Rank group Commanding officers Navy Flag officer 2nd rank | Army / Air Force Komdiv NATO
equivalent OF-7 | |
 | ||
Rank insignia Armed Forces of the Soviet Union Introduction 1935 to the Soviet Army | ||
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).
Until 1940 it was the fourth highest military rank of the Red Army, and might have been rated OF-7 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. The new rank structure was as follows: