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History of Soviet military uniforms. Military uniform of the Soviet army, items of uniform and equipment of military personnel of the Soviet army. People's Commissar of Defense and. Stalin

At the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, the cut of the uniform and the method of wearing it were determined by Order No. 176 of December 3, 1935. There were three types of uniforms for generals: everyday, weekend and dress. There were also three types of uniforms for officers and soldiers: everyday, guard and weekend. Each type of uniform had two options: summer and winter.

Numerous minor changes were made to the uniform between 1935 and 1941. The field uniform of the 1935 model was made of fabric of various shades of khaki color. The main distinctive element of the uniform was the tunic, which in its cut resembled a Russian peasant shirt. The cut of the tunic for soldiers and officers was the same. The flap of the breast pocket on the officer's tunic had a complex shape with a protrusion in the shape of the Latin letter "V". For soldiers, the valve often had a rectangular shape. The lower part of the collar of the tunic for officers had a triangular reinforcing patch, while for soldiers this patch was rectangular. In addition, soldiers' tunics had diamond-shaped reinforcing stripes on the elbows and back of the forearm. The officer's tunic, unlike the soldier's, had a colored edging. After the outbreak of hostilities, color edging was abandoned.

There were two types of tunics: summer and winter. Summer uniforms were made from cotton fabric, which was of a lighter color. Winter uniforms were made from woolen fabric, which had a richer, darker color. The officers wore a wide leather belt with a brass buckle decorated with a five-pointed star. Soldiers wore a simpler belt with a regular open buckle. In field conditions, soldiers and officers could wear two types of tunics: everyday and weekend. The weekend tunic was often called a French jacket. Some soldiers who served in elite units wore tunics of a special cut, distinguished by a colored stripe running along the collar. However, such tunics were rare.

The second main element of the uniform of both soldiers and officers were trousers, also called breeches. Soldiers' trousers had diamond-shaped reinforcing stripes on the knees. For footwear, officers wore high leather boots, while soldiers wore boots with windings or tarpaulin boots. In winter, officers and soldiers wore an overcoat made of brownish-gray cloth. Officers' overcoats were of better quality than soldiers' overcoats, but had the same cut. The Red Army used several types of hats. Most units wore budenovki, which had a winter and summer version. However, the summer budenovka was everywhere replaced by the cap, introduced in the late 30s. In the summer, officers preferred to wear caps instead of budenovkas. In units stationed in Central Asia and the Far East, wide-brimmed Panama hats were worn instead of caps.

In 1936, a new type of helmet (created on the basis of the French Adrian helmet) began to be supplied to the Red Army. In 1940, noticeable changes were made to the design of the helmet. The new helmet of the 1940 model everywhere replaced the helmet of the 1936 model, but the old helmet was still widely used in the first year of the war. Many Soviet officers recall that Red Army soldiers did not like to wear helmets, believing that only cowards wore helmets. Officers everywhere wore caps; the cap was an attribute of officer power. Tankers wore a special helmet made of leather or canvas. In summer they used a lighter version of the helmet, and in winter they wore a helmet with a fur lining.

The equipment of Soviet soldiers was strict and simple. Some units still used a brown leather backpack from the 1930 model, but such backpacks were rare in 1941. More common was the 1938 model canvas duffel bag. The base of the duffel bag was a rectangle 30x10 cm. The height of the duffel bag was 30 cm. The duffel bag had two pockets. Inside the duffel bag, the soldiers wore foot wraps, a raincoat, and in the pockets there were rifle accessories and personal hygiene items. At the bottom of the duffel bag, poles, pegs and other devices for setting up tents were tied. There were loops sewn onto the top and sides of the duffel bag, to which the roll was attached. The food bag was worn on the waist belt, under the duffel bag. The dimensions of the sack are 18x24x10 cm. In the sack the soldiers carried dry rations, a bowler hat and cutlery. The aluminum pot had a tight-fitting lid, which was pressed by the handle of the pot. In some units, soldiers used an old round pot with a diameter of 15 cm and a depth of 10 cm. However, the food bag and duffel bag of the 1938 model were quite expensive to produce, so their production was discontinued at the end of 1941.

Each Red Army soldier had a gas mask and a gas mask bag. After the war began, many soldiers threw away gas masks and used gas mask bags as duffel bags, since not everyone had real duffel bags. According to the regulations, every soldier armed with a rifle was required to have two leather cartridge bags. The bag could store four clips for a Mosin rifle - 20 rounds. Cartridge bags were worn on the waist belt, one on each side. The regulations provided for the possibility of wearing a large fabric cartridge bag that could hold six clips - 30 rounds. In addition, the Red Army soldiers could use a cloth bandolier worn over the shoulder. The compartments of the cartridge belt could accommodate 14 rifle clips. The grenade bag held two grenades with a handle. However, very few soldiers were equipped according to regulations. Most often, Red Army soldiers had to be content with one leather cartridge bag, which was usually worn on the right side. Some soldiers received small sapper blades in a fabric case. The shoulder blade was worn on the right hip. If a Red Army soldier had a flask, he wore it on his waist belt over his sapper blade.

During bad weather, soldiers used raincoats. The raincoat-tent was made of khaki-colored tarpaulin and had a ribbon with which the raincoat-tent could be secured to the shoulders. Raincoat tents could be connected in groups of two, four or six and thus obtain awnings under which several people could hide. If a soldier had a duffel bag of the 1938 model, then a roll, consisting of a raincoat and an overcoat, was attached to the sides and on top of the bag, in the form of a horseshoe. If there was no duffel bag, then the roll was carried over the shoulder.

The officers used a small bag, which was made of either leather or canvas. There were several types of these bags, some of them were worn over the shoulder, some were hung from the waist belt. On top of the bag was a small tablet. Some officers carried large leather tablets that were hung from the waist belt under their left arm.

There were also several types of specialized uniforms. In winter, tank crews wore black overalls and black leather jackets (sometimes black leather trousers were included with the jacket). Mountain shooters wore specially cut black overalls and special mountain boots. Cavalrymen, and primarily Cossacks, wore traditional clothes instead of uniforms. The cavalry was the most variegated branch of the Red Army troops, since a large number of Cossacks and representatives of the peoples of Central Asia served in the cavalry. Many cavalry units used standard uniforms, but even in such units items of Cossack uniform were often found. Before the war, Cossack troops were not popular, since many Cossacks did not support the Bolsheviks during the Civil War and went to serve in the White Army. However, in the 30s, regiments of Don, Kuban and Terek Cossacks were formed. The personnel of these regiments were equipped with uniforms with many details of the traditional Cossack costume. The field uniform of the Cossacks during the Great Patriotic War was a combination of uniform items from the 1930s, pre-revolutionary Cossack uniforms and uniforms from the 1941/43 model.

