Polkovnik Polkovnik ( , , , , , , ; literally " " regiment ary " " ) is often a military rank in Slavic countries which corresponds to a colonel in English - speaking states . However , in Cossack Hetmanate ( Гетманщина , Гетьманщина , Hetmanschtschyna ) and Slobozhanschtschyna , " polkovnyk " was an administrative rank similar to a governor . Usually this word is translated as colonel , however the transliteration is also in common usage , for the sake of the historical and social context . Name spelling . The exact name of this rank maintains a variety of spellings in different languages , but all descendant from the Old Slavonic word " polk " , and include the following : Etymology . " Polkovnik " began as a commander of a distinct group of troops , Old Slavonic " polk " ( ) , arranged for a particular battle . History . Russia . In 17th century , " polkovnik " became the position of a regiment al commander of the " streltsy " ; this position also made it into New Regiments of the " streltsy " and later into the new army of Peter the Great . The rank was legalized by Table of Ranks that placed it in the 6th grade as the second - top field officer , right under the brigadier . A promotion to the rank of " polkovnik " gave a privilege of hereditary nobility . The Red Army reintroduced the " polkovnik " rank in 1935 , 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 . Poland . The rank was first introduced in the Polish Army in 17th century to denote a captain ( " rotmistrz " ) of the core banner of a regiment . By the end of the 17th century , the title of the assignment became a " de facto " rank as such and started to denote the commanding officer of the entire regiment . In mercenary troops fighting in the ranks of the Polish - Lithuanian Commonwealth ' s army , the direct equivalent of the rank of " pułkownik " was " oberszter " , but in 18th century the rank was abolished and renamed as " pułkownik " as well . During the rule of Sanacja in the period between World War I and World War II , a large number of officers were promoted to the rank , often for political reasons ( the rule of Sanacja was even dubbed the " government of the colonels " because of that ) . During the Invasion of Poland in 1939 , the Polish divisions were commanded by officers of many grades , from colonels to three - star generals . In fact 22 divisions out of 42 were commanded by colonels in 1939 . The " pułkownicy " ( plural of " pułkownik " ) also commanded units of all sizes , from divisions down to mere battalions . Ukraine . In the Zaporozhian Host , the political , social , and military organization of Ukrainian cossacks , " polkovnyk " was a high military rank among the Ukrainian cossack " starshyna " ( officers ) , a commander of one or several military detachments during land and naval military actions in the 16th to 18th centuries . In the 18th century , a " polkovnyk " was a leader of a " palanka " , a territorial unit of the Zaporozhian Host . A " palanka polkovnyk " was elected by military council for one year . He represented the Kosh Otaman in the " palanka " and had significant powers , including the right to condemn cossacks to the death penalty . At the time of liquidation of the Zaporozhian Host by the Russian government in 1775 , there were eight " palanka polkovnyks " . The " polkovnyk " s symbol of office was a " pernach " ( a mace with a hexagonal head ; see also " bulawa " ) , worn in the belt . In the Registered Cossack Army of the Polish - Lithuanian Commonwealth , " polkovnyk " was a commander of a regiment ( ) , a cossack military unit . After the reform of the cossack army by hetman Mykhailo Doroshenko , there were six cossack regiments , each comprising one thousand cossacks . " Polkovnyk " s were elected by the Cossack Council ( ) and that had to be approved by the Polish government . A " polkovnyk " obtained salary for his service , and enjoyed considerable privileges . After adopting the " Ordination " by the Sejm of the Polish - Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1638 , only noblemen ( " szlachta " ) were allowed to become " polkovnyk " s . During Khmelnytsky Uprising and in Cossack Hetmanate ( also in Slobozhanschtschyna in 1652 - 1765 ) , " polkovnyk " was a head of a territorial administrative unit , the regiment ( ) . In modern Ukraine , " polkovnyk " is a military rank inferred from the similar rank of the Soviet Army . Movie Trivia . In the film " The Eagle Has Landed " , Michael Caine wears the uniform and insignia of a " pulkownik " while in secret being an " oberst " in the German Luftwaffe .