The uniform of the Soviet army 1941 1945. The military uniform of the Soviet army, items of uniform and equipment of the military personnel of the Soviet army

27.10.2019

"Uniform of the Red Army 1918-1945" is the fruit of the joint efforts of a group of enthusiasts: artists, collectors, researchers, who give their all free time and funds in tribute to one common idea for them. Recreating the realities of the era that troubles their hearts, gives an opportunity to approach the 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, the 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 for specialists and collectors, but also for domestic filmmakers, writers, politicians, as well as military costume reenactors. Contents: description of the uniform of the Red Army 1918-1936; ; ; .

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

In December 1917, shortly after the victory October revolution and the establishment of the dictatorship of the proletariat in Russia, at the so-called congress for the demobilization of the old army, it was decided to proceed with the formation of parts 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 reduction of volunteers from the old army into separate units, the creation of units from volunteers who did not serve in the old army, and the use of Red Guard detachments.

During this initial period Soviet authority was not able 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.

Parts of the volunteer Red Army are not numerous 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, a system of general military training were created, the principle of voluntary recruitment and the election of command personnel were abolished. Large-scale formation of regiments and divisions began. By the same time, the introduction of the first distinctive sign showing belonging to the Red Army belongs.

On May 7, 1918, by order of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic (RVSR), a badge of a Red Army soldier and commander of the Red Army was installed in the form of a wreath of laurel and oak branches, on top of which a red five-pointed star with the emblem "plough and hammer" was attached. On the same day, by order of the People's Commissar for Military Affairs, a competition was announced for better shape uniforms.

Actually, there were so many stocks of clothing left from the old army that until the beginning of 1919, the procurement of uniforms was practically not carried out. The task of the supplying authorities was only to take into account and deliver supplies. But, nevertheless, in the context of the unfolding Civil War, it was necessary to somehow emphasize the belonging of the personnel to the Red Army and official position.

The first such items were a winter headgear approved on December 18, 1918, later called “Budennovka”, distinctive signs of command staff 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 a 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 the work of industry for 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: a new headgear, infantry and cavalry overcoats-caftans and a summer shirt. On all types of clothing, buttonholes and chest flaps made of cloth were sewn in color according to the type of troops, as well as sleeve insignia. Until the end of the Civil War, the new uniform was used along with a variety of uniforms of the old army, items of arbitrary cut and civilian clothing.

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

For all special bodies of the GPU - OGPU in June 1923, a uniform of the Red Army of the cavalry sample was established with insignia of special colors, as well as bloomers and a winter headdress dark blue. The internal, border troops and special forces (CHON) also relied on the Red Army uniform with its own coloring of buttonholes, chest flaps and a cloth star on the headdress.

The transition to combat training in peacetime, begun in 1923-1924. provided for a significant reduction in the personnel units of the Red Army, which were expensive to maintain, with a partial replacement of their formations, completed according to the territorial principle. At the same time, it was considered necessary to reduce the cost of the production of military clothing, making it more practical and eliminating the unnecessary distinctions of the Red Army uniform, which had lost their significance with the end of the Civil War.

On May 13, 1924, instead of the impractical summer headdress of the 1922 model, a summer cap made of camouflage cotton fabric was introduced. Then, on May 30, a new sample summer shirt-gymnast was introduced without colored chest flaps with two patch chest pockets. Later, in June-July 1924, all the main items of uniform were changed and new insignia were introduced.

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 the buttonholes of various military branches was reduced to a minimum, the number of badges for specialties - emblems was reduced, sleeve insignia were canceled.

At first, there were no differences 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 service jacket for command, administrative and economic and political composition Red Army. Immediately after this, on August 8, 1924, the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR approved dark blue uniforms for the military air force and sleeve insignia of military pilots and military aeronauts.

The uniform of the bodies and troops of the OGPU in 1924 underwent similar changes. In addition, by the beginning of 1925, only two variants 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 items in accordance with all norms and tables. 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, the uniform was divided according to the time of use - into summer and winter, by purpose - into everyday, guard and marching (the difference was determined only by staffing weapons and equipment). The mixing of military uniforms with non-uniform clothing was prohibited, the wearing of insignia, awards and badges was regulated.

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

By the beginning of the 30s. in the USSR great successes were achieved in the standardization of products ordered from industry. The Department of Clothing Supply of the Red Army periodically approved detailed specifications for new items of uniforms and equipment. On November 18, 1932, taking into account new types and norms of clothing supply, new “Rules for wearing uniforms by the Red Army military personnel” were issued, which were in force until 1936.

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

By the end of 1935, the final transition to the creation of armed forces entirely based on the personnel principle was ripe. On September 22, 1935, the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, instead of obsolete official 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 in uniforms was prepared.

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

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

Command personnel were distinguished by the edging of buttonholes made of gilded galloon and sleeve insignia - squares corresponding to the assigned rank. Highest military rank - marshal Soviet Union- provided for special differences: big stars, embroidered with gilded tinsel on diamond-shaped buttonholes, edged with gilded thread, the same stars on the sleeves and sleeve chevron squares made of wide gilded galloon; cap band, buttonholes and edging - red.

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

The military-technical staff - "military technicians" and "military engineers" - did not have sleeve insignia (with the exception of the technical badge of the Air Force) and wore the uniform and buttonholes of all branches of the armed forces, standing out only with an emblem in the form of a crossed hammer and a 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 ranks of quartermasters were worn by the command staff of all branches of the armed forces, who performed economic and administrative tasks. The personnel of the commissary service were supposed to have their own form of an all-army sample of a protective color with a red edging without sleeve insignia, with a cap band and dark green buttonholes. The distinctive emblem depicted a wheel with a superimposed French key, a compass and a helmet. In 1942, with the introduction of ordinary ranks, the economic and administrative staff of each type of troops was given a uniform identical to the command staff of this type of troops, and command insignia with an emblem on the buttonholes in the form of a hammer and sickle with a superimposed red star.