Traditionally, Cossacks are divided into two groups: steppe and Caucasian. The uniforms of the two groups differed significantly from each other. If the steppe (Don) Cossacks gravitated towards the traditional military uniform, then the Caucasians dressed more colorfully. All Cossacks wore high hats or lower kubankas. In field conditions, Caucasian Cossacks wore dark blue or black beshmets (shirts). Ceremonial beshmets were red for the Kuban Cossacks and light blue for the Terek Cossacks. Over the beshmet, the Cossacks wore a black or dark blue Circassian coat. Gazyrs were sewn on the chest of the Circassian coat. In winter, Cossacks wore a black fur cloak. Many Cossacks wore bashlyks of different colors. The bottom of the Kubanka was covered with material: for the Terek Cossacks it was light blue, and for the Kuban Cossacks it was red. There were two stripes running crosswise on the material - gold for officers and black for privates. It should be borne in mind that many soldiers recruited from the southern regions of Russia continued to wear a kubanka instead of the earflaps required by regulations, even if they did not serve in the cavalry. Another distinctive feature of the Cossacks were dark blue riding breeches.

In the first years of the war, Soviet industry lost significant production capacity, which ended up in German-occupied territory. However, most of the equipment was still transported to the east and new industrial enterprises were organized in the Urals. This decline in production forced the Soviet command to significantly simplify the uniforms and equipment of soldiers. In the winter of 1941/42, more comfortable winter uniforms were used for the first time. When creating this uniform, the sad experience of the Finnish campaign was taken into account. The Red Army soldiers received padded jackets, cotton trousers and hats with earflaps made of synthetic fur. Officers were issued sheepskin coats or fur coats. Higher officers wore hats instead of earflaps. The troops fighting on the northern sector of the front (north of Leningrad) were equipped with special northern uniforms. Instead of sheep's sheepskin coats, some units used seal sakuis. For footwear, soldiers wore special boots made of dog fur or lined with wool. Ushankas for soldiers who fought in the north were made from real fur - dog or fox.

However, many units never received a special winter uniform and the Red Army soldiers froze in standard overcoats, insulated with items requisitioned from the civilian population. In general, the Red Army was characterized by the widespread use of civilian clothing, this was especially clearly visible in winter. So, in winter, many Red Army soldiers wore felt boots. But not everyone was able to get felt boots, so even in winter most of the Red Army personnel continued to wear tarpaulin ones. The only advantage of tarpaulin boots was that they were loose enough that they could be insulated with additional foot wraps and newspapers, turning the shoes into winter boots. Soviet soldiers did not wear socks - only foot wraps. Socks were too much of a luxury to wear in loose boots. But the officers, if they managed to get a pair of socks, did not deny themselves the pleasure of putting them on. Some units were luckier - the personnel of these units received felt boots with galoshes, which was especially useful during the autumn and spring thaw. In 1942, the Red Army soldiers were dressed in rather colorful uniforms. The tankers wore black, gray, blue or khaki overalls. Synthetic leather and rubber were widely used in the manufacture of uniforms. Cartridge bags were made from tarpaulin or impregnated tarpaulin. Leather waist belts were everywhere replaced by canvas ones.

Instead of blankets, the Red Army soldiers used overcoats and raincoats. In addition, a roll of an overcoat or raincoat successfully replaced a duffel bag for soldiers - things were rolled inside. To remedy the situation, a new duffel bag was introduced, similar to the one used by the Tsarist army during the 1st World War. This duffel bag was a canvas bag with a neck secured by a drawstring and two shoulder straps. In 1942, uniform items from the USA and Canada began to arrive in the Soviet Union under Lend-Lease. Although most of the uniforms coming from America were made according to Soviet designs, American uniforms were also found. For example, the USA supplied 13 thousand pairs of leather boots and one million pairs of soldier’s boots to the USSR, and in Canada they sewed overalls for Soviet tank crews.

The uniform for women who served in the Red Army was determined by several documents. Before the war, the distinctive details of women's dress and dress uniforms were a dark blue skirt and beret. During the war, the order of women's uniforms was fixed by orders issued in May and August 1942. The orders maintained the wearing of a skirt and beret. In the field, these uniform items were made of khaki-colored fabric, and the exit uniform included a blue skirt and beret. These same orders largely unified the women's uniform with the men's. In practice, many female military personnel, especially those serving on the front lines, wore men's uniforms. In addition, women often altered many uniform items for themselves, using discarded uniforms.

The experience of fighting in Finland showed the need to have white camouflage overalls in the troops. This type of overalls appeared in 1941. There were several types of winter overalls, usually consisting of pants and a jacket with a hood. In addition, the Red Army units were equipped with many camouflage summer overalls. Such overalls, as a rule, were received by scouts, sappers, mountain shooters and snipers. The overalls had a baggy cut and were made of khaki-colored fabric with round black spots. It is known from photographic documents that the Red Army soldiers also used reversible camouflage overalls, which were green on the outside and white on the inside. It is not clear how widespread such overalls were. A special type of camouflage was developed for snipers. A large number of narrow strips of material imitating grass were sewn onto the khaki-colored overalls. However, such overalls are not widely used.

In 1943, the Red Army adopted a new uniform, radically different from that previously used. The system of insignia was equally radically changed. The new uniform and insignia largely repeated the uniform and insignia of the tsarist army. The new rules abolished the division of uniforms into daily, weekend and dress uniforms, since in wartime conditions there was no need for weekend and dress uniforms. Details of the ceremonial uniform were used in the uniform of special forces units performing guard duty, as well as in officer uniforms. In addition, the officers retained their dress uniform.

By Order No. 25 of January 15, 1943, a new type of tunic was introduced for soldiers and officers. The new tunic was very similar to the one used in the tsarist army and had a stand-up collar fastened with two buttons. The soldiers' tunic had no pockets, while the officer's tunic had two breast pockets. The cut of the trousers has not changed. But the main distinguishing feature of the new uniform was the shoulder straps. There were two types of shoulder straps: field and everyday. Field shoulder straps were made of khaki-colored fabric. On three sides, the shoulder straps had a border in the color of the branch of service. There was no piping on the officer's shoulder straps, and the branch of the military could be determined by the color of the gaps. Senior officers (from major to colonel) had two gaps on their shoulder straps, and junior officers (from junior lieutenant to captain) had one. For doctors, veterinarians and non-combatants, the gaps were red with a brownish tint. In addition, a small gold or silver badge was worn on the shoulder straps near the button, indicating the branch of the military. The color of the emblem depended on the type of troops. The shoulder straps of marshals and generals were wider than those of officers, and the shoulder straps of military doctors, lawyers, etc. - on the contrary, narrower.

