The history of military uniforms in the Russian and Soviet armies. Women's military uniform - a special concern The history of the Russian military uniform

Everyone who is interested in the history of fashion at least once wondered where the military uniform originates in our country. Undoubtedly, depending on the time, the fashion for people's clothes is strikingly different. If you single out the military uniform, with all the variety of colors and models, it should always be based on functional safety, rigor and beauty. History reveals a certain sequence of changes and modernization of the vestments of the military.

The stages of the formation of a military style

The identity of the military uniform in our country did not exist for a long time, since there were no troops operating on a regular basis. For a long time, individual units, which are as a guard squad for princes and nobles, preferred a free style in clothing, no different from ordinary citizens. In the case of a military campaign, the difference was that the warriors wore a helmet and armor, which were the only protection during the battle. It was only after a while that specific changes were made towards the establishment of a unique military uniform.

Streletsky caftan

It was only in the 17th century that the first identical military suits were developed, which were provided for the royal archers. These were caftans, and their color scheme was determined by belonging to a particular military unit. The ceremonial version of the rifleman's uniform was complemented by a headdress decorated with fur, as well as expensive boots. In the art of archers, such famous masters as Vasily Surikov in the painting "The Morning of the Streltsy Execution" and Sergei Ivanov in the work "Archers" were portrayed in all their glory.

The military uniform of the regular army of Peter the Great's time

The next stage was the appearance of the army, which was supposed to act on a regular basis. Having suppressed the rifle riots, the Russian emperor Peter the Great decided to take a responsible step to create a combat-ready and trained army that would be able to respond to any aggression of both the internal aggressor and foreign enemies of Russia. Therefore, the appearance of the soldiers was one of the conditions for creating an army that would protect the peace of the common people. The military uniform consisted of the following details:

• camisole;
• tight pants;
• stockings with shoes;
• cocked hat - a triangular headdress, which received its name in this regard;
• epancha - a cape with a hood;
• a neckerchief or scarf in the colors of the state flag (for officers).

The color palette was rather restrained, the shape was green, scarlet and blue. It should also be noted that it was under Peter I that shoulder straps appeared in the army as a sign of distinction between military units and soldiers.

For events dedicated to the war, you can buy military uniforms for children. For example, a children's military uniform from the time of Peter I.

Military uniform of the post-Petrine period

During the time of Catherine the Great, it was decided that it was necessary to change the shape of Peter's time because of the inconveniences experienced by the soldiers. For example, wigs and tight pants were no longer considered the standard, but they decided to start by sewing wide camisoles and trousers for soldiers. It was also decided to use helmets for protection. However, the coming to the reign of Paul I was again marked by a return to the Peter's uniform in the army. Again the soldiers were dressed in uncomfortable clothes, giving out tapered trousers and shoes shiny from varnishing. There was no end to the suffering of the soldiers, but the severity and discipline in the troops provided for severe punishments for violating the regulations in clothing, up to sending them to Siberia.

Changes for the better took place during the reign of Alexander II. The modernized military uniform expanded in size, which provided for the ability to put things under it to keep warm in the cold. High-collared overcoats were also introduced. However, after that there was a crisis, which was reflected with the arrival of Alexander III in the appearance in the army of ugly and cheap, but comfortable and warm clothing. The savings resulted in an order whereby the soldiers were deducted the cost of clothing from their salaries.

Military uniform of the first half of the 20th century

At the beginning of the twentieth century, a jacket was introduced into everyday life for the military of our army. He was a green tunic with a high collar, with a fastener and chest pockets.

After the October Revolution, the emerging Red Army was equipped as needed. In order to see our own people, it was envisaged to put on red ribbons on the cap and sleeves as a sign of distinction. Further changes were applied to the abolition of insignia, the release of a variegated uniform began, the famous cloth hats - budenovka - appeared.

Only by the middle of the Patriotic War was it decided to return to the origins. Shoulder straps were returned to all types of troops and parade uniforms were introduced. Now you can buy a military uniform for the Victory Day of this period.

Post-war stages

In the post-war period, no radical modification of clothing for the military was carried out. Of the iconic innovations, the appearance of a tunic instead of the famous tunic stands out. During the war in Afghanistan, a common noun called "Afghan woman" came to the masses, which was a military uniform used during hostilities.

After Russia received the status of a separate state, the uniform of the military of the Soviet era was canceled at the legislative level. The Russian army got a new, olive color, coats became the successors of overcoats, jackets began to be used instead of tunics. With the advent of stripes and chevrons on military clothing, it became possible to identify the type and type of troops.

Under the current president, hats were again used as a headdress for the highest military personnel. Also, according to the law, a person who is not a military man does not have the right to put on a uniform. It is worth noting some innovations of the new era and fashion trends, which are reflected in the military uniform of the new model. Seasonal jackets, trousers, boots appeared in service. Modern unique technologies are used in the production of military uniforms. Breathable fabric, special processing, membrane materials.

In any weather, the protective equipment of the Russian Army allows you to adequately carry a combat patrol and serve the Fatherland. Having passed the tests, the military uniform has become perfect, absorbing both external gloss and practicality.

What is a military uniform capable of? First of all, he must communicate something important about his owner. The owner of the uniform is a member of the military corporation, and the uniform, with the help of different signs. Tells us about the place that its bearer occupies in the military hierarchy. Further, the uniform informs us that the person dressed in it possesses the main qualities inherent in this corporation - courage, discipline and reliability, that is, those qualities that are traditionally considered the main male virtues.

