Admiral of the Fleet (USSR)
Encyclopedia
The rank of Admiral of the Fleet was the highest naval rank of the Soviet Union
from 1940 to 1955 and second-highest from 1962.
The rank has a rather confusing history. It was first created by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet
in 1940 as an equivalent to General of the Army, but was not used until 1944, when Ivan Isakov
and Nikolai Kuznetsov
were promoted to the rank.
The 1944 insignia featured four Nakhimov stars, but when the rank was declared equivalent to the Marshal of the Soviet Union
in 1945, they were replaced with a single, bigger star to look similar to Marshal's shoulder boards. The two existing Admirals of the Fleet were given this new 'big' Marshal's Star
. So from 1945 to 1962, there was no intermediate rank equivalent to Generals of the Army in between Admiral
and Admiral of the Fleet.
The rank was abolished in March 1955 with the creation of the rank of Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union
but restored in 1962 as the second-highest navy rank. Holders of the ranks were given a smaller Marshal's Star
since then.
in May 1944.
"In 1944," Kuznetsov wrote, "Stalin, quite inexpectedly for me, raised in Supreme Headquarters a question about conferring on me the next military rank. At the moment we had no rank higher than Admiral. I reported that foreign Navies had a rank of Admiral of the Fleet
. [So] it was decided to institute the rank of Admiral of the Fleet, with four stars on the shoulder straps. So I obtained the next rank of Admiral of the Fleet."
In 1948 Kuznetsov was demoted two grades to the rank of Counter Admiral. Soon before Stalin's death, however, Kuznetsov was again restored as an Admiral of the Fleet and was among the two Admirals to receive the rank of Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union upon its official creation in 1955, the other being Ivan Isakov
.
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
from 1940 to 1955 and second-highest from 1962.
The rank has a rather confusing history. It was first created by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet
Presidium of the Supreme Soviet
The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet was a Soviet governmental institution – a permanent body of the Supreme Soviets . This body was of the all-Union level , as well as in all Soviet republics and autonomous republics...
in 1940 as an equivalent to General of the Army, but was not used until 1944, when Ivan Isakov
Ivan Isakov
Hovhannes Stepani Isakov -Early life:Ivan Isakov was born Hovhannes Ter-Isahakyan in the family of an Armenian railway worker in the village of Hadjikend in the Kars Oblast, then a part of the Russian Empire...
and Nikolai Kuznetsov
Nikolai Gerasimovich Kuznetsov
Nikolay Gerasimovich Kuznetsov was a Soviet naval officer who achieved the rank of Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union and served as People's Commissar of the Navy during The Second World War....
were promoted to the rank.
The 1944 insignia featured four Nakhimov stars, but when the rank was declared equivalent to the Marshal of the Soviet Union
Marshal of the Soviet Union
Marshal of the Soviet Union was the de facto highest military rank of the Soviet Union. ....
in 1945, they were replaced with a single, bigger star to look similar to Marshal's shoulder boards. The two existing Admirals of the Fleet were given this new 'big' Marshal's Star
Marshal's Star
The marshal's star is an additional badge of rank worn by marshals of the armed forces of the USSR, and subsequently the Russian Federation. The armed forces of the former USSR and the Russian Federation have two such insignia for higher military ranks, both in the form of a five-pointed star of...
. So from 1945 to 1962, there was no intermediate rank equivalent to Generals of the Army in between Admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
and Admiral of the Fleet.
The rank was abolished in March 1955 with the creation of the rank of Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union
Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union
An Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union was the highest naval rank of the Soviet Union.The rank was largely honorary and could be considered equivalent to Admiral of the Navy in other nations...
but restored in 1962 as the second-highest navy rank. Holders of the ranks were given a smaller Marshal's Star
Marshal's Star
The marshal's star is an additional badge of rank worn by marshals of the armed forces of the USSR, and subsequently the Russian Federation. The armed forces of the former USSR and the Russian Federation have two such insignia for higher military ranks, both in the form of a five-pointed star of...
since then.
History
According to Kuznetsov, the rank was conferred on him by Joseph StalinJoseph Stalin
Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin was the Premier of the Soviet Union from 6 May 1941 to 5 March 1953. He was among the Bolshevik revolutionaries who brought about the October Revolution and had held the position of first General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee...
in May 1944.
"In 1944," Kuznetsov wrote, "Stalin, quite inexpectedly for me, raised in Supreme Headquarters a question about conferring on me the next military rank. At the moment we had no rank higher than Admiral. I reported that foreign Navies had a rank of Admiral of the Fleet
Admiral of the Fleet
An admiral of the fleet is a military naval officer of the highest rank. In many nations the rank is reserved for wartime or ceremonial appointments...
