Lieutenant colonel (Eastern Europe)

''Podpolkovnik'' (russian: подполко́вник, lit=sub –, junior – , or lower regimentary) is a military rank in Slavic and nearby countries which corresponds to the lieutenant colonel in the English-speaking states and military.

In different languages the exact name of this rank maintains a variety of spellings. The transliteration is also in common usage for the sake of tradition dating back to the Old Slavonic word "polk" (literally: regiment sized unit), and include the following names in alphabetical order:

# Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia — ()
# Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia — ()
# Bulgaria —
# Czech Republic — ()
# Georgia — ()
# North Macedonia —
# Poland — ()
# Russia — (''podpolkovnik'') ()
# Slovenia —
# Slovakia —
# Ukraine — (''pidpolkovnyk'')

Russia

In Russia, the rank of lieutenant colonel is called (russian: подполко́вник, lit=sub-colonel). First it appeared in Russia as appointment or assignment to the assistant or deputy commander of a regiment sized military formation at the end of the 15th — early 16th century.

In the Streltsy formations, as a general role, the was responsible for all administrative tasks and functions. Normally it was of nobility or boyar origin.

From the 17th - to early 17th century there was a rank and an appointment under the designation ( rus, полуполко́вник, , polʊpɐlˈkovnʲɪk). Beyond its normal responsibilities, he was in charge to command the second half of the regiment, the rear -, reserve -, and other regular units (until the introduction of the battalion structure).

Russian Empire

From the introduction of the Russian table of ranks to the abolishment in 1917 was quoted to rank positioned VII, and until 1856 it was privileged by hereditary nobility.

In 1884, as the rank in the Russian army was suppressed, all , by exemption of retirement, loss of civil rights, or mercilessly, were converted to . From this moment, the rank was equivalent to the rank ''armed forces' '' (russian: войскова́я старшина́, translit=voyskovaja starshina, lit=head of the armed forces, ). Before 1884, the ''armed forces' starshina'' was adequate to . In line to this reform, the shoulder board rank insignia had been changed from two big stars to three smaller ones.

To the formations of the so-called leyb-guard ( rus, лейб гва́рдия, leyb-gvardija, lʲejb ˈɡvardʲɪjə), the rank had not been introduced. Normally, officers might have been promoted to immediately, by skipping the ranks and .

In the Imperial Russian Navy, the rank ''Kapitan 2nd rank'' was equivalent to , in the civil administration it was corresponding to privy councillor ( rus, надво́рный сове́тник, nadvornjy sovetnik, nɐˈdvornɨj sɐˈvʲetʲnʲɪk). The rank was abolished 16 December 1917, together with all previous ranks and rank insignia of the former Russian imperial army.

In the white voluntary army the rank was in the period from December 1917 to November 1918. Than it was abolished as well, and harmonized to the Kapitan ranks of the guard and other officers of the other formations. However, in the Russian army of general Pyotr Nikolayevich Wrangel the ''podpolkovnik'' rank was reestablished in April 1920.

File:1911-ab46-e14.png,
File:Imperial Russian Army LtCol 1917 v.png,

USSR

By foundation of the Soviet Union the rank designation and rank insignia of the Imperial Russian Army were suppressed. An equivalent rank to ''podpolkovnik'' was created in 1924, by the introduction of the so-called ''status category 8 rank'' – (; rus, помо́щник команди́ра полка́ и ему́ ра́вные, , pɐˈmoʂnʲɪk kəmɐnʲˈdʲirə pɐlˈka i jɪˈmu ˈravnɨje). However, this was overtaken by the introduction of individual ranks in 1935.

''Podpolkovnik'' as a military rank was reintroduced September 1, 1939 by disposal of the Central Executive Committee of the Soviet Union (from September 2, 1939), and the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR No. 2690 (article 41, pertaining the law of universal compulsory military service), published by the order No. 226 of the People's Commissar of Defence (from July 26, 1940).
Decree of the Central Executive Committee of the Soviet Union and the Council of People's Commissars, from September 2, 1939, on introduction of the rank/ rank designation Podpolkovnik in the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army.

The Red Army used this rank together with a number of other former Russian ranks, and it has been used in many ex-USSR countries, including Russia, to the present day.