The medical and veterinary staff of the Red Army bore the titles of "military feldsher" ("military feldsher") and "military doctor" ("military veterinarian") various levels. The uniform differed from the lavalier 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 one.

According to the "Regulations on clothing and convoy supply of the Red Army in peacetime", approved on May 27, 1936, the main set of uniforms, laid down according to the standards for the commander and the Red Army, consisted of a cap with a colored band according to the type of troops (for privates - with a top from cotton fabric), caps, a winter helmet, a cloth tunic or jacket (for command personnel), a cotton tunic, broadcloth and cotton harem pants and an overcoat. In addition, the rules for wearing uniforms, approved on December 17, 1936, allowed to wear felt boots or felt boots, short fur coats, bekesha, a Finnish hat, a leather coat or jacket, and also a muffler in winter.

All general army uniforms were of the same color - khaki and gray, with the exception of the armored forces, all the uniforms of which were of steel color, and the air force, where the command staff was supposed to have dark blue uniforms (except for summer), and the rank and file - the usual general army.

On April 20, 1936, the Central Executive Committee of the USSR issued a decree "On the removal of restrictions on service in the Red Army from 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 were sharply distinguished by the cut of their items, as well as by the colors that made it possible to distinguish between "military" affiliation. For the commanding staff, rank and file and long-term servicemen, uniforms differed in materials and finishes. Fur kubankas and hats were used as headdresses in dress uniforms and in winter.

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


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

Company commander, 1919	Squadron commander, 1920-22	Commander of the Cavalry Division, 1920-22

Rifleman in winter camouflage, 1920-21	Military instructor of the OGPU Inspectorate, 1923	Red Army soldier in summer uniform, infantry, 1923-24

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

Employee of the OGPU in everyday uniform, 1924-27.	Assistant battalion commander in field uniform, infantry, 1925-26	The chairman of the 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.

Noticeable differences from the army were received by the uniform of the command staff of the organs 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 persons were forbidden to wear 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 for the entire personnel of the NKVD, the same uniform was introduced as in the Red Army with minor differences in the cut of some items.

unusual shape was introduced on October 27, 1936 for a full-time command, teaching staff and students of the newly formed Academy general staff. The main features of this uniform were a black velvet jacket collar, tunics and overcoats, white piping and stripes on trousers. Taking advantage of the fact that an “infantry” raspberry color was installed for buttonholes, a cap band and stripes, those who preferred to save sewing money wore ordinary breeches for infantry command personnel with a raspberry edging and without stripes with a tunic. This bright uniform was canceled on May 22, 1940, shortly before the introduction of uniforms for the generals of the Red Army.

Based on the results of the assessment of the hostilities against Finland (December 1939 - March 1940), a number of decisions were made to reorganize the military command and control 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 were introduced.

Similar to the form of pre-revolutionary Russian generals turned out to be: a closed khaki-colored tunic with welt breast pockets, trousers with stripes, a fur hat and a fringed overcoat with “armorial” 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 relied on a cap (ceremonial and everyday) with a round gilded cockade, a ceremonial overcoat and a white cotton tunic.

The main insignia were placed on diamond-shaped buttonholes edged with gilded thread. The ranks of combined arms generals (red buttonholes) were designated with gilded metal stars, and the ranks of generals of artillery and tank troops (black buttonholes), as well as aviation (blue buttonholes), signal troops, engineering troops, technical troops and quartermaster service (crimson buttonholes), in addition , also with a gilded emblem of the corresponding type of troops. The marshals of the Soviet Union in the general uniform were supposed to have red buttonholes, decorated with gold-embroidered stars in an ornament of a sickle and a hammer with crossed laurel branches, gold-embroidered sleeve squares (also with laurel branches) and large sleeve stars.

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

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

Buttonholes of the junior command staff of the new model, the wearing of which was supposed to start on January 1, 1941, were equipped with a narrow red clearance in the middle and a yellow metal triangle in the upper corner. On the buttonholes for the foremen, in addition, a narrow gilded galloon was sewn parallel to the piping. 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 norms for the clothing supply of military personnel. In this regard, it was decided to introduce for the supply of personnel uniforms not only uniform in color and pattern for all branches of the armed forces, but also universal for compiling uniforms that are different in purpose and time of use. Many items were to be canceled - such as the open service jackets of the Air Force and armored forces, Cossack uniforms - which made up the prestige of their branches of service, but made it difficult to supply and maneuver supplies. To solve this problem, it was necessary to significantly improve the input form, while not advertising all the changes made.

The corresponding order of the People's Commissar of Defense, issued on February 1, 1941, was classified as "top secret". Of all its contents, only were made public: the transition to a single color of uniforms, the introduction of new, more popular fabrics, and the gradual introduction of beautiful dress uniforms for the supply of combat units. Norms for the supply of commanding and rank and file, established for peaceful and war time were not made public. According to these standards, the unpretentious uniforms that were to be accumulated by the beginning of the mobilization deployment of the army were composed of: khaki caps (in winter - a cap with ear flaps of the 1940 model), tunics with khaki harem pants (for privates in winter and summer - only cotton tunic) and a single-breasted dark gray overcoat with a hook-and-eye closure. For the winter period, in addition, were provided: a short fur coat or a wadded jacket with a padded jacket (commanders - a fur vest), wadded trousers, fur mittens and felt boots.

Photos of the uniform of the Red Army 1936-1943.


