Pilotka side cap. These came in different shades and materials, like all other field uniform items. Some were lined, some were not, some had leather or faux leather sweat bands, some did not. There were many variations of cap star in both red-enameled brass and olive drab lacquer. For our club, post-war soviet caps are acceptable as well as reproductions or originals.
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M43 Gymnastiorka tunic. These came in different shades and materials, like all other field uniform items. Many uniform items were made from lend-lease cloth supplied by both the U.S. and U.K. The M3 has the 'stand' collar, a tube that does not fold down into lapels. Enlisted tunics had no pockets, and officer tunics had chest pockets, commonly internal with external flaps, but sometimes external 'patch' pockets can be seen in photos. Although the enlisted tunic had no pockets, enlisted soldiers can be seen wearing tunics with pockets in photos. For our club, post-war soviet tunics are acceptable as well as reproductions and originals.
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Sharovari trousers. There are variant of both the early war M35 and late war M43 trousers. All have five-sided reinforcing knee patches and are of the 'jodphur' style with wide 'puffy' extensions above the knee. Variations include details such as adjusting partial waist belt in the rear, adjusting tabs on the sides of the waist band above the hips, single belt loops, double belt loops, ankle ties, 'stirrups' with buttons to hold the trouser legs in boots or under puttees, etc. Either model of trousers is acceptable in our club, and again, post-war soviet as well as reproduction or original trousers are all ok for wear.
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M40 helmet. The two photos to the right are of the correct pattern M40 (SSh40) helmet. Some argue that they only had web chin straps, but I have had originals in my collection, all of which I sold, of originals with leather chin straps. They used what they had. Below left is the profile of the M40 helmet. Don't get it confused with the cold war era "cone head" helmet below center, or post war Czech helmets, below right. Converted Czech helmets with the three pad liner are acceptable.
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Boots. The preferred boot for wear in the club is the Russian Sapogi jack boot. However, these can be hard to find in your size, and were not the only boot worn by soviet troops in WW2. Millions of pairs of boots were sent through lend-lease to the USSR during the war, and these were of their standard patterns. Red Army soldiers also often wore captured German boots of any pattern that they found. Sapogi boots were manufactured with a leather lower and an impregnated canvas upper, with rubber soles. Early sapogi had leather soles, but after the Winter War with Finland, it was discovered that leather soles contributed to frost bite, and production switched to rubber soles. Modern sapogi are available if you search around, and are totally acceptable. Below are other options, to the lower left are East German jack boots, below center are reproduction British Ammo Boots, and lower right are reproduction U.S. Rough-Out Ankle Boots. Low boots, if worn, will be worn with cloth puttees. |
Equipment Belt. There were a large variety of belts worn during the war, The most commonly seen type for enlisted soldiers is the standard leather belt with steel single prong roller buckle, approximately 1-1/2" in width. Along with this belt, issued indiscriminately, are various belts with square frame buckles, web or canvas belts with leather reinforcement, etc. To the right are a few examples of variations on these themes.
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Canteen with cover. The canteen was either metal, or less often, glass of the same shape as the metal one. The cover, like everything else, was made of various shades and weaves of cloth, and closed with pretty much any kind of button they had, to run through the process. To the right is the typical cold war era soviet canteen with cover, which is what just about everyone buys, and is totally acceptable. Below left is the reverse side of the canteen with cover, and the equipment belt is slid between the cover and the crossed strap to hold the canteen onto the belt. The lower center photo is a close-up of a WW2 original 41 dated canteen cap, showing you the larger number of threads compared to the post war canteen to lower left. The lower right photo is of a WW2 glass canteen, same shape and size as the metal ones, but closed with a cork. |
Rucksack or Gas Mask Bag. For your personal effects, rations, extra foot wraps or whatever, you are required to have either a rucksack or a gas mask bag. You are not required to have both, but by all means, if you want both, do so.
The photo to the right is the veshchevoi meshok pattern rucksack that is the pattern you need for our club. The far right photo is the early post war pattern that is commonly available and is acceptable. The below left photo is a reproduction WW2 meshok, with a toggle-tie chest strap. Various ways of securing the chest strap were in use, including simple ties. The below center photo is the cold war era meshok, and is only acceptable if you strip off all the extra straps, pocket, and ID window. The below right photo is the early war M39 pack, and is too early for our impression. |
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The photo to the right is of a WW2 BN gas mask and bag. As you can see, the bag in that photo looks different than the bags in all three of the photos below, and all are correct.
