1933-1937 - M.P. Frinovsky, (GUPO) (since 1934 border and internal (GUPiVO)) NKVD of the USSR;
1937-1938 - N.K. Kruchinkin, (GUPiVO);
1938-1939 - A. A. Kovalev, Main Directorate of Border and Internal Troops (GUP. V.v.);
1939-1941 - G. G. Sokolov, Lieutenant General (GUP.v.);
1942-1952 - N.P. Stakhanov, lieutenant general (GUP.v.);
1952-1953 - P.I. Zyryanov, Lieutenant General (GUP.v.);
1953-1954 - T. F. Filippov, Lieutenant General (GUP.v.);
1954-1956 - A. S. Sirotkin, Lieutenant General (GUP.v.);
1956-1957 - T. A. Strokach, Lieutenant General (GUP. V.V.);
1957-1972 - P.I. Zyryanov, Lieutenant General, (since 1961) Colonel General (GUP.v.);
1972-1989 - V. A. Matrosov, Colonel General, (since 1978) General of the Army (GUP.v.);
1989-1992 - I. Ya. Kalinichenko, Colonel General (GUP.v.) (since 1991 Commander-in-Chief)

Internal troops of the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs

Internal troops USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs, component USSR Armed Forces. Designed to protect government facilities and perform other service and combat missions defined in special government decrees assigned to the USSR Ministry of Internal Affairs. They guarded especially important objects National economy, as well as socialist property, personality and rights of citizens, the entire Soviet legal order from the encroachments of criminal elements and performed some other special tasks (protecting places of detention, escorting convicts). The predecessors of the Internal Troops were the Gendarmerie, the Troops of the Internal Security of the Republic (Troops VOKhR), the Troops of Internal Service and the Troops of the All-Russian Extraordinary Commission (VChK). The term Internal Troops appeared in 1921 to designate units of the Cheka serving in the interior of the country, in contrast to the border troops. During the Great Patriotic War, NKVD troops guarded the rear of fronts and armies, carried out garrison service in liberated areas, and participated in neutralizing enemy agents. Internal troops of the NKVD of the USSR (1941-1946), Ministry of Internal Affairs of the USSR (1946-1947, 1953-1960, 1968-1991), MGB of the USSR (1947-1953), Ministry of Internal Affairs of the RSFSR (1960-1962), Ministry of Defense of the RSFSR (1962-1966), MOOP USSR (1966-1968), Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia (since 1991):

Chiefs:

1937-1938 - N.K. Kruchinkin, (Main Directorate of Border and Internal Security (GUPiVO));
1938-1939 - A. A. Kovalev, (Main Directorate of Border and Internal Troops (GUP. V.v.));
1941-1942 - A.I. Guliev, Major General;
1942-1944 - I. S. Sheredega, major general;
1944-1946 - A. N. Apollonov, Colonel General;
1946-1953 - P. V. Burmak, lieutenant general;
1953-1954 - T. F. Filippov, lieutenant general;
1954-1956 - A. S. Sirotkin, lieutenant general;
1956-1957 - T. A. Strokach, Lieutenant General;
1957-1960 - S.I. Donskov, lieutenant general;
1960-1961 - G. I. Aleinikov, lieutenant general;
1961-1968 - N. I. Pilshchuk, lieutenant general;
1968-1986 - I.K. Yakovlev, Colonel General, since 1980 - Army General;
1986-1991 - Yu. V. Shatalin, Colonel General;

Military duty

The universal military obligation established by Soviet legislation stemmed from the constitutional provision determining that the defense of the socialist Fatherland is the sacred duty of every citizen of the USSR, and military service in the ranks USSR Armed Forces- an honorable duty of Soviet citizens (Articles 62 and 63 of the USSR Constitution). Legislation on universal conscription went through several stages in its development. Reflecting socio-political changes in the life of society and the needs of strengthening the country's defense, it developed from volunteerism to compulsory military service of workers and from it to universal military service.

