(except for the Navy, Civil Defense Troops, Border and Internal Troops). Until February 25, 1946, the Workers 'and Peasants' Red Army (Red Army, Red Army) was called.

Founded in accordance with the Decree on the creation of the Workers 'and Peasants' Red Army on January 15 (28), 1918 to protect the population, territorial integrity and civil liberties on the territory of the Soviet state.

Story

Workers' and Peasants' Red Army (1918-1945)

Poster of the Soviet army. You are stronger and stronger year by year, Army of the Soviet people

Creation of an army

The Red Army was created on the basis of the following principles:

1. Class - the army was created as a class organization. One exception was made to the general rule: officers of the old army were called up to the Red Army, many of whom had nothing to do with workers and peasants. In order to control their behavior and prevent sabotage, espionage, wrecking and other subversive activities on their part (as well as for other purposes), the All-Russian Bureau of Military Commissars was created, since 1919 - the Political Directorate of the RVSR (as a separate division of the Central Committee of the RCP /b/), which included the political composition of the Army.
2. Internationalism - this principle assumed the admission to the Red Army not only of citizens of the Russian Republic, but also of foreign workers.
3. The election of the command staff - within a few months after the decree, the command staff was chosen. But in April 1918, the principle of election was abolished. Commanders of all levels and ranks began to be appointed by the relevant state body.
4. Dual command - in addition to the command staff, military commissars took an active part in the management of the armed forces at all levels.

Military commissars are representatives of the ruling party (RKP / b /) in the army. The meaning of the institute of military commissars was that they had to exercise control over the commanders.

Thanks to the vigorous activity in creating the Red Army, already in the autumn of 1918 it turned into a mass army, which numbered from 800,000 at the beginning of the Civil War to 1,500,000 later.

Civil War (1917-1923)

Armed struggle between various socio-political groups on the territory of the former Russian Empire.

cold war

Shortly after the end of World War II, tensions began to rise between the former allies. Churchill's Fulton speech on March 5, 1946 is usually taken as the start date of the Cold War. Since then, in the army of the USSR, the United States, Great Britain and their allies were considered the most likely enemy.

The transformation of the army in 1946-1949

The transformation from a revolutionary militia into a regular army of a sovereign state was secured by the official renaming of the Red Army into the "Soviet Army" in February 1946.

In February-March 1946, the people's commissariats of defense and the Navy were merged into the Ministry of the Armed Forces of the USSR. In March 1946, Marshal G.K. Zhukov was appointed commander of the Ground Forces, but already in July he was replaced by Marshal I.S. Konev.

In the period 1946-1948. The Soviet Armed Forces were reduced from 11.3 million to about 2.8 million. In order to better control demobilization, the number of military districts was temporarily increased to 33. During the Cold War, the size of the Armed Forces fluctuated, according to various Western estimates, from 2.8 to 5.3 million people. Until 1967, Soviet laws required compulsory service for a period of 3 years, then it was reduced to 2 years.

In 1945-1946, the production of weapons was sharply reduced. With the exception of small arms, the annual production of artillery fell the most (by about 100,000 guns and mortars, that is, dozens of times). The role of artillery was never restored in the future. At the same time, in 1946, the first Soviet jet aircraft appeared, in 1947 - the Tu-4 strategic bomber, in 1949 a nuclear weapon was tested.

Territorial organization

The troops that liberated Eastern Europe from the Nazis were not withdrawn after the end of the war, ensuring the stability of friendly countries. The Soviet Army was also involved in the destruction of the armed resistance to the Soviet authorities, which unfolded using partisan methods of struggle in Western Ukraine (continued until the 1950s, see UPA) and in the Baltic states (Forest Brothers (1940-1957)).

The largest contingent of the Soviet Army abroad was the Group of Soviet Forces in Germany (GSVG), numbering up to 338 thousand people. In addition to it, the Northern Group of Forces (Poland, in 1955 the number of no more than 100 thousand people), the Central Group of Forces (Czechoslovakia), and the Southern Group of Forces (Romania, Hungary; number - one air army, two tank and two infantry divisions). In addition, the Soviet Army was permanently stationed in Cuba, Vietnam, and Mongolia.

Within the USSR itself, the troops were divided into 15 military districts: (Leningrad, Baltic, Belorussian, Carpathian, Kiev, Odessa, Moscow, North Caucasian, Transcaucasian, Volga, Ural, Turkestan, Siberian, Transbaikal Military District, Far East). As a result of the Sino-Soviet border conflicts, the 16th, Central Asian Military District was formed in 1969, with headquarters in Alma-Ata.

By order of the leadership of the USSR, the Soviet Army suppressed anti-government demonstrations in Germany (1953) and Hungary (1956). Soon after these events, Nikita Khrushchev began a sharp reduction in the Armed Forces, while increasing their nuclear power. The Strategic Rocket Forces were created. In 1968, units of the Soviet Army, together with units of the armies of the member countries of the Warsaw Pact, were introduced into Czechoslovakia to suppress the Prague Spring.

