Guide to Reading Soviet Military Service Records

Many families in the UK possess Soviet military documents passed down from veteran relatives — military service books (военный билет), award citations (наградной лист), and discharge papers. These documents, written in Russian and often using military abbreviations, can be difficult to read even for Russian speakers. This guide explains the most common document types, their layout, and key terms. A military service book (военный билет) typically contains: personal details, military unit assignments, dates of service, rank progression, and awards. Award citations include the veteran's name, rank, unit, a description of the action, and the recommended decoration. Understanding these documents can help families piece together the military service of their relatives and add accurate details to their memorial pages on moypolk.uk.