Officers wore a cap with a black leather chinstrap. The color of the band on the cap depended on the type of troops. The crown of the cap was usually a khaki color, but the NKVD troops often used caps with a light blue crown, tank crews wore gray caps, and Don Cossacks wore gray-blue caps. The same order No. 25 determined the type of winter headdress for officers. Generals and colonels had to wear hats (introduced back in 1940), while other officers received regular earflaps.

The rank of sergeants and foremen was determined by the number and width of the stripes on their shoulder straps. Usually the stripes were red, only doctors and veterinarians had a brownish tint. Petty officers wore a T-shaped stripe on their shoulder straps. Senior sergeants had one wide stripe on their shoulder straps. Sergeants, junior sergeants and corporals had three, two or one narrow stripe on their shoulder straps, respectively. The edging of the shoulder straps was the color of the branch of service. According to the regulations, the emblem of the military branch was supposed to be worn on the inside of the shoulder straps, but in practice, soldiers wore such emblems very rarely.

In March 1944, a new uniform for the Marine Corps was adopted, which was more convenient for use on land. Since the Soviet Navy remained in ports for most of the war, many sailors took part in battles on land. The marine infantry was used especially widely in the defense of Leningrad and in the Crimea. However, throughout the war, Marines wore the standard Marine uniform, supplemented by some items from the ground field uniform. The last order concerning uniforms was issued in April 1945. This order introduced the dress uniform; soldiers first wore it during the Victory Parade on Red Square on June 24, 1945.

Separately, it would be worth examining the colors of the military branches in the Red Army. The branches of troops and services were designated by the color of the edging and insignia. The color of the field of the buttonholes showed belonging to the branch of the military; in addition, a small badge in the buttonhole indicated membership in a certain branch of the military. Officers wore gold-embroidered or enamel badges, while soldiers used colored edging. The sergeants' buttonholes had a border in the color of the branch of service, and they were distinguished from the soldiers by a narrow red stripe running through the buttonhole. Officers wore caps with piping, while soldiers used caps. The edgings on the uniform were also the colors of the military branch. Belonging to a branch of the military was determined not by any one color, but by a combination of colors on different parts of the uniform.

Commissars occupied a special position in the army. There were commissars in every unit from the battalion and above. In 1937, the position of political instructor - junior political officer - was introduced in each unit (company, platoon). The insignia of commissars was generally similar to the insignia of officers, but had its own characteristics. Instead of chevrons on the sleeve, the commissars wore a red star. Commissars had black edging on their buttonholes, regardless of the type of troops, while political instructors had colored edging on their buttonholes.

Sources:
1. Lipatov P., “Uniforms of the Red Army and the Wehrmacht”, Tekhnika Molodezhi, 1996;
2. Shunkov V., “Red Army”, AST, 2003;
3. Shalito A., Savchenkov I., Roginsky N., Tsyplenkov K., "Uniform of the Red Army 1918-1945", 2001.

On January 15 (28 old style), 1918, the Council of People's Commissars (SNK) adopted a decree on the organization of the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army (RKKA), built on strictly class principles. The Red Army was recruited on a voluntary basis and only from conscious peasants and workers.
Here: >>Military uniform of the Soviet Red Army 1941-1945.
By the spring of 1918, it became clear that there were not so many “conscious volunteers” from among the peasants and workers. And the Bolsheviks planned to increase the Red Army to 1.5 million bayonets. IN AND. Lenin abandoned the principle of volunteerism and initiated the transition to compulsory military service for workers. Also, about 5 thousand officers and generals of the tsarist army are mobilized into the Red Army.

During the years of the Civil War (generals and officers), they were called military specialists (military experts), and occupied the most responsible positions in the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic (Revolutionary Military Council) - which led the construction and combat activities of the Red Army. Their further fate is the topic of another article, just for reference, during the most difficult period of the beginning of the Great Patriotic War (from August 1941 to May 1942), the Chief of the General Staff was: Shaposhnikov B.M. former colonel of the Tsarist Army, in 1917 commander of the grenadier regiment. One of the few to whom Comrade himself. STALIN addressed himself by his first and patronymic names.

Red Army soldier 1918 and volunteer of the Bashkir Red Army 1918

Due to the difficult situation of industry and lack of money, it was decided to adapt the existing uniforms to the needs of the Red Army. By introducing a number of distinctive features of belonging to the Red Army.

Almost until the end of the 1920s, the army used the uniforms of the former tsarist army, devoid of imperial emblems, insignia and symbols. Significant reserves left by the troops of the former allies were also used. Entente who fought in Russia (1919-1922). So at first the Red Army presented a very motley appearance. Photos of military uniforms of the Soviet Red Army were taken from private collections kept by various owners, that is, these are real samples, and not so-called reproductions or pictures painted by artists that look like popular prints.

Budennovka model 1922 and 1939-41

A distinctive feature of the uniform of the soldiers of the Red Army were colored tabs across the front around the buttons, and a pointed helmet made of cloth, colloquially called Budyonnovka (it owes its name to the soldiers of the first cavalry army of Budyonny. S.M.).

Military uniform of the Soviet Red Army

Budyonnovka, disputes about the time of its appearance have not subsided to this day. Either it was produced in large quantities in 1913, as part of the celebration of the 300th anniversary of the House of Romanov. Either on December 18, 1918, after the announcement of the competition, a new type of winter headdress was approved - a cloth helmet, or they were made for the parade in Berlin for the expected victory in the First World War. You decide...

Military uniform of the Soviet Red Army photo

While industry was being established and the army was being reformed, the military uniform was developing according to the type we’ll inform, we’ll change, we’ll patch up. A new, strictly regulated uniform of the Workers 'and Peasants' Red Army (RKKA) has been introduced January 31, 1922., included all the necessary items and was uniform for Red Army soldiers and commanders.

Red Army Red Army soldier in summer and winter uniform 1923

Already by 1926, the Red Army had achieved one hundred percent provision of military personnel with clothing in accordance with all standards and reports, which indicates a serious approach to strengthening the young Red Army.

Red Army soldier of the Red Army in summer and winter uniforms 1924

It should be noted that at the end of the 30s, in terms of industrial production, the USSR took first place in Europe and second place in the world, and in terms of the growth rate of industrial production it began to occupy a leading position, and the growth rate of military production was more than twice as high as growth of industrial production in general, you understand when VICTORY in the war began to be forged.

Squadron commander 1920-22. Cavalry division commander 1920-22.

By 1935, all throwing was completed, most traditional ranks had been restored, and a large number of military uniforms had been adopted.

commander of a separate squadron, cavalry 1927-29, Red Army soldier field uniform, armored forces 1931-34.

