Bat insignia of intelligence. Russian military intelligence flag

Where did the "bat" come from, which served as an emblem for many years? military intelligence USSR and Russia, and even after the official replacement of it with a "carnation with grenades", which did not leave the headquarters of the Main Intelligence Directorate of Russia?

Here are some hypotheses on this issue that are present on the Internet:

Investigation carried out by the site Intermonitor.ru: “The mention of the origin of the Bat as a symbol of military intelligence, which has authorship, we found in the authoritative edition - the magazine National Forecast, published by ITAR-TASS Ural. It is in principle typical for ITAR-TASS to check information - therefore, such a source deserves attention.

“The symbol of Russia's military intelligence was invented by a journalist from Yekaterinburg. He claims that while serving in the special forces of the Northern Fleet in 1987, he drew an emblem for his group - a bat inscribed on a globe. She was "protraparechen" overalls of all soldiers and commanders of the group. For the first time the emblem of the North Sea was publicly "lit" in the summer of 1988 at the championship of special forces units in Pechory (now - Estonian Petseri). The group then participated in the spetsnaz championship for the first time, but performed successfully, and the emblem on the chest of the "navy seals" was remembered by the intelligence elite of the USSR. A few years later, the unit commander Gennady Ivanovich Zakharov, already in the rank of rear admiral, with the "core" of his combat swimmers, went to serve in the protection of President Yeltsin. And the bat, then invented for internal circulation, took on a life of its own. "

Due to the fact that the Intermonitor's editorial office is located in Yekaterinburg, it was possible to find eyewitnesses of this event and question them.

Former members of the Severomorian special forces (currently serving in a number of Russian special services) confirmed the information of the National Forecast. According to the eyewitnesses we interviewed, that mouse was exactly as in the illustration in our material, but the globe was not round, but oval. Parallels and meridians were present at it. The mouse itself was exactly the same. And yet there was not a single letter. On the overalls there was only an emblem and numbers - each fighter had his own number. For example, the number 1412 meant "141 reconnaissance group, 2nd number."

Since the early 1990s, the GRU had an emblem in the form of a black bat spreading its wings over the globe, but in 2000 this emblem was replaced by another - a red carnation, which was proposed by the famous heraldist artist Yu.V. Abaturov. Initially, it appears on the badge of distinction "For Service in Military Intelligence", in 2000 it becomes an element of the large emblem and the new sleeve insignia of the GRU, and, finally, in 2005 it finally takes the central place on all heraldic insignia, including the sleeve patches.

According to some media outlets, this happened after a major scandal: “Even the Department of Military Heraldry and Symbols, specially created in 1994 at the General Staff of the RF Ministry of Defense, was unable to organize the riot of animals, birds and skulls that settled on the stripes of the military. At the moment, no one can say for sure how many types of sleeve patches exist in the Russian army.

The last straw that overflowed the patience of the military commanders was the trick of one of the GRU special forces brigades. The commandos broke into the heraldry department and demanded to approve the next scorpion as a symbol of the brigade. The reciprocal decision was tough: a single emblem was introduced for the whole GRU. "

The situation with the special forces who broke into the heraldry department, of course, looks more like a fairy tale, but, nevertheless, the new emblem with a carnation went to the special forces!

Elements of the GRU emblems symbolize:
three-flame grenada (a historical sign of the grenadiers - the most trained servicemen of the elite units of the Russian army, distinguished by their high combat skill, training and ability to perform complex combat and service tasks) - a continuation of the glorious combat traditions of the Russian army;
red carnation (a symbol of perseverance, dedication, inflexibility and determination in achieving goals) - essential qualities servicemen of the Directorate, formations and military units special purpose Armed Forces Russian Federation.

It is noteworthy that even after the replacement of the "Bat" with the "Red Carnation", not only the commandos and "grushniki" did not cease to consider "mice" as their symbols, but also on the floor at the headquarters of the Main Intelligence Directorate was preserved " Bat"Adjacent to the" Carnation ", attached to the wall of the hall.

Here's a story ... But on the Internet, there are also other eyewitness accounts who claim that they saw the emblem in the form of a bat much earlier than the 1988 event described by the Intermonitor.