Universal conscription was characterized by the following main features:

it applied only to Soviet citizens;
was universal: all male citizens of the USSR were subject to conscription; Only persons serving a criminal sentence and persons against whom an investigation was underway or a criminal case was being considered by the court were not drafted;
was personal and equal for everyone: replacing a conscript with another person was not allowed: for evading conscription or performing military service duties, the perpetrators were held criminally liable;
had time restrictions: the law precisely established the terms of active military service, the number and duration of training camps and age limit states in stock;

Military service under Soviet legislation was carried out in the following main forms:

service in the ranks of the USSR Armed Forces for the periods established by law;
work and service as military construction workers;
undergoing training, verification training and retraining during the period of being in the reserve of the USSR Armed Forces;

The fulfillment of universal military duty also included preliminary preparation (military-patriotic education, initial military training (CTP), training of specialists for the Armed Forces, improving general literacy, conducting medical and health activities and physical training of youth) for military service:

passing by students in secondary schools, and by other citizens in production, NVP, including training in civil defense, with student youth in secondary schools(starting from the 9th grade), in secondary specialized educational institutions (SSUZ), and in educational institutions of the vocational education system (PTES) by full-time military leaders. Young men who did not study in full-time (full-time) educational institutions underwent NVP at training points created (if there are 15 or more young men required to undergo NVP) at enterprises, organizations and collective farms; The NVP program included familiarizing young people with the purpose of the Soviet Armed Forces and their character, the responsibilities of military service, the basic requirements of the military oath and military regulations. The heads of enterprises, institutions, collective farms and educational institutions were responsible for ensuring that the NVP covered all young men of pre-conscription and conscription age;
the acquisition of military specialties in educational organizations of SPTO - vocational schools and in organizations of the Voluntary Society for Assistance to the Army, Aviation and Navy (DOSAAF), was intended to ensure constant and high combat readiness of the Armed Forces, was advance and provided for the training of specialists (car drivers, electricians, signalmen, parachutists and others ) from among boys who have reached the age of 17. In the cities it was produced without interruption from production. At the same time, during the period of passing exams, young students were provided with paid leave for 7-15 working days. In rural areas it was produced separately from production at harvests in the autumn-winter period. In these cases, conscripts retained their jobs, their positions, and were paid 50% of their average earnings. The costs of renting living quarters and travel to and from the place of study were also paid;
the study of military affairs and the acquisition of an officer specialty by students of higher educational institutions (HEIs) and secondary educational institutions engaged in training programs for reserve officers;
compliance with the rules of military registration and other military duties by conscripts and all citizens in the reserve of the USSR Armed Forces.

For the purpose of systematic preparation and organizational implementation of conscription for active military service, the territory of the USSR was divided into regional (city) conscription areas. Every year during February - March, citizens who turned 17 in the year of registration were assigned to them. Registration to conscription stations served as a means of identifying and studying the quantitative and quality composition conscription contingents. It was carried out by district (city) military commissariats (military registration and enlistment offices) at the place of permanent or temporary residence. The determination of the health status of those attributed to them was carried out by doctors allocated by decision of the executive committees (executive committees) of the district (city) Councils of People's Deputies from local medical institutions. Persons assigned to conscription stations were called conscripts. They were given a special certificate. Citizens subject to registration were obliged to appear at the military registration and enlistment office within the period established on the basis of the Law. Changing the conscription site was allowed only from January 1 to April 1 and from July 1 to October 1 of the year of conscription. At other times of the year, changing the recruiting station in some cases could be permitted only by good reasons(for example, moving to a new place of residence as part of a family). The conscription of citizens for active military service was carried out annually everywhere twice a year (in May - June and in November - December) by order of the USSR Minister of Defense. For troops located in remote and some other areas, conscription began a month earlier - in April and October. The number of citizens subject to conscription was established by the Council of Ministers of the USSR. The exact dates for the appearance of citizens at recruiting stations were determined, in accordance with the Law and on the basis of the order of the Minister of Defense of the USSR, by order of the military commissar. None of the conscripts were exempted from appearing at conscription stations (except for the cases established by Article 25 of the Law). Issues related to conscription were resolved by collegial bodies - conscription commissions created in regions and cities under the chairmanship of the relevant military commissars. The commission included representatives of local Soviet, party, Komsomol organizations and doctors as their full members. The personnel of the draft commission was approved by the executive committees of the district (city) Councils of People's Deputies. The district (city) draft commissions were entrusted with:

