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.

1958-1969: M58 uniforms

This general's service cap closely resembled its WWII counterpart, with only the oval 1955 general's cockade and round visor reflecting post war influences. The cap has a khaki crown with a black velvet band and red piping. There is no embroidery on either the band or the visor. Only gold cords, general-grade buttons (with the Soviet crest), and the all gold (gilt) cockade provide external proof of general officer status. However, on the inside it also has the leather sweatband and silk lining typical of a general officer's private purchase. The teller shaped crown and fiberboard visor are characteristic of all Soviet caps of the 1950's and 1960's. Available-Scarce

Motorized Rifle
General Service
1955-1969

This 1960-dated cap was worn by either an motorized rifle (name changed from rifles in 1958) or justice general as part of his everyday summer uniform. Band and piping are red, while the teller shaped crown is khaki cotton. Gold cords are worn above the black fiberboard visor, held in place by general's style buttons (with state seal). An early two-piece M1955 general's cockade is pinned to the band. Although the most common of pre-1969 general caps, these small-crowned infantry generals' caps are still somewhat difficult to find. Available-Scarce

Motorized Rifle
Officer Service
1955-1969

This unusual service cap illustrates a transition stage between an infantry officer's and a general's cap. It appears at first glance to be a typical teller-form officer's service cap of the era. It has the normal officer's cockade, black chinstrap and buttons. However, the band and piping are red, which were not used on any other officer caps of the period. The inside, too, indicates a general's model: it is a private purchase, with leather sweatband and silk lining. I would guess that this cap was purchased by an infantry colonel who had been selected for promotion to general. Upon "pinning on" that rank, he would merely have to change the cockade, chinstrap and buttons. Available

Special Troops
General Parade
1955-1969

The color combination on this parade cap was used by Soviet Special Troops' generals until red-banded caps were standardized for all Army generals in 1989. The crown is in the same wave-green introduced for generals in 1945, while both band and piping are crimson (raspberry). The expanded parade-style gilt wire laurel leaves are embroidered on the band surrounding a general's all gilt cockade. Likewise, wire embroidery is found on the patent leather visor and the natural colored leather chinstrap introduced in 1955. It also has general officer buttons, a leather sweatband and silk lining. Although undated, the teller form of the crown indicates manufacture prior to 1970. Scarce

Special Troops
General Service
1955-1969

Like some of the previous caps, the style of this general's service cap remained essentially unchanged since WWII; with only the 1955 general's cockade and round visor reflecting post war influences. The cap's crown is khaki with crimson band and piping. This color was only used by infantry & justice officers and Special Troop generals during this period. There is no embroidery on either the band or the visor. Only gold cords, general-grade buttons, and the all-gold cockade provide external proof of general officer status. Again, however, it has the leather sweatband and silk lining typical of general officer's private purchase. The teller shaped crown and fiberboard visor are characteristic of all caps of the 1950's and 1960's. Scarce

Railroad/VOSO
Officer Service
1955-1969

Following the introduction of a white summer uniform (jacket and cap) for armor/mechanized and air force officers in 1952 and for generals in 1954, this uniform was authorized for all Army officers in 1955. The uniform was an everyday service uniform (not dress). White cap variants consisted of either a white cotton cover which fit over existing khaki service caps, or caps with fixed white heavy cotton crowns, such shown here. Branch colors were retained on the band, but there was no crown piping except on generals' caps. On this cap, the band was black with azure blue piping along its top edge, indicating Railroad troops or VOSO (Military Communications Troops). Other than the white crown/cover, the cap followed normal service cap guidelines - "teller" shape during this period, black chinstrap and visor, and the M55 officer's cockade. Rare

Medical/Administration
Officer Service
1955-1969

Medical, veterinary and administration officers wore this green-banded cap before 1969 uniform regulations simplified branch colors and these branches were assigned the magenta (crimson) used earlier by infantry troops. As befitting its service everyday purpose, the cap is fitted with the plain M55 cockade and a black oilcloth chinstrap. The top is from khaki napped wool with red piping; while the band is green wool. The visor is black lacquered fiberboard. Available-Scarce

