Moscow parade 7th November 1941.
Use of Russian words of command.
In the 13th Guards we use some basic words of command and drill movements, whether as part of our living history impression or battlefield re enactment.
We use standard NATO transliteration and with a little practice is it relatively simplistic to learn. Also, at events it's use adds that little bit more authenticity and interest for the members of the public.
We use standard NATO transliteration and with a little practice is it relatively simplistic to learn. Also, at events it's use adds that little bit more authenticity and interest for the members of the public.
Morning Parade in Garrison.
- A whistle will sound and the order ‘Vzvod, Stah-nah vahss!’ (Squad, fall in) will be given.
- At the run, the squad will form up in one rank if ten or less soldiers, and in two ranks if more, in size order (tallest to the left, shortest right). The left hand-most soldier looks ahead; all other soldiers look to the left.
- The soldiers take the ‘Vohl-nah’ (At ease) position, body relaxed, arms down the sides, right leg straight, left leg relaxed.
- At the order ‘Na leh-vah rahv-nyass!’(Dress ranks to the left) all soldiers, except the left hand-most soldier in each rank, raise their clenched left fist to their left breast, level with the gymnastiorka pocket and take their correct dressing by placing their left elbow against the shoulder of the man on their immediate left. Once they have taken their correct spacing, the arm is smartly brought back to the side.
- The order ‘Smeer-nah!’ (Attention) will be given. At this first command, the soldiers come rigidly to attention and snap their heads smartly to the front.
- The squad is given the order ‘Vohl-nah!’ (At ease), and the squad assume the original ‘at ease’ position, this time keeping the eyes forward.
- The roll call (Pereklychka) is made. When the soldier’s name is called, they assume the ‘Smeer-nah’ position and answer ‘Yest!, reverting to ‘at ease’ immediately afterwards.
- When the roll has been called, the senior rank on parade greets the commanding officer with the words ‘Vsye na myestye Tovarishch ...... (All present, comrade, and commander’s rank as appropriate), and the commander inspects the parade, paying particular attention to the following:
2. Pilotkas will be inspected for needle and thread, and to make sure no soldier is hiding cigarettes in the folds.
3. Collars are checked for clean collar liners. These should be replaced daily.
4. Inside of belt for soldier’s number.
5. Missing buttons on tunic.
6. Empty pockets. The only items that may be carried are:
o Military documents (Soldiers’ book)
o Party or Komsomol card (if appropriate)
o Handkerchief
o Comb
o Pen and notebook, with no loose pages
- If asked a question by your Officer or NCO, yes or no are not used, instead the following phrases are used whenever addressing a senior rank:
o Nikak-nyet (Not at all) if No.
o Tovarishch (Comrade)
o And the seniors rank. Thus, if a Sergeant was to ask the soldier a question that has an answer in the negative,
the correct response would be: "Nikak-nyet Tovarishch Serzhant.
In Guards units the title (Guards) was often used after the word Tovarishch and before the rank title,
ie Tovarishch Gvardey Serzhant (Comrade Guards Sergeant)
- The unit is briefed by the commander, and duties are assigned.
- If appropriate, the Commissar gives a briefing to the unit, to inform the soldiers of war news, raise morale and not least, to raise consciousness of the importance to the Motherland of the Peoples’ Struggle.
- The parade will be dismissed by being brought back to attention, then given the command ‘Razoydis’ (Dismiss). On receiving this command, the soldiers will dismiss to their duties at the run. The last man standing is traditionally assigned extra duties!
RUSSIAN DRILL AND BATTLE COMMANDS
Pronounciation: Standard NATO transliteration has been used to render the English pronounciation of Russian. Things to note: English “u” in transliteration is a long sound, i.e. it’s pronounced as “oo”; Russian “е” is pronounced “ye” in English.
Morning Parade in Garrison
See below for parade commands.
Otdyelyeniye (Отделение) is a squad of any size, Vzvod (Bзвод) is a platoon and Rota (Pота) is a company
When answering roll-call the response is “Yest!” (Есть!). [Literally “there is” – the formal response when the soldier’s name is called].
The following are used when addressing / responding to an NCO or officer:
Tak tochno (Так точно) for “yes”
Nikak nyet (Никак нет) for “no”
Slushayus (Слушаюсь) [literally “I obey”] when given an order to carry out or to acknowledge receipt of an order or instruction.