In fact, even more variations are correct, as many war time bags had differences such as shoulder straps that were adjustable by toggles and loops, straps that were adjusted by ties, straps that were a simple strap and not adjustable at all, interior pockets of different arrangements or even without interior (or exterior) pockets, etc. etc. Like all wartime soviet gear and uniforms, production varied based on what was available, what factory it came from, etc. |
Mess Kit and Spoon. To the right are the two types of mess kit issued to the Red Army in WW2. Either are acceptable, but the near mess pot is early war, and the two-piece kit are more common late war. The latter is the preferred for our club.
Below are four examples of typical spoons used by Red Army soldiers during the war. The best places to get a spoon are on-line vendors, ebay, or local antique shops. |
Telogreika padded jacket and Shinel overcoat. To the near right is the padded jacket. This is the later war pattern with stand collar. The earlier pattern has the fold-down 'fall' collar. The late war pattern is the preferred pattern for our club.
To the far right is the overcoat. We portray a mechanized unit, and although either the jacket or the overcoat are both correct, getting in and out of vehicles is much easier with the jacket. The overcoat came in varying shades of brown, brownish-gray and gray, and was worn with collar tabs in olive shades with piping in the branch of service of the soldier. Rifle (infantry) forces wore raspberry/magenta colored piping. |
To the right is the most typical pattern of entrenching tool carried by the Red Army soldier. A square version without the point was also issued, and there are various types of canvas and/or leather carriers, as wll as variations on how the head of the shovel was attached to the handle.
Below are various types of drinking cup that were used during the war. Like everything else, lots of variations. |
Ushanka winter cap. These were made of what was called "fish fur" because it was not real fur. They were made of various materials, like everything else. Brown, gray, olive, tan, etc., are all fine.
To the right are modern Soviet and East German Cold War patterns. THESE ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE. The below photos are various examples of ushankas that are acceptable. |
Jack boots are preferred, but any Russian, German, British or American WW2 style low boot worn with puttees are also acceptable. East German post war jack boots are allowed.
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To the left is an example of correct cap, incorrect but acceptable tunic, correct trousers, correct boots, and incorrect belt and facial hair. The Tunic is an M35 tunic. This is the early war tunic, but was still worn until stocks were exhausted after the M43 tunic was adopted in 1943. Our club encourages the M43 tunic, as we portray a late war unit. The belt should be with a roller buckle, not frame buckle, and facial hair is only allowed for members over 50 years old, but is highly discouraged. To the right is the preferred M43 tunic without fall collar. Pockets are acceptable, but the non-pocket enlisted version is preferred for enlisted members. |
Epaulets worn are piped in magenta/raspberry for infantry, and piped in red for mortar or artillery crews.
Red enamel or olive drab cap stars are both acceptable. |
Any of the weapons in the illustration to the left are acceptable. The preferred side arm is the M44 Carbine. If you have an M38 carbine or M91/30 already, and are on a budget, you will not be required to buy another weapon. If you haven't got a rifle yet, then purchase the M44 Carbine as your first weapon, unless you have the money and prefer to carry a PPSh-41, PPS-43, or other semi-automatic or automatic weapon in the illustration to the left. Note - the M91 rifle is NOT allowed in the club. Below is a good photograph of the M44 carbine with correct web sling with leather dog collars. |
The photo to the left shows the correct telogreika padded jacket and vatnie sharovari padded trousers. However, the belt is incorrect, it is the post war version of the M43 dress belt. DO NOT buy a belt with a large buckle with a hammer and sickle on it. Also, DO NOT buy a Cold War era blue ushanka fur cap or post war meshok rucksack with side straps on it, as shown in the photo at left. The belt at lower left is one of the proper types, and were made using either riveted or sewn construction.
The girl to the right is wearing an example of a correct ushanka. They came in many variations, but to be safe stick to brown/tan/olive shades of cloth and fleece. ("fish fur"). |
The soldier to the left is a good example of 'correct'. She has the proper brown/brown gray overcoat (post war gray overcoats are not acceptable), with the proper late-war collar tabs and epaulets piped in magenta (raspberry). She is wearing the correct helmet, and a brown ushanka. Note the OD star on the ushanka, and red enamel is correct as well. She has the web with leather-reinforced equipment belt, not as common as the leather belt, but still common. The soldier to the right look good at first notice. However, he is carrying a nagant pistol and a map case, and these wouldn't be carried by a regular infantryman. A single stripe, designating him as yefreitor, is barely visible on his right shoulder. Also, although medals were commonly worn on the uniform in combat, this medal is the "Victory Over Germany" medal, and is post-war. The watch would have to be captured German.
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