Authenticity-
the dirty word in Reenacting.
There are few things that can make you an outcast faster than showing up at an event looking like the Pirate King at an event. (Unless of course, this is a Pirate reenactment event.) With that in mind, let me share a few short words
about "AUTHENTICITY".
To begin with, what is the standard? Well, it falls into two parts when talking soviet uniforms of WWII, pre 1943 and post 1943.
At the outset of the war uniforms were based on PRIKAZ 176, the 3 December 1935 dress regulations. For officers and enlistedmen, there were three catagories of dress, everyday, guard, and walking-out.
At left, and I love this poster, is a soldier dressed in the 1935 pattern tunic, called the gymnastiorka, with collar patches in khaki cloth following the January 1941 change.
Prior to this the collar tabs were in color and by piping to these tabs. For infantry the color was rasberry with black piping.
The gymnastiorka was issued twice a year, November's being wool and May's being cotton. These came in varying shades of khaki drab, called zashchitniy tsvet in Russian.
The men were issued a traditional type of semi-breeches called sharovari which flared at the hip and were tight around the ankles. The enlistedmen's version had a diamond-shape reinforcing patch at the knee.
Boots were either the old style low boots with puttees, or a cheaper leather or tarpaulin sapogi high boot.
The gentleman at left wears the pilotka on his head. This replaced the shelm, the cloth peaked cap commonly called the budionovka.
Although we can not see it, he would wear a waistbelt of brown leather. This would support the ammunition pouch, a canteen, and may-be an entrenching tool.
This poster shows a group of men, all older in appearance, maybe some of the millions called up after the Hitlerite invasion. If this is so, issue was short, and it could well be that is all he was issued before marching for the front.
The odds are he and his comrades didn't live very
There were a few other items in the quartermaster wearhouses for the Red Armyman.There were at least three version of the rucksack. Grenade pouches in several patterns, mess kits, gasmasks and gasmack bags, bandoleers, and the greatcoat.
For poor weather, as a tent, and a blanket/groundsheet, the soldier was issued a cape/shelter half, called a plashch-palatka. This was made of a dark olive drab fabric, and had a drawstring hood. Two could be combined to form a tent.
When the plashch-palatka or the greatcoat was not worn it was rolled and trown over the shoulder.
"Wooo,...man History sucks...
All I want to know is what do I have to look like, man!"
Ah, Grasshopper, if you do not study history it'll kick your boney little...
O.K., Here's what you don't want to look like:
Let's start at the top, shall we?
One, his cap is modern Soviet Army. Not even close, AND it is plastic!
Two, While his tunic (cut in the French Pattern) is close, the piping is questionable and the collar should be closed with hook and eyes...
Three, the trousers have two stripes on the outer seam, for generals I guess.
Four, his boots are East German Plastic!!!
Five, his belt rig is made of Nagahide. AND he has no pistol lanyard.
BUT--the most damning is:
HE IS ONLY 12 INCHES HIGH!!!!!
Of course, If you look like this------->
We'll let you in for free.
O.K., O.K., I'll quit being goofy and get down to the manner.
If you want to look at reenactors and what's good and bad about their uniforms go to the next page...
Geesh. Some people have no sense of humor.