The result was a sharp increase in aspirations for national independence in the national outskirts of the USSR. In March 1990, Lithuania declared independence, followed by other republics. "Upstairs" it was decided to use force to seize the situation - in January 1991, the SA was used in Lithuania to regain control (capture by force) over the objects of "party property", but there was no way out of the crisis. By mid-1991, the USSR was already on the verge of collapse.

Immediately after August 1991, the leadership of the USSR almost completely lost control over the union republics. In the first days after the putsch, the Ministry of Defense of Russia was formed, Colonel-General Konstantin Kobets was appointed minister. On December 8, 1991, the presidents of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus signed the Belovezhskaya Accords on the dissolution of the USSR and the founding of the Commonwealth of Independent States. On December 21, 1991, the heads of the 11 union republics - the founders of the CIS signed a protocol on the assignment of command of the Armed Forces of the USSR "until they are reformed" to the Minister of Defense of the USSR, Air Marshal Yevgeny Ivanovich Shaposhnikov. Gorbachev resigned on December 25, 1991. The following day, the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dissolved itself, officially announcing the end of the Soviet Union. Although some institutions and organizations of the USSR (for example, the State Standard of the USSR, the Committee for the Protection of the State Border) still continued to function during 1992.

In the next year and a half, attempts were made to maintain a unified armed forces in the CIS, but the result was their division between the union republics. In Russia, this happened on May 7, 1992, when President of Russia B.N. Yeltsin signed a decree on assuming the functions of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, although the version of the Constitution in force at that time and the law “On the President of the RSFSR” did not provide for this. Conscripts from individual union republics were transferred to their armies, Russians who served in Kazakhstan - to Russia, and Kazakhstanis who served in Russia - to Kazakhstan. By 1992, most of the remnants of the Soviet Army in the Union republics were disbanded, the garrisons were withdrawn from Eastern Europe and the Baltic states by 1994. On January 1, 1993, instead of the charter of the Armed Forces of the USSR, temporary general military charters of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation came into effect. On January 14, 1993, an amendment to the 1978 Constitution of the RSFSR came into force, giving the President the powers of the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. In April 1992, the Congress of People's Deputies of the RSFSR refused three times to ratify the agreement and to exclude the mention of the constitution and laws of the USSR from the text of the constitution of the RSFSR. Thus, the Constitution of the USSR of 1977 de jure continued to operate on the territory of Russia in accordance with Article 4 of the Constitution of the RSFSR until December 25, 1993, when the Constitution of the Russian Federation adopted at a referendum came into force, which approved the attributes of an independent Russian state after the collapse of the USSR. The Union Republic of the RSFSR became the independent state of the Russian Federation. The most acute problem was the division of the Black Sea military fleet between Russia and Ukraine. The status of the former Black Sea Fleet of the USSR Navy was determined only in 1997 with the division into the Black Sea Fleet of the Navy of the Russian Federation and the Ukrainian Navy. The territories of naval bases in Crimea are leased by Russia from Ukraine for a period until 2042. After the Orange Revolution in December 2004, the situation of the Black Sea Fleet was greatly complicated by a number of conflicts, in particular, allegations of illegal subleasing for commercial purposes and seizures of lighthouses.

Armament and military equipment

nuclear forces

In 1944, the Nazi leadership and the population of Germany began to think about the inevitability of defeat in the war. Despite the fact that the Germans controlled almost all of Europe, they were opposed by such strong powers as the Soviet Union, the United States, and the British colonial empire, which controlled about one quarter of the globe. The superiority of the allies in people, strategic resources (first of all, in oil and copper), in the capacities of the military industry became obvious. This entailed a persistent search by Germany for a "miracle weapon" (wunderwaffe), which was supposed to turn the tide of the war. Research was carried out simultaneously in many areas, they led to significant breakthroughs, and the emergence of a number of technically advanced combat vehicles.

One of the areas of research was the development of atomic weapons. Despite the significant progress made in Germany in this area, the Nazis had too little time; in addition, research had to be carried out in the conditions of the actual collapse of the German military machine, caused by the rapid advance of the allied forces. It is also worth noting that the policy of anti-Semitism pursued in Germany before the war led to the flight of many prominent physicists from Germany.

This flow of intelligence played a certain role in the implementation by the United States of the Manhattan project to create atomic weapons. The world's first atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 announced to mankind the beginning of a new era - the era of atomic fear.

The sharp aggravation of relations between the USSR and the USA, which occurred immediately after the end of World War II, caused a strong temptation for the United States to use its atomic monopoly. A number of plans were drawn up (“Dropshot”, “Chariotir”), which provided for a military invasion of the USSR simultaneously with the atomic bombing of the largest cities.

Such plans were rejected as technically impossible; at that time, stockpiles of nuclear weapons were relatively small, and delivery vehicles were the main problem. By the time adequate means of delivery were developed, the US nuclear monopoly was over.