Chemical
Sergeant Service
1955-1969

An unusual cap probably manufactured in Eastern Europe post 1954 for a Chemical service sergeant, or less likely, an officer prior to 1955. The cap is made from a dark khaki cotton material with a black wool felt band and piping (this black on black combination was the hallmark of the Chemical service). The crown is an odd size, roughly halfway between the older "teller" shape and the "saddle" shape introduced at the end of the 1960's. The interior of the cap differs even more from standard Soviet practice, in that the lining is made from brown silk material and the sweatband is made from brown oilskin with a reinforced cardboard edge. The combination of the inside materials and the shape of the crown point very strongly to Eastern-European manufacture. Unfortunately, without markings (other than the owner's name), I can't accurately guess where. Also unusual is the use of green painted buttons to hold the oilcloth chinstrap. If original, this may have indicated the cap was worn as a field cap. Rare

Army
General Field
1958-1969

The visored field cap was one of the most popular Soviet uniform items during WWII, serving as ready identification of a Red Army officer. Following the war, normal color-banded service caps replaced them for field wear. But the field cap staged a comeback with its re-introduction in 1958. Worn by officers of all branches and services outside the Navy, the cap was completely khaki - including its oilcloth chinstrap and its fiberboard visor. Later versions were sometimes produced with plastic chinstraps and visors. The cockade is a normal officer's cockade painted khaki or made of khaki-colored metal. A two-piece khaki cockade is sometimes also found on these caps - similar in construction to the generals' gilt version. The side buttons are painted khaki as well. This is a general's field cap but the only difference between it and the normal officer's is the use of generals' buttons and the upgraded interior (with leather sweatband and silk lining). This model has the early "teller" shaped crown, similar to those worn in WWII. Production of this shape generally ceased around 1970, when it was replaced by field caps with larger "saddle" shaped crowns. Scarce

Army
Officer Field
1958-1969

This 1958 dated officers' field cap is very similar to the general's cap just described, but without the upgraded interior and with normal khaki "star" buttons. It is a somewhat unusual variant in its use of a black fiberboard visor rather than the regulation khaki one. This no doubt came about due to a shortage of the new khaki visor even as production of the caps began. The other early variant element of this cap is its use of a wide khaki colored oilcloth strap, rather than the more common khaki plastic strap. Other than these two elements, this cap was identical to those manufactured all the way up to 1969, when a larger crown replaced the smaller one shown here. Available

Motorized Rifle
Officer Parade
1958-1969

This cap was part of the new khaki parade uniform introduced for officers in 1958 following the abolition of the gray 1955 "Zhukov" uniform. Less elaborate than its predecessor, it lost its special "steel" color, its visor decoration and used a smaller cockade/emblem than that found on the M1955 model. This particular cap was manufactured in 1965. The crown was khaki while motorized rifle affiliation was indicated by its crimson/raspberry band and piping. The band cockade/emblem was identical to that used by the air force - the normal M1955 cockade surrounded by a wreath. This emblem was initially made in two pieces as shown here, connected by pins - although this transitioned to a simpler one-piece version in the mid-60's. Gold cords finalized the parade elements of this cap. The visor was black fiberboard without metal decoration. Scarce

Special Troops
Officer Parade
1958-1969

This is a Special Troops version of the same 1958 uniform cap described just above. The Air Force style two-piece cockade along with the gold cords were the only elements marking this as parade wear vice the simpler service use of an oval cockade and black chinstrap. Special Troops (signal, engineer, construction, pipeline, topographic) used a black band with dark blue piping shown here as their cap colors. The shape is again the smaller "teller" form and the visor is black lacquered fiberboard. Scarce

Tank/Artillery
Officer Parade
1958-1969

This is the tank/artillery officers' version of the 1958 uniform caps described just above. Like the others, this 1961-dated cap has the smaller "teller" form with the two piece parade cockade, gold cords and black lacquered fiberboard visor. Tank and artillery officers both used black velvet bands and red piping during this period. The top is dark khaki cotton - which replaced the wool phased out in the 1950's. Available-Scarce