Caps of the Soviet Border Guard

Included here are caps worn by officers and men of the Soviet Border Guard. These troops were responsible for protection of the frontiers of the USSR. Their duties ranged from passport and customs control to full blown counterinsurgency and positional defense against invading armies. They were the first to resist the German invasion in 1941 and fought the Red Chinese in a series of violent battles along the Amur-Assuri Rivers in the late 1960's. They were also engaged in many smaller battles with Afghan guerrillas and Islamic militants during the last years of the Soviet Union. All branches of service were represented within their ranks; from infantry, armor, artillery, aviation, to naval forces. Except for the naval elements which wore naval uniforms with green piping, Border Guard troops were instantly recognizable by their distinctive "kelly" green topped visor caps. This recognizing feature has remained unchanged since the 1920's (continuing in Russia to this day). Although officially part of the KGB for most of its post-war existence, Border Guards were distinct from the other uniformed elements of the KGB (which wore blue banded, army style caps) and hence rate their own page.
A thumbnail image accompanies each cap description. Clicking on that thumbnail will bring up a larger, higher resolution image.

Typical of Border Guard officer and rank and file caps, the appearance of this cap remained unchanged from 1935 to 1954. All Border Guard troops, officers and soldiers, wore this same cap for all occasions; field duty, everyday service and parade. Border Guards were the exception to the rule in that privates did not wear the visorless "pilotka" cap as their everyday headdress. Even in combat, Border Guards usually would pass by helmets in favor of this distinctive cap.

The cap incorporates the traditional Border Guard colors dating back to the 1920's - bright green crown, dark blue (not black) band, and magenta (a purplish-pink color also known as crimson) piping. The crown is the small, teller form used until 1970 and the visor is black fiberboard. This visor is "spade-shaped" - or squared off at the front, distinguishing it from most visors used since 1955 which are rounded. This cap was manufactured in 1954, the last year in which spade visors were authorized. The emblem of the Soviet military, a red enameled brass star, was pinned to the band. Until 1955 all ranks (except generals) wore this same star. And lastly, a black oilcloth (impregnated fabric) chinstrap is held in place by two brass army buttons (as was the standard).

Also shown here is a variant of the above cap. This 1951 dated cap is identical with one significant exception - a modified leather visor. Please note: leather visors are usually a very obvious mark of replica caps produced in Ukraine prior to this year (when replicas started appearing with the correct fiber visors). Be REAL careful if you see one - there is a 99% certainty that such a cap is fake. However, in this case the cap is original, even if the visor is not! This is clearly a local modification - one presumes in the interest of "style". The visor is professionally made from fine kid leather; obviously removed from or intended for a leather cap machine sewn onto an existing Border Guard body. Such a non-regulation cap could only be worn by an officer on remote duty, since it would be bound to attract unwanted attention from one's superiors! Scarce

Border Guard
Officer/Conscript Service
PreWWII-1969

This cap is virtually identical to the one described above, but has the more common rounded visor. As mentioned elsewhere, although the rounded visor was the only shape authorized after 1954, it was in limited use alongside the spade-shaped visor as long ago as 1935. As a result, without date markings it is very difficult to guess the year of manufacture of such a cap. Based on its buttons and style of star, I would estimate this particular cap is from the late 1950's or early 60's. As such it would represent a conscript's cap, since officers after 1954 had a different cockade (seen on ones below). Piping color remains magenta; Border Guards did not change to the much more commonly seen red until "around" 1980. Scarce-Rare

Border Guard
Officer Parade
1955-1958

In accordance with 1955 regulations, a new medium gray (steel) parade uniform was introduced for officers of the Border Guard at the same time it was authorized for Army, MVD and KGB officers (see my other pages). However, while these other groups adopted caps with matching gray crowns, the Border Guards retained their traditional cap colors of bright (Kelly) green and dark blue with crimson piping. The M55 cap shown here is distinguished from earlier Border Guard caps by its metal visor leaves, gold cords and the new M55 two-piece parade cockade. The remainder of the cap is standard for the period - teller shaped crown, rounded fiberboard visor and gold army buttons. Scarce-Rare

Border Guard
Conscript
1970-1980

The last of the magenta-piped Border Guard caps! This cap represents those manufactured after the larger "saddle" shaped crown was adopted but before the piping color was changed to red. All other colors remained the same; Kelly green top and very dark blue band. A new conscript emblem was also introduced in 1970 - the wreathed star shown here. Although officially a "parade" emblem, Border Guard troops always wore it on this cap even when on duty or in the field. This particular emblem was one of the very early two-piece versions - consisting of a standard red star pinned through a separate wreath device. Available-Scarce

Border Guard
Officer Parade
1980-1991

Similar to the case of the M55 parade uniforms, when the M70 series of wave-green parade uniforms were introduced for all Army, MVD, KGB and Border Guard officers in 1970, there was no matching cap introduced for the Border Guard. Instead, they continued to wear their trademark bright green-topped cap with its dark blue band and crimson piping. Shown here is a later post-1980 version with red piping in lieu of crimson. The only elements marking this as a M70 parade cap are the gold cords and the new one-piece metal parade cockade introduced with the wave-green uniform. Available

Border Guard
Conscript/Sergeant
1980-1991

The other ranks' version of the above cap, this cap was worn with all uniforms and for all purposes ranging from field to parade. Unlike the rest of the Soviet military, junior Border Guards soldiers did not wear the pilotka, preferring this distinctive visor cap instead. Conscript/sergeant rank is shown by the M70 wreathed star and the black chinstrap. The 1970-1979 version of this cap with crimson/magenta piping is shown above. Available

