Red Army book for the Red Army driver, 7 commendations

The original Red Army book is in good collector's condition. Guarantee of authenticity.

The Red Army book was the main identity card of the Red Army and junior commanders of the Land Forces and the Fleet of the USSR (Red Army and Navy). For the first time, a document called the "Service book of a Red Army Soldier" was introduced by order of the RVSR No. 189 dated January 30, 1919. The text of the book was approved by Yakov Sverdlov and Vladimir Lenin. The 116-page document contained the Constitution of the RSFSR, the texts of the oath and orders. Due to the bulkiness and scarcity of paper, its production was temporarily discontinued in September 1919. For a long time, the army dispensed with uniform certificates. In April 1940, by order of the People's Commissar of Defense No. 171, an attempt was made to return the book, but before the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War, it did not arrive en masse. Moreover, for the Active Army, it was initially canceled so that the documents would not fall into the hands of the enemy.

The experience of the first months of the Great Patriotic War showed that the lack of documents for soldiers leads to chaos in accounting for losses. On October 7, 1941, the People's Commissar of Defense of the USSR, Joseph Stalin, signed Order No. 330 "On the introduction of the Red Army Book in military units and institutions in the rear and at the front." It was this version of the book that became legendary. According to order No. 330, the book was issued immediately upon enlistment of a serviceman in a unit. It recorded:

• Personal data: last name, first name, patronymic, year of birth, nationality, civil profession and family home address.


• Military information: military rank, position, participation in campaigns and battles, wounds, awards and promotions.


• Material accounting: issued weapons (rifle, submachine gun with numbers), personal belongings and a gas mask.


• Photo card: it was pasted only if there was a technical possibility in the unit (in the field it was often dispensed with)