Clothing & Equipment I

Left: Both of these Red Army soldiers wear the M35 ‘Gymnastoika’ (tunic). Originally the collar tabs were raspberry for infantry and carried badges of rank known as ‘Pitlesi’, however in August 1941 these were replaced by green or ‘subdued’ collars (making less of a target for snipers).

 

The woman soldier wears a beret, not usually worn in the frontline. The male soldier wears the common ‘pilotka’ cap. He also has a non army issue grey blanket in a roll which he is using to carry extra items.

Right: This young girl soldier wears the M43 ‘Gymnastoika’ brought in to replace the M35. Introduced in 1943 it didn’t become widely worn until 1944, even then, some soldiers continued to wear the M35 tunic right until the war’s end. The ‘Gymnastoika’ came in a summer (made from cotton denim) and winter (wool) version.

 

The M43 had a high collar and shoulder boards ‘Pogoni’. This was a return to the uniform of the Imperial Russian army of the first world war and was the sign of a new confidence in the Red Army following the great victory at Stalingrad.

Left: ‘Stalui Shlem’ (1940 Steel Helmet) the most common helmet worn by the Red Army during the war.

 

Visible is the collar liner. A strip of white linen that was loosely sewn into the inside of the collar. These were changed regularly and  were expected to be kept clean. A needle and thread were kept in the ‘Pilotka’ for this purpose. 

Left: Basic kit, from top left: mess tin ‘German’ style, mess tin/cooking pot, back pack (‘Meshok’), belt with canteen, entrenching tool and Mosin Nagant ammunition pouches, bottom right is a gas mask case. The items are sitting on a ‘Plasch –Palenka’ (rain proof cape).

 

The ‘Meshok’ was a simple cloth bag with the straps being tied in a slip knot to keep the bag secure. The gas mask bag rarely held a gas mask and was usually used to carry food or other items. The ‘Plasch –Palenka’ like the German Zeltbahn could be attached to others to make a tent.

Left: M43 pattern ‘Sharovari’ (breeches). These were baggy from the waist down and close fitting at the knee.

 

He also wears jack boots (‘Sapogi’), the ‘shoe’ part of the boot was constructed of leather, the soles of rubber and the rest of canvas.