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

Military engineer 2nd rank, technical troops, 1936-43	Quartermaster 2nd rank to daily uniform, 1936-42	Second Lieutenant, Air Force. 1941

Captain, motor transport units of artillery, 1936-40	Senior lieutenant in daily uniform, 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 units, 1938-40	Protective anti-chemical clothing, 1936-45.	Brigade commander in everyday uniform of the General Staff Academy, 1936-40

Senior lieutenant of the State Security in everyday uniform, NKVD, 1936-37.	Senior lieutenant of the State Security in everyday uniform, NKVD, 1936-37	Senior Lieutenant of State Security in winter uniform. NKVD. 1936-37

Sergeant of State Security, NKVD, 1937-43	Major, Internal Troops of the NKVD 1937-43

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

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

Junior lieutenant in dress uniform of mountain cavalry units, 1936-41.	Marshal of the Soviet Union in everyday uniform, 1940-43	Major general in dress uniform, 1936-41

Major General of Tank Troops in everyday uniform, 1940-43	Major general in marching uniform, 1940-43	Lieutenant general in summer uniform, 1940

On January 15 (28, old style) January 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" among the peasants and workers. And the Bolsheviks planned to bring the Red Army to 1.5 million bayonets. IN AND. Lenin renounces the principle of volunteerism and initiates a transition to compulsory military service for the working people. Also, about 5 thousand officers and generals of the tsarist army are mobilized in the Red Army.

During the years of the civil war (generals and officers), they were called military specialists (military experts), 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, in 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 grenadier regiment. One of the few to which Comrade himself. STALIN addressed by name and patronymic.

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

Due to the difficult situation of the industry, lack of money, it was decided to fit the existing uniforms to the needs of the Red Army. By introducing a number of distinctive signs 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. Also in the course were significant stocks left by the troops of the former allies in Entente who fought in Russia (1919-1922). So at first, the Red Army was a very motley species. Photos of the military uniform of the Soviet Red Army, taken from private collections, kept by various owners, that is, these are real samples, and not the so-called reproductions or pictures painted by artists that look like a popular print.

budennovka sample 1922 and 1939-41

A distinctive feature of the uniforms of the soldiers of the Red Army were colored tabs across the front around the buttons, and a pointed helmet made of cloth was colloquially called Budyonnovka (it owes its name to the fighters 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 so far. Either it was made in large quantities in 1913, as part of the celebration of the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty. Either on December 18, 1918, after the announcement of the competition, a new type of winter headgear was approved - a cloth helmet, or they were made for a parade in Berlin on the expected victory in the First World War. You decide...

Military uniform of the Soviet Red Army photo

While the industry was being established, the army was being reformed, the military uniform was developing according to the type of informing, sewing, patching up. A new, strictly regulated uniform of the Workers 'and Peasants' Red Army (RKKA), introduced January 31, 1922., included all the necessary items and was the same for the Red Army and commanders.

Red Army soldier in summer and winter uniforms 1923

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

Red Army soldier in summer and winter uniform, 1924

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

Squadron commander 1920-22 Cavalry division commander 1920-22

By 1935, all throwing had been completed, most of the 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 troops 1931-34.

The production of various types of weapons grew at an unprecedented pace, do not think that our grandfathers won VICTORY exclusively with meat and three-rulers.

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

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

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

These included distinctive uniforms for air and armored forces.

It was these troops that propaganda focused on, increasing their prestige and significance, even then it was clear to specialists on whom victory on the battlefield would depend to a greater extent, otherwise the Wehrmacht troops, especially the military air forces (Luftwaffe) not knowing that they did not have, for example, strategic aviation, "miscalculation?" yes, what else.

captain and lieutenant in Air Force flight uniform 1936-43

1935 For the entire personnel of the Red Army, new uniforms and insignia were introduced. Former official ranks by category were abolished, personal ones were established for commanders; the old ones were partially preserved for the military-political, military-technical, military-legal, military-medical and junior commanding staff. On May 7, 1940, general ranks were established for the senior command staff of the Red Army, and on July 13, 1940, a general's uniform was introduced.

Appeared in 1924, a tunic with breast pockets and a stand-up collar with oblong edged buttonholes according to the type of troops, since 1935, the mandatory wearing of a white collar has been established. Until the age of 24, there were no differences between the uniforms of the chiefs and the Red Army in terms of cut and quality of the material, but to strengthen unity of command, significant differences were introduced in the cut of the service jacket for the command, administrative, economic and political staff of the Red Army.

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

In winter, the Red Army and junior command personnel were supposed to wear cloth uniforms, but in most units they wore cotton 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 - was a colored cloth piping.

The commander's usually had puffy pockets, and on the Red Army pockets they simply attached and the sleeves were strengthened with pentagonal elbow pads.

The breeches of commanders had an extended silhouette of the middle part, two belt drawstrings, less often one long back strap. The crease-arrow on the breeches was not smoothed out. The trouser-legs are buttoned, the belt is with belt loops or in the form of a high stitched bodice. The bloomers of the Red Army did not have piping. Side pockets and an hour pocket-piston were also on the Red Army trousers, but the back pocket was only on the commander's trousers, the Bloomers were with pentagonal knee pads, the legs were tied with thin ribbons. The command staff relied on boots - chrome or barren; with trousers oversized - boots. Boots with leggings were allowed instead of boots. Extra-conscripts were provided with cowhide boots. In winter, it was allowed to wear warm felt boots with leather sheathing, white or black felt boots. Outside the ranks, cloak boots were allowed for re-enlisted men. The Red Army men flaunted in yuft or cowhide boots; later, under People's Commissar C.K. Timoshenko, tarpaulin appeared, at the moment more than 150 million shoes have been produced from tarpaulin, mostly military (Drive in the search for "tarpaulin" you will learn a lot of things). Due to the lack of raw materials, boots with green or black windings were used. From a piglet grown in a private farmstead, it was supposed to hand over the skin, and in no case should it be fired as it is now. Before the war, you could even see a cavalryman in windings! Spurs on boots were worn only by those commanders who, according to the state, relied on a riding horse.

Com-nach composition - in addition to aviation and armored forces - for everyday wear relied on a single-breasted jacket with six large buttons, with a turn-down collar, breast patch pockets and welt side pockets.

The full dress uniform of the command staff was an open steel-colored jacket with patch chest pockets and welt side pockets, with a scarlet piping along the collar and straight cuffs. They wore it with a white shirt and black tie, straight trousers or breeches; in service - with equipment. A cap was supposed to go with a jacket, and a cap was allowed with a tunic. The command and command staff - in addition to aviation and armored forces - for everyday wear relied on a single-breasted jacket with six large buttons, with a turn-down collar, breast patch pockets and welt side pockets.

