On December 16, 1917, the decrees of the Central Executive Committee and the Council of People’s Commissars “On the Elective Principle and the Organization of Authority in the Army” and “On Equal Rights of All Military Personnel” abolished all military ranks and insignia.

Thus, the disbandment of the Imperial Russian Army was officially completed. However, as is well known, the disbandment of the army does not at all solve the problem of why armies exist, which is war. Therefore, exactly a month after the dissolution of the imperial army, a new one was created — the Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army, or simply, the Red Army. It was established on January 15, 1918.

Hence, all the soldiers of the Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army, established by the order of January 15, 1918, no longer had any official military uniform or special insignia.

Nevertheless, that same year, a badge was introduced for Red Army soldiers. It depicts a star with a hammer and a plow framed by a wreath of oak leaves. An emblem featuring a red star with a plow and a hammer was to be worn on all military headdresses.

In the earliest period of the formation of the Red Army detachments, there was simply no need for any insignia, as the fighters knew their immediate superiors and commanders very well.

In the middle of 1918, revolutionary badges for the completion of the courses of Red Army commanders were introduced: it was a wreath with or without a red enamel base. It did not have red stars. Hence, it was a combination of pre-revolutionary emblems of different branches.

At the end of 1918, the image of a red star was added to the revolutionary military badge. Such badges were intended for red commanders and were approved by the command of various military units during the Russian Civil War in order to emphasize the commander’s belonging to the Red Army and his official position.

In addition, at the same time, armbands for members of different branches and services were introduced, mainly for cadets and Red Army commanders. Revolutionary military chest and arm badges had different designs, as they were manufactured all throughout Russia.