The formal military greeting to an officer was to salute and say “Zdraviya zhelayu Tovarishch [rank]” (Здравия желаю товарищ....), literally “I wish you health comrade…[rank]”. An officer arriving on parade would stand facing the troops and say “Zdraviya zhelayu tovarishchi soldati” (Здравия желаю товарищи солдаты), “I wish you heath comrade soldiers”, and the response from the whole parade is to return the greeting as above.
PARADE
Squad Otdyelyeneeye Отделение
Fall in Stanovees Становись
Dress ranks to the left Nalyevah – ravnyayees! Налево – равняйсь!
Attention! Smirnah! Смирно!
At ease! Volnah! Вольно!
As you were Otstaveet Отставить
Quiet! Tishye! Тише!
All present comrade… Vsye na myestye, tovarishch… Все на месте, товарищ...
Dismiss Razoyedees/ Razoyetees Разойдись /Разойтись
DRILL
To call out the pace when marching the numbers 1,2 or 1,2,3, are used (see below) because the Russian words for left and right have two syllables and are unsuitable for this purpose. The pace is called by all soldiers in a squad when learning to march (as in the British Army), or by a soldier in the front rank for trained soldiers to keep step on the march. (Raz is used for the number one when counting, if talking about one thing the word odin [один] is used).
Numbering off from the left or right.
Each soldier in the front rank only calls out the respective number from either the left or right as instructed.
From the left number. At lyevogo cheesla. Oт левого числа.
From the right number. At praveelnogo cheesla. Oт правильного числа.
Numbers 1-10
1 - один a-deen
2 - два dva
3 - три tree
4 - четыре chye-tir-ye
5 - пять pyat
6 - шесть shest
7- семь syem
8 - восемь vo-syem
9 - девять dyev-yat
10 -десять dyes-yat
Pay attention Slushayte vsye Слушайте все
Left turn Nalyevo Налево
Right turn Napravo Направо
About turn Krugom Кругом
Quick march Shagom marsh Шагом марш
Double march Byegom marsh Бегом марш
Left, right, left right Raz dva, raz dva Раз два, раз, два
Left, left, left right left Raz, raz, raz dva tri Раз, раз, раз два три
Left wheel Lyevoye plyecho vpyeryod- marsh Левое плечо вперёд - марш
Right wheel Pravoye plyecho vpyeryod- marsh Правое плечо вперёд - марш
Mark time Na myestye - shagom marsh На месте- шагом марш
Halt! Stoy! Стой!
ARMS DRILL
Shoulder (slope) arms Na plyecho На плечо
Order arms K' nogye К ноге
Present arms Na karaul На караул
Sling rifles Na ryemyen На ремень
Fix bayonets Primknitye shtyki Примкните штыки
Unfix bayonets Otomknitye shtyki Отомкните штыки
BATTLE COMMANDS
To battle K boyu К бою
To the attack V ataku В атаку
Follow me Za mnoy За мной
Advance Vpyerod Вперёд
Spread out Razomknis Разомкнись
Get down Lozheetyes Ложитесь
Come here Podoyti Подойти
Open fire Ogon Огонь
Hands up Rukee vvyerkh Руки вверх
PATRIOTIC
For the Motherland! Za rodinu! За родину!
Death to the fascists! Smyert fashistam! Смерть фашистам!
For Stalin! Za Stalina! За Сталина!
FIREARMS DEMONSTRATIONS
Load rifles / weapons Zaryazhaytye vintovki / oruzhiye Заряжайте винтовки / оружие
Ready! Gotovo! Готово!
Aim! Tsyelitye! Целите!
Fire! Ogon! Огонь!
Rapid fire! Chastiy ogon! Частый огон!
Cease fire! Pryekratitye ogon! Прекратите огон!
Unload! Razgruzhaytye! Разгружайте!
Check weapons Provyeritye oruzhiye Проверите оружие
Thanks go to Comrade Chris Tapster for preparing the transliteration.
Pronounciation: Standard NATO transliteration has been used to render the English pronounciation of Russian. Things to note: English “u” in transliteration is a long sound, i.e. it’s pronounced as “oo”; Russian “е” is pronounced “ye” in English.