The history of the military uniform in the broadest sense, like the history of the uniform, goes back centuries.
The most ancient clothes of warriors were animal skins, moreover, these skins were worn with the most clear purpose - to frighten the enemy. For example, the Roman infantry wore wolf skins over their helmets, and Hannibal dressed his troops in leopard skins. In the medieval Balkans, military scouts dressed in fur and feathers, and to this day, for example, we see funny bear hats on the Scottish, Irish and Welsh guards. Actually, the skins of animals worn on warriors can also be considered proto-camouflage.

Insignia

For the time being, the military uniform spoke for itself - it was armor, and sometimes they also had signs of military distinction. For example, the armor of a medieval samurai was tightly intertwined with silk and leather cords of various colors. This lacing could be either one-color or multi-colored, moreover, rather complicated, but the main thing is that it individualized the warrior and indicated his rank. This was important for the following reason: the battles of the samurai in Japan in the 10-13th centuries were in many ways reminiscent of the knightly battles in medieval Europe. These were, first of all, the duels of lone warriors. The more noble warrior fell on the battlefield, the more reward he received from his master. So, on the one hand, distinctive laces are a sign of family affiliation and individual valor, and on the other, something like a price tag at a military vanity fair.

European uniformity

Military uniform of the 16th century

With the development of military technology and changes in military tactics, there have been major changes in military attire. By the second half of the 16th century, army clothing in Europe began to change and come to uniformity. The individual approach to equipment began to be supplanted by the requirements of uniformitarianism. Discipline, drill and other formal procedures inherent in modern European society did their job.

The infantry began to dress quite simply, but the other types of troops received their own types of uniforms. In the 17th century, various military decorations began to spread - galloons, ribbons, rosettes and buttons. The highest army chic was the officers. Their colorful ribbons and scarves spoke of boldness and power. According to one historian, this blend of sophistication with the raw reality of war became a model for men's fashion in the mid-17th century.

The mass production of military equipment began during the Thirty Years' War of 1618-1648. This pan-European war has become a powerful incentive for the standardization of military clothing. As a result of this war, France remained the main winner, and in the future it was this country that played a key role in the development of European military fashion.

What the military of the 17th century looked like

From the 1670s, European soldiers began to wear French long woolen uniforms - white, red or blue camisoles. These camisoles, or half-caftans, were decorated with multi-colored cuffs, collars and cuffs. Among the iconic military decorations were also braids, cords, buttons and embroidery. All this set the main direction in the military fashion of those years, and since the military type was revered as the ideal for a man, all these army accessories became popular in civilian fashion. The military uniform created civil society in its own way. The army outfit symbolized discipline, authority, reliability and orderliness, and these qualities fully corresponded to the requirements of the European state of the new era - the so-called regular state. “Individual strength, intelligence and obedience of people are transformed. Thanks to form, to collective power, ”noted the famous French fashion historian Daniel Roj. Retired military personnel often continued to wear their uniform in civilian life as it helped them in civilian careers. The military uniform on a person spoke both of his views and habits, and also influenced behavior, posture and the ability to stay in society. The military uniform built and calculated the culture of everyday life. By itself, military uniforms required adherence to a certain etiquette and careful care. Keeping in line with the military uniform, civilian dress also demanded care and order from its wearers. As a result, we see how, directly or indirectly, the military uniform by the end of the 17th century established itself as a standard of elegance and style, and the civilian uniform - court or official, began to look more and more like a military one, but at the same time, one should not think that the civilian uniform was becoming gloomy and monotonous, on the contrary - following military standards, it was bright and elegant.

The form of the times of Napoleon

The finest hour of military uniforms struck in the era of the Napoleonic wars. It was then that the most luxurious samples of military dress were created - extravagant and with a lot of details. The officers ordered their dresses from the military and state tailors, and flaunted in front of each other. The uniform most accurately conveys the spirit of the times of that Europe, which was born from the upheavals of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic wars. And although in the military fashion there was a general standardization and a fight against individual whims, the VIPs of that time could indulge in unthinkable excesses.

The legendary Napoleonic marshal Joachim Murat ordered an elaborate uniform for his troops - black, with gold braids, scarlet trousers, a belt with gold buttons and heron feathers on a shako. He dressed the horses in blankets of panther skins with red scallops and gold trim. He himself dressed in a new uniform every day and sometimes looked like a parrot.

Napoleon's attire also gravitated towards uniforms, but it was super-elite uniformitarianism. His famous gray traveling chest was unique, and spoke of the ascetic chosenness of God. Following the historical truth, this famous frock coat turns into a special sign of the malevolent Corsican Leo Tolstoy in the imperishable novel War and Peace. Here is such a remarkable scene observed by Tolstoy at the beginning of the Russian campaign of the French emperor:

“The troops knew about the presence of the emperor, looked for him with their eyes, and when they found a figure in a frock coat and a hat who had separated from the retinue on the mountain in front of the tent, they threw up their hats and shouted“ Vive l’empereur! ” On the faces of these people there was a general expression of joy at the beginning of the long-awaited campaign, and delight, and devotion to a man in a gray frock coat standing on the mountain. "

Sergei Shoigu, who took over at the helm of the Ministry of Defense in early November this year, intends to carry out a new reform. In addition, it became known that couturier Valentin Yudashkin, with whose name the creation of a new form is strongly associated, has denied his involvement in its development.

This “dismantling” began in part in February 1992. Then, according to the order of the Commander-in-Chief of the CIS Armed Forces, Yevgeny Shaposhnikov, a unified jacket with sewn shoulder straps was introduced for conscripts instead of a ceremonial uniform and an everyday jacket. At the same time, the wearing of buttonholes was canceled.

On May 23, 1994, Russian President Boris Yeltsin signed a decree "On military uniforms and insignia for military ranks" - formally on this day, the Soviet military uniform was canceled.

