It is the rank of officer in the old Russian Army - Second Lieutenant.Two little stars across the single lumen.Who today does not know these insignia lieutenant shoulder straps?
spending in the top half of the decade military school cadets become officers.This event is celebrated, there are special military rituals, including graduates must pass before the parade step system.Once issued ceremonial lieutenant shoulder straps, all graduates of military experts begin a new life of service to the Fatherland.
interesting history of the origin of the sign, which is determined by the rank of the soldier.Officers in the time of Peter dispensed with stars on their shoulders.But the rank and file to 1696 had special lyamochki, which did not allow the belt to slip the gun during the march.
Alexander I introduced a system of recognition, which has become the prototype of the modern military hierarchy, but the straps are not meant ranks and belonging to the regiment.Figure, and if a military man served in the Life Guards, the letter, was applied to the large shoulder straps of the corresponding color (red, blue, white or green) depending on the number of occupied unit in the division.
In 1911, according to the order of the military, as it was then called the Department of Defense, have been established insignia, which became the foundation of the Soviet system of ranks.
From 1917 to 1943 our officers do without shoulder straps.They were replaced by "sleepers", "cubes" diamonds in the lapels.It was believed that the Workers' and Peasants Red Army (Red Army) is fundamentally different from the armed forces of other countries (not to mention the Russian Empire) that commanders now for the soldier chiefs, and just friends and comrades.
After Stalingrad and Kursk straps Soviet soldiers and officers returned.Important role in this was the fact that the enemies of the habit of Russian Red Army soldiers were called, regardless of nationality.In addition, it is easier to promote patriotism, based on old traditions.
Location borrowed lieutenant shoulder straps?Photos, yellowed by time, which depicts Russian officers during World War indicate continuity.Dimensions width clearance and stars are the same as in the tsarist army lieutenant, except for figures, is the number of parts.This is understandable: not always the enemy intelligence should facilitate the task of the definition of military units.
«One gleam in life, and he is on the shoulder straps" - joked the young officers recently graduated from college.They were referring to the low salary, coupled with the distribution to distant garrisons, a precarious way of life and more than modest supply.So it was in the fifties and the sixties and the seventies and eighties.In the last decades of the Soviet Union lieutenant shoulder straps have lost their prestige.
Then came the nightmare nineties.The officers' families directly depend on the state, were in such a humiliating position of the Russian army did not know in 1917.The soldiers, who carried not only the lieutenant shoulder straps, but with bigger stars, massively dismissed from service, or try to earn some money by any means.
officer corps in any civilized country - the elite of society.Protecting the homeland - an honorable occupation.In recent years, the country's leadership has recognized the importance of this part of our society.Once Napoleon I suggested that the state badly contains his army, forced further well to feed someone else.
Today Russian officers, including the younger ones get quite a decent allowance.Lieutenant epaulets worn again honorable and prestigious.