Morning Parade in Garrison
See below for parade commands.
Otdyelyeniye (Отделение) is a squad of any size, Vzvod (Bзвод) is a platoon and Rota (Pота) is a company
When answering roll-call the response is “Yest!” (Есть!). [Literally “there is” – the formal response when the soldier’s name is called].
The following are used when addressing / responding to an NCO or officer:
Tak tochno (Так точно) for “yes”
Nikak nyet (Никак нет) for “no”
Slushayus (Слушаюсь) [literally “I obey”] when given an order to carry out or to acknowledge receipt of an order or instruction.
The formal military greeting to an officer was to salute and say “Zdraviya zhelayu Tovarishch [rank]” (Здравия желаю товарищ....), literally “I wish you health comrade…[rank]”. An officer arriving on parade would stand facing the troops and say “Zdraviya zhelayu tovarishchi soldati” (Здравия желаю товарищи солдаты), “I wish you heath comrade soldiers”, and the response from the whole parade is to return the greeting as above.
PARADE
Squad Otdyelyeneeye Отделение
Fall in Stanovees Становись
Dress ranks to the left Nalyevah – ravnyayees! Налево – равняйсь!
Attention! Smirnah! Смирно!
At ease! Volnah! Вольно!
As you were Otstaveet Отставить
Quiet! Tishye! Тише!
All present comrade… Vsye na myestye, tovarishch… Все на месте, товарищ...
Dismiss Razoyedees/ Razoyetees Разойдись /Разойтись
DRILL
To call out the pace when marching the numbers 1,2 or 1,2,3, are used (see below) because the Russian words for left and right have two syllables and are unsuitable for this purpose. The pace is called by all soldiers in a squad when learning to march (as in the British Army), or by a soldier in the front rank for trained soldiers to keep step on the march. (Raz is used for the number one when counting, if talking about one thing the word odin [один] is used).
Numbering off from the left or right.
Each soldier in the front rank only calls out the respective number from either the left or right as instructed.
From the left number. At lyevogo cheesla. Oт левого числа.
From the right number. At praveelnogo cheesla. Oт правильного числа.
Numbers 1-10
1 - один a-deen
2 - два dva
3 - три tree
4 - четыре chye-tir-ye
5 - пять pyat
6 - шесть shest
7- семь syem
8 - восемь vo-syem
9 - девять dyev-yat
10 -десять dyes-yat
Pay attention Slushayte vsye Слушайте все
Left turn Nalyevo Налево
Right turn Napravo Направо
About turn Krugom Кругом
Quick march Shagom marsh Шагом марш
Double march Byegom marsh Бегом марш
Left, right, left right Raz dva, raz dva Раз два, раз, два
Left, left, left right left Raz, raz, raz dva tri Раз, раз, раз два три
Left wheel Lyevoye plyecho vpyeryod- marsh Левое плечо вперёд - марш
Right wheel Pravoye plyecho vpyeryod- marsh Правое плечо вперёд - марш
Mark time Na myestye - shagom marsh На месте- шагом марш
Halt! Stoy! Стой!
ARMS DRILL
Shoulder (slope) arms Na plyecho На плечо
Order arms K' nogye К ноге
Present arms Na karaul На караул
Sling rifles Na ryemyen На ремень
Fix bayonets Primknitye shtyki Примкните штыки
Unfix bayonets Otomknitye shtyki Отомкните штыки
BATTLE COMMANDS
To battle K boyu К бою
To the attack V ataku В атаку
Follow me Za mnoy За мной
Advance Vpyerod Вперёд
Spread out Razomknis Разомкнись
Get down Lozheetyes Ложитесь
Come here Podoyti Подойти
Open fire Ogon Огонь
Hands up Rukee vvyerkh Руки вверх
PATRIOTIC
For the Motherland! Za rodinu! За родину!
Death to the fascists! Smyert fashistam! Смерть фашистам!
For Stalin! Za Stalina! За Сталина!
FIREARMS DEMONSTRATIONS
Load rifles / weapons Zaryazhaytye vintovki / oruzhiye Заряжайте винтовки / оружие
Ready! Gotovo! Готово!
Aim! Tsyelitye! Целите!
Fire! Ogon! Огонь!