Border Guard
General Parade
1980-1991

Based on the style and fittings, this cap "may" have been authorized from 1980 through 1991. Notice I said "may"! As I discuss on my "Fakes" page, there is no actual evidence this cap was ever worn! Although Border Guard generals definitely existed throughout the Soviet era, apparently these generals typically wore standard Army general uniforms. I don't know or understand the reason for this, since the Border Guard was never considered a "secret" force like the KGB. To my knowledge, NO photographs exist showing these caps being worn. That being said, however, large numbers of these caps do exist and are for sale. Again, these caps have a bright (or Kelly) green crown, very dark blue band, with crimson or red piping (I have only seen red on general caps). Except for this color scheme, this cap mirrors that of other military generals' caps. The cap has appropriate parade-style gilt wire leaves embroidered on the band surrounding a general's all gilt cockade, a patent leather visor and natural color leather chinstrap with gold wire embroidery, and general officer buttons. Inside, it has a leather sweatband and silk lining. Although all of these caps "may" have been made post-1991 for the collector market - I am not willing to commit either way at this time. That is why I continue to display this and my other Border Guard general caps on my site. Available

Border Guard
Warrant Officer Service/Parade
1980-1991

In 1972, the USSR Ministry of Defense instituted the ranks of praporshchik and mitchman (warrant officers) to encourage conscripts to re-enlist after their conscript obligation was completed. As one of the enticements, these officers were granted the right to wear slightly modified officers uniforms. This cap is typical of a praporshchik. It is identical to an officer's of the period with the exception it always was worn with a black chinstrap instead of gold officer cords unless on parade. Prior to 1980, the piping would be magenta rather than the red shown here. Note: This same combination of the M55 officer's cockade and black chinstrap was worn by all officers (and by extended service sergeants) on their service caps from 1958 until 1975 when officers were authorized to wear gold cords on all their caps. Available

Border Guard
Officer Service
1980-1991

This cap was distinguished as "everyday" or service from its parade counterparts only by the choice of its simpler cockade. It has the gold cords that were authorized on service caps starting in 1975. Prior to that time, a black chinstrap was worn by all non-general personnel on service caps. As with the caps above, an identical cap with magenta piping would have been worn from that date - switching to red in 1980. Although belonging to a junior officer, this cap is a private-purchase item mirroring general-grade caps. It has a patent leather visor, leather sweatband and a silk lining and was manufactured around 1990. Available

Border Guard Aviation
Officer Service
1980-1991

Another Border Guard cap identical in color and construction to the ones described above, but with an unexpected set of insignia indicating its wear by a member of Border Guard aviation. As such, it substitutes an Air Force cockade for the Army-style one and adds a set of wings to the crown. Little known in the West, the Soviet Border Guard always maintained an aviation element. Officers assigned to this service wore a mixture of "standard" border guard and air force uniforms. Although since the 1970's most Border Guard aviation assets have been helicopters, they continued to fly fixed wing transports and armed maritime patrol aircraft until the end of the Soviet era. This cap mirrors those worn by Border Guard pilots as part of both their service and (possibly) their parade uniforms. This particular cap is dated 1986 and has red piping and a black plastic visor. Available (if assembled from components)

Border Guard
General Service
1980-1991

Except of the color, this cap mirrors that of Army generals' service caps. The cap has the appropriate gilt wire leaves embroidered on the band surrounding a general's all gilt cockade. This band ornamentation was introduced on generals' service caps in 1980. It also has a patent leather visor, gold cords, and general officer buttons. Inside, it has a leather sweatband and silk lining. Although theoretically a "lesser" cap, the Border Guard general's service cap is, like its KGB counterpart, harder to find than the parade version. Officially part of the service uniform, this same cap was also uniquely worn with the light gray walking out parade uniform. Scarce

Border Guard
Soldier/Sergeant Field
1980's

One of the favorite caps in my collection! This cap was worn only by Border Guard personnel with their field "spetsodezhda" (computer camouflage) uniform in the 1980's, until it was replaced with a "spetsodezhda" pattern field cap with earflaps matching the style of caps worn by the other Soviet military services. This cap is dated 1987, putting it towards the end of the period it was in use. Although Desmond's "Camouflage Uniforms of the Soviet Union and Russia" shows one of these caps with a subdued officer's cockade, the only pictures I have seen of border guards wearing them in action are of soldiers/sergeants wearing the small red star seen elsewhere on winter pile caps. Officers typically wore their normal green-topped service caps while on duty. This cap is made from the same weight cotton material the matching uniform is made of, and is unlined - making it very "crushable" and comfortable to wear. A cotton sweatband was sewn inside the band and a small tab is sewn inside the crown to protect the wearer's forehead from the red star mounting prongs. With those exceptions, the cap is assembled like a normal visor cap, although the band is very narrow. The visor is double-sided cloth without any stiffening. A green oilcloth/plastic chinstrap is held in place by two green painted buttons sewn to the band. Green grommets under the crown enhance circulation. It has no piping of any type. Rare

Border Guard (Maritime)
Conscript Service/Parade
WWII - 1969

As mentioned in the introduction to this page, personnel assigned to the maritime (or naval) units of the Border Guard wore regular Navy uniforms with only small distinctions (such as green piping on shoulderboards). This meant that conscripts would wear the same "bezkozerka" as their navy counterparts - as shown here. But instead of ribbon "tallies" displaying the fleet to which the conscript was assigned, all maritime border guards regardless of region wore a tally on which "Maritime Borderguards" was lettered in gold. This cap dates from the 1960's, with a wool top and an aluminum red star without the surrounding wreath introduced in 1969/70. Again note the piping is white as for the Navy - not green as you might expect for Border Guards. Scarce