Komdiv

Komdiv is the abbreviation to Commanding officer of the Division (Russian: Комдив / Командир дивизии; literal: Commander of the division / Division commander), and was a military rank in the Soviet Armed Forces of the USSR in the period from 1935 to 1940. It was also the designation to military personnel appointed to command a division sized formation (XX).

Komdiv in the Soviet Army
Rank insignia	Armed Forces of the Soviet Union
Introduction	1935 to the Soviet Army
Rank group	Commanding officers
Army / Air Force	Komdiv
Navy	Flag officer 2nd rank
NATO equivalent	OF-7

Until 1940 it was the fourth highest military rank of the Red Army, and might have been rated OF-7[1] in NATO (Two-star rank). It was equivalent to Division comissar (ru: Дивизионный комиссар) of the political staff in all military branches, Flag Officer 2nd rank (ru: Флагман 2-го ранга) in the Soviet navy, or to Senior major of state security (ru: Старший майор государственной безопасности). With the reintroduction of regular general ranks, the designation Komdiv was abolished, and replaced by Lieutenant general (OF-7).

History

This particular rank was introduced by disposal of the Central Executive Committee of the Soviet Union and the Council of People's Commissars, from September 22, 1935.[2] The new rank structure was as follows:

• Command level Brigade X: Kombrig (Brigadier – OF6)
• Command level Division XX: Komdiv (Division commander – OF7)
• Command level Corps XXX: Komkor (Korps commander – OF8)
• Command level Field army XXXX: Komandarm 2nd rank (Army commander 2nd rank – Commander Army OF9b)
• Command level Army group, Front XXXXX: Komandarm 1st rank (Army commander 1st rank – Frond commander OF9a)
• OF10-level: Marshal of the Soviet Union

sequence of ranks
lower rank: Kombrig	Komdiv	higher rank: Komkor
(OF-6) Major general (ru:Генерал-мaйор)	Lieutenant general (ru:Генерал-лейтенант)	(OF-8) Colonel general (ru:Генерал-полковник)

Rank insignia

• 
  Overcoat collar patch (big)
• 
  Jacket collar patch and Gymnastyorka
• 
  ... Air Force
• 
  Chevron/ sleeve insignia

See also

• Ranks and rank insignia of the Red Army 1935–1940, and ... 1940–1943

Sources / references

1. The abbreviation "OF" stands for de: "Offizier / en: officer / fr: officier / ru: офицер"
2. Decree of the Central Executive Committee of the Soviet Union and the Council of People's Commissars, from September 22, 1935, on introduction of individual military rank designation to commanding personnel of the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army.