The production of various types of weapons grew at an unprecedented pace; one should not think that our grandfathers won VICTORY exclusively with meat and three-line guns.

Red Army rifleman infantryman in winter camouflage and military instructor of the OGPU 1923

Back to the article "Military uniform of the Soviet Red Army", a hitherto underrated uniform and equipment of the Red Army, in terms of comfort, color, design and variety, although shortages of certain types of materials and quantities will haunt our army to this day.

major Terek Cossack cavalry units and junior lieutenant mountain cavalry units. uniform 1936-41

These included distinctive uniforms for air and tank forces.

It was these troops that propaganda focused on, increasing their prestige and significance; even then it was clear to experts on whom victory on the battlefields would largely depend, otherwise everyone praised the Wehrmacht troops, especially the military air forces (Luftwaffe) not knowing that they did not have, for example, strategic aviation, “miscalculation?” and what kind.

captain and lieutenant in Air Force flight uniform 1936-43

1935 New uniforms and insignia were introduced for all Red Army personnel. The previous official ranks by category were abolished, and personal ranks were established for commanders; the old ones were partly preserved for military-political, military-technical, military-legal, military-medical and junior command personnel. On May 7, 1940, general ranks were established for the senior command staff of the Red Army and on July 13, 1940, general uniforms were introduced.

The tunic, which appeared in 1924 with breast pockets and a stand-up collar with elongated edged buttonholes according to the branch of service, has been compulsory since 1935. The wearing of a white collar has been established. Until 24, there were no differences between the uniforms of the beginning personnel and the Red Army in terms of cut and quality of material, but to strengthen unity of command, significant differences were introduced in the cut of the jacket for the command, administrative, economic and political composition of the Red Army.

The color of the tunics is protective, khaki; for armored forces - gray-steel. For the commanding staff, they were sewn from wool and cotton fabrics.

In winter, Red Army soldiers and junior command personnel were required to wear cloth uniforms, but in almost all units they wore cotton uniforms all year round. Along the edge of the collar and cuffs of the commander's tunic, along the seam of the breeches - dark blue or gray tankers - there was a colored cloth piping.

The commander's shirt usually had detachable, inflated pockets, while on the Red Army's the pockets were simply attached and the sleeves were reinforced with pentagonal elbow pads.

The commander's breeches had an extended silhouette of the middle part, two waist cuffs, and less often - one back cuff. The crease on the breeches was not smoothed out. The leg straps are with buttons, the waistband is with belt loops or in the form of a high stitched bodice. The Red Army trousers did not have edges. Red Army trousers also had side pockets and a watch pocket, but only commander trousers had a back pocket. The trousers had pentagonal knee pads, and the trouser legs were tied with thin ribbons. The command staff were entitled to boots - chrome or cowhide; with untucked trousers - boots. Instead of boots, boots with gaiters were allowed. Long-term conscripts were provided with cowhide boots. In winter, it was allowed to wear warm felt boots with leather trim, white or black felt boots. When out of formation, long-term conscripts were allowed burka boots. The Red Army soldiers sported yuft or cowhide boots; later, under People's Commissar C.K. Tymoshenko, tarpaulin appeared, at the moment more than 150 million shoes have been produced from tarpaulin, mainly military ones (Search for “tarpaulin” and you will learn a lot). Due to a shortage of raw materials, boots with green or black tapes were used. A piglet raised on a private farm was supposed to be skinned, and under no circumstances should it be burned as it is now. Before the war, you could even see a cavalryman wearing bandages! Only those commanders who were entitled to a riding horse wore spurs on their boots.

Command staff - except for aviation and armored forces - for everyday wear were entitled to a single-breasted jacket with six large buttons, a turn-down collar, chest patch pockets and welt side pockets.

The ceremonial uniform of the command personnel was an open steel-colored jacket with patch breast pockets and welt side pockets, with scarlet edging along the collar and straight cuffs. They wore it with a white shirt and black tie, straight trousers or breeches; in formation - with equipment. A cap was required with a French jacket, and a cap was also allowed with a tunic. For everyday wear, command and control personnel - except for aviation and armored forces - were entitled to a single-breasted jacket with six large buttons, a turn-down collar, chest patch pockets and welt side pockets.

The overcoat for the command and control personnel of the ground forces was sewn from drape or overcoat cloth of dark gray color (for tankers - steel). It was double-breasted, 35 - 45 cm from the floor, with a trimmed hem, with 4 buttons along the side, with open lapels, with semi-slanting pockets covered with flaps, with a counter pleat on the back and a straight tab on buttons sewn to the side half-flaps. The slit was fastened with 4 small uniform buttons.

The cavalry overcoat was longer than the infantry overcoat and had an enlarged back slit with five buttons. The Krasnoarmeysky one had the same cut and differed from the commander's one in the worse quality of the cloth. The waist belt was mandatory - it was taken away only from those arrested.

The everyday cap, adopted for all categories of military personnel, had a colored band according to the branch of service and a khaki-colored top with piping. Above the angular, elongated “Voroshilov” visor with bolsters along the edge, a black oilcloth chin strap was fastened with two brass buttons with a star.

The crown was slightly higher than the band, with a convex front part; a steel spring rim was inserted inside (by the way, our invention, look at the chewed caps of that time in other armies). A large red star was attached to the middle of the band.

Headdresses of the Red Army: officer's cap, summer cap of the Red Army soldier, cap of the armored forces, kubanka of the Terek Cossack units 1935

The top of the caps of Red Army soldiers and junior commanders was often made of cotton, the caps of commanders were made only of wool, the commander’s band was black velvet, and the Red Army man’s was cloth. The band and piping differed in color, depending on the type of troops; the pre-war colors of the caps remained in the 70s. The caps, intended for combined wear with a steel helmet, were made from the same fabric as the uniform. The command staff had a colored border along the bottom of the cap and the edge of the lapel; a cloth star was sewn on the front in the color of the branch of service, and a small enamel one was attached on top of it. At the beginning of 1941, protective caps without colored parts were introduced for wartime.

Introduced in March 1938, a cotton Panama hat for hot regions, with wide stitched brims and ventilation blocks in the cap wedges, has survived to this day practically unchanged.

For the Terek and Kuban Cossack units in 1936, black fur hats were adopted: for the former - with a light blue bottom, for the latter - with a red bottom. For the rank and file, it was crossed twice with black soutache; for command personnel - either with it, but in gold, or with a narrow gold braid. A separate cavalry brigade of mountain nationalities wore brown fur hats with a red top, crossed in the same way. The black fur cap, slightly tapering at the top, of the Don Cossack units was slightly higher than the Kubanka; the red bottom, just like the last one, was crossed in two rows with black soutache or gold braid; a star was attached to the front. The traditional outfit was complemented by Red Army symbols and insignia.

