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 five 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 the caps according to which uniform period they were introduced, although overlapping uniforms during the last two periods make this distinction rather moot in those areas - so you'll have to look at all of them! A thumbnail image accompanies each cap description. Clicking on that thumbnail will bring up a larger, higher resolution image.

1970-1988: M69-M70 "Modernized" uniforms

This service cap was worn by Armor and Artillery generals from 1980 to 1989. The crown is khaki with a black velvet band and red piping. The cap has the gilt wire laurel leaves introduced for generals' service caps in 1980 embroidered on the band surrounding a gilt cockade. It also has a patent leather visor, gold cords, and general officer buttons. Inside, it has the expected leather sweatband and silk lining. Wear of this cap was no longer authorized in the 1989 regulations; being replaced with a red band/red piped version. Scarce

Army
General Field
1970-1989

This piped army general's version of the field visor cap was introduced in 1970. This cap apparently served all army ground force generals, regardless of branch, although I cannot completely discount the possibility that Special Troops and Admin/Medical generals wore ones piped in magenta vice the red shown here. I have simply never seen any such. However, airborne generals did wear their own version of this cap piped in light blue (see below), and MVD generals apparently wore ones piped in rust red/maroon and KGB generals had medium blue piped caps. The army generals' cap shown here is made of khaki cloth, with band and the saddle form crown piped in red. Its plasticized chinstrap, fiberboard visor, and general's model chinstrap buttons are also khaki. The cockade is a normal officer's cockade painted khaki or made of khaki-colored metal. As of 1989, wear of this cap was no longer authorized. Available

Army
Officer Field
1970-1989

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 took their place in the field, but the field cap staged a comeback with its re-introduction in 1958. Worn by officers of all branches (including Airborne), the cap was all khaki - including its plasticized chinstrap and its fiberboard visor. The cockade is a normal officer's cockade painted khaki or made of khaki-colored metal. The side buttons are painted khaki as well. This model has the later "saddle" shaped crown introduced around 1970, replacing the earlier "teller" shape. As of 1989, wear of this cap was no longer authorized. Common

Tank/Artillery
General Parade
1970-1989

This striking parade cap was worn by Soviet armor and artillery generals from 1970 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, piped in red. The band is traditional armor/artillery black velvet. 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. It also has general officer buttons, a leather sweatband and silk lining. Available

Special Troops
General Parade-Walking Out
1970-1980

When the light gray summer parade-walking out uniform was introduced for generals in 1954, the corresponding cap was devoid of embroidery - a gilt cockade and gold cords were its only decorations. However, embroidery was added to the band in the 1970 regulations; taking the form of laurel leaves sewn on either side of the gilt cockade. This cap is an early example of this new model, dated 1972. The magenta band and piping identifies a general of either medical/veterinary, administration/intendance, justice or one of the special troops' forces. The band embroidery is rather more extensive than usual - with seven leaves on each side, compared with the four that are more commonly found. Other than that, the cap is pretty standard for an early cap - black fiberboard visor (instead of later patent leather), gold cords, and generals' buttons. Scarce

Motorized Rifle
General Parade-Walking Out
1970-1980

A red-banded version of the above cap, this one was worn by Army motorized rifle (combined arms) generals. These light gray caps were worn with the matching gray uniform jacket until 1980, when the wave-green parade cap replaced it. This particular example is a later version cap different only in color to the post-1980 Army general's service cap. The crown is light gray fabric, while both band and piping are red. The cap has gilt wire leaves embroidered on the band surrounding a general's all gilt cockade, a patent leather visor, gold cords, and general officer buttons. Inside, it has a leather sweatband and silk lining. Tied with the post-1980 Army general's service cap as the easiest general's cap to find. Common-Available

Medical/Administration
Officer Parade
1970-1989

This 1977 dated cap was part of the wave green (sea-wave) parade uniform introduced in the 1970 regulations for all officers. Along with the new uniforms, these regulations also simplified the array of accompanying branch/arm colors. Now all non-technical support branches (medical, veterinary, justice and administrative) were assigned crimson as their cap and piping color - as shown here. A new one-piece cockade similar to but somewhat different from the M55 parade cockade was introduced for wear on this cap. This particular cap has a "saddle" form crown and plastic visor. It remained in use until 1989, when branch colors were again simplified and these same branches converted to red. These crimson-banded caps are difficult to find than one would suppose. Scarce