Caps of the Soviet Police (Militia)

Despite its rather militaristic name, the Soviet Militia was a police organization, with most of the same duties of police departments in the West. These included fighting crime and corruption, traffic control, controlling access and demonstrations, and just basically enforcing the criminal laws of the USSR. The Militia was subordinated to the NKVD or MVD (depending on the time period), which has caused no end of confusion to novice collectors and historians. However, the Militia was a separate organization and was not part of the MVD VV Internal Troops - the best known of the MVD organizations. MVD VV would support the Militia in controlling crowds or armed groups of criminals if their heavier firepower and unit training was needed. For most of the Cold War period, Militia forces were actually subordinated to the various republics making up the USSR, but their uniforms remained the same for all police regardless of location. A thumbnail image accompanies each cap description. Clicking on that thumbnail will bring up a larger, higher resolution image.

This cap could have been worn by any Soviet policeman from private to comissar (general-equivalent). During this period rank distinctions were still somewhat minimized in the interest of class solidarity and the added ornamentation for senior commanders had not yet made its way onto Militia caps. Since 1939, Militia uniforms were standardized as dark blue accented by light (or azure) blue - reflected in the cap shown here by a dark blue wool crown and azure piping. The crown is the small "teller" form. As was popular at the time, the visor is the squared off "spade" shape, made of black enameled fiberboard. Two brass army-style buttons held a black oilcloth chinstrap.

The emblem pinned to the crown was unique to the militia during this period. It consisted of the traditional red enameled brass star, but in place of the military's hammer and sickle was the Militia's Great Seal of the USSR. This was finely rendered in brass and colored enamels. This emblem was quite short-lived, since it was introduced in 1939 but was replaced by a new oval cockade in 1947 as part of a major uniform reform that changed Militia colors from dark blue and light blue to dark blue and red. Rare

Militia
NCO/Militiaman Service
1947-1969

This cap made up part of the blue service uniform worn by the Militia from 1947 through 1969 (when it was replaced by gray). The cap has a blue, teller shaped crown with red piping. The normal militia cockade of the time is pinned to the crown while a black oilcloth chinstrap is secured with standard army-style buttons. The black chinstrap still used at this time indicated junior rank. The visor is fiberboard with a rounded edge, indicating late 50's or 1960's manufacture. Scarce

Militia
Comissar
1960's

This 1968-dated cap is a bit of an anomaly (I seem to have found more than my fair share of these!). It is an original comissar cap (which was the Militia's term for general - with one "m"). Although cap distinctions between Militia officers and conscripts were minimal for much of its history, comissars have enjoyed much more elaborate caps than their subordinates since 1943. The color scheme is standard for the 1947-1969 period: dark blue wool crown with red band and piping. The crown is the smaller "teller" shape. The inside if typical general-officer grade: silk lining, real leather sweatband and leather manufacturer's label. Fine brass buttons embossed with the Great Seal of the USSR support silver filigreed cords (here heavily tarnished) above the black enameled fiber visor.

Turning to the ornamentation. A standard gilt Militia cockade is pinned through the band and is surrounded by sprays of laurel leaves embroidered in silver wire. It is this embroidery that is the anomaly. In 1968 (the year this cap was made), only two versions of comissar cap "reportedly" were authorized: a daily cap which had no embroidery at all and a parade cap that had the band embroidery as shown here, but also had silver laurel leaf embroidery on the visor. Unfortunately for my peace of mind, my cap appears to be an odd combination of the two! Based on my experience, I believe this cap may have been either a prototype or (more likely) an unauthorized version produced as clothing manufacturers began getting ready to transition from the blue militia uniforms to the gray ones introduced in 1969 (the next year). At that time, a gray comissar cap with the same band-only embroidery was authorized. In any case, this is a lovely cap and like all Militia comissar items made before 1969 is quite rare. Rare-Very Rare

b>Militia
Walking Out Dress
1965-1969

A very short-lived combination of elements, this cap as shown was worn with the walking out dress militia uniform just prior to the introduction of the gray uniform in 1969. This 1968-dated cap itself is the standard pre-1969 dark blue and red model. The crown is teller-shaped, visor is fiberboard and the buttons are the correct 2-piece brass versions. What identifies this cap as a walking-out dress cap of the 1965-1969 period are the silver cockade and cords. Until 1965, the silver cords were only worn by Militia Commissars (general equivalent) and the silver cockade was brand new - and only worn on the walking out dress uniform. The regular gilt cockade without the wreath was still worn on the everyday uniform during this period. This silver cockade is the rarest element of this cap, followed by the silver cords. Rare