The appearance of the servicemen underwent significant changes after the signing of this document: for example, olive green became the main color of both ceremonial and everyday uniforms. Overcoats were replaced with "winter coats", tunic - for jackets with patch pockets. On military uniforms, chevrons and stripes appeared, denoting belonging to a particular branch of the army, a specific unit. Although at the same time critics said that in reality the reform was reduced to simplifying the set of uniforms to a minimum.

On January 27, 1997, a new decree on military uniform was issued, but the modifications affected only a narrow group of servicemen: the generals of the army on shoulder straps had one large star replaced by four smaller ones.

Eight years later, in May 2005, a new presidential decree was issued. As a result of the initiative of Vladimir Putin, hats "returned" as winter hats for colonels and generals. The Air Force blue casual uniform has been replaced by the standard olive. The only possible color for socks and gloves was black.

The innovation of the 2005 decree was that it prohibited the wearing of military uniforms by those who are not members of the military.

May 2007 is a new round in the history of reforming military uniforms. Then a number of statements were made by the Ministry of Defense. First, the head of the department (at that time - Anatoly Serdyukov) came up with an initiative to modernize the form. Then Deputy Defense Minister General Vladimir Isakov told the media that the reform is indeed in the plans of the department, and Valentin Yudashkin was named among the developers of the sketches.

Who else, besides Yudashkin, participated in the development?

Fashion designer Igor Chapurin, specialists from the Central Research Institute of the Garment Industry, the Central Research Institute of Leather and Footwear, as well as the Central Clothing Department of the Russian Ministry of Defense.

The sketches "from Yudashkin" won, then for two years the development of new uniforms was carried out.

... In 2010, a new form was introduced.

What changed?

The shoulder straps, instead of their traditional placement on the shoulders, were transferred to the chest and to the sleeve;

Velcro elements appeared;

The overcoats became narrow and fitted;

Boots with footcloths were abolished, as well as the subject of many anecdotes - the famous drawers with ties;

For the first time in the history of the Russian armed forces, officers have sweaters.

The uniform from Yudashkin did not withstand all military tests (clothes rustled when moving, melted from open fire, etc.) In the Ministry of Defense, in particular, for winter clothes for domestic. That is why, even then, the thesis began to circulate in the media that in fact only elements of the cut remained from the couturier Yudashkin in the new form.

Who and what did not like the new form?

The shortcomings were revealed during a survey of servicemen and in the winter of 2011-2012 - after the final transition of the army to a new military uniform, the soldiers began to have massive colds.

The Ministry of Defense conducted a survey of servicemen (there were more than 6 thousand of them) about the new uniform. Most often in the answers there was a complaint about the location of shoulder straps "on the belly, as in NATO, and we are used to it on the shoulders."

The main disadvantages of the new form are that it absorbs moisture well and is reluctant to evaporate it, does not keep heat well at air temperatures below minus 15 ° С.

Yudashkin or not?

On November 21, 2012, Valentin Yudashkin said that he had nothing to do with the new military uniform, explaining this by the fact that the Ministry of Defense at one time made significant adjustments to its samples.

“Until the last moment I hoped that the military would nevertheless confess, publish some letter, a statement that“ we ourselves, Dolci and Gabana, invented everything ourselves, did it and are happy and we will be responsible for the quality ”, but they will not done, so I do it. I officially declare that what is being worn in the army now is not the form that my employees and I developed in 2007 by order of the Ministry of Defense, ”the designer said.

Will the new form be canceled?

Let's pay attention: in general, about 25 billion rubles were spent.

The collection of military uniforms of the department of fabrics and suits of the State Historical Museum is one of the richest in Russia. Its formation began in 1883 - with a gift from the family of Admiral V.A. Kornilov. In the future, the museum fund was constantly replenished. After the October Revolution in 1917, many military museums were created in Russia, although they did not last long, their materials were then redistributed. In 1929-1930, the RIM collection was significantly replenished at the expense of the Military History Museum, formed on the basis of the regimental collections of the Moscow garrison. In 1935, the Military Historical Household Museum was liquidated, its funds were transferred to other museums, theaters and film studios. Some of them became the property of the State Historical Museum.

Especially large receipts in the Department of Fabrics and Costume of the State Historical Museum occurred in 1947 - 1954, which included "non-core" materials from the Museum of the Revolution, the Museum of the Peoples of the USSR. Thanks to the activities of the lieutenant colonel of the clothing service GN Nesterov-Komarov, the State Historical Museum in 1954 received an excellent collection of memorial things of the royal family.

In total, the department of fabrics and suits of the State Historical Museum contains more than 10 thousand items of military uniforms, 213 of them are memorial, including children's uniforms that belonged to the grand dukes and heirs to the throne. The rarest items of the fund are: "Poltava" camisole of Peter I; the uniform of A.F. Talyzin, in which Catherine II was dressed on the day of the palace coup in 1762; the uniform of Catherine II and the uniform of the Life Guards of the Finland Regiment, in which the heir to Tsarevich Alexei Nikolaevich was introduced to the regiment as chief. Of no less interest are the things of A.I. Osterman-Tolstoy, Count F.E. Keller and other famous personalities. The collection allows you to study in sufficient detail the history of the military suit of the Russian army.

Regular troops in Russia appeared in the era of Ivan the Terrible - they were rifle regiments. Later, soldiers' regiments of "foreign order" appeared. They can be considered the prototype of the Russian regular army, created by Peter I in 1683. From that time on, military clothing was unified and its evolution depended on civilian fashion. The borrowing of elements of the form of European armies had no less influence. The formation of the appearance of the Russian army in the late 17th - early 18th centuries was influenced by the traditions of folk costume. "Amusing regiments" - Izmailovsky, Preobrazhensky, Semenovsky, created by Peter I in 1683, were the nucleus of a regular Russian army of the European type. Initially, in the fall of 1698, the Hungarian dress was introduced as a uniform uniform for the Peter's regiments, since it was similar to the traditional Russian dress.