Here is some of them:

In the spring of 1987, at the annual training of officers-students of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, demonstration classes were held, where two officers were already with a similar emblem. When working at the training place in the RU SF, all the officers of the Directorate saw this, including Vice-Admiral Motsak.
Other eyewitnesses met an unofficial "mouse" in the early 80s ... And in Afghanistan in 1986-88. from the special forces of the GRU.
Those who served in the SPN GRU in 1987-89 saw some of their warrant officers on their shoulders. But, not against the background of the globe, but separately. And the ensigns served since the beginning of the 80s, so the "mouse" was already then.
And here is the opinion of the military intelligence officers of the Pacific Fleet:
“In 1993, Russian military intelligence was preparing to celebrate the 75th anniversary of its creation. For this anniversary, someone who is fond of heraldry from among the employees of the GRU decided to present a gift to his colleagues in the form of new symbols. This proposal was supported by the head of the GRU, Colonel-General F.I. Ladygin. By that time, as is known, the Airborne Forces, as well as the Russian contingent of peacekeeping forces in Transnistria (the letters "MC" on the blue rectangular patch), had already acquired their own, officially approved, sleeve insignia. In the second half of October, the GRU prepared a draft report by the Chief of the General Staff addressed to the Minister of Defense with the attachment of descriptions and drawings of two sleeve insignia: for military intelligence agencies and military special-purpose units. October 22 F.I. Ladygin signed it by hand from the Chief of the General Staff, Colonel-General M.P. Kolesnikov, and the next day the Minister of Defense, General of the Army P.S. Grachev approved descriptions and drawings of sleeve insignia for servicemen of military intelligence agencies and military special-purpose units. " Both sleeve insignia featured a bat. The bat should be golden on a blue globe (or against the background of a target at the commandos).

So the bat became a symbol of military intelligence and special forces units. However, in the GRU, as well as in the intelligence directorates of the branches of the armed forces, districts and fleets, the sleeve insignia approved for them was never worn for obvious reasons. But its numerous varieties quickly spread to units and subunits of military, artillery and engineering reconnaissance, as well as counter-sabotage. In special-purpose formations and units, they were also widely used different options sleeve insignia based on the approved design.

So, what's the question of when did the bat appear on the emblems of special forces and military intelligence? and who is its author ?, remains open ...

It remains to add that the palm in the use of the image of a bat belongs to the Air Force of Great Britain and the United States: for the first time bats appeared on the emblems of British and American squadrons during the First World War. In the early 1920s, they became widespread in the aviation of the US Navy and Marine Corps, and in the Second world war in the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Union of South Africa. The image of a bat is used on the emblem of military intelligence South Korea and Israeli naval intelligence.

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As many legends and inventions as there are about these people, probably not a single military specialty has been invented. On November 5, military intelligence officers will celebrate their holiday for the 10th time. All those who are somehow connected today or were connected in the past with military intelligence will gather at the table, remember something, tell the next "tales". They will drink the traditional one hundred grams, they will remember the dead friends.

I had to be on such "get-togethers". And it was always amazing how much the image created in our head by films and eyewitness memories does not correspond to reality. Yes, among the operational-tactical intelligence link, you can find people who are quite impressive in size and strength. But not "Schwarzeneggers" for sure. Strong, big people... With good athletic training.

But in the link of strategic intelligence ... A complete break in the template. Ordinary, often gray-haired, men, of which there are many on the street. More often kind than "with steel characters." You will meet such a person on the street and you will not even think that he is involved in some serious military affairs. But it was these guys who traveled around the world back in Soviet times. Have worked in the armies of many countries.

Often asked about the date itself. What became the "starting point" for the new holiday? After all, intelligence has existed exactly since the first army appeared.

Indeed, the history of military intelligence began in the distant 1654 under Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. It was then that the first specialized order was created in Russia, which was engaged precisely in intelligence - the Order of Secret Affairs. Moreover, we must pay tribute to the military leaders of that time, the order became one of the most effective governing bodies of that time.