In 1934, in the Red Army, by resolution STO No. K-29ss of March 6, 1934, the following daily allowances for the main Red Army ration were introduced (Norm No. 1):

In May 1941, norm No. 1 was changed with a decrease in meat (up to 150 g) and an increase in fish (up to 100 g) and vegetables.

Since September 1941, norm No. 1 was left only for allowances for combat units, and lower allowances were provided for rear, guard and troops not part of the active army. At the same time, the issuance of vodka to combat units of the army in the amount of 100 grams per person per day began. The rest of the servicemen relied on vodka only on state and regimental holidays (about 10 times a year). The issue of soap for female soldiers was increased to 400 g.

These norms were in force throughout the entire period of the war.

By the end of the 1940s, norm No. 1 was restored for all parts of the Soviet Army.

From January 1, 1960, 10 g of butter was introduced into the norm, and the amount of sugar was increased to 45 g, and then, during the 1960s, the following were introduced into the norm: jelly (dried fruits) - up to 30 (20) g., the amount of sugar increased up to 65 g., pasta up to 40 g., butter up to 20 g., bread from wheat flour of the 2nd grade was replaced with bread from flour of the 1st grade. From May 1, 1975, the norm was increased due to the issuance of chicken eggs (2 pieces) on weekends and holidays, and in 1983 it was slightly changed due to some redistribution of flour / cereals and types of vegetables.

In 1990, the last adjustment of the food supply quota was made:

Norm number 1. According to this norm, soldiers and sergeants of military service, soldiers and sergeants of the reserve while at the training camp, soldiers and sergeants of extended service, ensigns were to eat. This rule is only for the Ground Forces.

Additions to norm No. 1

For the personnel of guards to escort military cargo on the railway

For reserve officers who are on training camp

1. Since the daily norm of bread far exceeded the needs of the soldiers for bread, it was allowed to give bread to the tables in sliced ​​form in the amount that the soldiers usually eat, and to spread some additional bread at the distribution window in the dining room for those who did not have enough of the usual amount of bread. The amounts generated by saving bread were allowed to be used to purchase other products for the soldiers' table. Usually, this money was used to purchase fruits, sweets, cookies for soldiers' festive dinners; tea and sugar for additional food for soldiers on guard duty; lard for additional nutrition during exercises. The higher command encouraged the creation of a kitchen economy in the regiments (pigsties, vegetable gardens), the products of which were used to improve the nutrition of soldiers in excess of norm No. 1. In addition, bread not eaten by soldiers was often used to make crackers in dry rations, which is established in accordance with norm No. see below).
2. It was allowed to replace fresh meat with canned meat at the rate of replacing 150 g of meat with 112 g of canned meat, fish with canned fish at the rate of replacing 100 g of fish with 60 g of canned fish.
3. In general, there were about fifty norms. Norm No. 1 was the base and, of course, the lowest.

Sample menu of a soldier's canteen for the day:

• Breakfast: Pearl barley. Meat goulash. Tea, sugar, butter, bread.
• Dinner: Salted tomato salad. Borscht in meat broth. Buckwheat porridge. Portioned boiled meat. Compote, bread.
• Dinner: Mashed potatoes. Portion fried fish. Tea, butter, sugar, bread.

Norm number 9. This is the so-called dry ration. In Western countries, it is commonly referred to as the fighting ration. This norm is allowed to be issued only when the soldiers are in conditions where it is impossible to provide them with full-fledged hot meals. Dry rations can be issued for no more than three days. After that, without fail, the soldiers must begin to receive normal nutrition.

Option 1

Option 2

Canned meat is usually stew, minced sausage, minced sausage, liver pate. Canned meat and vegetable products are usually porridge with meat (buckwheat porridge with beef, rice porridge with lamb, barley porridge with pork). All canned food from dry rations can be eaten cold, however, it was recommended to distribute the products into three meals (example in option 2):

• breakfast: heat up the first jar of canned meat and vegetable products (265 g) in a pot, adding a jar of water to the pot. A mug of tea (one bag), 60 g sugar, 100 g biscuits.
• dinner: heat a jar of canned meat in a pot, adding two or three cans of water there. A mug of tea (one bag), 60 g sugar, 100 g biscuits.
• dinner: heat the second jar of canned meat and vegetable products (265 g) in a pot without adding water. A mug of tea (one bag), 60 g sugar, 100 g biscuits.

The entire set of daily dry rations was packed in a cardboard box. For the crews of tanks and armored vehicles, boxes were made of durable waterproof cardboard. In the future, it was supposed to make dry ration packaging sealed metal so that the packaging could be used as a cooking pot, and the lid as a frying pan.

Educational work

In the Soviet Army, in addition to commanders, deputy commanders for political affairs (political officers) were responsible for the educational work of personnel, and later - deputies for educational work. For conducting classes in educational work, self-training and recreation of military personnel in their free time, Lenin rooms were equipped in each barracks, later renamed rest rooms.