Almost simultaneously with the army, Peter I decided to change the clothes of the civilian population. At the beginning of 1700, a decree was issued, according to which all men, with the exception of the clergy and peasants, had to wear Hungarian caftans, and already in the next, 1701, a decree appeared obliging to wear German, Saxon, and French caftans. This meant the rejection of the use of Hungarian costumes in the army and among the civilian population. In the fall of 1702, 500 sets of French uniforms were prepared for the ceremonial entry into the capital of the Russian guard after the capture of Noteburg.

The full dressing of the guardsmen in new uniforms was completed in 1703, and already in 1705 the entire regular army of Russia did not differ in appearance from other European armies.

Along with the establishment of a new form, the procedure for wearing it was also determined for the first time. Each warrior knew what he was supposed to wear during a parade, campaign and in peacetime. Everyone was also aware of the responsibility for its safety. “If someone loses his uniform, loses his gun, sells it or gives it up as a mortgage, he… must be shot.”

This uniform passed the test during the Northern War and met the needs of soldiers and officers in the conduct of hostilities well. Some items of uniform were uncomfortable and did not protect the soldier from cold and bad weather. For example, the epancha, the purpose of which was to warm a soldier in winter, was only a cloth cape with a double hook fastener at the collar. In strong winds, the floors flew apart and protection from the cold was reduced to zero. Although, given that the wars were fought mainly in the summer, this form met the requirements: it was simple in design, convenient and attractive. For the regular army created by Peter I, numerically superior to the old Russian army, it was necessary to expand the production of cloth. At first, uniforms were sewn from fabric of different colors (only the Life Guards were distinguished by uniformity of uniforms), but since 1720 the color of the uniform has become the same, since Russian manufactories were already able to meet the needs of the army.

The introduction of a unified form helped to improve the discipline and organization of the Russian army.

After the death of Peter I, the influence of foreigners in the Russian army increased, which led to the introduction of a number of Western European borrowings. Powdered hairstyles, false mustaches, and tapered uniforms were introduced for the soldiers.

The uniform cavalry of the Petrine era was reformed along the lines of the Western model. In the 1730s, cuirassiers appeared in it, and from 1740 - hussars. On the initiative of the chairman of the Military Collegium, Count Burkhard Christophe Minich, cuirassier regiments were created, the main task of which was to break through the enemy's infantry line. The cuirassiers were dressed in white leather jackets, leggings and boots. The chest was covered by a heavy metal cuirass (hence the name). The white color of the cuirassier uniform was preserved in the Russian army until the beginning of the 20th century.

The hussar regiments, from time to time joining the campaigns, since 1740 have become part of the regular Russian army. The uniform of the hussars was close to the national Hungarian dress and consisted of a short jacket - a dolman embroidered with a colored cord and a mentic - the same short jacket, embroidered with a cord, but with fur trim. Dolomai and the mentik were complemented by chakchirs - tight-fitting cloth leggings embroidered with cords and galloon.

In 1742, the childless Empress Elizaveta Petrovna elected her nephew, the German prince Karl Peter Ulrich Holstein-Gottorp as her heir. He was the son of Duke Karl Friedrich and the eldest daughter of Peter I - Anna. Upon arrival in Russia, the Duke of Holstein-Gottorp converted to Orthodoxy under the name of Pyotr Fedorovich, and in 1745 he married Princess Sophia of Anhalt-Zerbst Frederica Augusta, who later became Empress Catherine P. In 1761, Peter III concludes a separate peace with Prussia, while the Russian army took Berlin and Prussia was preparing to surrender. For unpatriotic actions towards Russia, Peter III received from Frederick II the highest military award of Prussia - the Order of the Black Eagle.

After accession to the throne, Peter III decided to dress the Russian army in the Prussian manner. In addition, he announced his intention to move the entire guard on a campaign against Denmark, again to please the King of Prussia. Having set thousands of guardsmen against himself, this "Holstein" emperor could not count on a long reign. It took only seven months for the discontent to spill over into a coup. On June 28, 1762, Peter was overthrown and killed a month later.

In the initial period of the reign of Empress Catherine II, the military uniform remained basically the same as under Peter III, although it was partially changed towards a return to the uniforms of the Elizabethan era. At the end of 1762, by decree of Catherine II, a "temporary special commission" was created, which marked the beginning of military reforms. Never before or later did the Russian army undergo so many changes as in the period from 1762 to 1796.

The reforms took place in several stages. The first of these was completed by 17b4. New tables, staffs, manuals and charters were developed, which are based on the notes of General Feldzheikhmeister A.N. Vilboa "Bulletin of weapons, ammunition and other things in the Musketeers, Grenadier, Cuirassier and Carabinier regiments" and "The position of the headquarters and chief officers' combat equipment in infantry regiments. "

In 1766, Catherine II approved the "General institution on the collection of recruits in the state and on the procedures that must be followed when recruiting." This document streamlined the army replenishment system. Monetary contributions were canceled for all "per capita salaries", the only exception was the artisans of factories and factories not assigned to villages and villages.

