300 years of the Rear of the Armed Forces of Russia. IF YOU BREAK IT, YOU'LL Drown IT...

Дата публикации: 22 июля 2025
Автор: Colonel Alexander Kolpakov →
Публикатор: Научная библиотека Порталус
Рубрика: ВОЕННОЕ ДЕЛО →
Номер публикации: №1753135658 / Жалобы? Ошибка? Выделите проблемный текст и нажмите CTRL+ENTER!

The laurels of the founder of the army rear should rightfully be given to the main reformer, Peter the Great. It was he who, by implementing measures to develop Russia and protect it from external enemies, not only created a regular army and navy, but also put them on full state supply. According to his decrees, the Provisioning Order, which was responsible for supplying the army with bread, cereals, and grain fodder, and the Special Order (Commissariat Order), which allocated funds for the army's weapons and monetary довольствие, as well as for uniforms and horses, were established and began their operations in 1700.

The structure of the rear management bodies that developed in the early 18th century and the experience of supplying the active army during the Great Northern War were legalized in the Military Regulations of 1716.

The Russian army's rear received significant development in the 19th century during the military reforms led by Dmitry Milyutin. The Commissariat and Provisioning Departments were merged into a single agency, the Main Intendant Department of the Ministry of War. The concept of "intendant transport" replaced the traditional wagon train, and the Committee for the Movement of Troops on Railways was established. During the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878, the position of "Chief of Military Communications of the Active Army and Commander of the Troops in the Rear" was introduced. He was responsible for the headquarters, quartermaster, artillery, military medical, and engineering departments in the rear of the army. The territory where the troops in the rear were stationed was designated as a military district. The commander of the district was essentially the chief of the active army's rear. These measures were the first experience of actual centralization of the rear management of the active army.

In the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905, the rear was established in a way that was similar to the modern concept. The Chief of the Rear and his staff formed a new independent body for managing the rear in the operational and strategic level. However, it was not until the 1940s, with the onset of the Great Patriotic War, that a unified centralized structure was established in the Armed Forces of the country to fully manage the rear support of the army and navy. The experience of combat operations and the rear support of troops (forces) during the early days of the war necessitated the urgent reorganization of the entire system of rear support.

On August 1, 1941, Order No. 0257 was signed by the People's Commissar of Defense, "On the Organization of the Main Directorate of the Red Army's Rear."

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The Army... The position of Chief of the Red Army's Rear was introduced by him (he was also the Chief of the Red Army's Main Rear Department). The department included the Chief of the Rear's headquarters, the Military Communications Department, the Road Department, and the Inspectorate of the Chief of the Red Army's Rear. The Chief of the Red Army's Rear was responsible for the Main Quartermaster Department, the Fuel Supply Department, the Sanitary Department, and the Veterinary Department. The position of Chief of the Rear was also introduced on the fronts and in the armies. The centralization of the entire supply, medical, and transport structures made it possible to reliably carry out the complex process of logistics support for the active army and fulfill one's duty to the Motherland.

The current generation of rear-area generals and officers has done a lot to restore the connection between the past and the present. The historical fact of the creation of centralized rear-area bodies, the achievements of rear-area soldiers during the Great Patriotic War, and the effective work of the rear-area bodies in the post-war period have led to the issuance of Order No. 255 of the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation on May 7, 1998, which established the Day of the Rear of the Armed Forces and is now celebrated annually on August 1.

Today, the Rear of the Russian Armed Forces is a complex organization that includes the Rear Headquarters, 9 main and central directorates, a number of services, and its own units, formations, and institutions. Every year, the Armed Forces receive approximately 8 million tons of fuel, food, clothing, and other supplies. The Ministry of Defense provides medical care to over 6 million military personnel, their families, and retired military personnel. At the same time, measures are being taken to improve and optimize the rear structure and adapt the logistics system to the conditions of market relations. The agenda also includes a gradual transition to a unified or integrated logistics system for the Armed Forces and other troops of the Russian Federation.

The Rear of the Russian Armed Forces is celebrating its 300th anniversary in constant readiness to provide daily and comprehensive support to the troops (forces) both during combat training and when they are carrying out operational tasks.

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Опубликовано 22 июля 2025 года