Red Army soldier dress uniform Kuban cavalry units 1936-41. Dress uniform of the Don Cossack cavalry units 1936-41.

Due to the shortage of military dress uniforms (adopted back in 1941), it was in this model of 1936 that the victorious cavalry soldiers marched at the victory parade in 1945.

For Terek Cossacks, Circassians were sewn from steel-gray cloth, for Kuban Cossacks - from dark blue; the edges and holders were trimmed with black soutache; cartridges with a white or nickel-plated head were inserted into the gazyr sockets (9 in each). The sides were buttoned end-to-end with counter hooks up to the waist, and the back slit reached there. The lining of the Circassian coat was the same color as the beshmet - light blue Terek and red Kuban. It was sewn cut at the waist, with a slit from the transverse seam, reliefs on the back and a butt clasp on hooks. Light blue cloth trimmed the sides to the waist and the collar; Cavalry buttonholes were sewn onto it, and insignia were sewn onto the straight sleeves of the beshmet (and slightly flared circassian sleeves). The sides and collar of the command staff's beshmet were decorated with gold braid; The casual one was khaki, with light blue cloth piping. Terets and Kuban residents were entitled to trousers of a general army cut - with light blue and red piping, respectively. The tops of the black soft boots had a visor; a belt for a Circassian coat or beshmet - Caucasian type: narrow, black leather, with a set of white metal. In addition to hats and kubankas, a cap of the Caucasian cut was worn, with a black braid trim: light blue for the Terek Cossacks, frontal for the Kuban. A long, shaggy black felt burka of the Caucasian type was trimmed at the neck with black leather and fastened with cord ties or a hook.

A Don dark blue Cossack jacket with pleats at the back of the cut-off skirt was edged with red cloth along the stand-up collar and cuffs with a toe, and was fastened end-to-end with hooks. Cavalry buttonholes were sewn onto the collar, and sleeve insignia were sewn onto the cuffs (2.5 cm above the toe). The Don Cavalry trousers were decorated with scarlet single-row stripes 4 cm wide. In addition to the hat, a gray cap of the Caucasian type was worn with black braid.

The uniform of a separate cavalry brigade of mountain nationalities included, in addition to a brown fur hat, a red Caucasian shirt, trousers with red piping, a black Circassian coat with sides, sleeves, neck and gazyrs trimmed with black twisted cord, in which the command staff had cartridges with artistic Caucasian silver tips , and for privates - nickel plated. The Caucasian belt set was finished accordingly.

The stand-up collar of the formal satin shirt and the front slit were fastened with black cord buttons and loops. The large rectangular flaps of the patch breast pockets had the same fastener.

Continue reading here: >> Military uniform of the Soviet Red Army pre-war period.

Here: >> Military uniform of the Soviet Red Army 1941-1943 .

Here: > > Military uniform of Wehrmacht soldiers Eastern Front.

Here: >> German military uniform of the Second World War.

“Uniforms of the Red Army 1918-1945” is the fruit of the joint efforts of a group of enthusiasts: artists, collectors, researchers, who give all their free time and money in tribute to one common idea. Recreating the realities of the era that troubles their hearts makes it possible to get closer to a truthful perception of the “central event of the 20th century” - the Second World War, which undoubtedly continues to have a serious impact on modern life. The decades of deliberate distortion of the historical truth about this war experienced by our people not only deprived us, our descendants, of a reliable and complete idea of the uniform and clothing provision of the Red Army, but also managed to sow erroneous stereotypes in the minds of generations. The created photo reconstructions will be useful not only to specialists and collectors, but also to domestic filmmakers, writers, politicians, as well as military costume reenactors.

Description of the uniform of the Red Army 1918-1936.

In December 1917, shortly after the victory of the October Revolution and the establishment of the dictatorship of the proletariat in Russia, at the so-called congress on the demobilization of the old army, it was decided to begin forming units of the new socialist army. The decree on the organization of the Red Army was issued by the Council of People's Commissars of the USSR on January 15, 1918. The formation system provided for the consolidation of volunteers from the military personnel of the old army into separate units, the creation of units from volunteers who did not serve in the old army, as well as the use of Red Guard detachments.

During this initial period, the Soviet government was unable to create a regular army and provide it economically in the conditions of private industry, private trade, sabotage of employees and disorganization of the state apparatus.

The units of the volunteer Red Army were small and unstable, staffed by elected command personnel who did not have any insignia; in terms of uniforms, they were marked by a variety of outerwear and hats, due to the winter period. The most common items were (installed in May 1912 and supplied to the rank and file of the old army) hats made of artificial astrakhan fur and cloth single-breasted overcoats.

By May 1918, a decisive transition to a regular Red Army was determined: a military administrative apparatus and a system of universal military training were created, the principle of voluntary recruitment and election of command personnel was abolished. Large-scale formation of regiments and divisions began. The introduction of the first distinctive sign indicating membership in the Red Army dates back to the same time.

On May 7, 1918, by order of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic (RVSR), it was established Chest sign Red Army soldier and commander of the Red Army in the form of a wreath of laurel and oak branches, on top of which was attached a red five-pointed star with the “plow and hammer” emblem. On the same day, by order of the People's Commissar for Military Affairs, a competition for the best uniform was announced.

In fact, there were so many stocks of clothing left over from the old army that until the beginning of 1919, the procurement of uniforms was practically not carried out. The task of the supply authorities was only to account for and deliver supplies. But, nevertheless, in the conditions of the unfolding Civil War, it was necessary to somehow emphasize the affiliation of the personnel with the Red Army and their official position.

The first such items were approved on December 18, 1918 winter headdress, which later received the name “budennovka”, distinctive insignia of command personnel in the form of triangles, squares and rhombuses for wearing on the left sleeve, as well as sleeve insignia in the form of emblems of the main branches of the military. The cockade badge for the headdress in the form of a five-pointed star with a plow and a hammer was installed by order of the People's Commissar for Military Affairs on July 29, 1918.

1919 is characterized by the beginning of industry's work on defense. Unlike the old army, the system of using contractors was destroyed, which, however, did not lead to the centralization of clothing supplies, since suppliers everywhere actively used local resources. On April 8, 1919, the first samples of uniforms were installed: new headdress, infantry and cavalry overcoats-kaftans and summer shirt. They were sewn on all types of clothes buttonholes and chest flaps made of cloth in colors according to the branch of service, as well as sleeve flaps insignia. Until the end of the Civil War, the new uniforms were used along with a variety of old army uniforms, casual items and civilian clothing.