Rapid fire! Chastiy ogon! Частый огон!
Cease fire! Pryekratitye ogon! Прекратите огон!
Unload! Razgruzhaytye! Разгружайте!
Check weapons Provyeritye oruzhiye Проверите оружие
Thanks go to Comrade Chris Tapster for preparing the transliteration.
Soviet troops on night time operations.
The Platoon in the field. (Nov.1942 onwards)
In the field the Platoon (Vsvod) consisted of a four man HQs (Platoon Commander a Jnr Lieutenant, Sgt and two messengers/runners) and three nine men rifle Sections (Otdyeleniye), or four Sections during war time.
However, due to casualties and shortages the Platoon more often than not operated with three and sometimes two Sections.
Also, there were two types of Sections encountered, type A light section with one LMG and type B heavy section with two LMGs. In understrength Platoons the LMGs were distributed evenly between the Sections.
The Section Commander (Jnr Sgt) more commonly would be armed with a sub machine gun or semi automatic rifle, the LMG gunner may carry an additional weapon ie, either a pistol, carbine or rifle. One or two other sub machine guns or semi automatic rifles may have been distributed in the Section and the remainder carried bolt action rifles.
The Section fell in according to their respective role on the left of the Section Commander and not in order of height as in garrison duties.
The Section Commander would fall in and raise his left arm and the Section would fall in as follows:
FRONT.
Platoon Commander.
M R R R R R O/g L2 L1 S/C (1 Sec Light)
M R R R O/g L2 L1 L2 L1 S/C ( 2 Sec Heavy)
R R R R R O/g L2 L1 S/C ( 3 Sec Light)
R R R O/g L2 L1 L2 L1 S/C ( 4 Sec Heavy)
Platoon Sgt.
REAR.
The two messenger/runners would normally fall in at the end of the Section(s) with the least men.
KEY
S/C = Section Commander.
L1 = LMG gunner.
L2 = LMG assistant.
O/g = Observer/guide man, usually a Corporal (Yefreitor) and Section 2nd in Command.
R = Rifleman. The last man in the file would usually be an experienced or dependable rifleman.
M = Messenger/runner.
Instruction on basic Soviet field tactics is given to members during a pre season training weekend
and throughout the various events we attend annually. These field tactics are implimented into our living
history displays and battle re enactments.
Note: Information on Section/Platoon formations is taken from an English translation of the Combat Instructions for the
Infantry of the Red Army dated 9th November 1942.
However, due to casualties and shortages the Platoon more often than not operated with three and sometimes two Sections.
Also, there were two types of Sections encountered, type A light section with one LMG and type B heavy section with two LMGs. In understrength Platoons the LMGs were distributed evenly between the Sections.
The Section Commander (Jnr Sgt) more commonly would be armed with a sub machine gun or semi automatic rifle, the LMG gunner may carry an additional weapon ie, either a pistol, carbine or rifle. One or two other sub machine guns or semi automatic rifles may have been distributed in the Section and the remainder carried bolt action rifles.
The Section fell in according to their respective role on the left of the Section Commander and not in order of height as in garrison duties.
The Section Commander would fall in and raise his left arm and the Section would fall in as follows:
FRONT.
Platoon Commander.
M R R R R R O/g L2 L1 S/C (1 Sec Light)
M R R R O/g L2 L1 L2 L1 S/C ( 2 Sec Heavy)
R R R R R O/g L2 L1 S/C ( 3 Sec Light)
R R R O/g L2 L1 L2 L1 S/C ( 4 Sec Heavy)
Platoon Sgt.
REAR.
The two messenger/runners would normally fall in at the end of the Section(s) with the least men.
KEY
S/C = Section Commander.
L1 = LMG gunner.
L2 = LMG assistant.
O/g = Observer/guide man, usually a Corporal (Yefreitor) and Section 2nd in Command.
R = Rifleman. The last man in the file would usually be an experienced or dependable rifleman.
M = Messenger/runner.
Instruction on basic Soviet field tactics is given to members during a pre season training weekend
and throughout the various events we attend annually. These field tactics are implimented into our living
history displays and battle re enactments.
Note: Information on Section/Platoon formations is taken from an English translation of the Combat Instructions for the
Infantry of the Red Army dated 9th November 1942.