So where did the 5 November date come from? This date is the legacy of the Red Army. It was in the Red Army that the Field Headquarters of the Red Army of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic was created. This decision was made on November 1, 1918. And on November 5, the order of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic No. 197/27 was issued. It was this order that became the basis for the creation of the directorate, which became the prototype of the GRU: the Registration Directorate for coordinating the efforts of all intelligence agencies of the army.

The first organ of the Republic was named in accordance with revolutionary trends - Register.

Many people know about the intelligence activities of the GRU. More precisely, they suppose. But few people know that the famous and terrible for enemy spies and their accomplices "Smersh", created in April 1943, was also organizationally part of the intelligence service.

Most people not associated with such organizations firmly believe that military intelligence officers deal with issues related to the armies of other states. If they are military, then they are specialists in military matters. However, this is not the case.

Strategic and operational intelligence is indeed a priority for military intelligence officers. However, no one relieves the GRU of tasks to resolve other issues. This is military-technical intelligence, military-political intelligence, environmental intelligence, military-economic intelligence ... It is not rewarding and even stupid to list the tasks of modern intelligence officers. There are no questions that modern world not affiliated with the army.

The "eyes and ears" of our army today are equipped with the most modern technology and weapons. Information for scouts is available today in the widest range of possibilities. From ocean depths to outer space. But also the old ones traditional ways intelligence nobody forgets. The intelligence network of the GRU is a fairly serious argument in disputes with the opposing side.

Special attention I want to give the GRU special forces. This year this structure celebrated its 66th anniversary. Yes, only 66! The special forces of the GRU of the USSR were created in 1950. Today it is not possible to speak about the number and composition of the subdivisions of this structure. The composition and number of such units is strictly secret.

But what they are capable of sometimes gets into the press. Now in one country, then in another country, events are taking place that can only be called a "miracle". Dictators are dying, arsenals of weapons of armies that are ready to attack neighboring states are exploding, terrorists miraculously become complaisant negotiators and release hostages, the allies for some reason begin to fight each other instead of a prepared operation to seize something.

It is difficult to overestimate the activities of military intelligence officers. It is possible to underestimate, due to the secrecy of most operations. But it was military intelligence that stood and stands at the forefront of the defense of Russia. It is the scouts who will be the first to report an impending attack or sabotage. It is the scouts who will help find the terrorist gangs. It is the scouts who are really at war in peacetime.

I would like to touch upon a topic that is widely heard in most media today. On hearing thanks to the Intelligence Directorate of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Military intelligence emblem theme. Many people remember and saw the popular bat against the backdrop of the globe. The emblem of Soviet intelligence officers.

By the way, this sign was never the official emblem of the GRU. There is no order to approve it in this capacity. But there is an order to wear the uniform and emblems of the garrison units and subdivisions. So, military scouts have always been tankmen, paratroopers, artillerymen and other representatives of the garrison majority. And the mouse, it seems to me, appeared already at the end of the 20th century. More precisely, in the late 80s - early 90s.

After the adoption of the new Federal Law "On Military Duty and Military Service" on February 11, 1993, which directly indicated the obligation to designate belonging to the type of troops with sleeve chevrons, many "animal" emblems appeared. You can still see the echoes of this event on any beach in Russia. Wolves, scorpions, eagles ... Against the background of the emblems of the Airborne Forces, the globe and other ...

Therefore, in 2002 the GRU adopted the official emblem - a red carnation on a black background and a grenade in the center. But on the floor in the headquarters of the GRU of the Russian Federation there is still a mouse "lying"! But next to it on the wall is really a carnation.

We have already written about the hard days of army intelligence. That these guys are the elite of our military is undeniable. Trainings, camps, exercises. And absolute closeness.

And it so happened that exactly on the eve of the holiday, at the training ground, where the next exercises were held, we, without assuming it, were the first to fly into reconnaissance.

Good roads rarely lead to interesting places... And at the training grounds, the more so, the nastier there - the more informative at the end. And at the end of this direction, if I may say so, we saw buildings that were not there last time. So we decided to drive up, fortunately, it seems, the direction was quite possible.
Two merry fellows in dirty white overalls on top of the "Gorki", fully equipped, happily informed us that we had arrived and had been taken prisoner. Yeah, right now ... With the support of a representative of the press service of the Western Military District, we captured a reconnaissance group of a separate reconnaissance battalion of one of the brigades of the Western Military District, based in the neighboring region.