The order of service by nobles under Catherine II remained the same as it developed under her predecessors. The noblemen who entered the regiments became sergeants a year later, and two or three years later they became officers. This was especially abused in the guards. In the heady days of the palace coup on June 28-30, 1762, the guards earned the privilege of a serene life, the right not to take part in wars. Many young noblemen, supplied with recommendations, who immediately received the rank of sergeant, aspired to the guard. At the end of the reign of Catherine II, it came to the point that even babies were enrolled in the regiments, who, by the time they came of age, received an officer's rank and resigned in accordance with the "Decree on the Liberty of the Nobility." So, for example, in the Life Guards Preobrazhensky regiment for three and a half thousand privates, there were six thousand non-commissioned officers. The undersized, according to eyewitnesses, "there was no number." Among them were many recent lackeys, cooks, hairdressers, who were elevated to the officer rank by generals and regimental commanders. Nepotism, along with the violation of rank-making, led to the fact that most of the officers felt themselves not as defenders of Russia, but as servants of the higher nobility. All this contributed to the fragmentation of the officer corps. According to Count AF Lanzheron, "all generals, colonels ... treat the chief officers with insufficient respect, but even with contempt."

Among the guards officers, who were the offspring of the most ancient noble families, in the last decade of the reign of Catherine II, there was a complete disregard for the form of clothing. The officers of the guard companies of the Winter Palace, according to a contemporary, could afford to go out to divorce the guard in a dressing gown and a sleeping cap.

At that time, only the soldiers of the army regiments retained their real combat capability and courage, which was repeatedly proved by them in the Russian-Turkish wars, in the battles of Rymnik, Kagul, Ochakov, Izmail.

The second half of the 18th century saw the reforms of equipment and the organization of troops carried out by His Serene Highness Prince G.A. Potemkin, who then headed the Military Collegium. He fought against Prussian influence in the Russian army. “Curling, powdering, braiding - is this a soldier's business? - Potemkin said, - they have no valets. WHAT are the bouclies for? Everyone must agree that it is more useful to wash and scratch your head than to burden it with powder, lard, flour, hairpins, and braids. A soldier's toilet should be like this: whatever gets up is ready. "

This echoed the well-known words of A.V. Suvorov: "Powder is not gunpowder, bouclie is not a cannon, a scythe is not a cleaver, I am not a German, but a natural hare." After becoming president of the Military Collegium in 1774, Field Marshal G.A. Potemkin immediately took up the issues of uniforms and equipment for the army. For consideration by the Military Collegium, he submitted a "Note on the Clothes and Armament of the Troops", in which he convincingly proved the need for a radical change in the existing uniform. The samples of the uniform he proposed stood well above the level of the military equipment of the European armies of the time.

A new set of uniforms was finally formed in 1786, although some of its elements appeared in the regiments as early as 1782 - 1783, mainly in Potemkin's army. Potemkin's reforms introduced practical cloth cropped jackets, trousers with leather leggings, ankle boots and light cloth helmets with a cross-roll. Summer uniforms consisted of white linen jackets and wide trousers to protect from the heat. However, not all officers accepted the unified comfortable uniforms established by the Field Marshal, for it did not at all correspond to the then prevailing fashion. Only soldiers and low-income officers appreciated inexpensive and simple clothing.

Ascending the throne in November 1796, Paul I dramatically changed the appearance and organization of the Russian army. While still an heir, he condemned his mother's policies. Repeatedly he presented notes to Catherine II with reflections on the army and the state, in which it was stated "to prescribe to everyone, from the field marshal to the private, everything that should be done to them, then it is possible to recover from them if something is missed."

After visiting Berlin and meeting with the Prussian king Frederick II, the idol of his father, Pavel created the Gatchina troops in 1783. Considering Catherine's army undisciplined and dissolute, and the officers unscrupulous, Pavel trusted only the Gatchina officers. This was due to the fact that these troops recruited primarily foreigners, most of whom served in the Prussian army. However, they were headed by a Russian - Alexei Andreevich Arakcheev, who was both the governor and manager of the military department of Gatchina. Impeccably devoted to Paul, he was his favorite and closest helper.

Changes in military uniforms during the reign of Paul I mainly affected the guards; in 1800, double-breasted caftans were approved for soldiers, and single-breasted for officers. A new pattern of gold embroidery and a new form of cuffs on officers' caftans were introduced. The generally accepted opinion about the inconvenience of Pavlovian uniforms does not correspond to reality. Soldier's and officer's uniforms had ribbon ties on the bodice, which made it possible to put on a sheepskin sleeveless jacket or a fur vest under the uniform in winter.

Some uniforms established by Paul I took root for a long time, they were also worn in the era of his sons - Alexander I, Nicholas I (for example, the uniform of the cavalry and horse regiments).

The dissatisfaction of the guards officers with the Pavlovian reforms was associated not with the introduction of unpopular uniforms, but with the tightening of the service regime.

Upon accession to the throne, Emperor Alexander I announced that he would rule his people and state "according to the behests of his grandmother Catherine the Great." After the Prussian order in the army, which Paul I managed to introduce, and the restrictions of noble privileges, Alexander's words were met with enthusiasm by the nobility. “After a storm, a storm, today our beautiful day has come ...”, - the guards officers sang. According to Alexander I, the army he inherited was in need of reforms.

The general antipathy to the innovations of Paul I demanded the abolition of all regulations and the softening of severity. On July 24, 1801, by a personal decree of the emperor, a "Special Military Commission" was created under the chairmanship of the brother of Alexander I, Grand Duke Konstantin Pavlovich. It included the General of Infantry I. L. Golenishchev-Kutuzov, A.A. Prozorovsky, AA Arakcheeev, VV Dolgorukov and other prominent figures.

The Commission had great powers "to consider everything that it finds necessary and useful to be introduced or canceled." Along with others, the commission was supposed to discuss the question of the uniform of the army. Regarding uniforms, the emperor's decree noted: "With lower costs, to give clothes the most warlike and durable look and not only for all turns of service and to maintain health and vigor of the soldier in general the most comfortable, but also the most decent for each branch of the army."