The new Red Army star for the headdress - summer and winter helmet - approved on June 11, 1922, had a stamped image in the middle of an intersecting hammer and sickle.

For all special bodies of the GPU - OGPU in June 1923, it was established dress Red Army cavalry type with insignia of special colors, as well as trousers and a winter headdress in dark blue. Internal, border troops and special forces units (CHON) were also entitled to a Red Army uniform with its own colors of buttonholes, breast flaps and a cloth star on the headdress.

The transition to combat training in peacetime conditions, which began in 1923-1924. provided for a significant reduction in the costly maintenance of personnel units of the Red Army with their partial replacement by formations recruited on a territorial basis. At the same time, it was considered necessary to reduce the cost of production of military clothing, making it more practical and eliminating unnecessary differences in the Red Army uniform, which lost their significance with the end of the Civil War.

On May 13, 1924, instead of the impractical summer headdress of the 1922 model, summer cap made of khaki cotton fabric. Then on May 30th it was introduced summer a new-style tunic shirt without colored chest flaps and two patch chest pockets. Subsequently, in June-July 1924, all the main items of uniform were changed and new ones were introduced insignia .

The official position of a serviceman in accordance with the assigned category was now determined by metal insignia: triangles, squares, rectangles (since 1925), rhombuses, covered with red enamel and placed on buttonholes. The set of color schemes for buttonholes of various branches of the military was reduced to a minimum, the number of badges for specialties - emblems - was reduced, and sleeve insignia were abolished.

At first, no differences were envisaged between the uniforms of Red Army soldiers and commanders, but already on August 4, 1924, in connection with the transition to strengthening unity of command, significant differences were introduced in the cut of the jacket for command, administrative, economic and political personnel Red Army. Immediately after this, on August 8, 1924, the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR approved dark blue uniforms for the air force and sleeve insignia for military pilots and military aeronauts.

The uniform of the organs and troops of the OGPU in 1924 underwent similar changes. In addition, by the beginning of 1925, only two versions of buttonholes were retained for the OGPU - maroon and light green - and two samples of colored cloth caps corresponding to them were introduced.

In 1926, the Red Army achieved one hundred percent provision of military personnel with clothing in accordance with all standards and reports. This made it possible to establish clear rules for wearing uniforms, which were announced by order of the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR on February 26, 1926. According to these rules, dress was divided by time of use - into summer and winter, by purpose - into everyday, guard and marching (the difference was determined only by the availability of weapons and equipment). Mixing military uniforms with non-uniform clothing was prohibited, and the wearing of insignia, awards and badges was regulated.

In order to increase the service life of summer headdress and improve its appearance, February 4, 1928 for all branches of the military Red Army, in addition to the cavalry, a cloth industry was installed cap khaki instead of cotton. For the cavalry and horse artillery, cloth cloth had been introduced a year earlier. caps special colors assigned to each regiment. Colored Cavalry caps lasted almost three years before being completely replaced by a single color cap, introduced on January 12, 1929.

By the beginning of the 30s. In the USSR, great strides were made in standardizing products ordered from industry. The Red Army's clothing supply department periodically approved detailed technical specifications for new items of uniform and equipment. On November 18, 1932, taking into account the new types and standards of clothing supplies, new “Rules for wearing uniforms by military personnel of the Red Army” were issued, which were in force until 1936.

The increased importance of armored forces and aviation, changes in their organization and the rapid saturation with new equipment required increased attention to the personnel of these branches of the military. On April 10, 1934, a meeting of the People's Commissar for Military and Naval Affairs approved a new uniform for commanding personnel - aviators and tank crews - to be worn from January 1, 1935. The new uniform included a colored cap with a “square” fiber visor, an open jacket and trousers with piping, as well as a double-breasted overcoat. For the armored forces, the uniform had a steel color and red trim, for the air forces it was dark blue and light blue trim.

By the end of 1935, the final transition to the creation of armed forces built entirely on the personnel principle was ripe. On September 22, 1935, the Supreme Council of the USSR, instead of outdated job categories, established personal military ranks for the command staff of the Red Army, after which a general certification was carried out within two months. In connection with these events, a large change of uniforms was prepared.

On December 3, 1935, the People's Commissar of Defense signed an order introducing new uniforms and insignia for all personnel of the Red Army. Insignia and the uniform itself, with its distinctive details, as a whole constituted a strictly verified system that made it possible to accurately determine a serviceman’s belonging to the branch of the military or service, as well as to a certain composition within the branch of the military.

Military ranks reflecting the specialty corresponded to the ranks of command personnel and were grouped as follows: military-political personnel, military-technical, military-legal, military-economic and administrative, military-medical and military-veterinary. Command, military-political, military-technical and military-legal personnel wore uniforms of various branches of the military, and the command staff of the quartermaster, military medical and military-veterinary services, regardless of the type of troops, were entitled to a single uniform with the emblems of the corresponding service.

The military personnel of the command staff were distinguished by the edging of their buttonholes made of gilded braid and sleeve insignia - squares, corresponding to the assigned rank. Highest military rank - marshal Soviet Union - provided for special differences: large stars embroidered with gilded tinsel on diamond-shaped buttonholes edged with gilded thread, the same stars on the sleeves and sleeve chevrons made of wide gilded braid; band caps , buttonholes and the edging is red.

The system of personal military ranks provided for special ranks for military political workers. "Political instructors" (up to a level equal to the rank " captain"), and (more senior) "commissars" - had on all types of clothing sleeve insignia of the political composition - red five-pointed stars with an image of a hammer and sickle embroidered in gilded thread. According to the rules for wearing uniforms, issued on December 17, 1936, political workers of all branches of the military (except for students of military academies) were not supposed to wear the emblems of the military branches on their buttonholes. This emphasized independence from unit commanders, to whom on May 10, 1937, political workers were officially equal in rights, just as was the case before 1925. When in July–August 1940, during the period of strengthening unity of command, the commissars of units and subunits were moved to the positions of deputy commanders for political affairs, all political workers were required not only to wear lapel emblems kind of troops, but also to master the corresponding military specialty.

The military-technical personnel - "military technicians" and "military engineers" - did not have sleeve insignia (with the exception of the technical insignia Air Force) and wore a uniform and buttonholes all branches of the military, distinguished only by the emblem in the form of a crossed hammer and French key. From January to September 1942, engineers of all branches of the military were gradually assigned command ranks with the prefixes technician ("technician-lieutenant") and engineer ("engineer-colonel"), as well as all the distinctions of the command staff - sleeve insignia and gold edging buttonholes

The rank of quartermaster was held by command personnel of all military branches who performed economic and administrative tasks. The personnel of the quartermaster service were entitled to their own uniform of a general army standard in khaki color with red edging, without sleeve insignia, with a band caps and dark green buttonholes. The distinctive emblem depicted a wheel with an overlaid French key, compass and helmet. In 1942, with the introduction of regular ranks, the economic and administrative composition of each branch of the military was assigned a uniform identical to the command staff of this branch of the military, and commander's insignia with an emblem on the buttonholes in the form of a hammer and sickle with a red star superimposed.

The medical and veterinary personnel of the Red Army bore the ranks of “voenfeldsher” (“voenvetfeldsher”) and “military doctor” (“military veterinarian”) at various levels. Dress differed from the lapel emblem established for quartermasters in the form of a bowl entwined with a snake. The golden emblem denoted the medical service, the silver one the veterinary service.

According to the “Regulations on the clothing and baggage supply of the Red Army in peacetime,” approved on May 27, 1936, the main set of uniforms required by the standards for the commander and the Red Army soldier consisted of caps with a colored band according to the branch of service (for enlisted personnel - with a top made of cotton fabric), caps, winter helmet, cloth tunic or jacket (for command personnel), cotton tunic, cloth and cotton trousers and overcoat. In addition, the rules for wearing uniforms, approved on December 17, 1936, allowed wearing felt boots or felt boots, short fur coats, bekesha, finka hat, leather coat or a jacket, as well as a muffler.

All general army uniforms were the same color - khaki and gray, with the exception of armored troops, all of whose uniforms were steel-colored, and air Force, where the command personnel were entitled to dark blue uniforms (except for summer ones), and the rank and file were entitled to the usual general army uniform.

On April 20, 1936, the USSR Central Executive Committee issued a resolution “On the removal of restrictions on service in the Red Army for the Cossacks.” Following this, on April 23, by order of the People's Commissar of Defense, a description of a special uniform for the Terek, Kuban and Don Cossack units was announced.

Cossack uniforms stood out sharply due to the cut of their items, as well as their colors, which made it possible to distinguish their “military” affiliation. For commanding officers, rank and file and long-term service, uniforms differed in materials and finish. Fur hats and hats were used as headdresses in full dress uniform and in winter.

Photos of the uniform of the Red Army 1918-1936.


Red Army soldier, 1918	Red Army soldier, volunteer of the Bashkir Red Army, 1918	Commissioner, 1918-20

Commander companies, 1919	Commander squadron, 1920-22	Commander of the cavalry division, 1920-22.

Infantry shooter in winter camouflage, 1920-21.	Military director of the OGPU Inspectorate, 1923.	Red Army soldier in summer uniform, infantry, 1923-24.

Red Army soldier in winter uniform, infantry, 1923-24.

OGPU employee in everyday uniform, 1924-27.	Assistant Battalion Commander in Field Uniform, Infantry, 1925-26.	Presiding officer of a military tribunal in winter uniform, 1924

Head of the station department of the OGPU. Transport departments of the OGPU, 1925-34.	Assistant commander of a separate squadron, cavalry, 1927-29.	Red Army soldier in field uniform, armored forces, 1931-34

Red Army soldier, cavalry, 1931-36.

Description of the uniform of the Red Army 1936-43.

The uniform received noticeable differences from the army cloth command staff of the bodies and troops of the NKVD of the USSR, introduced on December 27, 1935. This was preceded by the decision of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks of September 10, 1935, according to which all organizations, institutions and individuals were prohibited from wearing uniforms and insignia similar or similar to the Red Army. However, the situation soon changed, and already on July 15, 1937, by order of the People's Commissar of Internal Affairs, the same uniform was introduced for all NKVD personnel as in the Red Army with minor differences in the cut of some items.

An unusual uniform was introduced on October 27, 1936 for full-time command, teaching staff and students of the newly formed General Staff Academy. The main features of this form were black velvet collar of a French jacket, tunic and overcoat, white piping and stripes on the trousers. Using what is for buttonholes, band caps and the stripes were set to an “infantry” crimson color; those who preferred to save sewing money wore ordinary breeches for infantry command personnel with a crimson edging and without stripes when wearing a tunic. This colorful uniform was canceled on May 22, 1940, shortly before the introduction of uniforms for Red Army generals.

Based on the results of the assessment of the military operations against Finland (December 1939 - March 1940), a number of decisions were made to reorganize the military command system in order to ensure clear unity of command. As one of the measures to strengthen the authority of command personnel, on May 7, 1940, general ranks were established for the senior command staff of the Red Army and on July 13, 1940, general uniforms and insignia .

They turned out to be similar to the uniform of pre-revolutionary Russian generals: closed jacket colors khaki with chest welt pockets, trousers with stripes, hat and an edged overcoat with coat of arms buttons. The cut of the single-breasted dress uniform was borrowed from the German army. In addition to the above, the generals of the Red Army were entitled to a cap (ceremonial and everyday) with a round gilded cockade, a ceremonial overcoat and white cotton jacket .

Basic insignia were placed on diamond-shaped buttonholes edged with gilded thread. Ranks of combined arms generals (red buttonholes) were indicated by gilded metal stars, and the ranks of artillery and tank generals (black buttonholes), as well as aviation (blue buttonholes), signal troops, engineering troops, technical troops and quartermaster service (crimson buttonholes), in addition, also a gilded emblem of the corresponding branch of the military. Marshals of the Soviet Union wore red when wearing a general's uniform. buttonholes, decorated with gold embroidered stars in a hammer and sickle pattern with intersecting laurel branches, gold embroidered sleeve squares (also with laurel branches) and large sleeve stars.

While the senior command staff was preparing to try on the new general uniform, changes were made insignia middle and senior command staff. On July 26, 1940, by order of the People's Commissar of Defense, their new description was announced. The gold edging of the buttonholes of commanders, from junior lieutenant to colonel, was now done with gilded thread, and the sleeve insignia of command personnel acquired a brighter appearance: the squares of the new type differed in the number and width of gold braid with gaps and edging made of red cloth.

No less serious attention was paid to increasing the level of responsibility and raising the authority of the junior command level. On November 2, 1940, the People's Commissar of Defense signed an order establishing military ranks for private and junior command personnel and approved the “Regulations on the service of junior command personnel,” which established strict conditions for obtaining corporal and sergeant ranks and contained a detailed description of the new insignia.

The new type of junior command buttonholes, which were supposed to begin wearing on January 1, 1941, were equipped with a narrow red gap in the middle and a yellow metal triangle in the upper corner. On the buttonholes for petty officers, in addition, a narrow gilded braid was sewn parallel to the edging. The signs denoting ranks, starting with “junior sergeant,” were enamel triangles, which previously corresponded to the positions of junior commanders.

By the beginning of 1941, there was a serious need to reduce the variety of uniforms of the Red Army and, most importantly, to revise the standards for clothing supplies for military personnel. In this regard, it was decided to introduce for the supply of personnel uniforms that were not only uniform in color and pattern for all branches of the military, but also universal for the preparation of uniforms that differ in purpose and time of use. Many items were to be cancelled, such as open jackets Air Force and motorized armored troops, Cossack uniforms - which provided the prestige of their military branches, but made it difficult to supply and maneuver with supplies. To solve this problem, it was necessary to significantly improve the input form, without advertising all the changes made.

The corresponding order of the People's Commissar of Defense, issued on February 1, 1941, was classified “top secret.” Of all its contents, only the following were made public: the transition to a single color of uniforms, the introduction of new, more popular fabrics, and the gradual introduction of beautiful ceremonial uniforms to supply combat units. The supply standards for commanding and rank and file personnel established for peacetime and wartime were not subject to disclosure. According to these standards, the simple uniform that was to be accumulated by the beginning of the mobilization deployment of the army consisted of: caps colors khaki(in winter - hat with ear flaps sample 1940), tunics with bloomers in color khaki(for ordinary personnel in winter and summer - only a cotton tunic) and a single-breasted dark gray overcoat with a hook-and-eye fastener. For the winter period, in addition, the following items were provided: a sheepskin coat or a wadded coat jacket with a quilted jacket (commanders - fur vest), cotton trousers, fur mittens and felt boots .

Photos of Red Army uniforms 1936-1943.


Marshal of the Soviet Union in everyday uniform, 1936-40.	Red Army soldier, infantry, 1936	Senior political instructor, artillery, 1936-40.

Military engineer 2nd rank, technical troops, 1936-43.	Quartermaster 2nd rank to everyday uniform, 1936-42.	Ensign , air Force. 1941

Captain, motor transport units of artillery, 1936-40.	Senior Lieutenant in everyday form, Air Force, 1936-40	Red Army soldier in summer overalls, armored forces, 1935.

Lieutenant in marching uniform, armored forces, 1938-41.	Captain, Air Force, 1936-40.	Lieutenant in flight uniform, Air Force, 1936-43.

Separated commander, motor transport parts, 1938-40.	Protective anti-chemical cloth, 1936-45 gt.	Brigade commander in everyday uniform of the General Staff Academy, 1936-40.

Senior Lieutenant State security in everyday form, NKVD, 1936-37.	Senior lieutenant State security in everyday form, NKVD, 1936-37	Senior lieutenant State security in winter uniform. NKVD. 1936-37

Sergeant State Security, NKVD, 1937-43.	Major, internal troops of the NKVD 1937-43.

Red Army soldier, NKVD border troops 1937-41.	Shooter in winter camouflage, 1939-40.	Shooter in winter field uniform, 1936-41.

Red Army soldier and full dress uniform of Kuban Cossack cavalry units, 1936-41.	Red Army soldier in full dress uniform of the Don Cossack cavalry units, 1936-41.	Major in full dress uniform of Terek Cossack cavalry units, 1936-41.

Ensign in full dress uniform of the mountain cavalry units, 1936-41.	Marshal of the Soviet Union in everyday uniform, 1940-43.	Major General in full dress uniform, 1936-41.

Major General tank troops in everyday uniform, 1940-43.	Major General in marching uniform, 1940-43.	Lieutenant General in summer uniform, 1940

Major General aviation in summer uniform, 1940-41.	Lieutenant in summer casual uniform, infantry, 1940-43.	Lieutenant in marching uniform, NKVD border troops, 1940-43.

Lieutenant colonel in everyday uniform, artillery, 1940-43.	Senior Battalion Commissar, Artillery, 1940-41.	Captain in everyday uniform, armored forces, 1940-41.

Captain in casual uniform, Air Force, 1940-41.	Lieutenant in casual uniform, Air Force, 1940-41.	Captain in summer uniform, Air Force, 1940-41.

Red Army soldier, cavalry, 1940-41.	Lance Sergeant, infantry. 1941	Younger sergeant, infantry, rear view 1941

Corps commissar in everyday uniform, infantry, 1941-42.	Corps Commissar, Infantry, 1941-42.	Battalion commissar in full dress uniform, infantry, 1941.

Cadet military aviation school in full dress uniform, 1941	Red Army soldier in full dress uniform, infantry. 1941	Lieutenant colonel in winter casual uniform, artillery, 1941-43.

Lieutenant, infantry. 1941	Lieutenant in wartime marching uniform, ground forces. 1941-43	Major, Air Force, 1941-43.

Major, cavalry, 1940-43	Red Army soldier in winter uniform, engineering troops, 1941-43.	Ensign in marching uniform, armored forces, 1941-43.

Sniper in summer camouflage. 1941-45	Scout in summer camouflage, 1941-42.	Sniper in autumn camouflage, 1941-45.

Observer fighter of the MPVO self-defense group, 1941-44.	Corporal to marching uniform, infantry, 1941	Corporal, infantry, rear view, 1941

	Junior lieutenant and wartime marching uniform, ground forces, 1941-43.	Senior Red Navy man, 1940-41.

Engineer, captain 2nd rank . Navy. 1941-43	Red Army soldier, armored forces, 1941-42.	Red Army soldier, ground forces, 1941-43.

Red Army soldier, cavalry. 1941-42	Taiki commander in winter uniform. 1942-44	Captain 3rd rank , Navy. 1942-43

Naval aviation pilot, 1941-45.	Submachine gunner, mountain rifle units, 1942-43.

Source: A. Shalito, I. Savchenkov, N. Roginsky, K. Tsyplenkov - A uniform Red Army 1918-1945"

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Uniforms of soldiers and officers of the Red Army

During the creation of the Red Army, the huge reserves of uniforms remaining from the RIA (Russian Imperial Army), stored in quartermaster warehouses throughout Russia, were actively used.
Red Army soldiers were also allowed to wear civilian clothes indicating their affiliation with the Red Army (red ribbon, breast badge, etc.). Commanders, commissars and political workers often had leather caps and jackets.

Large selection of equipment and ammunition of the Red Army

All variety Soviet Army uniforms reflected on the pages of the Antik1941 website: uniforms of employees in the Navy, uniforms worn by Suvorov, Nakhimov, students of military music schools, students of special boarding schools and military builders, as well as marshals, generals, officers, warrant officers and midshipmen, consisting in stock, uniform sets “Afghanka”, “Experimental”, “Sand”, “Vole”, “Warshavka”, etc. We are sure that you will find the sample of military equipment or uniform you need on the pages of our catalog