Militia
Service/Parade
1970-1976

This 1976-dated cap represents the first model parade cap following the introduction of the Militia gray uniform in 1969. It remained unchanged until a new cockade was introduced in 1977 for both service and parade wear. The crown is dark gray, while band and piping is red. The visor is black painted fiberboard and gold cords are held in place with standard "army" buttons. The cockade is similar to those worn on army parade caps of the period depicting a large laurel leaf wreath, but with a center oval roughly depicting the Great Seal of the USSR vice the red star. Available

Militia
General Parade
1970-1991

The most flamboyant of the Militia visor caps. Although undated (as usual for later generals' caps), its condition and materials indicate probable manufacture in the 1990's. With the exception of the cockade and fabric color, this cap is very similar in design to army generals' parade caps and is "standard" in every way. It has a normal post-1969 police medium gray fabric crown set off by a red band and piping. Gold wire leaf and rope embroidery is very heavy along the band and on the visor, befitting its parade status. The general-quality natural leather chinstrap is also heavily embroidered in accordance to normal practices. Standard generals' buttons hold it in place. The visor is black patent leather, lined with black wool underneath. The cockade is the normal gilt militia cockade in use in some capacity since 1947; militia generals did not have a special cockade like their army/air force counterparts during this period. Although not common, militia general parade caps are available to anyone with a little patience and a couple hundred bucks. Rather surprisingly, the service version of this cap is more difficult to find, probably due to its more humble appearance and subsequent lack of casual collector interest. Available

b>Militia
Drunk Treatment Facilities
1971-1974

This cap was authorized in 1971 for wear by militiamen assigned to drunk treatment facilities. Except for this emblem, the rest of the uniform worn by these personnel matched that of their other militia colleagues. The cap itself is a standard summer militia one, consisting of a padded framework over which a replaceable white cover was worn (gray caps were worn in the winter). The band was red and gold cords were held in place by regulation gilt-metal buttons. The unique drunk treatment cockade was a one-piece emblem, consisting of a red enameled cross on a white background, surrounded by a gilt wreath. This cap/badge combination was authorized for wear until 1974, when all personnel were to revert to standard militia emblems. Scarce (with emblem)

Militia
Service/Parade
1977-1991

In 1969, regulations changed militia service uniforms from blue to gray. This cap was a component of that new uniform. All militiamen other than generals now wore the same cap with the same accoutrements. It is a saddle form with a plastic visor - indicating manufacture in the mid 70's or later. The crown is steel gray, while the band and piping is traditional red. This cap has the later version militia cockade with fewer surrounding leaves that was introduced in 1977. Gold cords became standard for all police personnel at this time, not just officers. Army-style buttons with the embossed star and hammer & sickle secured the cords. This cap remained in service past 1991 and is the most common of the police caps encountered. Common

Militia
Service
1977-1991

White service caps had been used by the Soviet militia since its inception. These caps were most commonly part of "shirt-order" summer uniforms. This cap is no exception. It is of the style introduced after 1969 with a 1977 style militia cockade. As such, it is the direct counterpart to the gray version previously described. It has a saddle form crown with a plastic visor. The white cover is removable and is not piped. The band is red. Gold cords are secured with army-style buttons. This cap remained in service past 1991 and is only slightly more difficult to find than the gray version. Common-Available

Court Officer (Bailiff)
Service
1970's-1991

I've modified my description of this cap based on information provided by another collector in Russia. This cap was reportedly worn by court officers (marshal or bailiff) of the Ministry of Justice. Although not part of the MVD, I've left it's cap displayed here due to its similar association with the legal system. Similar in most ways to a gray Militia cap, it obviously varies in the use of green instead of red for the cap band and piping. The crown is standard Militia dark gray. The emblem is also very similar to the Militia's, but has a green enamel background to the wreath and hammer/sickle - vice red used by Militia officers. Considering the 1989 date of this cap - the use of a basic cockade without a surrounding wreath is unexpected, since the wreathed cockade was introduced as standard on all caps in 1977. Perhaps this service did not adopt this larger design and retained the older style cockade. Gold cords are held in place by plastic buttons embossed with the great seal of the USSR. Scarce-Rare