. [So] it was decided to institute the rank of Admiral of the Fleet, with four stars on the shoulder straps. So I obtained the next rank of Admiral of the Fleet."
In 1948 Kuznetsov was demoted two grades to the rank of Counter Admiral. Soon before Stalin's death, however, Kuznetsov was again restored as an Admiral of the Fleet and was among the two Admirals to receive the rank of Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union upon its official creation in 1955, the other being Ivan Isakov
Ivan Isakov
Hovhannes Stepani Isakov -Early life:Ivan Isakov was born Hovhannes Ter-Isahakyan in the family of an Armenian railway worker in the village of Hadjikend in the Kars Oblast, then a part of the Russian Empire...
.
Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union
This was a five-star rank comparable to Marshal of the Soviet UnionMarshal of the Soviet Union
Marshal of the Soviet Union was the de facto highest military rank of the Soviet Union. ....
- Nikolai Gerasimovich KuznetsovNikolai Gerasimovich KuznetsovNikolay Gerasimovich Kuznetsov was a Soviet naval officer who achieved the rank of Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union and served as People's Commissar of the Navy during The Second World War....
- Ivan IsakovIvan IsakovHovhannes Stepani Isakov -Early life:Ivan Isakov was born Hovhannes Ter-Isahakyan in the family of an Armenian railway worker in the village of Hadjikend in the Kars Oblast, then a part of the Russian Empire...
- Sergey GorshkovSergey GorshkovAdmiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Sergey Georgiyevich Gorshkov was a Soviet naval officer during the Cold War who oversaw the expansion of the Soviet Navy into a global force....
Admiral of the Fleet (Fleet Admiral)
This was a four-star rank comparable to Army General (Soviet Union)- Vladimir Afanasyevich KasatonovVladimir KasatonovVladimir Afanasyevich Kasatonov was a Soviet military leader, admiral, and Hero of the Soviet Union ....
- Semyon LobovSemyon LobovSemyon Mikhailovich Lobov born 15 February 1913 died 12 June 1977 was an Admiral of the Fleet in the Soviet Navy....
- Nikolai SergeyevNikolai Sergeyev (Admiral)Nikolai Dmitriyevich Sergeyev was an Admiral of the Fleet and Chief of staff of the Soviet Navy-Biography:Sergeyev joined the Navy in 1928 and completed the M.V. Frunze Higher Naval School in 1931. In 1932 he joined the Amur Military Flotilla in the Far East and served on and commanded river...
- Georgiy YegorovGeorgiy YegorovGeorgiy Mikhailovich Yegorov was a Soviet Admiral of the Fleet and Hero of the Soviet Union.Yegorov was born in a peasant family and graduated from the Frunze Higher Naval School in 1936. At the start of Operation Barbarossa, Yegorov was a Senior Lieutenant and navigating officer of a Shchuka...
- Nikolai SmirnovNikolai Ivanovich SmirnovNikolai Ivanovich Smirnov was a Soviet Navy Admiral and a Hero of the Soviet Union .Smirnov was born in a peasant family and graduated from an agricultural institute. He joined the Navy in 1937 and completed the M.V. Frunze Higher Naval School in Leningrad in 1939...
- Vladimir Nikolayevich ChernavinVladimir ChernavinFleet Admiral Vladimir Nikolayevich Chernavin was the last Commander-in-Chief of the Soviet Navy 1985-91 and the first Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy 1991-92.-Biography:...
- Alexei SorokinAlexei SorokinAlexei Ivanovich Sorokin born 1922 is a retired Soviet Admiral of the Fleet and former member of the Council of Peoples Deputies....
- Ivan KapitanetsIvan KapitanetsIvan Matveyevich Kapitanets is a retired Soviet Navy Admiral of the FleetKapitanets entered the Navy in 1946 and graduated from the Caspian Higher Naval School in 1950. On gradation he joined the Northern Fleet and served as torpedo officer on the destroyer Okrylenny...
- Konstantin MakarovKonstantin MakarovKonstantin Valentinovich Makarov was a Soviet Navy Admiral of the Fleet* 1963 - Makarov completed the naval preparatory school* 1949 - Entered the Soviet Navy...
See also
- Admiral of the Fleet (Russia)Admiral of the Fleet (Russia)Admiral of the Fleet or Fleet Admiral is the highest naval rank of the Russian Federation. It is the equivalent of the Soviet naval rank of Admiral of the Fleet and the present Russian rank of General of the Army.The rank is roughly equivalent to 4-stars Admiral ranks of other nations.There is...
- Russian military ranks
- Admiral of the FleetAdmiral of the FleetAn admiral of the fleet is a military naval officer of the highest rank. In many nations the rank is reserved for wartime or ceremonial appointments...