a) organization of medical examination of conscripts;
b) making a decision on conscription for active military service and the assignment of those called up according to the types of armed forces and branches of the military;
c) granting deferments in accordance with the Law;
d) exemption from military duty for conscripts due to their illnesses or physical disabilities;

When making a decision, draft commissions were required to comprehensively discuss family and financial situation conscript, his state of health, take into account the wishes of the conscript himself, his specialty, recommendations of Komsomol and other public organizations. Decisions were made by majority vote. To manage district (city) conscription commissions and control their activities in the union and autonomous republics, territories, regions and autonomous districts, appropriate commissions were created under the chairmanship of the military commissar of the union or autonomous republic, territory, region or Autonomous Okrug. The activities of conscription commissions were monitored by the Councils of People's Deputies and prosecutorial supervision. For dishonest or biased attitude to the matter when deciding the issue of conscription, granting illegal deferments, members of conscription commissions and doctors involved in examining conscripts, as well as other persons who committed abuses, were held accountable in accordance with current legislation. The distribution of conscripts by branch of the Armed Forces and branches of the military was based on the principle of industrial qualifications and specialties, taking into account their health status. The same principle was applied when conscripting citizens into military construction detachments (VSO), intended to perform construction and installation work, manufacturing structures and parts at industrial and logging enterprises of the USSR Ministry of Defense. The recruitment of the military forces was carried out mainly from conscripts who graduated from construction educational institutions or had construction or related specialties or experience in construction (plumbers, bulldozer operators, cable workers, etc.). The rights, duties and responsibilities of military builders were determined by military legislation, and their work activity regulated by labor legislation (with some peculiarities in the application of one or the other). Remuneration for military construction workers was made according to current standards. The mandatory period of work in the military service was counted towards the period of active military service.

The law determined: - a single conscription age for all Soviet citizens - 18 years;

The duration of active military service (command military service of soldiers and sailors, sergeants and foremen) is 2 - 3 years;

A deferment from conscription could be granted on three grounds: a) for health reasons - it was granted to conscripts declared temporarily unfit for military service due to illness (Article 36 of the Law); b) by marital status(Article 34 of the Law); c) to continue education (Article 35 of the Law);

During the period of post-war mass demobilization 1946-1948, conscription into the Armed Forces was not carried out. Instead, conscripts were sent to reconstruction work. A new law on universal conscription was adopted in 1949, in accordance with it, conscription was established once a year, for a period of 3 years, for the navy for 4 years. In 1968, the service life was reduced by one year, instead of conscription once a year, two conscription campaigns were introduced: spring and autumn.

Completion of military service.

Military service is a special type civil service, which consists in the fulfillment by Soviet citizens of constitutional military duty as part of the USSR Armed Forces (Article 63, Constitution of the USSR). Military service was the most active form of citizens exercising their constitutional duty to defend the socialist Fatherland (Articles 31 and 62, Constitution of the USSR), was an honorable duty and was assigned only to citizens of the USSR. Foreigners and stateless persons living on the territory of the USSR did not bear military duty and were not enrolled in military service, while they could be accepted for work (service) in civilian Soviet organizations in compliance with established by laws rules

Soviet citizens were recruited into military service without fail through conscription (regular, for training camps and for mobilization) in accordance with the constitutional obligation (Article 63, Constitution of the USSR), and in accordance with Art. 7 of the Law on General Military Duty (1967), all military personnel and those liable for military service took a military oath of allegiance to their people, their Soviet Motherland and the Soviet government. Military service is characterized by the presence of an institution assigned in the manner established by Article 9 of the Law on General Military Duty (1967) personal military ranks , according to which military personnel and those liable for military service were divided into superiors and subordinates, senior and junior, with all the ensuing legal consequences.