Postal service

One of the main positive emotions of all military personnel in "hot spots", and military service in places of permanent deployment, were letters from relatives from home. Letters from "conscripts" and "conscripts" were sent free of charge, regardless of the place of deployment - be it

Article content:

Service in the Russian army is different from service in the army of the Soviet Union. She had her own characteristics. The entire large territory of the Soviet Union was divided into recruiting stations. They were city, district, etc. From February to March, every year, young men who were 17 years old were attached to them. They were called conscripts and issued a certificate.

It was possible to change the registration to the recruiting station, that is, the place of residence without problems from January to April or from July to October. At other times, this was done with special permission and only if there was a good reason.

Within a strictly defined time frame, the conscript had to come to the military registration and enlistment office in order to pass the military commission. When distributing future soldiers by type of armed forces, specialty and qualifications were taken into account. At the same time, much attention was paid to recommendations from public organizations.

Military service in the Soviet Union was considered an honorable duty of every person. Military service consisted of active, that is, service in the active army and service in the reserve. The military who served in the army were called military personnel, and those who were in the reserve were called for military service.

The law "On universal military duty" stated that military service must be performed by the entire male population, regardless of race, religion, nationality, education, social status. Young men from the age of 18 were called up for military service, and the term was 2 years for the ground forces and 3 years for the navy.

The main duties of the military were spelled out in the military oath. It was the military man's oath of allegiance to the Soviet Union, his people, the Communist Party and the Soviet government. The oath was taken by each soldier upon arrival at the military unit, after the course of a young soldier.

Benefits provided by the state to military personnel

• paid severance pay;
• conscripts called up for training camps kept their jobs and received 75% of their average earnings;
• the time of service was counted in the length of service and in preferential terms;
• after the end of the service, the person had the right to return to his original place;
• after the end of the service, if the military did not work before the army, the local authorities are obliged to provide a job within a month, taking into account his education and experience;
• the living space on which he lived before the army is preserved;
• cannot be excluded from the waiting list for housing;
• children were given places in kindergartens;
• wives were paid child support.

A young man was taken to military service if:

1. Had Soviet citizenship.
2. All men were drafted into the army, with the exception of those under investigation or serving sentences.
3. Passing training for military service without interrupting the educational process or work.

This training was carried out at school starting from the 9th grade, in schools, technical schools. Those who did not study, underwent this training in training centers that were organized at work. In these training centers, future soldiers studied the oath, charters, military duties, and work was carried out to improve physical data.

In the Armed Forces themselves, a whole system of measures was developed that strengthened and maintained the health of a soldier, strengthened physical development, and work was carried out to prevent diseases.

One of the important places in the prevention of diseases was occupied by periodic examinations and medical commissions.

Factors such as: good nutrition, a properly organized mode of study, rest and work, constant sports led to the fact that at the next medical examination, 6 months after the call, the warrior himself could notice that his weight increased, he became wider in shoulders and inflated muscles appeared. All this led to the fact that health improved and the body hardened as a result, the warrior fell ill much less often than in civilian life.

Who served in the Soviet army and how, memories, photographs, stories

Service in the Russian Armed Forces was significantly different from the modern one. In order to accurately imagine what kind of service it was, it is necessary to talk with conscripts of that time.

Here is one of the stories

“The entire service life of a length of two years was divided into several periods. The first period: in it, a conscript soldier was called a "spirit", it began from the moment he entered the military unit and ended simultaneously with the course of a young soldier. This was considered the most difficult time, since the soldier did not have any rights (it all happened unofficially). All sergeants are bosses for the "spirits", they came up with different tests for them, who broke from the soldiers remained in this status until the end of their service. And whoever endured, then passing the ritual of initiation, became an "elephant". So, one period of service passed and another began. Then all this behavior of the old-timers was called hazing and began to fight against it.

Video: How they served in the USSR army

Many domestic show business stars escaped from the army with the help of a psychiatric hospital. Viktor Tsoi, the founder of the Leningrad group "Kino", when he received a summons from the military registration and enlistment office, on the advice of his friends, decided to go to the "psychiatric hospital" and "mow down" under the patient, hoping to spend several days in the hospital. But the meticulous doctor carefully studied the non-standard behavior of the patient and suspected something was wrong: Tsoi stayed in the hospital for a month and a half, feigning illness - he was silent all the time. But the doctor did not believe him and set out to “split” the patient or “solder” him a criminal article for simulation and malicious intent not to serve in the ranks of the Soviet army. This conclusion was followed by criminal punishment in the form of imprisonment. Tsoi continued to be silent - the doctor was forced to surrender. When Tsoi was handed a “wolf ticket” at the military enlistment office, his fiancee Marina stood next to him, whom the military enlistment office employees told that she should not marry him because he was a psycho. Someone might think that the Soviet deviators were not given any documents at all, and even more so - a military ID. Just the same, this red crust was a coveted object: a special column indicated under which article the conscript received a deferment from the army. After the expiration of the postponement period, it was again necessary to arrive at the military registration and enlistment office and put forward justified reasons for their postponement. As a rule, the second visit ended quickly and did not require a meticulous check, as the first time.