Hearings on this issue caused serious controversy among the members of the commission. To resolve them, in the name of the emperor, "special opinions" of the commission members about some "things necessary for a soldier's clothing" were presented. As a result of this work, new tailcoat uniforms, two-cornered hats, high boots and overcoats were installed. It was decided to remove the powder and braids, and cut the hair at the bottom of the collar. “Powder cannot be used otherwise, as in big parades and holidays”. Completely long hair and complex hairstyles were canceled in the archmy only in 1806.

The measures "taken for the development of state production" were of great importance. The Irkutsk and Pavlovsk factories were significantly expanded, which was due to the refusal to purchase fabrics abroad. In 1803, a factory for the manufacture of officers' uniforms and equipment was created in St. Petersburg. It was ordered to release these things at the price at which they cost the state.

However, a decade of continuous wars with France and Turkey led to the fact that the supply of the army was in an unsatisfactory state. This is despite the fact that the state subsidized state-owned enterprises to increase their productivity.

In 1812, Emperor Alexander I personally authorized the purchase of cloth abroad. During the war with Napoleon of 1812-1814, the military department managed to meet the needs of the army for clothing, despite the fact that the priority in supply was always given to the guards - the Yekaterinoslav cloth factory was fully employed for it.

In January 1813, the Russian army was already well supplied. To compensate for the loss of property during the war, about 60 thousand uniforms and overcoats were supplied to the army. At the same time, the manufacture of uniforms was established in the territories liberated from the French. In Poland, Silsia, Saxony, Russia bought raw materials.

In general, for the campaign of 1813-1814, the Russian army was already better prepared economically than before. Based on the experience of the long wars with Napoleon, the Russian military command realized the importance of creating stocks of uniforms for its army.

Being well educated in military affairs, Nicholas I personally dealt with the problems of the army. However, the main attention of the emperor was attracted by the appearance of the soldier, and not by the technical equipment of the troops. And before his accession, and after Nicholas I was directly involved in the development of samples of military clothing. He was fascinated by the brilliance and grace of the uniform. At the same time, the main purpose of the uniform was not taken into account - protection from the weather, ensuring freedom of movement and convenience when handling weapons in a combat situation.

Basically, in the military uniform for the period 1825 - 1854, there were no cardinal changes. Many different decorative elements were introduced, aimed only at decorating the uniform. The most significant innovations were the appearance in the army units of single-breasted uniforms and the replacement of the previously used pantaloons with leggings with leggings worn over boots. In 1846, uniforms of a new model were introduced for the troops of the Separate Caucasian Corps, the infantry received half-caftans instead of dress uniforms, and the cavalry received short jackets tucked into wide trousers.

During the reign of Nicholas I, headdresses were mainly transformed. So, in 1844 - 1845 shakos were everywhere replaced by helmets. The only exceptions were the hussar and uhlan regiments.

The consequences of the enthusiasm for "uniform mania and adornment" during the reign of Nicholas I manifested itself in the course of the Crimean War of 1853-1856. Many participants in the battles wrote about the insufficient supply of things and weapons, most of them themselves felt all the consequences of the carelessness and lack of foresight of the government.

“... The soldier at that time was dressed uncomfortably ... A helmet was worn on his head, which at parades and divorces could have an effect on the viewer, but militarily it turned out to be completely impractical ... In Nikolaev we were met by the adjutant wing Count Levashev with an order - to leave helmets in special warehouses ... The soldiers sincerely thank ... for the order to leave helmets ... And that is to say that the helmets not only did not bring us any benefit, but did harm. From the rains and sweat of the intense heat, the helmets shrank, shrank to the point that they could barely hold on to the heads of the soldiers, crushing them and squeezing them to a headache. A small wind - you look, and helmets are flying from their heads. And the cleaning of copper jewelry, and the preservation of the scales, so that they do not break, and the links do not crumble, and the shishak so as not to break - did it not take much time and labor? " - so wrote on October 12, 1854, one of the officers of the 11th Infantry Division P.V. Alabin.

But gradually the situation began to change for the better. By the spring of 1855, “... a new uniform of the officer's coat was received. Khrulev hastened to do it for himself, and everyone could have followed his example, but as there was no gray summer matter in the city, they sewed whatever they found, and greenish, blue and even purple coats appeared. They didn't look at it there; even the soldiers in their clothes had complete freedom; cloth caps were replaced with white ones and it was ordered not to take them off when meeting with officers, ”recalls PI Stepanov, a participant in the defense of Sevastopol.

Most likely, such liberalism in matters of uniforms was formed under the influence of the Caucasian troops who arrived to help the city. In the Caucasus, for a long time they wore not a dress uniform, but the one that was closest to the war in the mountains. Soldiers and officers everywhere wore hats, Circassians, caps, frock coats.

The imperial family did not stand aside from everything that was happening. In December 1854, according to the personal decree of Nicholas I, a regiment of 4,500 people was created on the basis of the surname. Responsibility for the creation of the regiment was entrusted to the minister of estates, Count L. APerovsky, who was also the first commander of the regiment. Both in appearance and in the principle of recruitment, the regiment was significantly different from the rest of the units. He was recruited from the peasants of the northern provinces, mainly hunters, on a voluntary basis. Uniforms were supposed to be "as close as possible to folk clothes." It consisted of a semi-caftan resembling an army jacket, wide trousers tucked into high soft boots, and hats with a square cloth top and a lamb band. All ranks of the regiment were allowed to wear a beard.

Many famous people of Russia joined this regiment as officers: scientists, writers, public figures (for example, Count A.Kolstoy was a colonel, and the Zhemchuzhnikov brothers were captains). The emperor himself became the chief of the regiment, the grand dukes became the chiefs of battalions and companies.