We did not know that over the past two weeks this range has been significantly expanded in area and has become a place for practicing combat missions for all nearby units, since now it allows you to work with warheads for everything from mortars to self-propelled guns.

We started with huts. The situation has not been fully clarified, it is still a task to knock out any information from the intelligence service. But as we understood, the guys were too lazy to drag these huge tents for one night. And even more so, put them first, and then disassemble them. And then winter began with all the special effects.

I had to equip myself with a more equipped overnight stay ...

And then, the authorities, seeing the fruits of creativity, expressed their approval and ordered to make a training place out of this overnight stall. The place turned out as for us.

The scouts themselves had to do quite different things. And they showed them to us. The task was to organize a position for covert surveillance of the road.

This is not an attempt to capture a winter landscape. It was I who filmed the location of the first NP. The stump turned out to be not real, but quite man-made.

The soldiers immediately explained that in a combat situation, all equipment would be made of branches, sticks, wire and other inconspicuous materials. And then a plastic bowl, processed with a bayonet-knife, came up. When asked where they took the civilian plastic basin, the guys honestly looking into the eyes, said that they had bought it. Mentally imagining where the nearest store is, I mentally shuddered ...

Under the "stump" there was a room about 2x1.5 meters. Having estimated the size, I almost agreed that you can sit in it for more than one hour. Almost - this is because I really didn’t want to test it on myself, and the fighters were quite ready to put me there. But the weather and the prospect of returning in about the same camouflage (very dirty) made me agree "at once".

All the same dirty snowy landscape. It seems that the traces were supposed to show where the cache was, but I saw it only when the head of the group gave the command "Serega, put the pipe out!"

Serega stuck it out. Burned the place. Under normal conditions, as commander Maksim explained, a plaster is wrapped around the pipe, a little bit dirty with dirty hands, and that's it, the disguise is provided.

Although it (the pipe) is not very noticeable.

Third NP. It was not yet completed, the fighters were deploying a surveillance system.

Unfortunately, we could not wait for the end, it was time to start what we actually came for. So having said goodbye and wishing success to our "prisoners", we left the reconnaissance group.

Personal impression: elite niggas with great opportunities... In a word - intelligence!

So, on behalf of the editorial staff and authors of the Military Review, let me congratulate those who wear "carnations" today and those who continue to wear "mice" on their professional holiday. "There are only stars above us!" Happy "little eyes" and "big ears"!

Select the required strips in the catalog, in the order form specify the type of strips (on a pin or sewn on), and the color of the fabric (if sewn on). The plank is a rectangular backing covered with an order ribbon. It can be made on a metal or fabric, plastic (flexible) base. In the case of a fabric backing, the color can be matched to the color of the uniform (gray, olive, blue, black, and so on). Planks on metal base fastened with a pin, which is located on back side, fabric strips are sewn to the shape of the garment. The place of wearing the order strips was determined left-hand side breasts. Several order strips are not worn separately, but together on a common basis, placed in accordance with the statute of orders and medals. On the common bar, the ribbons are arranged in a certain order in accordance with the statute of orders and medals, fixed in the relevant documents, but general principle is this: the higher the rank of the award, the higher it is in the location list. Each award has a corresponding order bar. In the event that there is an order block in the composition of the award, the ribbon used on it is also used to design the corresponding order bar. Order bars are collected on a prepayment basis.

Select the required strips in the catalog, in the order form specify the type of strips (on a pin or sewn on), and the color of the fabric (if sewn on). The plank is a rectangular backing covered with an order ribbon. It can be made on a metal or fabric, plastic (flexible) base. In the case of a fabric backing, the color can be matched to the color of the uniform (gray, olive, blue, black, and so on). Metal-based strips are attached with a pin on the back, fabric strips are sewn to the shape of the garment. The left side of the chest was determined as the place for wearing the order strips. Several order strips are not worn separately, but together on a common basis, placed in accordance with the statute of orders and medals. On the common bar, the ribbons are arranged in a certain order in accordance with the statute of orders and medals, fixed in the relevant documents, but the general principle is as follows: the higher the rank of the award, the higher it is in the list of location. Each award has a corresponding order bar. In the event that there is an order block in the composition of the award, the ribbon used on it is also used to design the corresponding order bar. Order bars are collected on a prepayment basis.

