Komandarm

Army commander командующий армией
File:RA Komandarm 1919.svg Insignia used 1918–1935
Country	Soviet Union
Service branch	Red Army
Abbreviation	Komandarm
Formation	1918
Abolished	1940
Next higher rank	Front commander (1918–1935) Marshal of the Soviet Union (1935–1940)
Next lower rank	Corps commander

Komandarm is the abbreviation of the Russian: командующий армией, romanized: komanduyushtchi armiy, lit. 'commander of the army / army commander', and was a military rank used in the Soviet Union. Between 1918 and 1935, it was a rank in the Red Army, roughly equivalent to Flotilla commander in the Red Fleet. The rank insignia were three diamonds. The Komandarm rank name reflected Soviet practice of naming the rank after the unit commanded, rather than traditional officer ranks, which were thought to be out of line with revolutionary ideals. The use of such ranks was abolished and traditional rank names reintroduced in 1935. At the same time the komandarm rank was split into the first and second grade and the highest rank of Marshal of the Soviet Union was introduced. Second rank komandarms wore four diamonds and those of the first rank wore four diamonds and a star. In 1940, the rank was abolished and general rank titles, such as the equivalent ranks of army general and colonel general introduced.

Split

In 1935, new ranks were introduced, splitting the Komandarm rank into two ranks.

Designation		Higher commanders
Rank insignia	Coat-collar	File:RKKA 1935 collar big OF9 komandarm 1-go ranga.svg	File:Red Army 1935 collar big komandarm 2-go ranga.svg
	Gymnastjorka	File:RKKA 1935 collar small OF9 komandarm 1-go ranga.svg	File:RKKA 1935 collar small OF9 komandarm 2-go ranga.svg
	Sleeve chevron	File:RKKA 1935 chevron OF9a komandarm 1-go ranga.svg	File:RKKA 1935 chevron OF9b komandarm 2-go ranga.svg
Russian		Командарм 1-го ранга Komandarm 1-go ranga	Командарм 2-го ранга Komandarm 2-go ranga
English		Army commander 1st class	Army commander 2nd class
Rank designation after 1940		Army general (Chief marshal of the branch & Marshal of the branch)

See also

• Ranks and insignia of the Red Army and Navy 1918–1935
• Ranks and insignia of the Red Army and Navy 1935–1940