The overcoat for the commanding staff of the ground forces was sewn from a drape or overcoat cloth of dark gray color (for tankers - steel). It was double-breasted, 35 - 45 cm from the floor, with a cut bottom, with 4 buttons along the side, with open lapels, with semi-oblique pockets covered with flaps, with an inverse pleat on the back and a straight tab on the buttons sewn to the side half-taps. 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 Red Army had the same cut and differed from the commander's in the worst 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 type of troops and a khaki top with piping. Above the angular elongated "Voroshilov" visor with rollers along the edge, a black oilcloth chin strap was fastened to two brass buttons with a star.

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

Headgear of the Red Army: an officer cap, a summer cap of a Red Army soldier, a cap of armored troops, a Kubank of the Terek Cossack units of 1935

The top of the caps of the Red Army men and junior commanders was often made of cotton, the top of the caps of the commanders - only woolen, the commander's band was black velvet, the Red Army - cloth. The band and edging differed in colors, depending on the type of troops, the pre-war colors of the caps were preserved until the 70s. Caps, intended for combined wear with a steel helmet, were made from the same fabric as the uniform. At the composition, there was a colored edging 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 type of troops, and a small enamel one was attached on top of it. At the beginning of 1941, protective caps without colored details were introduced for wartime.

Introduced in March 1938, a cotton panama for hot regions, with wide stitched fields, with ventilation blocks in the wedges of the cap, has survived to this day almost unchanged.

For the Terek and Kuban Cossack units in 1936, hats-kubankas of black fur were adopted: for the first - with a light blue bottom, for the second - with a red one, In privates it was twice crossed with black soutache; at the command staff - either by them, but with golden, or with a narrow golden galloon. A separate cavalry brigade of mountain nationalities wore brown fur hats with a red top, crossed in the same way. The black lambskin hat, slightly tapering at the top, of the Don Cossack units was somewhat higher than the Kubanka; the red bottom, just like the latter, was crossed in two rows with black soutache or gold lace; 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 Ceremonial uniform of the Don Cossack cavalry units, 1936-41.

Due to the lack of military dress uniform (adopted back in 1941), it was in this model of 1936 that the victorious cavalrymen marched at the victory parade in 1945.

For the Terek Cossacks, Circassians were sewn from gray-steel cloth, for the Kuban - from dark blue; the edges and chambers were trimmed with black soutache; cartridges with a white or nickel-plated head were inserted into the sockets of the gazyrs (9 each). The sides were fastened end-to-end with oncoming hooks to the waist, while the back slit reached it. The lining of the Circassian coat was the same color as the beshmet - light blue Terek and red Kuban. It was sewn at the waist with a cut-off from the transverse seam, reliefs on the back and a butt closure on hooks. The sides to the waist and the collar were edged with light blue cloth; cavalry buttonholes were sewn on it, and on the straight sleeves of the beshmet (and slightly expanding - Circassians) - insignia. The sides and collar of the commander's beshmet were decorated with golden lace; everyday was khaki, with light blue cloth piping. The Terts and Kubans relied on trousers of an all-army cut - respectively, with light blue and red piping. The tops of black soft boots were with a visor; a belt for a Circassian or beshmet - Caucasian type: narrow, black leather, with a set of white metal. In addition to papakhas and Kubankas, a hood of a Caucasian cut was worn, with a black braid trim: light blue for the Terek Cossacks, fronted for the Kuban. A long shaggy black felt cloak of the Caucasian type was sheathed at the neck with black leather and fastened with corded ties or a crochet hook.

The Donskoy dark blue Cossack with pleats at the back on a detachable skirt was edged with red cloth along the standing collar and cuffs with a cape and 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). In addition to the hat, a gray hood of the Caucasian type with black lace was worn.

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

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

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 a Wehrmacht soldier Eastern Front.

Here: >> German military uniform of the second world war.

The uniform of the Workers 'and Peasants' Red Army (RKKA), which was a collection of military uniforms, equipment and insignia, was sharply different from all analogues that existed in the prewar years. It was a kind of material embodiment of the abolition of the class division of citizens and civil (and then military) ranks declared by the Soviet government in November 1917.

The Bolsheviks believed that in the free army they were creating of the new state of workers and peasants, there could be no external forms that would indicate the power and superiority of one over the other. Therefore, following the military ranks and ranks, the entire system of external insignia that existed in the Russian army - stripes, shoulder straps, orders and medals - was canceled.

In appeals, only the titles by position were preserved. Initially, two forms of address were allowed: citizen and comrade (citizen battalion commander, comrade platoon commander, etc.), but soon “comrade” became the generally accepted form of address.

During the formation of the first units and formations of the Red Army, the stocks of uniforms stored in the warehouses of the Russian army demobilized in 1918 were widely used. Therefore, the Red Army soldiers and commanders were dressed in military shirts of the 1912 model approved by Tsar Nicholas II, khaki, trousers of the same color, tucked into boots or windings with boots, as well as caps.

They differed from the servicemen of the Russian and White armies created during the civil war only in the absence of shoulder straps, a badge and a red star on the cap band.

To develop new uniforms for the Red Army, on April 25, 1918, a special commission was established, which already in December of the same year submitted a new type headgear - the famous "Budyonovka", insignia for command personnel and insignia of the main branches of the armed forces. They were approved on January 16, 1919 and became a kind of starting point for a rather long process of creating a uniform that was used during the Great Patriotic War.

The diameter of the sleeve star of the Marshal of the Soviet Union and the General of the Army, together with the edging, was 54 mm. The sleeve star of the Marshal of the Soviet Union and the combined arms generals had a red cloth edging 2 mm wide, the sleeve star for the rest of the generals had an edging in the color of the type of troops (crimson, blue or red), 2 mm wide. The diameter of the sleeve star, together with the edging, was 44 mm.

