Caps of Militarized Guards (VOKhR)

The VOKhR (BOXP) - Militarized Guards - were actually a series of organizations tracing their history back to the Russian Revolution. Initially, the term referred to internal security type groups operating under the control of the CHEKA and OGPU, enforcing "collectivization" and deportation of undesirables from the western USSR. However, the name later evolved to mean groups formed to perform guard service at a wide variety of institutions and facilities. Some of these groups were completely uniformed, while others wore civilian clothes with uniform caps. The uniformed groups typically fell under NKVD, KGB or MVD control. Some of the better-known VOKhR included Militarized Guards of Corrective Labor Camps (GULAG), Mil. Guards of Places of Detention (prisons), Mil. Guards of the Means of Communication (primarily railroads), and Mil. Guards of industrial installations (night watchmen and the like). Each government ministry apparently also had its own VOKhR department (which no doubt contributes to the wide variety of VOKhR color combinations).

Unfortunately, although I am reasonably sure the piping colors (if not the band and crown colors) varied among these different VOKhR groups, I am thus far completely unable to state which caps belonged to which organizations. There is simply no information out there that offers much help in this task. As a result, I've consolidated all VOKhR caps on this one page rather than try to break them out among my other pages. In one or two cases I have postulated likely ministry matches, but these are merely guesses based on piping and band colors. Anyone with corrections or other ideas as to what these caps are - please contact me.

This is the earliest VOKhR cap in my collection - dated 1963. It has a small teller-shaped crown made of dark blue, light weight cotton that is unpiped. The band is standard VoKhR green felt. The older black oilcloth strap is held by two silver VOKhR buttons - a series of concentric rings with crossed rifles superimposed over them. The visor is black lacquered fiberboard, rounded in shape. A standard Soviet Army brass and enamel red star serves as the band emblem. Although another emblem consisting of a red star with crossed rifles reportedly existed for VoKhR since 1956, apparently the Army's red star was most commonly worn. Scarce

VOKhR
Worker
1965-1969?

This rather worn cap differs significantly from the previous one, in that both band and crown are black with red piping - a seldom seen combination. Reflecting its age, it has old-style elements, with a "teller" form crown, black oilcloth chinstrap and a fiberboard visor. Chinstrap buttons are standard brass Soviet Army buttons. The badge is a well-made silver fluted dome with a separately attached crossed rifles and star. The significance of the band and piping color is not known. Scarce

VOKhR
Worker
1969-1991

As you will see, color schemes for VOKhR caps varied a great deal - with black, dark blue and green being the most popular. This cap has a black crown with a green band and (unusually) no piping of any color. It has an early saddle form crown, plastic visor and gold cords instead of black chinstrap. The cords may have been a later "add-on", since it appears workers/rank and file members ususally wore black chinstraps, with only managers wearing gold cords (and different cockades). Chinstrap buttons are standard brass Soviet Army buttons. The cockade is a one-piece stamping used by the rank and file during this period. Although supposably replaced with a domed two-piece cockade around 1982 - it appears this cockade continued in use until the fall of the USSR. Scarce

VOKhR
Worker
1969-1991

Along with the previous cap, the color scheme of this cap is among the most common seen associated with VOKhR, although the last set of caps discussed below are probably now even more often seen. In this case, the crown is a dark blue cloth blend while the band and piping is a medium (or grass) green. Due to the similarity in colors, this "may" indicate a relationship with the Ministry of Railways. A black oilcloth chinstrap is held in place by two brass buttons and the visor is plastic. Although one could expect the chinstrap buttons to be embossed with the crossed rifles of the VOKhR, in actuality, the majority of VOKhR caps used standard "Soviet Army" brass or brass-colored plastic buttons. The cockade is again the most commonly seen type - a one-piece stamped metal insignia used from 1969 and alongside the later 2-piece domed version seen on the next couple of my VOKhR caps. Available

VOKhR
Supervisor
1969-1991

Another blue VOKhR cap with green band and piping, this 1976-dated one is distinguished by its unique set of emblems. The owner's rank of "supervisor" is marked by the two-piece wreathed VOKhR emblem. Although this is two piece - with the standard worker's emblem pinned to a separate wreath, a one-piece emblem also exists. The meaning of the "wings" pinned to the crown is unknown to me. As mentioned previously, VOKhR personnel guarded a vast number of different types of factories and other industrial complexes, and this emblem no doubt identifies the type for which the supervisor was responsible. Any thoughts as the type from anyone would be appreciated! The rest of the cap is standard for the period, teller shaped crown, black plastic visor with gold cords held in place with Army-style gold buttons. Scarce (with this insignia)

VOKhR
Worker
1982-1991

These two VOKhR caps are dated 1986 and 1989 respectively, which puts them near the end of the Soviet era. The color scheme remains black and green as in one described above, but with dark blue piping along the crown and at the top of the band. As with other VOKhR variations, the significance (if any) of these is unknown to me and probably anyone else outside a small group of people in the former USSR. The 1986 cap, in spite of its later manufacture, has a black fiberboard visor and black oilcloth chinstrap. This probably reflects "using up old stocks" on uniforms less important than others. The 1989 cap has a small plastic visor and plastic chinstrap common in late Soviet caps. Also of interest is that these caps retain the old-fashioned "teller" crown shape. This style appears to have been common with VOKhR (as with Fire Defense caps discussed elsewhere). The badge is new-style, consisting of a fluted dome with an attached star and crossed rifles emblem very similar to the 1965 era one described above, but in gilt rather than silver and a much "cheaper" construction. This cockade was introduced around 1982 and remained in use until the collapse in 1991. This cap continued in use post-USSR and is probably now the most commonly found for sale. Available