The regiment did not take part in hostilities, but already in 1857 it received the rights of a "young guard" and began to be called the Life Guards.

During the reign of Emperor Alexander II, significant military political events and social transformations took place in Russia. During the implementation of the reforms carried out with the participation of the Minister of War Count D.A. Milyutin, military settlements were liquidated. Corporal punishment is prohibited. The system of manning the army was substantially rebuilt. In 1874, the "Charter on conscription" was adopted, which canceled the recruitment sets established by Peter the Great. The term of service in the army was reduced from twenty-five years to six years in the ranks and nine years in the reserve.

The hard lessons of the Crimean War of 1853-1856 forced the government to seriously engage in the technical re-equipment of the army. Traditionally, military reforms began with innovations in uniforms. E.A. Shtakenshpeider writes about the abundance of changes in uniforms in the period 1856 - 1859: “One thing only leads to bewilderment - these are the continuous changes in the uniform of the military. In St. Petersburg, it seems, there are no two officers of the same regiment, dressed alike: one is already in a new uniform, the other has not yet had time to sew, and the third is already in the newest one. "

The transformation of uniforms in the second half of the 1850s began with the replacement of tailcoats with semi-caftans. All troops introduced double-breasted uniforms and simplified uniforms in decoration, which were replaced by single-breasted uniforms in 1872. The outer garments of all the chips were hissing. The lower ranks and officers of the cavalry received white linen tunics, first as a working uniform, and later as an everyday one.

In 1862, the type of headgear radically changed - caps with a height of 11-12 centimeters in the back were introduced, and 6-8 centimeters in front. During the parade, it was decorated with the sultan and the coat of arms. In the same year, white linen shirts were introduced for gymnastics. Later they became the main form of clothing for the lower ranks.

In the troops of the southern military districts and the Don Cossack army, it was allowed to wear white covers on caps and caps, and in the Caucasian and Turkestan military districts, they were sent to wear leather breeches made of sheep or goat skin, which, according to legends, protected from snakes. In 1869, a special type of form was established - the marching form. In this regard, a clear regulation of all uniforms and the procedure for wearing it is carried out, with annual approval and notification of everyone about it. From now on, the uniform was subdivided into urban, ceremonial, festive, Sunday, everyday and marching.

As a result of the military reforms of the 1860s - 1870s, a really comfortable marching uniform was introduced. The ceremonial version has lost its self-sufficient meaning.

The transition to universal conscription and the increase in the personnel of the army during the reign of Alexander II increased the cost of uniforms, which forced the military department to look for ways to reduce them. The advent of sewing machines and the establishment of standard sizes and heights marked the beginning of an industrial, cheaper way of producing uniforms.

According to the “Regulations on the clothing quartermaster’ allowance, ”all items were divided into two types: urgent, released regularly after a certain time, and items of one-time issue, which were the property of the unit and were operated until they were completely worn out. Items of the first type were items that were annual, that is, those for which a period of wearing was established. The second type consisted of buttons, emblems, cockades. They were given out either in objects or in money.

During the wars, supplies were carried out in excess of the established norms. Additional things could be issued, but only with the special highest permission, that is, with the permission of the emperor himself.

In March 1881, Alexander III ascended the Russian throne and continued military reforms. A course was taken towards increasing combat readiness and strictest cost savings. The military reform carried out by Count P.S. Vannovsky was mainly of a defensive nature, for the emperor himself, by his nature, was inclined towards the peaceful resolution of conflicts, for which he was called the tsar-peacemaker.

In his manifesto of April 29, 1881, Alexander III highlighted “the maintenance of order and power, the observation of the strictest justice and economy. Returning to the original Russian principles and ensuring Russian interests everywhere ”.

During the reform of 1881 - 1883, the number of combat units was increased, and their armament was improved. By reducing the period of active military service to four years, the number of the population trained in military affairs has increased.

All cavalry, with the exception of the guard, underwent a reform on the American model - it became homogeneous, capable of conducting combat operations both on foot and on horseback.

The appearance of the army has also changed significantly. The Minister of War, General P.S. Vanpovsky and Alexander III, simplified the cut of the military uniform. It has become more modest, practical and comfortable to wear. Its cut was close to the Russian national costume. The new uniform was spacious, it looked like a jacket with a spare side without buttons. The deep wrap in the front and folds in the back are elements typical of folk outerwear, such as a jersey or zipun. The cut provided the soldier not only with freedom of movement, but also with warmth and comfort. The lanyard on the bodice of the jacket made it possible to pry a sweatshirt under him in winter. The main advantage of the new uniform was that it was easy to fit. When mobilized or recruited into the army, it could be issued ready-made.

The new uniform, with some differences, was common throughout the army. Ease of wearing, ease of fit were the positive qualities of the uniform. However, the abolition of decorative elements, the simplicity of the form caused a new problem - a negative attitude towards it. This was a negative result of the reform.

The emperor himself, with great pleasure and skill, wore a uniform that fully corresponded to his character and appearance. Here is how the artist A. Benois describes his meeting with Alexander III: “I was struck by his 'bulkiness', his ponderousness and grandeur. The new military uniform introduced at the very beginning of the reign with a claim to a national character, its sullen simplicity and, worst of all, these coarse boots with trousers stuck in them revolted my artistic feeling. But in nature all this was forgotten, before that the very face of the sovereign was striking in its significance. "

With the change of the tsar in Russia, as a rule, the military uniform also changed. However, after the death of Alexander III, this did not happen. Until 1897, it did not undergo any changes, except for the restoration of some decorative details.