These are photos from the Soviet photo album of the 80s of the Armed Forces of the USSR with comments taken from the Great Soviet Encyclopedia. “...from the taiga to the British seas: the Red Army is the strongest of all,” was how they sang in a Soviet song. During the Second World War, 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 is a military organization of the Soviet state, designed to protect the socialist gains of the Soviet people, the 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 encroachments by aggressors.
Stroibatovtsy at BAM. Sappers in action. The Armed Forces of the USSR are divided into types: Strategic Missile Forces, Ground Forces, Air Defense Forces of the country, Air Force, Navy, and also include the Logistics of the Armed Forces, headquarters and Civil Defense troops. The branches of the Armed Forces, in turn, are divided into types of troops, branches of forces (Navy) and special forces, which organizationally consist of subdivisions, 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 command and control, uniform principles for the training and education of personnel and the training of command personnel, and a common procedure for the service of privates, sergeants and officers.
The direct command of the Armed Forces is exercised by the USSR Ministry of Defense. All types of the Armed Forces, the Logistics of the Armed Forces, the headquarters and troops of the Civil Defense are subordinate to him. Each branch of the Armed Forces is led by the corresponding commander-in-chief, who is the deputy. defense minister. 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 Directorate of Personnel, the Central Financial Directorate, the Directorate of Affairs, etc.), as well as military administrative bodies and institutions of the Civil 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 wartime, improving the organization of troops, weapons, military equipment, providing the Armed Forces with weapons and all types of material supplies, directing operational and combat training of troops and a number of others. functions determined by the requirements of state protection. Party political work in the Armed Forces is managed by the Central Committee of the CPSU through the Main Political Directorate of the Soviet Army and Navy, which operates as a department of the Central Committee of the CPSU. It directs political bodies, army and navy party and Komsomol organizations, ensures party influence on all aspects of the life of the personnel of the troops, directs the activities of political agencies, party organizations to increase the combat readiness of the troops, strengthen military discipline and the political and moral state of the personnel. Crossing on a pontoon. Artillery crew during exercises. The material and technical support of the Armed Forces is carried out by the departments and services of the Logistics, subordinate to the Deputy Minister of Defense - Head of the 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. Groups of Soviet troops are temporarily stationed on the territories of the GDR, Poland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia to fulfill allied obligations to jointly ensure the security of the socialist states. In the branches of the Armed Forces, military districts, groups of troops, air defense districts, fleets, military councils have been established that have the right to consider and resolve all important issues of the life and activities of the troops of the corresponding branch of the Armed Forces, district. They are fully responsible to the Central Committee of the CPSU, the government and the Minister of Defense of the USSR for the implementation of the resolutions of the party and government 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 recruitment of the Armed Forces by privates, sergeants, and foremen is carried out by calling up Soviet citizens for active military service, which, according to the Constitution of the USSR and the Law on Universal Military Duty of 1967, is an honorable duty of citizens of the USSR (see Conscription in the USSR). The call is made 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 staffing is the admission of military personnel and persons in the reserve, on a voluntary basis, to the positions of ensigns and midshipmen, as well as to long-term service. Officers are recruited on a voluntary basis. Officers are trained in the higher and secondary military schools of the corresponding services of the Armed Forces and branches of service; political officers - in higher military-political schools. To prepare young men for admission to higher military educational institutions, there are Suvorov and Nakhimov schools. The advanced training of officers is carried out at higher courses for the improvement of officers, as well as in the system of combat and political training. Leading command, political, engineering and other officer cadres are trained in the 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 against internal counter-revolution and repeated attacks by international imperialism. The Armed Forces of the USSR were created directly by the Communist Party under the hands of. V. I. Lenin, based on the provisions of the Marxist-Leninist doctrine of war and the army. By a resolution of the Second All-Russian Congress of Soviets of October 26 (November 8), 1917, during the formation of the Soviet government, a Committee for Military and Naval Affairs was created, consisting of V. A. Antonov-Ovseenko, N. V. Krylenko, and 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 Collegium of Military Commissars, from February 1918 - 2 people's commissariats: for military and naval affairs. The main armed force in overthrowing the rule of the bourgeoisie and the landowners and winning the power of the working people were the Red Guard and the revolutionary sailors of the Baltic Fleet, the soldiers of the Petrograd and other garrisons. Relying on the working class and the poor peasantry, they played a crucial role in the victory of the October Revolution of 1917, in defending the young Soviet Republic in the center and in the regions, in defeating the counter-revolutionary rebellions of Kerensky-Krasnov near Petrograd, Kaledin on the Don, and Dutov in late 1917 and early 1918. in the Southern Urals, in ensuring the triumphal procession of Soviet power throughout Russia. Army activity. "... The Red Guards did the noblest and greatest historical work of liberating the working people and the exploited from the oppression of the exploiters" (V. I. Lenin, 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 stifle the revolution, the imperialist states, above all Germany, undertook an intervention against the young Soviet Republic, which merged with the action of internal counter-revolution: White Guard revolts and conspiracies of the Socialist-Revolutionaries, Mensheviks, and the remnants of various bourgeois parties. We needed regular armed forces capable of protecting 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. The direct leadership 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 the violation of the truce by Germany and the transition of its troops to the offensive, the Soviet government on February 22 turned to the people with a decree-appeal written by Lenin "The socialist fatherland is in danger!". This decree marked the beginning of the mass registration 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 annually celebrated in the USSR as a national holiday - the Day of the Soviet Army and Navy.
In the army bath. Physical training. During the years of the Civil War of 1918-20, the construction of the Red Army and the RKKF was carried out under exceptionally difficult conditions. The country's economy was undermined, rail transport was disorganized, the army was supplied with food irregularly, and there were not enough weapons and uniforms. The army did not have the necessary number of command personnel; means. part of the officers of the old army was on the side of the counter-revolution. The peasantry, from which the rank and file and junior officers 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 bureaucratic apparatus, the bourgeois intelligentsia and the kulaks.
Veteran and conscript.
From January to May 1918, the Red Army and the RKKF were recruited by 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. The staffing of the army with volunteers and the election of command personnel could not ensure the creation of a mass regular army, which was necessary in the international situation and in the context of the expansion of the Civil War. On March 4, 1918, the Supreme Military Council was formed to direct military operations and organize 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 General Staff (Vseroglavshtab) was created - the highest executive body in charge of mobilization, formation, organization and training of troops . By a decree of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee on April 22, universal military training of workers (Vsevobuch) was introduced, the military department began to appoint command staff. 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 conscription of 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, the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic (RVSR) was created instead of the Supreme Military Council, whose functions included the 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 (it 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 (on February 10, 1921, it was merged with the All-Glavshtab 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 (established on April 8, 1918), which on April 18, 1919, by decision of the 8th Party Congress, was replaced by the department of the RVSR, renamed on May 26, 1919 into the Political Directorate (PUR) under the RVSR, which at the same time was 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, on the basis of the decisions of the 8th Party Congress, the transition to a regular mass army was completed, with a strong proletarian, politically conscious, cadre core of personnel, a single 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 sharp 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 strength of the Red Army reached 3 million people, by the autumn of 1920 - 5.5 million people. The proportion of workers was 15%, peasants - 77%, others - 8%. In total, in 1918-20, 88 rifle and 29 cavalry divisions, 67 air squadrons (300-400 aircraft), as well as a number of artillery and armored units and subunits were formed. There were 2 reserve (reserve) armies (of the Republic and the South-Eastern Front) and units of Vsevobuch, in which about 800 thousand people were trained. During the years of the Civil War, 6 military academies and over 150 courses and schools (October 1920) prepared 40,000 commanders from workers and peasants. As of August 1, 1920, there were about 300,000 Communists in the Red Army and Navy (about 1/2 of the entire composition of the Party), who were the cementing core of the army and navy. About 50 thousand of them died the death of the brave during the Civil War. In the summer and autumn of 1918, active troops began to form armies and fronts, headed by revolutionary military councils (RVS) of 2-4 members. By the autumn of 1919 there were 7 fronts, each of 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.