Russian military intelligence is the most closed structure of the state, the only special service that has not undergone any significant changes since 1991. Where did the "bat" come from, which for many years served as the emblem of the military intelligence of the USSR and Russia, and even after the official replacement for a carnation with grenades, it did not leave the headquarters of the Main Intelligence Directorate of Russia?

The birthday of the Russian (in those days, Soviet) intelligence service is considered to be November 5, 1918. It was then that the Revolutionary Military Council approved the structure of the Field Headquarters of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic, which included the Registration Department, which was then the prototype of today's GRU.
Just imagine: a new department was created on the fragments of the Imperial Army, which in one decade (!!!) acquired one of the largest spy networks in the world. Even the terror of the 30s, which, of course, was a huge blow destructive force, did not ruin the Intelligence Directorate. The leadership and the scouts themselves fought for life and the ability to work in all ways. A simple example: today, who has already become a legend of military intelligence, and then the resident of the intelligence department in Japan, Richard Sorge, simply refused to return to the USSR, knowing that it meant death. Sorge referred to the most difficult situation and the inability to leave a seat vacant.
The role played by the activities of military intelligence in the Great War is invaluable. It was almost impossible to imagine that the intelligence department, which had been destroyed for years, would completely outplay the Abwehr, but today it is an established fact. Moreover, we are talking here about military intelligence, and about agents, and about Soviet saboteurs.
For some reason, little-known is the fact that the Soviet partisans are also a project of the intelligence department. Detachments behind enemy lines were created by regular RU officers. The local fighters did not wear the emblem of military intelligence only because it was not advertised at all. The theory and methodology of partisan warfare was put in the 50s and the basis of the GRU special forces being created. Basics of training, methods of warfare, aiming at the speed of movement - everything is in accordance with science. Only now spetsnaz brigades have become part of the regular army, the range of tasks performed has expanded (nuclear threat is a priority), special weapons and uniforms are being introduced, on which the subject of special pride and a sign of belonging to the "elite of the elite" is the symbolism of military intelligence.
Created and trained to penetrate the territory of aggressive states, GRU Spetsnaz units often took part in tasks that were far from the main profile. Fighters and officers of the GRU special forces were involved in all hostilities in which they took part Soviet Union... So, many units conducting combat operations were reinforced by the servicemen of various reconnaissance brigades. Although these guys no longer served directly under the emblem, as you know, there are no former special forces. They remained the best in any of the combat specialties, be it a sniper or a grenade launcher and many others.
On November 5, it acquired its "open" status only on October 12, 2000, when by order of the Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation No. 490, the Day of the Military Intelligence was established.

The bat once became the emblem of military intelligence - it makes little noise, but hears everything.

"Mouse" on the chevrons of the GRU special forces soldiers for a very long time, they say that the first here was the 12th Special Forces brigade. For a long time, all this was unofficial, but with the end of the Soviet era, the view on the "division of duties" in the armed forces changed. Corresponding insignia began to be introduced in elite military units, and new official symbols of military intelligence were approved.
In 1993, when the domestic military intelligence was preparing to celebrate the 75th anniversary of its creation. For this anniversary, someone who is fond of heraldry from among the employees of GRU1 decided to present a gift to his colleagues in the form of new symbols. This proposal was supported by the head of the GRU, Colonel-General F.I. Ladygin. By that time, as you know, the Airborne Forces, as well as the Russian contingent of peacekeeping forces in Transnistria (the letters "MC" on the blue rectangular patch), had already acquired their own officially approved sleeve insignia. We do not know whether the "heraldic scouts" and their superiors knew about this or not, but they nevertheless bypassed the law. In the second half of October, the GRU prepared a draft report by the Chief of the General Staff addressed to the Minister of Defense with the attachment of descriptions and drawings of two sleeve insignia: for military intelligence agencies and military special-purpose units. October 22 F.I. Ladygin signed it "off hand" by the Chief of the General Staff, Colonel-General
M.P. Kolesnikov, and the next day the Minister of Defense, General of the Army P.S. Grachev approved the descriptions and drawings of the sleeve insignia.
So the bat became a symbol of military intelligence and special forces units. The choice was far from accidental. The bat has always been considered one of the most mysterious and secretive creatures, operating under the cover of darkness. Well, secrecy, as you know, is the key to a successful reconnaissance operation.