IN USSR Armed Forces About 40% of the conscript contingent registered with the military (assigned to military registration and enlistment offices) were drafted.

Forms of military service were established in accordance with the principle accepted in modern conditions of constructing the Armed Forces on a permanent personnel basis (a combination of personnel Armed Forces with the presence of a reserve of military-trained citizens liable for military service). Therefore, according to the Law on General Military Duty (Article 5), military service was divided into active military service and reserve service, each of which took place in special forms.

Active military service is the service of Soviet citizens in the cadres of the Armed Forces, as part of the relevant military units, crews of warships, as well as institutions, establishments and other military organizations. Persons enrolled in active military service were called military personnel, they entered into military service relations with the state, and were appointed to positions provided for by the states, for which certain military or special training was required.

In accordance with the organizational structure of the Armed Forces, the difference in the nature and scope of service competence of personnel, the state adopted and used the following forms of active military service:

compulsory military service of soldiers and sailors, sergeants and foremen
long-term military service of sergeants and foremen
warrant officer and midshipman service
service of officers, including officers who were called up from the reserve for a period of 2-3 years

As an additional form of active military service, the service of women accepted in peacetime in USSR Armed Forces on a voluntary basis for the positions of soldiers and sailors, sergeants and foremen;

The service (work) of military builders was adjacent to the forms of military service.

Reserve service- periodic military service by citizens enlisted in the armed forces reserve. Persons who were in the reserve were called reserve servicemen.

The forms of military service during the period in the reserve were short-term training and retraining:

training camps aimed at improving military and special training persons liable for military service, maintaining it at the level modern requirements;
verification training aimed at determining the combat and mobilization readiness of military command and control bodies (MCB);

The legal status of the personnel of the USSR Armed Forces was regulated by:

Constitution (Basic Law) of the USSR, (1977)
USSR Law on Universal Military Duty, (1967)
General military regulations of the USSR Armed Forces and the Naval Regulations
Regulations on military service (officers, warrant officers and conscripts, etc.)
Battle regulations
Instructions
Instructions
Guides
Orders
Orders

USSR Armed Forces abroad

Group of Soviet troops in Germany. (GSVG)
Northern Group of Forces (SGV)
Central Group of Forces (CGV)
Southern Group of Forces (YUGV)
Group of Soviet military specialists in Cuba (GSVSK)
GSVM. Soviet troops in Mongolia belonged to the Transbaikal Military District.
Limited contingent of Soviet troops in Afghanistan (OKSVA). Soviet army units in Afghanistan belonged to the Turkestan Military District, and border troops units within the OKSVA belonged to the Central Asian Border District and the Eastern Border District.
Base points (PB) of the USSR Navy: - Tartus in Syria, Cam Ranh in Vietnam, Umm Qasr in Iraq, Nokra in Ethiopia.
Naval Base Porkkala-Udd, Republic of Finland;

Hostilities

States (countries) in which USSR armed forces or military advisers and specialists USSR armed forces participated in hostilities (were present during hostilities) after World War II:

China 1946-1949, 1950
North Korea 1950-1953
Hungary 1956
North Vietnam 1965-1973
Czechoslovakia 1968
Egypt 1969-1970
Angola 1975-1991
Mozambique 1976-1991
Ethiopia 1975-1991
Libya 1977
Afghanistan 1979-1989

