SOVIET MILITARY UNIFORMS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00046R000200170012-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 30, 2009
• Sequence Number: 12
• Publication Date: September 30, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2009/07/30: CIA-RDP82-00046R000200170012-8 ''~
SECRET
SECURITY INFORMATION
REPORT
DATE DISTR. 5b
33
SUBJECT Soviet Military Uniforms NO. OF PAGES
COUNTRY USSR
PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE
ACQUIRED B
NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
DATE OF INF~
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
4.
1. Soviet officers and EM wore a special parade or dress blouse (mundir)
It was khaki-riolored,,double-breasted, and of a better wool material
for officers. The Air Force and tank officers' parade2blouse
(kurtka),; did not have a closed collar, but had lapels.
2 All EM were also'supposed to receive dress blouses, but as a rule
only NCO's received them. Metal (gold, bronze) orders and medals
were worn only on the dress blouse; on other blouses only ribbons.
were worn. Regular service uniform parts completed the dress uni-
form, i.e., service breeches, boots, and caps.
3. The field or combat uniform has been abolished since the end of
World War II, and was neither issued nor worn after 1945.
women's uniforms in the Soviet 25X1
Army were the same as the uniforms issued to male
personnel, except that a skirt. was worn instead of trousers or
breeches.
b. Felt boots for troops stationed in cold climates. No felt
boots were issued to troops in the Soviet Zone of Germany.
a. White uniforms for ski troops,
5. The following special uniforms were issued to Soviet troops:
ARMY review completed.
Approved For Release 2009/07/30: CIA-RDP82-00046R000200170012-8
 Approved For Release 2009/07/30: CIA-RDP82-00046R000200170012-8
Approved For Release 2009/07/30: CIA-RDP82-00046R000200170012-8
 Approved For Release 2009/07/30: CIA-RDP82-00046R000200170012-8
6t had the former and the other 409 had the 25X1
sous o them) these articles of apparel were issued
~~?,. ems,
e . Work coveralls of blue denim were Issued to drivers and automo-
bile repairmen.
The officers, winter uniform consisted of the following items s
Wool
A quilted Jacket and trousers called "body warmer" (telogreyka)
were issue to tank crews is drivers,?.and truck
drivers, in addition to the regular overcoat*
A three. carter quilted overcoat (bushlak) was.sometimes Issued
to tank r~.vrs i lace of the auilted Jacket and trou? -s.i
.only for the winter and had to be turned in during,the spring.
overcoat
1 louse Wool
((kite2P)
Ogg Description and Remarks
Issued for three years.30
Khaki Issued for two years. ,
1 pr, Trousers, Wool Dark blue Issued for one year.
long) or
breeches
. The officers, summer uniform,was as follows:,
. em
a r a color Desorifltion and Reeks
Tunic cotton Khaki
imn
a4erka )
Issued for one year.,
1 pr, Trousers, Cotton Khaki Issued for one year.
(long)
The Eli's uniform was the same for summer and winter, for.field
training , guard duties, dress, and work details. One set was for
dress, the other for training and.work.
uan Imo Material Color Description and Remarks
1 Overcoat Wool - Issued for entire enlist-
merit period of ' three to
four years.'
2 pr. Breeches Cotton Khaki I0sued for one year.
9. Offioer wore a garrison,. bap in the summer and a fur cap in the
winter,'' Each was.iss)aedefor three years.
10. E1 wore an.overacas,cap (pilotka), and a winter hat, which was the
same shape as that of the of'f'icers, but of, a poorer quality. Each
hat*was issued only for - the.` proper season and had to be returned.
Tunics t , Wool Khaki
SECRET
Approved For Release 2009/07/30: CIA-RDP82-00046R000200170012-8
 Approved For Release 2009/07/30: CIA-RDP82-00046R000200170012-8
Approved For Release 2009/07/30: CIA-RDP82-00046R000200170012-8
 Approved For Release 2009/07/30: CIA-RDP82-00046R000200170012-8
11. Re-enlistees (sverkh.srochniki) were issued, an offioer;yo visored
SECRET
-3-
cap.
12. Helmets were not issued to rear units.
13. Company grade officers were alternately issued black cowhide boots
one year,=and black calfskin boots the following year. Field grade
officers' and officers in the grade of colonel and higher were issued
black low-quarter shoes one year and calf or cowhide boots the next.
14. EM were issued boots.8? EM assigned to the rear services, automo-
bile units, depots, etc., received boots every year, although line unit
soldiers received new ones every eight months. In cold areas, felt
boots were issued to troops,'but the details of this are unknown
to me, as none were issued in the Soviet Zone of Germany.
15. Officers were issued a tan Sam Browne belt and pistol holster for
a period of four years. The belt had to be worn for training,
but was not compulsory.for social affairs. Wool gloves (khaki,
blue or dark gray) were issued for two years. Two pairs of dark
blue wool socks and two pairs of white footwraps were issued each
year. One set of shoulderboards, without stars, was also issued.
Officers had no raincoats, but they could buy thin gray waterproof
coats at PX stores. They received-two sets of summer underwear
and one set of winter underwear. The winter set was made of white
flannel, the summer set of white cotton. Both had long sleeves and
long legs.
16. EM received a leather tunic belt and a canvas trousers belt for
four years. They received one star for their overseas cap and a
set of shoulderboards for their entire term of service. In the
summer EM received two pairs of white cotton footwraps (exchanged
weekly) and in the winter two pairs of white flannel footwraps
(also exchanged weekly). They also received annually two white
collar bands, worn under the tunic collar. EM were issued one set
of cotton underwear for summer and one set of flannel for winter;
both had full length sleeves and legs. They exchanged their dirty
pair for clean ones when they bathed, usually once a week.
17. Officers received the scheduled new clothing at the end of each
issue period, regardless of whether the old issue were still
serviceable. They did not have to turn in the old issue.
18. Officers could purchase the following items in PX stores: gloves,
low-quarter shoes, and complete uniforms. At their own expense,
officers could buy a white linen blouse (kitel') for wear in summer.
A white cover purchased by the officer was worn on the garrison
cap, with a white blouse.
19. Most officers used their su aining
details (summer or winter). 25X1
20. EM had to turn in the old items upon receiving a new issue, but
in some rear units, where EM worked on vehicles repair, etc., they
were permitted to retain their, old clothing as work uniforms. In
My unit all EM had three or four uniforms, which was unusual, as
many EM had only two uniforms, and some only one. If an EM lost
an issued item, he was usually punished for carelessness and given
SECRET
Approved For Release 2009/07/30: CIA-RDP82-00046R000200170012-8
 Approved For Release 2009/07/30: CIA-RDP82-00046R000200170012-8
Approved For Release 2009/07/30: CIA-RDP82-00046R000200170012-8
 .- Approved For Release 2009/07/30: CIA-RDP82-00046R000200170012-8
SECRET
a replacement free.
1. Uniform sizes were designated as small, medium, and large.
SECRET
Approved For Release 2009/07/30: CIA-RDP82-00046R000200170012-8
 Approved For Release 2009/07/30: CIA-RDP82-00046R000200170012-8
Approved For Release 2009/07/30: CIA-RDP82-00046R000200170012-8