In the course of the struggle against the interventionists and the White Guards, the weapons of the old army were mainly used. At the same time, the emergency measures taken by the Party to set up a military industry and the unparalleled heroism of the working class made it possible to move on to an organized supply of Soviet-made weapons, ammunition and uniforms to the Red Army. The average monthly output of rifles in 1920 amounted to more than 56 thousand pieces, cartridges - 58 million pieces. In 1919 aviation enterprises built 258 and repaired 50 aircraft. Together with the creation of the Red Army, Soviet military science was born and developed, based on the Marxist-Leninist doctrine of war and the army, the practice of the revolutionary struggle of the masses, the achievements of the military theory of the past, creatively reworked in relation to new conditions. The first charters of the Red Army were published: in 1918 - the Charter of the internal service, the Charter of the garrison service, the Field Charter, in 1919 - the Disciplinary Charter. Lenin's propositions on the essence and nature of war, the role of the masses, the social system, and the economy in achieving victory were a great contribution to Soviet military science. Already at that time, the characteristic features of Soviet military art were clearly manifested: revolutionary creative activity; intransigence to the template; the ability to determine the direction of the main blow; a reasonable combination of offensive and defensive actions; pursuit of the enemy up to its complete destruction, etc. After the victorious end of the Civil War and the infliction of a decisive defeat on the combined forces of the interventionists and the 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 the demobilization, the strengthening of the Armed Forces was carried out. 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 staffs of units and formations were introduced, the social composition of command cadres was improved, and new regulations, manuals, and guidelines were developed and introduced. The most important issue of the military reform was the transition to a mixed system of manning troops, which made it possible to have a small regular army in peacetime with a minimum expenditure of funds for its maintenance, in combination with territorial-militia formations of internal districts (see Territorial-militia 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 (from 1918 - People's Commissar of the Navy and Chairman of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic), who sought to tear the Red Army and Navy 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 whom 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 in the course of 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), the Air and Naval Forces, the troops of the United State Political Administration (OGPU) and the escort guards of the USSR. Their number in 1927 was 586 thousand people.