Syria 1982
Interesting Facts

From June 22, 1941 to July 1, 1941 (9 days) in Armed Forces of the USSR 5,300,000 people joined.
In July 1946, the first missile unit was formed on the basis of the Guards Mortar Regiment.
In 1947 entered service Soviet troops The first R-1 missiles began to arrive.
In 1947 - 1950, mass production and mass entry into the armed forces of jet aircraft began.
Since 1952, the country's air defense forces have been equipped with anti-aircraft missile technology.
In September 1954, the first major military exercise with a real explosion of an atomic bomb was held in the Semipalatinsk area.
In 1955, a ballistic missile was launched from a submarine for the first time.
In 1957, the first tactical exercise was held with tanks crossing the river along the bottom.
In 1966, a detachment of nuclear submarines made circumnavigation without surfacing to the sea surface.
Armed Forces of the USSR were the first in the world to en masse adopt such a class of armored vehicles as the Infantry Fighting Vehicle. The BMP-1 appeared in the army in 1966. In NATO countries, an approximate analogue of the Marder will appear only in 1970.
In the late 1970s of the 20th century, in service USSR Armed Forces consisted of about 68 thousand tanks, and the tank forces included 8 tank armies.
During the period from 1967 to 1979, 122 nuclear submarines were built in the USSR. In thirteen years, five aircraft-carrying ships were built.
At the end of the 1980s, construction units in terms of the number of personnel (350,000 - 450,000) exceeded such types of troops of the USSR Armed Forces as the Border Troops (220,000), Airborne troops(60,000), Marine Corps (15,000) - combined.
There is a precedent in the History of the USSR Armed Forces when motorized rifle regiment, actually being in a state of siege, defended the territory of his own military camp for 3 years and 9 months.
The number of personnel of the Marine Corps of the USSR Armed Forces was 16 times less Marine Corps The USA is the main potential enemy.
Despite the fact that Afghanistan is a mountainous country with non-navigable rivers, Afghan war The naval (river) units of the Border Troops of the KGB of the USSR took an active part.
Every year into service in USSR Armed Forces 400 - 600 aircraft arrived. From the responses of the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Air Force, Colonel General A. Zelin at a press conference at MAKS-2009 (August 20, 2009). The accident rate in the Air Force in the 1960s - 1980s was at the level of 100 - 150 accidents and disasters annually.
Military personnel who found themselves under the jurisdiction of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan, when they were created on March 16 - May 7, 1992, did not take an oath, did not violate this oath, but are bound by the following oath:

I, a citizen of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, joining the ranks of the Armed Forces of the USSR, take the oath and solemnly swear to be an honest, brave, disciplined, vigilant warrior, to strictly maintain military and state secret, observe the Constitution of the USSR and Soviet laws, 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 of the USSR, I swear to defend it courageously, skillfully, with dignity and honor, not sparing my blood and life itself to achieve complete victory over enemies. 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.

Series of postage stamps, 1948: 30 years of the Soviet Army

Series of postage stamps, 1958: 40 years of the Armed Forces of the USSR

A particularly numerous and colorful series of postage stamps was issued for the 50th anniversary of the Soviet Armed Forces:

Postage stamp series, 1968: 50 years of the Soviet Armed Forces

In pre-revolutionary Russia:

Until 1874, military service was carried out by recruits (peasants and townspeople). At first, conscription was indefinite, from 1793 the service life was reduced to 25 years. It gradually decreased - and by the time of the military reform of 1874 it was already 7 years.

In 1906, the period of active military service was reduced to 3 years. Then, in August-December 1914, general mobilization took place in connection with the outbreak of the First World War.

After the revolution of 1917 and the civil war, a new army began to form in the new state.

IN THE USSR:

Based on various decrees and resolutions of the Central Executive Committee, the length of service was changed several times until the law on compulsory military service was adopted in 1925.

In the ground forces, until the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, it was 2 years. In aviation: from 1925 to 1928 - 3 years, from 1928 to 1939 - 2 years, from 1939 to 1941 - again 3 years. It also varied in the navy. So, from 1924 to 1928 you had to serve for 4 years, from 1928 to 1939 - 3 years, from 1939 - 5 years.

In 1967, a new law on universal conscription was adopted, the length of service was shortened and was 2 years for those sent to the ground forces and aviation, and 3 years for the navy.

In modern Russia:

In 1996, in connection with the beginning of the Chechen campaign, a new law came into force, according to which the duration of service in the army and navy was equal - and amounted to 2 years.
In the early 2000s, preparations began in Russia for the division of military service by conscription and contract - and at the same time to reduce the period of conscription service from 2 years to 1 year. For the first time, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that the Russian leadership plans to reduce the length of conscription military service back in 2002.

In November 2012, the media, citing a statement by the chairman of the State Duma Defense Committee, reported that the length of service in the Russian army would be revised again. Thus, according to the chairman of the committee, Vladimir Komoyedov, the optimal length of service is one and a half years, and the reduction of service to 1 year was a “political decision” and in fact has a bad effect on the combat readiness of the army.

A source in the Kremlin almost immediately denied this information, recalling the president’s implemented initiative to reduce deadlines.

Saved

I found somewhere that before the war the conscription age was 21 years old. With the start of the war, the bar was lowered to 18, and that’s how it remains...
however, according to http://www.soldat.ru/doc/law/law_war/war1939.html

CHAPTER II
On conscription for active military service.

Article 14. Citizens who reach the age of conscription (from January 1 to December 31) are called up for active military service. twelve years, and those who graduated high school and her corresponding educational institutions are eighteen years old.

http://hghltd.yandex.net/yandbtm?url=http%...OEOpiJ7Sw%3D%3D

Vladimir Bogdanovich, apparently, is not aware of what was happening in connection with the events in Poland and therefore is trying to squeeze a completely routine Law on universal conscription into the system of evidence of the “aggressiveness” of the USSR.
“Before 1939, there was no universal conscription in the Soviet Union. The conscription age is 21 years old. This is not clear. [...] And no one can really explain why it is necessary to enlist in the army at the age of 21, and not earlier.”

It can be explained quite simply. A young man looks better as a soldier than a beardless youth. At one time, 21 was the standard conscription age. For example, in Finland. The need for soldiers led to the fact that in 1940 the Finns called up younger age groups for emergency training. However, the emergency system as a conscription system could not be long-term, and on January 24, 1941, the Finnish parliament adopted a new law on conscription, increasing the length of service and lowering the conscription age to 20 years. As a result of this, in the Finnish army in 1940–1941. There were three conscription ages in active service. France in the 1910s gives us the same example. The conscription age was 21, but in 1913 the conscription age was lowered to 20 years. As a result, in the fall of 1913, two ages were called up simultaneously, 20- and 21-year-olds, receiving 445 thousand instead of 256 thousand recruits in previous years. French army, which previously averaged 450 thousand people, in 1914 reached 690 thousand combatants and 45 thousand non-combatants for a population of 39 million. In a word, “Icebreaker” about France in 1914 is written at once. And the plans were offensive, and two ages were called up in 1913, and in the regulations they wrote about the offensive as the main type of action.

But the history of the Red Army does not even provide a reason for such stories. Vladimir Bogdanovich is simply not in the know and therefore informs readers:
“And Stalin also had a reserve: according to the new “Law on Universal Military Duty,” the conscription age was lowered from 21 to 19 years, and for some categories - to 18. And they immediately raked in all those who were 21, and all those who were 20, and who are 19, and in some cases even 18. My father was also in this set; he then turned 18.” (Day M, Chapter 16.)

The conscription age was lowered not in 1939, but three years earlier, when a resolution of the Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR was issued on August 11, 1936, SZ 1936 No. 46, which read:
"1. In amendment to Art. 10 of the “Law on Compulsory Military Service” of August 13, 1930(SZ 1930 No. 40, Art. 424) establish that citizens are called upon to serve active military service in the Red Army upon reaching 19 years of age by January 1 of the year of conscription (instead of 21 years of age).” (Legislation on the defense of the USSR. M.: Voenizdat, 1939. P. 63.)