The chevron of the general of the army was a single square of gold galloon 32 mm wide, and in the upper part - of red cloth 10 mm wide. The generals of the military branches were supposed to have one square of gold galloon 32 mm wide, below - a 3 mm wide edging according to the type of troops.

The chevrons of the command staff, which looked very impressive, were canceled shortly before the start of the Great Patriotic War, and with its start in active army and marching units, the insignia were replaced by field ones: for all military branches, the wearing of khaki buttonholes with insignia painted in khaki color was established. The wearing of commissar stars on the sleeves of political workers was also abolished.

A radical change in the system of insignia took place on January 15, 1943, when, in accordance with the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR of January 6, 1943, People's Commissar of Defense I.V. Stalin issued an order "On the introduction of new insignia for the personnel of the Red Army." In accordance with this order, new insignia were introduced - shoulder straps.

In their form, the shoulder straps of the Red Army were similar to the shoulder straps adopted in the Russian army until 1917. They were a strip with parallel long sides, the lower end of the shoulder strap was rectangular, and the upper end was cut off at an obtuse angle. The epaulets of marshals and generals have the top of an obtuse angle cut parallel to the bottom edge.

The servicemen in the active army and the personnel of the units being prepared for dispatch to the front were to wear field shoulder straps, and the servicemen of other units and institutions of the Red Army were to wear everyday shoulder straps. Both field and everyday shoulder straps were edged along the edges (except for the bottom edge) with colored cloth piping. According to the assigned military rank, belonging to the branch of service (service), insignia (asterisks, gaps, stripes) and emblems were placed on the field of shoulder straps, and on everyday shoulder straps of junior commanders, privates and cadets of military schools - also stencils indicating the names of the military unit (connections). Field and everyday shoulder straps of generals and all infantry personnel - without emblems, in other branches of the military - with emblems.

For the Marshals of the Soviet Union and generals, the field of shoulder strap was made of galloon of special weaving: for field shoulder straps - from khaki silk, for everyday ones - from gold drag.

With the introduction of shoulder straps, the functions of the buttonholes were reduced mainly to the designation of the military affiliation of the Red Army soldiers, while the placement of buttonholes on tunics and tunics was generally canceled.

On the collar of the uniform of the senior and middle command personnel there were longitudinal buttonholes made of instrument cloth without edging. The finished buttonholes were 82 mm long and 27 mm wide. The color of the buttonholes - according to the type of troops:

infantry - crimson;

artillery - black;

armored troops - black;

aviation - blue;

cavalry - light blue;

engineering troops - black;

quartermaster service - raspberry;

medical and veterinary service - dark green;

military-legal composition - raspberry.

On the buttonholes of the senior command staff are two longitudinal stripes embroidered with gold thread, intertwined with silver thread. On the buttonholes of the middle command staff - one strip.

At the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, the cut of the uniform and the way it was worn was determined by Order No. 176 of December 3, 1935. There were three types of uniforms for generals: casual, day off, and full 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 from matter of various shades of khaki. The main distinguishing 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 chest 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, soldier's tunics had rhombic-shaped reinforcing stripes on the elbows and the back of the forearm. The officer's tunic, unlike the soldier's, had a colored edging. After the outbreak of hostilities, the color edging was abandoned.

There were two types of tunics: summer and winter. Summer uniforms were made from cotton fabric, which was lighter in color. Winter uniforms were made of woolen fabric, which was distinguished by a richer, darker color. The officers girded themselves with a wide leather belt with a brass buckle adorned with a five-pointed star. The soldiers wore a simpler belt with a conventional open buckle. In the field, soldiers and officers could wear two types of tunics: everyday and weekend. The output tunic was often called French. Some soldiers who served in the elite units wore tunics of a special cut, distinguished by a colored strip 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 riding breeches. Soldiers' bloomers had rhombic reinforcing stripes on their knees. As shoes, the officers wore high leather boots, and the soldiers wore boots with windings or tarpaulin boots. In winter, officers and soldiers wore an overcoat made of brownish-gray cloth. Officers' overcoats were better quality than soldiers, but had the same cut. The Red Army used several types of headgear. Most of the units wore Budyonovka, which had a winter and summer version. However, summer budenovka was everywhere replaced by a cap, introduced at the end of the 30s. In the summer, instead of budenovkas, officers preferred to wear caps. In units stationed in Central Asia and in the Far East, instead of caps, they wore wide-brimmed panamas.

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, significant 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 the Red Army did not like to wear a helmet, believing that only shorts wear 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, a lighter version of the helmet was used, and in winter, a fur-lined helmet was worn.

The equipment of Soviet soldiers was strict and simple. In some units, a brown leather backpack of the 1930 model was still used, but such backpacks were not common in 1941. The canvas duffel bag of the 1938 model was more common. 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 footcloths, a raincoat, and in the pockets were rifle accessories and personal hygiene items. At the bottom, poles, pegs and other devices for setting up tents were tied to the duffel bag. Loops were sewn on top and sides of the duffel bag, to which a roll was attached. The bag was worn on the waist belt, under the duffel bag. The dimensions of the bag are 18x24x10 cm. In the bag, the soldiers carried dry rations, a bowler hat and cutlery. The aluminum pot had a tight-fitting lid, which was pressed against the handle of the pot. In some parts, the soldiers used an old round bowler hat 15 cm in diameter and 10 cm deep. However, the 1938 model food bag and duffel bag were quite expensive to manufacture, 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 start of the war, many soldiers threw away gas masks and used gas mask bags as duffel bags, since not everyone had real duffel bags. According to the charter, each soldier armed with a rifle had to have two leather cartridge bags. The bag could store four clips for the Mosin rifle - 20 rounds. Cartridge bags were worn on the waist belt, one on the side. The charters provided for the possibility of carrying a large cloth cartridge bag that could hold six clips - 30 rounds. In addition, the Red Army could use a cloth bandolier worn over the shoulder. 14 rifle clips could be placed in the cartridge belt compartments. The grenade bag contained two grenades with a handle. However, very few soldiers were equipped according to the regulations. Most often, the Red Army had to be content with one leather cartridge bag, which was usually worn on the right side. Some soldiers received small sapper shovels in a cloth case. The shoulder blade was worn on the right thigh. If a Red Army soldier had a flask, he wore it on his waist belt over a sapper shovel.

During bad weather, soldiers used raincoats. The raincoat was made of a tarpaulin of a khaki color and had a ribbon with which it was possible to fasten the raincoat on the shoulders. Cloak-tents could be connected in twos, fours or six, and in this way awnings could be obtained, under which several people could take shelter. If a soldier had a duffel bag of the 1938 model, then a roll-up, consisting of a raincoat and overcoat, was attached to the sides and over the bag, in the form of a horseshoe. If there was no duffel bag, then the roll was worn over the shoulder.

The officers used a small bag, which was made of either leather or canvas. There were several types of such 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 wore large leather tablets, which were hung from a waist belt under the left arm.

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

Traditionally, Cossacks are divided into two groups: steppe and Caucasian. The uniforms of these 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 the field, 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. Gasyri were sewn on the chest of the Circassian. In winter, the Cossacks wore a black fur cloak. Many Cossacks wore hoods of different colors. The bottom of the Kuban was covered with matter: the Terek Cossacks had light blue, and the Kuban Cossacks had red. On the fabric, two stripes passed crosswise - 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 ushanka prescribed by the charter, even if they did not serve in the cavalry. Another distinguishing feature of the Cossacks was dark blue breeches.

In the first years of the war, Soviet industry lost significant production facilities that ended up in the territory occupied by the Germans. but most nevertheless, they managed to take the equipment to the east and organize new industrial enterprises 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, a more comfortable winter uniform was 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, wadded trousers and hats with earflaps on synthetic fur. The officers were given sheepskin coats or fur coats. Higher officers wore hats instead of earflaps. The troops fighting on the northern sector of the front (to the north of Leningrad) were equipped with a special northern uniform. Instead of sheep's short fur coats, some units used seal sakui. As shoes, the soldiers wore special boots with dog fur or wool lining. Earflaps for soldiers who fought in the north were made from real fur - dogs or foxes.

However, many units never received a special winter uniform, and the Red Army soldiers froze in standard overcoats, insulated with things requisitioned from the civilian population. In general, the Red Army was characterized by the widespread use of civilian clothing, especially 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 personnel of the Red Army continued to wear tarpaulin. The only advantage of tarpaulin boots was that they were loose enough that they could be insulated with additional footcloths and newspapers, turning the shoes into winter boots. Soviet soldiers did not wear socks - only footcloths. Socks were too much of a luxury to wear with 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 more fortunate - the personnel of these units received felt boots with galoshes, which was especially useful in the autumn and spring thaw. In 1942, the Red Army soldiers were quite colorfully dressed. Tankers wore black, gray, blue or khaki overalls. In the manufacture of uniforms, synthetic leather and rubber were widely used. Cartridge pouches were sewn from tarpaulin or impregnated tarpaulin. Leather waist belts were everywhere replaced with canvas ones.

Instead of blankets, the Red Army soldiers used overcoats and raincoats. In addition, the roll of an overcoat or cape successfully replaced a duffel bag for soldiers - things were rolled up inside. To rectify the situation, a new duffel bag was introduced, similar to the one used in the tsarist army during the 1st World War. This duffel bag was a canvas bag with a neck intercepted by a drawstring and two shoulder straps. In 1942, uniform items from the United States and Canada began to arrive in the Soviet Union under Lend-Lease. Although most of the uniforms that came from America were made according to Soviet designs, there were also American uniforms. For example, the United States supplied the USSR with 13,000 pairs of leather boots and one million pairs of soldier's boots, while in Canada they sewed overalls for Soviet tankers.

The uniform for women who served in the Red Army was determined by several documents. Prior to the war, a navy blue skirt and beret were distinctive details of women's day off and full dress uniforms. During the war, the order of women's uniforms was fixed by orders issued in May and August 1942. The orders kept the wearing of a skirt and beret. In the field, these uniforms were made from khaki fabric, and the dress code included a blue skirt and beret. The same orders largely unified the women's uniform with the men's. In practice, many female soldiers, especially those serving on the front lines, wore male uniforms. In addition, women often altered many items of uniform for themselves, using decommissioned uniforms for this.

The experience of fighting in Finland showed the need to have white camouflage overalls in the troops. This jumpsuit appeared in 1941. There were several types of winter overalls, as a rule, they consisted of pants and a jacket with a hood. In addition, the equipment of the Red Army units was equipped with a lot of 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 fabric with rounded 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 fabric imitating grass were sewn onto the khaki overalls. However, such overalls are not widely used.

In 1943, the Red Army adopted a new uniform, radically different from that used until now. The system of insignia was also radically changed. The new uniform and insignia largely repeated the uniform and insignia of the tsarist army. The new rules abolished the division of the uniform into casual, day off and full dress, since in wartime conditions there was no need for a day off and full dress uniform. Details of the parade uniform were used in the uniforms of the units special purpose who were on guard duty, as well as in officer uniforms. In addition, the officers retained their dress code.

By order No. 25 of January 15, 1943, a new-style 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 on the tunic had no pockets, while the officer's tunic had two breast pockets. The cut of the trousers has not changed. But shoulder straps became the main distinguishing feature of the new uniform. There were two types of shoulder straps: field and everyday. Field shoulder straps were made of khaki fabric. On three sides, shoulder straps had a border in the color of the military branch. There was no edging on officer shoulder straps, and belonging to the military branch 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 each. Medics, veterinarians, and non-combatants had red gleams with a brownish tinge. In addition, on shoulder straps near the buttons they wore a small gold or silver badge, indicating the type of troops. 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 at the cap depended on the type of troops. The crown of the cap was usually camouflage, but the NKVD troops often used caps with a light blue crown, the tankers wore gray caps, and the Don Cossacks wore gray-blue ones. The same order No. 25 determined the type of winter headgear for officers. Generals and colonels had to wear hats (introduced back in 1940), while the rest of the officers received ordinary earflaps.

The rank of sergeants and foremen was determined by the number and width of the stripes on shoulder straps. Usually the stripes were red, only for doctors and veterinarians the stripes had a brownish tint. The foremen wore a strip in the shape of the letter "T" on shoulder straps. The senior sergeants had one wide stripe on their shoulder straps. Sergeants, junior sergeants and corporals had three, two or one narrow stripes on their shoulder straps, respectively. The edging of shoulder straps was the color of the military branch. According to the charter, the emblem of the type of troops 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 was adopted for the Marine Corps, which was more comfortable for use on land. Since the Soviet Navy spent most of the war in ports, many sailors took part in the battles on land. Marines were used especially widely in the defense of Leningrad and in the Crimea. However, throughout the war, Marines wore the standard naval uniform, supplemented by some items of the land field uniform. The last order concerning the uniform was issued in April 1945. This order introduced the full dress uniform, for the first time the soldiers put it on during the Victory Parade on Red Square on June 24, 1945.

Separately, it would be worthwhile to make out the colors of the military branches in the Red Army. The types of troops and services were indicated by the color of the edging and insignia. The color of the field of the buttonholes showed belonging to the branch of the army, in addition, a small badge in the buttonhole spoke of belonging to a certain branch of the army. Officers wore gold-embroidered or enameled badges, while soldiers used the color of the piping. The buttonholes of the sergeants had a border in the color of the military branch, and they were distinguished from the soldiers by a narrow red stripe passing through the buttonhole. The officers wore caps with piping, while the soldiers used caps. The edges on the uniform were also the colors of the branch of service. The affiliation to the type of troops was determined not by any one color, but by a combination of colors on different parts of the uniform.

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

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

"The Uniform 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, gives an opportunity to approach the 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, the 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 for specialists and collectors, but also for 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 for the demobilization of the old army, it was decided to proceed with the formation of parts 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 reduction of volunteers from the old army into separate units, the creation of units from volunteers who did not serve in the old army, and the use of Red Guard detachments.

In 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.

May 7, 1918 by order of the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic (RVSR) 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 a red five-pointed star with the "plow and hammer" emblem was attached. On the same day, by order of the People's Commissar for Military Affairs, a competition was announced for the best uniform.

The first such items were approved on December 18, 1918 winter headdress, which later received the name "Budyonnovka", distinctive signs of command staff 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 armed forces. The cockade badge for a 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 the work of industry for 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 uniforms were installed: new headdress, infantry and cavalry overcoats-caftans and summer shirt. Sewn on all types of clothing buttonholes and breast flaps made of cloth in the color of the type of troops, as well as sleeves insignia. Until the end of the Civil War, the new uniform was used along with a variety of uniforms of the old army, items of arbitrary cut and civilian clothing.

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

For all special bodies of the GPU - OGPU in June 1923 was established dress Red Army cavalry pattern with insignia of special colors, as well as harem pants and a dark blue winter headdress. The internal, border troops and special forces (CHON) also relied on the Red Army uniform with its own coloring of buttonholes, chest flaps and a cloth star on the headdress.

On May 13, 1924, instead of the impractical summer headdress of the 1922 model, summer cap made of khaki cotton fabric. Then on May 30 was introduced summer shirt-tunic of a new sample without colored breast flaps with two patch breast pockets. Later, 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 the buttonholes of various military branches was reduced to a minimum, the number of badges for specialties - emblems was reduced, sleeve insignia were canceled.

At first, there were no differences between the uniforms of the 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 service jacket for command, administrative, economic and political staff Red Army. Immediately after this, on August 8, 1924, the Revolutionary Military Council of the USSR approved the dark blue uniform for the air force and the sleeve insignia of military pilots and military aeronauts.

In 1926, the Red Army achieved one hundred percent provision of military personnel with clothing items in accordance with all norms and tables. 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 It was subdivided according to the time of use - into summer and winter, by purpose - into everyday, guard and marching (the difference was determined only by the completeness of weapons and equipment). The mixing of military uniforms with non-uniform clothing was prohibited, the wearing of insignia, awards and badges was regulated.

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

The increased importance of the armored forces and aviation, changes in their organization and the rapid saturation with new equipment required increased attention to the cadres of these military branches. On April 10, 1934, a meeting under the People's Commissar for Military and Naval Affairs approved a new uniform for the commanding staff - aviators and tankers - 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 edging, as well as a double-breasted overcoat. For the armored forces, the uniform had a steel color and red edging, for the air force - dark blue and light blue edging.

On December 3, 1935, the People's Commissar of Defense signed an order on the introduction of 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 the belonging of a serviceman to a military branch or service, as well as to a certain composition within a military branch.

Command personnel were distinguished by the edging of buttonholes made of gilded galloon 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 chevron sleeve squares made of wide gilded galloon; band caps , buttonholes and edging - red.

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

The military-technical staff - "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, standing out only with an emblem in the form of a crossed hammer and a 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 ranks of quartermasters were worn by the command staff of all branches of the armed forces, who performed economic and administrative tasks. The personnel of the commissary service were supposed to have their own form of an all-army sample of a protective color with a red edging without sleeve insignia, with a band caps and buttonholes in dark green. The distinctive emblem depicted a wheel with a superimposed French key, a compass and a helmet. In 1942, with the introduction of ordinary ranks, the economic and administrative staff of each branch of the military was given a uniform identical with the command staff of this type of troops, and commander's insignia with an emblem on the buttonholes in the form of a sickle and a hammer with a superimposed red star.

The medical and veterinary staff of the Red Army bore the titles of "military feldsher" ("military medical assistant") and "military doctor" ("military veterinarian") of various levels. Dress differed from the lavalier 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 one.

According to the "Regulations on clothing and convoy supply of the Red Army in peacetime", approved on May 27, 1936, the main set of uniforms, laid down according to the standards for the commander and the Red Army, consisted of caps with a colored band according to the type of troops (for privates - with a cotton top), caps, winter helmet, cloth tunic or jacket (for command staff), cotton tunic, harem pants of cloth and cotton and overcoat. In addition, the rules for wearing uniforms, approved on December 17, 1936, allowed to wear felt boots in winter. boots or felt boots, sheepskin coats, bekesha, finca hat, leather coat or a jacket, as well as a scarf.

All general army uniforms were of the same color - khaki and gray, with the exception of armored troops, all uniforms of which had a steel color, and air Force, where the command staff was supposed to have dark blue uniforms (except for summer), and the rank and file - the usual general army.

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


Red Army man, 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

Rifleman in winter camouflage, 1920-21	Military instructor of the OGPU Inspectorate, 1923	Red Army soldier in summer uniform, infantry, 1923-24

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

Employee of the OGPU in everyday uniform, 1924-27.	Assistant battalion commander in field uniform, infantry, 1925-26	The chairman of the 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.

Uniforms received noticeable differences from the army clothes 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 forbidden to wear 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 for the entire personnel of the NKVD, the same uniform was introduced as in the Red Army with minor differences in the cut of some items.

An unusual form was introduced on October 27, 1936 for the regular command, teaching staff and students of the newly formed General Staff Academy. The main features of this form were black velvet jacket collar, tunics and overcoats, white piping and stripes on trousers. Using the fact that for buttonholes, band caps and the “infantry” raspberry color was installed, those who preferred to save sewing money wore ordinary breeches for infantry command staff with crimson edging and without stripes with a tunic. This bright uniform was canceled on May 22, 1940, shortly before the introduction of uniforms for the generals of the Red Army.

Based on the results of the assessment of the hostilities against Finland (December 1939 - March 1940), a number of decisions were made to reorganize the military command and control 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 top command staff of the Red Army, and on July 13, 1940, a general uniform and insignia .

Similar to the form of pre-revolutionary Russian generals were: closed tunic colors khaki with chest welt pockets, trousers with lamps, hat and a fringed 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 relied on a cap (ceremonial and everyday) with a round gilded cockade, a ceremonial overcoat and White cotton tunic .

Main insignia were placed on diamond-shaped buttonholes edged with gilded thread. Ranks of combined arms generals (red buttonholes) were designated by gilded metal stars, and the ranks of generals of artillery and tank troops (black buttonholes), as well as aviation (blue buttonholes), signal troops, engineering troops, technical troops and quartermaster service (crimson buttonholes), in addition, also with a gilded emblem of the corresponding type of troops. The marshals of the Soviet Union with the general uniform relied on red buttonholes, decorated with gold-embroidered stars in a hammer and sickle pattern with crossed laurel branches, gold-embroidered sleeve squares (also with laurel branches) and large sleeve stars.

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

No less serious attention was paid to raising 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 commanding officers", which fixed strict conditions for obtaining corporal and sergeant ranks and contained a detailed description of the new insignia.

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 norms for the clothing supply of military personnel. In this regard, it was decided to introduce for the supply of personnel uniforms not only uniform in color and pattern for all branches of the armed forces, but also universal for compiling uniforms that are different in purpose and time of use. Many items were to be canceled - such as open jackets air force and armored troops, Cossack uniforms, which made up the prestige of their branches of service, but made it difficult to supply and maneuver with supplies. To solve this problem, it was necessary to significantly improve the input form, while not advertising all the changes made.

The corresponding order of the People's Commissar of Defense, issued on February 1, 1941, was classified as "top secret". Of all its contents, only were made public: the transition to a single color of uniforms, the introduction of new, more popular fabrics, and the gradual introduction of beautiful dress uniforms for the supply of combat units. Norms for the supply of commanding and rank-and-file staff, established for peacetime and wartime, were not subject to disclosure. According to these standards, the unpretentious uniforms that had 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), field blouses with harem pants khaki(to the rank and file in winter and summer - only a cotton tunic) and a single-breasted dark gray overcoat with a fastener on hooks. For the winter period, in addition, were provided: a short fur coat or wadded jacket with a padded jacket (commanders - fur vest), wadded trousers, fur mittens and felt boots .

Photos of the uniform of the Red Army 1936-1943.


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

Military engineer 2nd rank, technical troops, 1936-43	Quartermaster 2nd rank to daily 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 troops, 1938-41.	Captain, Air Force, 1936-40	Lieutenant in flight uniform, Air Force, 1936-43.

Separated commander, motor transport units, 1938-40	Protective anti-chemical clothes, 1936-45	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, border troops of the NKVD 1937-41	Shooter in winter camouflage, 1939-40.	Shooter in winter marching uniform, 1936-41.

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

Ensign in dress uniform of mountain cavalry units, 1936-41.	Marshal of the Soviet Union in everyday uniform, 1940-43	Major General in 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 uniforms, 1940-41.	Lieutenant in summer uniform, infantry, 1940-43	Lieutenant in marching uniform, border troops of the NKVD, 1940-43.

Lieutenant colonel in everyday uniform, artillery, 1940-43	Senior battalion commissar, artillery, 1940-41	Captain in everyday uniform, armored troops, 1940-41.

Captain in everyday uniform, air force, 1940-41.	Lieutenant in uniform, Air Force, 1940-41.	Captain in summer uniform, Air Force, 1940-41

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

Corps commissar in daily uniform, infantry, 1941-42	Corps commissar, infantry, 1941-42	Battalion commissar in parade uniform, infantry, 1941

Cadet military aviation school in dress uniform, 1941	Red Army soldier in dress uniform, infantry. 1941	Lieutenant colonel in winter everyday 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, engineer troops, 1941-43	Ensign in marching uniform, armored troops, 1941-43.

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

Soldier-observer of the MPVO self-defense group, 1941-44	corporal to marching uniform, infantry, 1941	corporal, infantry, rear view, 1941

	Junior lieutenant and marching uniform of wartime, 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. Cyplenkov - A uniform Red Army 1918-1945"

Ask a Question

Show all reviews 0