In the 30s. on the basis of the successes achieved in building socialism, the further improvement of the Armed Forces took place; their territorial and personnel structure ceased to satisfy the needs of the defense of the state. In 1935-38, a transition was made from the territorial-personnel system to a single 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, 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 the districts and the political departments of the formations were renamed the directorates and departments of political propaganda. On May 10, 1937, by a 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 commanders, for the political and moral state of the troops, operational and mobilization readiness, the state 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 universal 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 the 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 of the Navy, and 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. In terms of technical equipment, the Armed Forces during the years of the pre-war five-year plans (1929-40) rose to the level of the armies of the advanced capitalist states. In the Ground Forces in 1939, compared with 1930, the number of artillery increased; 7, including anti-tank and tank - 70 times. The number of tanks from 1934 to 1939 increased by 2.5 times. Along with the quantitative growth of weapons and military equipment, their quality has improved. A notable step has been taken in increasing the rate of fire of small arms. The mechanization and motorization of all branches of the armed forces increased. Air defense, engineering, communications, chemical defense troops were armed with new technical means. On the basis of the successes of aircraft and engine building, the Air Force was further developed. In 1939, compared with 1930, the total number of aircraft increased 6.5 times. The Navy began building surface ships of various classes, submarines, torpedo boats, and naval aircraft. Compared with 1939, the volume of military production in 1940 increased by more than one-third. Various types of 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 the world's best heavy and medium tanks KV-1 and T-34 into serial production. The design bureaus of V. G. Grabin, I. I. Ivanov, F. I. Petrov and others created new original types of artillery pieces and mortars, many of which went into mass production. From May 1940 to the beginning 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. Artemiev, F. I. Poida and others created a rocket weapon 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 models of warships, which were put into mass production. Great successes were achieved in 1940-41 by factories for the production of small arms, ammunition, fuels and lubricants, etc. The 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. The organization of the artillery reserve of the High Command (RGK) was further developed. Instead of separate tank and armored brigades, which since 1939 were the main formations of the armored forces, the formation of larger formations began - tank and mechanized divisions. In the airborne troops, they began to form airborne corps, and in the Air Force, from 1940, they began to switch to a divisional organization. Formations and formations were organized in the Navy, intended for joint operations with the ground forces and for independent operations.

Military strategy, operational art and tactics were further developed. In the mid 30s. a 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 on maneuvers and exercises, as well as during the fighting of the Red Army in the area of ​​​​Lake Khasan, r. Khalkhin-Gol, in the Soviet-Finnish war 1939-40. Many statutes and instructions were developed anew. In 1940, the troops received the Infantry Combat Regulations (part 1), drafts of the Field Regulations and the Infantry Combat Regulations (part 2), the Combat Regulations for Tank Forces, the Combat Regulations, the Regulations for Guard Service, etc. On May 7, 1940, S. K. Timoshenko.
Despite the measures taken, the preparation of the Armed Forces to repel the aggression that was 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 the new states were not fully equipped with weapons and military equipment, as well as vehicles. Many middle and senior commanders lacked experience in modern warfare.