In 1897, the unification of instrument colors - lapels, collars, cuffs - was carried out in the cavalry, modeled on the infantry regiments. The cut of the uniform was changed, it became double-breasted, with six buttons, pocket flaps and edging.

The development of military equipment and weapons by the end of the 19th century radically changed the tactics of warfare. The closed formation was replaced by a loose one. Positional warfare was widespread. These new combat conditions brought about changes in form. Bright colors began to disappear from field marching uniforms. A new form of clothing appeared - green, khaki, the purpose of which was to make the troops less visible against the background of the terrain.

For the first time, protective colors of uniforms were introduced in the English army in 1895 as a tropical colonial uniform, and in 1904, after the Boer War, they were adopted as the main color for a marching uniform.

The Russian army was in no hurry to adopt this experience; it entered the Russian-Japanese war in the form of bright colors. But already in April 1904, the technical committee at the Main Quartermaster Directorate submitted for approval a sample of protective uniforms for the troops of the active army in the Far East. It was brownish gray, after the color of the vegetation and soil in Manchuria. New uniforms were supplied only to newly arrived battalions. In other units, in a combat situation, the white tunics had to be repainted. It got to the point of ridiculousness - the commander-in-chief A.N. Kuropatkin issued a special order: "Wash shirts less often, so that they look more like the color of the terrain."

The next stage in the transformation of the military suit was the introduction of a new full dress uniform in 1908-1909.

In the orders of 1907, Nicholas II commanded: "To restore the uniforms of the times of the reign of Alexander II to the guards units of infantry, artillery and sappers" and "for the army infantry, for all parts of the artillery and engineering troops to establish a double-breasted uniform and uniformly and the uniform uniform of the army cavalry is subject to change" ... The reforms brought back to life the smart, spectacularly decorated military uniform of the 1870s.

And only the dragoon regiments received uniforms of a new cut. They were dark green in color and resembled the tunics of the guards cuirassiers. The headgear of the Guards Infantry and Army Cavalry has especially changed. The new infantry headdress, introduced in 1909, looked like a shako, for officers covered with cloth, for lower ranks - made of black felt. It was decorated with pendants, fittings, a sultan, or a brush. Army dragoons received helmets with a transverse hair comb: black - from the dragoon regiments and white - from the regiments that were previously cuirassiers. The musicians of all regiments had red sultans.

The caps of the guardsmen were of lambskin fur with a regimental-colored slime, as a rule, according to the color of the shoulder straps. In 1912, a khaki woolen tunic was introduced for the lower ranks of all combat arms. Also, shoulder straps of a new model were installed - double-sided. They sewed them so that they could be repainted (if they burned out), that is, with an external seam.

By 1913, the problem arose of saving funds allocated for uniforms. The terms of wearing a dress uniform in Russia were short, but mostly an overcoat or tunic was worn, and military warehouses were filled with unclaimed uniforms. The way out of this situation was the introduction of a single type of uniform suitable for war and peacetime.

The technical commission of the Ministry of War was tasked by the emperor to develop new samples by adding any decorations to the existing marching uniform. Moreover, the choice of decorations was left to the discretion of the regiments themselves. Based on all the reviews, a new uniform was established: a woolen tunic with an attached lapel, collar and cuffs. The headdress was a lamb or faux fur hat. For officers, decorative elements were attached to the jacket.

Only nine regiments managed to receive new uniforms. Further implementation of the reform was prevented by the First World War.

Military uniform in Russia of the 17th century

1. Pedestrian tenant of the XVI - XVII centuries.

2. Rynda of the XVI - XVII centuries.

3. Sagittarius of the early 17th century.

4. Officer of the Strelets regiment of the middle of the 17th century.

Military uniform during the time of Peter the Great

1. Soldier-mercenary of a foreign regiment

2. Bombardier of the army of Peter the Great

3. Officer of the Grenadier Regiment of Peter the Great

Military uniform of the 18th century

1. Officer of an infantry regiment (reign of Anna Ioannovna, 1732-1742).

2. Officer of the hussar regiment (during the reign of Catherine II, 1776-1782).

3. Grenadier of the musketeer regiment (period of the monarchy of Paul I, 1797-1801).

4. Officer of the Jaeger Regiment (during the reign of Emperor Paul I, 1796-1801).

5. Carabinieri during the reign of Peter III.

6. Non-commissioned officer, hussar of the Life Guards of Paul I.

7. Private cuirassier

8. The flute player of the Preobrazhensky regiment

Military uniform of the XIX century

1. Non-commissioned officer of the musketeer regiment (1802-1803)

2. Private of the cuirassier regiment (1813-1814)

3. Sailor of the Guards Crew (1826-1856)

4. Private of the Preobrazhensky Life Guards Regiment (1826-1856)

5. Trumpeter of the Life Guards Dragoon Regiment.

6. Ober-officer of the Life Guards Horse Grenadier Regiment.

7. Ober-officer of the Life Guards Hussar Regiment.

8. Chief officer of the army infantry regiments.

9. Ober-officer of the army dragoon regiments.

10. Ober-officer of the army lancers regiments.

11. Assistant of the Life Guards Cossack Regiment.

12. Private of the army infantry regiments.

Military uniform of the Red Army

1. Red Army soldier and commander (1919)

2. Red Army soldier and commander (1922)

3. Red Army soldier and commander (1924)

Military uniform of the Soviet army

1. Winter casual clothing of commanding staff (1934)

2. Covaleria and horse artelleria (1934)

1. Military uniform of the Soviet army (1940)

2. Clothes of military builders (1973)

3. Summer uniform of foremen, sergeants and soldiers (1986)

Military uniform of the Army of the Russian Federation

1. Sample form 1990-2000x

2. Sample presentation 2012