The uniforms and equipment of the RKKA during the Great Patriotic War (GPW/WW2) can be easily described as simple, yet comfortable and practical. For these series of posts, a basic overview will be given of the typical equipment worn during the GPW from 1941-45. This will cover the basic uniform, followed by other pieces of clothing frequently worn by the RKKA, and finally the equipment used by the enlisted of the RKKA.
The basic uniform, which has now achieved a legendary status among GPW commemorations, consists of a wedge cap, pilotka, a pullover tunic, gymnastiorka, a pair of breeches, sharovari, and lastly, jackboots, sapogi, or ammo boots worn with puttees, botinki c obmotki. Women of the RKKA were issued the same uniforms as men, but changed altered to fit better and the sides of the buttons reversed. Along with those garmets, in 1941 women began being issued their own uniform pieces, including a beret, a skirt, yubka, and a gymnastiorka type uniform that was lengthened to become a dress, plat’ye. While the history and known variations of these garments could constitute a whole book, the focus of this series of posts will be to provide a general overview of each of these items.
A still from a video following the Nazi Surrender in Berlin. A great example showing the variety of colours the uniform of the RKKA was produced in.
Throughout the GPW, the USSR would suffer from severe fabric shortages for making everything from uniforms to seat covers. Because of this, and particularly in the case of uniforms, a wide array of material would be used. This could range from cotton twill, wool, or gabardine. Along with Soviet produced materials, under the lend-lease program, large amounts of materials were sent from the other allied nations, and any large amounts of material captured by the RKKA from the retreating Axis armies would also be quickly utilized. This resulted in the army wearing a uniform that was hardly close to uniform, with colours ranging from khaki and olive drab, to greys, blacks, and blues.
Starting from the top!
Soviet soldiers wearing the pilotka, along with the most prominent helmet of the RKKA, the Ssh-40
The pilotka was the main headgear of the RKKA. Like many European armies in the 1930s, in 1935, the RKKA adopted a wedge style cap, referred to as the Obr. 35 pilotka. On the front, the famous star, hammer, and sickle badge would be worn. This came in two versions, a parade and field version, but both could be seen being worn in the field throughout the war. While hardly the most practical headdress, it was well liked by the soldiers for its compactness, ease to wear under the helmet, and the fact that tobacco and sewing needles could be kept in the folds. Because of this, as well as the iconic status it received following the end of the GPW, the obr. 35 pilotka would remain in Soviet service until the USSR’s collapse in 1991, with some former Soviet states, and parts of the Russian military and internal services continuing to wear it today.
An enlisted and officer of the RKKA sporting Obr. 35 tunics
In terms of uniforms, the GPW was split in to two eras for the clothing of the RKKA. The early war, where the Obr. 35 uniform was issued out (approximately from 1940-1943), and the late war, where the Obr. 43 became the uniform of the RKKA (1943-45). While nearly identical, the most obvious difference between these patterns was the change in design of the gymnastiorka. The gymnastiorka is a loose-fitting, pullover tunic based on traditional Eastern European peasants clothing that has its military origins from the 1870s, where it was originally issued as a working uniform in hot climates. From there it would see complete adoption across the Russian Imperial Army, and later the Soviet Military. The gymnastiorkas of the GPW was typically made of wool and cotton, for use in the winter and summer respectively. This would be quickly scrapped following the Axis invasion, with troops receiving gymnastiorkas in a variety of colours and materials. With these tunics a collar liner was always worn. This is a small strip of white cotton sewn to the inside of the collar which, like underwear, was to be flipped or changed everyday. A well trained soldier is supposed to be able to stitch in the collar liner in under 20 seconds, and it remains a prominent tradition in the Russian army today.
A soldier wearing the ‘transition’ tunic with Obr. 43 shoulder boards on an Obr. 35 tunic
The Obr. 35 gymnastiorka began seeing issue in 1935, and is most noticeable by the double breast pockets, a stand and fall collar and collar insignia denoting service branch and rank. Initially the rank and service insignia were coloured, but following the experiences of the Winter War, a subdued variant would begin to be introduced. Between the officers’ and enlisted pattern, there is little discernable difference aside from the officers’ pattern being made of nicer materials, and commonly having piping around the cuffs. In 1943 a series of sweeping reforms were introduced into the RKKA. One of the changes was the introduction of the Obr. 43 gymnastiorka. This was intended as a way to whip up nationalistic pride among the RKKA with a uniform sharing many features of the traditional Tsarist gymnastiorka. This resulted in a pocketless pullover tunic, with a standing collar, and the addition of shoulder boards which featured rank, and branch of service. While initially the tunic had no pockets, in 1944 officers were permitted to wear pocketed Obr. 43 gymnastiorkas, followed by the women of the RKKA later in 1944, and in late 1945 the pockets were finally allowed on all ranks. From 1943 to 1969 the Obr. 43 gymnastiorka would remain in Soviet military service, fundamentally unchanged, until its replacement due to the impracticality of the uniform in a nuclear or gas environment.
Soviet troops, along with a ‘son of the regiment’ wearing Obr. 43 tunics in Berlin, 1945. This shows the differences between the officer and enlisted patterns of tunics. The officer in the middle it wearing a parade ‘kitel’ tunic.
The author’s sharovari and obmotki!
The Imperial Russian military, and even more so the Soviet military, were famous for their cavalries and horsemenship. To honour this tradition, all members of the RKKA would wear sharovari as a part of their uniform. Sharovari featured belt loops, a small watch type pocket for the soldiers’ information tubes (which were quickly discarded as they were believed to be bad luck), and reinforcements on the knees. Much like the gymnastiorka, there were little differences between the officers’ and enlisted sharovari, with the exception of the officers’ being made of finer material, having piping, and buttons so suspenders could be worn. The differences between the Obr. 35 and Obr. 43 sharovari are very small, with many collectors believing there was never an official change. Instead, it is believed the only differences are small changes made for ease of manufacture.
Two different types of footwear are commonly seen amongst the RKKA, these are the sapogi and botinki. While initially intended to be worn in the winter and summer respectively, this as well, was quickly put to the wayside with both being worn regardless of season, with sapogi becoming the most prominent towards the end of the war due to the ease of manufacture. Both sapogi and botinki would initially feature leather soles with hobnails, like all armies of the time. But following the experiences during the Winter War, it was found that hobnails will suck the cold into the boot, which can be disastrous in below freezing environments. These would be replaced with rubber soles, which were used throughout the GPW. Both styles of boot were also initially made of leather, but following the development of a faux-leather material called kirza in 1939 boots would subsequently be almost entirely made of kirza leather.
An image showing the array of footwear worn by the RKKA
When wearing botinki, high puttees, or obmotki, would be worn, reminiscent of troops during the First World War. These were initially produced in dark blues and black wool to appear like sapogi while on parade, but they would later also be produced in various shades of khaki and olive drab, as well as greys and everything in between, and made of canvas and cotton. To supplement Soviet produced botinki, a substantial number of ammo boots were shipped from other allied countries under the lend-lease, and captured German boots were also widely issued. Amongst the RKKA, German, Canadian, and British boots were the least popular due to their hobnailed soles, with the most prized boots being Soviet and US produced.
This concludes a (lengthy) overview of the uniform of the RKKA. The following post will discuss other items worn by the RKKA, such as the great coat, camouflage suit, and other items.