Red Army man

Red Army man (Russian: красноармеец, romanized: krasnoarmeyets) was the lowest military rank in the Red Army of the Soviet Union from 1935 to 1946, roughly equivalent to NATO OR-1. Before 1935, it also referred to the position held by Red Army enlisted personnel.[1]

Red Army man Красноармеец
Shoulder strap (1943–1946)
Country	Soviet Union
Service branch	Red Army
Non-NATO rank	Private
Formation	September 1935
Abolished	July 1946
Next higher rank	Section commander (1935–1940) Yefreytor (1940–1946)
Next lower rank	None
Equivalent ranks	Red Fleet man

On 30 November 1917, after the October Revolution, the Military Revolutionary Committee cancelled all "officer and class ranks" in keeping with the egalitarian spirit of the revolution. Henceforth, the term Red Army man was used to refer to all ordinary soldiers.[2]

In September 1935, the Red Army introduced a system of personal military ranks, in which Red Army man was the lowest rank. It was replaced by the rank of Ryadovoy in July 1946.[1]

Its naval equivalent was Red Fleet man.[1][3]