Great Fatherland. 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 suddenness of the attack, the lengthy preparation for war, the 2-year experience of military operations in Europe, the 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 deadly 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 reserve. The whole life of the country was rebuilt on a military footing. The main sectors of the economy switched to the production of military products. In July-November 1941, 1,360 large enterprises, mainly of defense importance, were evacuated from the 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, JV Stalin was appointed People's Commissar of Defense, and on August 8 he also became Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. The State Defense Committee led the entire life of the country, uniting the efforts of the rear and the front, the activities of all state bodies, party and public organizations for the complete defeat of the enemy. The fundamental issues of the leadership of the state, the conduct of the war were decided by the Central Committee of the party - the Politburo, the Orgburo and the Secretariat. The adopted decisions were put into practice 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 the strategic leadership of the Armed Forces with the help of its working body - the General Staff. The most important questions of the conduct of the war were discussed at joint meetings of the Politburo of the Central Committee, the State Defense Committee and the Headquarters. Since the beginning of the war, the training of officers has been expanded by increasing the contingent of students of academies, cadets of schools and reducing the duration of training, creating a large number of courses for accelerated training of junior officers, especially from among soldiers and sergeants. From September 1941, distinguished formations began to be given the name Guards (see Soviet Guard). Thanks to the extraordinary measures taken by the CPSU and the Soviet government, mass heroism and unprecedented self-sacrifice of the Soviet people, soldiers of the army and navy, by the end of 1941, the enemy was stopped on the outskirts of Moscow, Leningrad and other vital centers of the country. During the Battle of Moscow 1941-42, the first major defeat was inflicted on the enemy in the entire 2nd World War. This battle dispelled the myth of the invincibility of the fascist German 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 hostilities moved to the southern wing of the Soviet-German front. The enemy rushed to the Volga, the oil of the Caucasus, the grain regions of the Don and Kuban. The Party and the Soviet government made every effort to stop the enemy, continued to build up the power of the Armed Forces. By the spring of 1942, there were 5.5 million people in the Armed Forces alone in the active army. From the middle of 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, the output of ammunition almost doubled. In 1942, 575,000 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 turning point not only in the Great Patriotic War, but throughout World War II. In 1943, military production developed rapidly: the production of aircraft compared to 1942 increased by 137.1%, warships by 123%, submachine guns by 134.3%, shells by 116.9%, and bombs by 173.3%. In general, the production of military products increased by 17%, and in Nazi Germany by 12%. The Soviet defense industry was able to surpass the enemy not only in the quantity of weapons, but also in their quality. The mass production of artillery pieces made it possible to strengthen divisional artillery, create corps, army artillery and powerful artillery of the reserve of the Supreme High Command (RVGK), new units and subunits of rocket, anti-tank and anti-aircraft artillery. A significant number of tank and mechanized corps were formed, most of which were later reduced to a tank. army. Armored and mechanized troops became the main strike force of the Ground Forces (by the end of 1943 they included 5 tank armies, 24 tank and 13 mechanized corps). The composition of aviation divisions, corps and air armies has increased. The significant strengthening of the power of the Soviet Armed Forces and the increased skill of the commander of its military leaders made it possible in the Battle of Kursk 1943 to inflict a major defeat on the fascist troops, which put fascist Germany in front of a military catastrophe.
Warriors-internationalists and pioneers.
Decisive victories were won by the Armed Forces of the USSR in 1944-45. By this time, they had vast combat experience, possessed colossal power, and by the beginning of 1945 numbered 11,365 thousand people. The advantages of the socialist economic system and the viability 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 mass quantities - La-7, Yak-9, Il-10, Tu-2, heavy tanks IS-2, self-propelled artillery mounts ISU-122, ISU-152 and SU-100, rocket launchers BM- 31-12, 160-mm mortars and other military equipment. As a result of strategic offensive operations, including near Leningrad and Novgorod, in the Crimea, on the Right-Bank Ukraine, in Belarus, Moldova, the Baltic states and in the Arctic, the Armed Forces cleared Soviet land of invaders. Developing a swift offensive, the Soviet troops carried out the East Prussian, Vistula-Oder and other operations in 1945. In the Berlin operation, they achieved the final defeat of Nazi Germany. The Armed Forces fulfilled a great liberation mission - they helped to get rid of the fascist occupation of the peoples of the countries of Eastern and South-Eastern Europe. Fulfilling its allied obligations, the Soviet Union in August 1945 entered the war with Japan. The Armed Forces of the USSR, together with the armed forces of the MPR, defeated the Japanese Kwantung Army and thus played a decisive role in ending World War II (see the Manchurian operation of 1945).
The leading force of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War was the Communist Party. During the war it sent over 1.6 million communists to the front, and during the war about 6 million people joined the ranks of the Communist Party.
In the Afghan gorge. The Party and the Soviet government appreciated the exploits of the soldiers on the fronts of the war. 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.

Wall newspaper. During the war, the Armed Forces of the USSR gained vast combat experience. Soviet military science was further developed, especially the art of war and all its constituent parts—strategy, operational art, and tactics. The issues of front-line and strategic offensive operations of a group of fronts were comprehensively developed, the problems of breaking through enemy defenses, the continuity of the development of the offensive were successfully solved by introducing mobile - tank and mechanized formations and formations into the breakthrough, achieving a clear interaction of forces and means, sudden strikes, comprehensive support for operations, issues of strategic defense and counteroffensive 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 the consciousness of a fulfilled duty to the Soviet people and all mankind. A massive layoff of personnel began. On September 4, 1945, the GKO was abolished, and the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command 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.

In pre-revolutionary Russia:

Until 1874, recruits (peasants and philistines) served in the army. At first, military service was indefinite; from 1793, the term of service was reduced to 25 years. Gradually, it decreased - and by the time of the military reform of 1874 it was already 7 years old.

After the reform, recruitment was replaced by universal military duty. The total service life in the ground forces was 15 years (directly in the service - 6 years, and the rest of the time - in reserve), the total service life in the fleet - 10 years (directly in the service - 7 years).

In 1906, the term of active soldier service was reduced to 3 years. Then, in August-December 1914, a 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 USSR:

On the basis of various decrees and resolutions of the CEC, the term of service was changed several times until the law on compulsory military service was passed in 1925.

In the ground forces until the beginning of World War II, 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. He also varied in the fleet. So, from 1924 to 1928, it was necessary to serve 4 years, from 1928 to 1939 - 3 years, from 1939 - 5 years.

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

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

In modern Russia:

In 1993, the normative act that existed in the USSR was canceled - the law of the Russian Federation "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 start 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 separation of conscription and contract military service, and at the same time to reduce the conscription service from 2 years to 1 year. For the first time that the Russian leadership plans to reduce the term of military service on conscription, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced back in 2002.

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

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

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