>>10177901>>10177868This was done to mark Soviet troops against ANY aviation - both Soviet and Allied. In fact, both sides have agreed on invasion marking to avoid friendly fire.
I've found the exact directive (11073) by the Headquarters of the Supreme High Command that describes the whole procedure - thanks to the fact that WW2 Russian archives are digitized and free to access.
Here it comes. Translated the best I could:
STAFF DIRECTIVE No. 11073 TO THE 1st AND 2nd BELARUSIAN AND 1st UKRAINIAN FRONTS COMMENDERS
ON SIGNS AND SIGNALS FOR MUTUAL IDENTIFICATION OF SOVIET AND ANGLO-AMERICAN TROOPS
April 20, 1945 23:30
Considering the possible meeting of Soviet troops with Anglo-American troops in the near future, by agreement with the Command of the Allied forces, the following signs and signals have been established to identify Soviet and Anglo-American troops:
1. Soviet troops (infantry, tanks, aviation) designate themselves by launching series of red signal rockets.
In addition to signal rockets, Soviet tanks are marked with a single white stripe around the turret in its middle and a white cross on the roof of the tower. Stripe and cross
must be 25cm wide.
These identification marks should not be installed on all tanks, but only on the leading ones, which are most likely to be the first to meet British or American troops.
2. Anglo-American troops (infantry, tanks, aviation) designate themselves by launching series of green signal rockets.
In addition to signal rockets, Anglo-American tanks and armored vehicles are identified by yellow or cherry red fluorescent (at night) shields and a white five-pointed star inside a white circle on the horizontal surface of the tank.
<Unimportant part about air force markings and enforcement in details left out to make this in one post>
Signed,
I. STALIN
A. ANTONOV