However, in the GRU, as well as in the intelligence directorates of the branches of the armed forces, districts and fleets, the sleeve insignia approved for them was never worn for obvious reasons. But its numerous varieties quickly spread to units and subunits of military, artillery and engineering reconnaissance, as well as counter-sabotage. In special-purpose formations and units, various variants of sleeve insignia, made based on the approved design, were also widely used.

Each military intelligence unit has its own unique symbols, these are various variations with a bat, and some specific sleeve patches. Very often, individual units of the Special Forces (Spetsnaz) troops use predatory animals and birds as their symbol - it all depends on geographic location and the specifics of the tasks performed. In the photo, the emblem of military intelligence 551 ooSpN, symbolizes the wolf detachment, which, by the way, even in Soviet times, the scouts revered, perhaps he was the second most popular after the "mouse".

It is believed that the red carnation is “a symbol of perseverance, dedication, steadfastness and determination in achieving the set goals,” and the three-flame grenada is “the historical sign of the grenadiers, the most trained military personnel of the elite subdivisions.

But starting in 1998, the bat was gradually replaced by a new symbol of military intelligence, the red carnation, which was proposed by the famous heraldist artist Yu.V. Abaturov. The symbolism here is very clear: carnations were very often used by Soviet intelligence officers as an identification mark. Well, the number of petals on the new emblem of military intelligence is five types of reconnaissance (ground, air, sea, information, special), five continents on Globe, five extremely developed senses of the scout. She originally appears on the Military Intelligence Service badge. In 2000, it becomes an element of a large emblem and a new sleeve insignia of the GRU, and finally, in 2005, it finally occupies a central place on all heraldic insignia, including the sleeve patches.
By the way, the innovation initially caused a rather negative reaction from the soldiers and officers of the special forces, but when it became clear that the reform did not mean the eradication of the "mouse" the storm subsided. The introduction of the new official combined-arms emblem of military intelligence did not in any way affect the popularity of the bat among the soldiers of the GRU army formations; even a superficial acquaintance with the culture of tattoos in the Special Forces troops is enough here. The bat, as one of the main elements of the symbolism of military intelligence, was established long before 1993 and will probably always remain so.

One way or another, the bat is the emblem that unites all active and retired scouts, it is a symbol of unity and exclusivity. And, in general, it does not matter who we are talking about - about a conspiratorial GRU agent somewhere in the army or a sniper of any of the special forces brigades. All of them have done and are doing one, very important and responsible business.
So the bat - main element The symbolism of Russian military intelligence, even despite the appearance of the "carnation", does not give up its positions: today this symbol is not only on chevrons and flags, it has also become an element of soldier's folklore.
It is noteworthy that even after the replacement of the "Bat" with the "Red Carnation", not only the special forces and "grushniki" did not cease to consider the "mice" as their symbols, but also the "Bat" remained on the floor at the headquarters of the Main Intelligence Directorate. adjacent to the "Carnation", attached to the wall of the hall.

Today, the 2nd Main Directorate of the General Staff (GRU GSh) is the most powerful military organization, the exact composition and organizational structure which, of course, is a military secret. The current headquarters of the GRU has been operating since November 5, 2006, the object was commissioned exactly for the holiday, it is here that the most important intelligence information comes now, from here the command of the military special forces formations is carried out. The building is designed in accordance with the most modern technologies not only construction, but also security - only select employees can get into many "compartments" of the Aquarium. Well, the entrance is decorated with a giant emblem of the military intelligence of the Russian Federation.

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