Caps of the Soviet Army

Introduction

Due to the large number of caps in this category, I have subdivided the Army cap section into the four uniform periods described on my Uniform Periods page to the left. All caps on this page were worn during this period. However, certain uniform elements (including caps) often extended into succeeding uniform regulations. In most cases, I have placed these caps according to which uniform period they were introduced. A thumbnail image accompanies each cap description. Clicking on that thumbnail will bring up a larger, higher resolution image.

PreWWII-1954 Immediate Postwar (modified M1935/1943 uniforms)

Probably manufactured during WWII, this style cap remained in service until regular Soviet cavalry units were disbanded around 1950. After that date, although the MVD and Border Guards kept some small operational cavalry detachments, the Army downsized to a single ceremonial unit in Moscow. I have described a parade cap from this ceremonial unit displayed under my "Army 1989-1991" section. The earlier cap shown here has a small crown sewn of very heavy khaki cloth piped in black and the band is dark blue - standard cavalry colors. The visor is typical pre-1954 "spade" (or duckbill) shape, made of fiberboard painted on top in black enamel. An oilcloth visor is held with two black-painted army buttons. These black buttons typically indicated manufacture prior to and during WWII. This same cap would be worn both in the field and for everyday wear. A parade version would typically have the crown sewn in finer wool material. Rare

Cavalry
Officer/Trooper Service
PreWWII-1950

Another cavalry cap from late WWII or the immediate postwar period. This cap retains the traditional color scheme of dark blue band with black piping. The crown is made from lower quality light khaki wool commonly used for service wear. The older brass and enamel one-piece red star probably marks it as a conscript or sergeant's cap, although officers increasingly were forced to use the same star post-WWII. A black oilcloth strap was held by two brass buttons and the fiberboard visor is the common "spade"-shape of the period. Rare

Rifles
Officer Service/Parade
PreWWII-1954

Unchanged in design since 1935, this same post-war rifles (infantry) officer's cap was worn with both the service (everyday) and the parade uniforms. It has a dark green napped wool crown, magenta/crimson crown and piping, black oilcloth chinstrap and a black painted fiberboard square-shape visor. The star is the one piece, brass and enamel version and the buttons are finely stamped brass. The angle of the visor is quite distinct - with this form sometimes referred to as a "german" style. Many caps of this period had the visor coming out at a virtual right angle to the band. The combination of the square visor and the red star dates this cap prior to 1955. Scarce

Medical/Administration
Officer Service/Parade
PreWWII-1954

Like the rifles cap described above, the style of this cap was unchanged since 1935. It too, was worn with both the service (everyday) and the parade uniforms. It has a dark khaki napped wool crown, with the green wool band and red piping of the medical, veterinary and administration branches. It has the black oilcloth chinstrap and black painted fiberboard spade-shaped visor common to the period. Even more so than the on Rifles cap, the angle of this visor is very steep - a non-standard variation that was probably considered quite dashing compared to the more common "flat" versions. The one piece, brass and enamel star and the two-piece brass buttons are also illustrative of WWII and immediate post-war caps. Scarce

VOSO
Commandant
PreWWII-1954

One of the most striking caps of the post war period - this red-topped cap signified the position of station/post commandant within the Soviet military Lines-of-Communication (primarily Railroad) system. The red top was adopted to provide a quick means of identifying the station commander and as a means of signaling to train crews. Except for the bright red top, the remainder of the cap is the same as for a regular officer of the VOSO (Military Communications Troops) or Railroad Troops. The cap band is black velvet, marking the "elite" status assumed by these personnel, while the light blue piping signified the service. The cap has the older teller-shaped crown and both the red star and black oilcloth chinstrap worn by officers during this period. The visor is black fiberboard coated on the top with black enamel. Railroad-type "wings" may also be found on the crown these caps, but they were not universally applied. A later version of this cap is shown on my Army 1989-1991 page. Rare

Tank/Artillery
Soldier/Sergeant Service
PreWWII-1954

With the exception of the visor shape and metal from which the red star was made, this style of NCO cap remained virtually unchanged from the end of WWII through 1969. Army non-commissioned officers (and on rare occasions lower rank & file) wore it as part of their parade or service/everyday uniform. The band is black cloth (not velvet) with red piping. Had this been a tank officer's cap, the band would have been velvet. The chinstrap is made of black oilcloth. A large, one-piece brass and enamel star is attached to the band. What most clearly differentiates this cap from later issues is the fact the visor is squared off - or "spade" shaped. This shape was commonly found on caps during the war, but fell out of favor in the mid fifties (replaced by a rounded visor). Available-Scarce

Special Troops
Officer/Soldier Service
PreWWII-1954

Another cap which remained essentially unchanged since the mid 1930's, this one is identified as being for the Special Troops by its combination of black felt band and dark blue piping. The small teller-shaped crown is light khaki wool and an oilcloth chinstrap is held in place by two brass buttons. The visor is spade-shaped fiberboard and a brass and enamel star is pinned through the band. This star was worn by both soldiers and officers prior to 1955. Although identified most likely as a sergeant or officer's service cap, this cap was also authorized for conscript wear with the parade uniform. Scarce

Chemical
Officer/Soldier Service
PreWWII-1954

Another in my series of M1935 caps - this one belonged to a chemical officer or senior sergeant and is clearly marked as made in Leningrad in 1939. Its chemical service origin is signified by the black wool felt band and piping. Only the most "exalted" combat arm was authorized a velvet band during this period - that of Armor. The crown is made of khaki wool of an inferior quality, probably indicating its use as a service/everyday cap, rather than for parade. The visor is spade shaped and is mounted so it projects straight out, a style popular at the time but which gradually fell out of favor during the war and thereafter. The star is again the prewar version made of brass and fine quality enamels. Rare

Tank Troops
Officer/Soldier Service
PreWWII-1954

This 1949-marked cap was worn by a tank officer or NCO in service dress. It has the traditional tank troops black velvet band with red piping. The top is in greenish-brown wool. It has the normal rounded black lacquered fiberboard visor and a black oilcloth strap. The brass and enamal red star was worn by all non-general ranks during this period. Scarce

Artillery
Officer Parade
1954-1955

A very short-lived cap, this cap represents a transition period in Soviet Army parade uniform development between the WWII era and the "Zhukov" uniforms of 1955-58. Simple in appearance, the cap is virtually identical to period officer service caps with its red star, black oilcloth chinstrap, black spade-shaped fiberboard visor and "teller" shaped top. The crown is khaki wool, the band is black felt (not velvet as tank officers would wear) and all piping is red. What identifies it as a parade cap of this period is the simple addition of brass "leaves" pinned through the visor. These rather crude shaped leaves are of an early style used before a more refined shape was introduced with the Zhukov uniforms. Although Artillery officers (and the Soviet Army as a whole) wore this parade cap with its attached "leaves" for less than two years, the design was actually introduced in 1949 - but was restricted to wear by Armor and Air Force officers, presumably to mark their "elite" status. Rare

Special Troops
Soldier/Sergeant Parade
PreWWII-1969

Although this particular cap was produced in 1964, except for minor details it could have been worn by soldiers and sergeants at any time from 1935 up through 1969. This cap would have been worn almost exclusively for parade purposes, since junior soldiers typically wore the "pilotka" for everday service. The crown is teller-shaped and a 1960's one piece painted aluminum star emblem is pinned to the band. The band itself is black wool while piping is dark blue; indicating the owner belonged to the engineers or one of the other Special Troops branches. It has a black oilcloth chinstrap and standard Army buttons. The visor is rounded, which is typically associated with post 1954 production, although in actuality this shape was used in limited numbers even during the war years. Scarce