By the first promotion to that particular rank the hitherto (old) ''polkovnik'' collar distinction insignia with three parallel bars had to be used. The new ''polkovnik'' rank was from now on characterized by four bars. This insignia had to be worn until the introduction of shoulder boards, and were finally replaced in 1943.

In the Soviet navy the rank ''kapitan 2nd rank'' was equivalent to ''podpolkovnik''. In the civil administration it was corresponding to privy councillor ( rus, надво́рный сове́тник). The rank ''podpolkovnik'' was abolished 16 December 1917, together with all previous ranks and rank insignia of the former Russian imperial army. In the military political organization it was equivalent to ''starshy battalion commissar'' ( rus, ста́рший батальо́нный комисса́р, 3=ˈstarʂɨj bətɐˈlʲjɵnːɨj kəmʲɪˈsar), another corresponding rank designation was ''Specialist 1st rank'' (pertaining to: military engineers, surgeons, commissionaires, veterinary surgeons, and legal personnel).

; 1943—1992
In late 1943 shoulder boards were reintroduced as rank designation. From this moment in the ''podpolkovnik'' rank of the Red Army was specified by two big horizontal stars, on shoulder boards, with parallel piping (two straps). The stars had to be established on a distance of 35 mm from the lower end of the shoulder board (Rules to wear military uniforms in the Soviet Army and the Navy). From 7 November 1944 the stars were pinned direct (symmetrically to the piping) on piping.

File:Red Army Polkovnik-1940 & Podpolkovnik-1943v.png,
File:Red Air Force Polkovnik-1940 &Podpolkovnik-1943v.png,
File:RA-SA A-engin F4LtCol 1955.png,
File:RAF A F4LtCol since 2010par.svg,
File:RAF AF F4LtCol since 2010par.svg,

Russian Federation

If military personnel serves in a guards formation, or on a guards war ship, to the rank designation will be placed in front the noun guards (e.g. "''Gurds podpolkovnik''"). Civil – or military personnel with a specific defined level of expertise or knowledge in medical or judicial professions, to the military rank will be added the noun "legal or the wording "medical service". Further adding to the military rank designation might be "retired" or "on retirement".

Personnel serving in the executive of the Russian Federation might be specified by rank designation as follows.

*''Podpolkovnik of the Police'' (until March 1, 2011 ''Podpolkovnik of the Militsiya'')
*''Podpolkovnik of the Internal Troops''
*''Podpolkovnik Investigation of Tax Offence''

File:Russia-Army-OF-4-1994-parade.svg,
File:RAF A F4LtCol since 2010par.svg,
File:Russia-Army-OF-4-2010.svg,
File:Russia-Airforce-OF-4-2010.svg,
File:14podpol.png,
File:Russian police lieutenant colonel.png,

Lieutenant colonel's insignia

Post-Soviet-Army-OF-4.svg,

(Belarusian Ground Forces)
Rank insignia of Подполковник of the Bulgarian Army.png,

(Bulgarian Land Forces)
CzArmy 2011 OF4-Podplukovnik shoulder.svg,
(Czech Land Forces)
15-RKGF-LTC.svg,

(Kazakh Ground Forces)
12.Kyrgyzstan Army-LTC.svg,

(Kyrgyz Army)
13-APM-LTC.svg,

( North Macedonia Ground Forces)
14-Montenegro Army-LTC.svg,
( Montenegrin Ground Army)
Army-POL-OF-04.svg,
( Polish Land Forces)
Russia-Army-OF-4-2010.svg,

(Russian Ground Forces)
13-Serbian Army-LTC.svg,

(Serbian Army)
Army-SVK-OF-04.svg,
(Slovak Ground Forces)
16-Slovenian Army-LTC.svg,
(Slovenian Ground Force)
Post-Soviet-Army-OF-4.svg,

(Tajik National Army)
Post-Soviet-Army-OF-4.svg,
(Turkmen Ground Forces)
UA shoulder mark 16.svg,

(Ukrainian Ground Forces)
Uzbekistan-army-OF-4.svg,
(Uzbek Ground Forces)

See also

* Lieutenant (Eastern Europe)
* Colonel (Eastern Europe)
* Lieutenant colonel general
* Comparative army officer ranks of Europe

References

{{Military ranks by country

Military ranks
Military ranks of Poland
Military ranks of Russia
Military ranks of Ukraine
Military ranks of the Soviet Union