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.

1946-1954 Immediate Postwar (modified M1943 uniforms)

Probably manufactured during WWII, this style cap remained in service until regular Soviet cavalry units were disbanded around 1950. After that date, although the MVD and Border Guards kept some small operational cavalry detachments, the Army downsized to a single ceremonial unit in Moscow. I have described a parade cap from this ceremonial unit displayed under my "Army 1989-1991" section. The earlier cap shown here has a small crown sewn of very heavy khaki cloth piped in black and the band is dark blue - standard cavalry colors. The visor is typical pre-1954 "spade" (or duckbill) shape, made of fiberboard painted on top in black enamel. An oilcloth visor is held with two black-painted army buttons. These black buttons typically indicated manufacture prior to and during WWII. This same cap would be worn both in the field and for everyday wear. A parade version would typically have the crown sewn in finer wool material. Rare

Rifles
Officer Service/Parade
1946-1954

Unchanged in design since 1935, this same post-war rifles (infantry) officer's cap was worn with both the service (everyday) and the parade uniforms. It has a dark green napped wool crown, magenta/crimson crown and piping, black oilcloth chinstrap and a black painted fiberboard square-shape visor. The star is the one piece, brass and enamel version and the buttons are finely stamped brass. The angle of the visor is quite distinct - with this form sometimes referred to as a "german" style. Many caps of this period had the visor coming out at a virtual right angle to the band. The combination of the square visor and the red star dates this cap prior to 1955. Scarce

VOSO
Commandant
1946-1954

One the most attractive caps worn by any postwar Soviet junior officer - this red-topped cap signified the position of station/post commandant within the Soviet military Lines-of-Communication (primarily Railroad) system. The red top was adopted to provide a quick means of identifying the station commander and as a means of signaling to train crews. Except for the bright red top, the remainder of the cap is the same as for a regular officer of the VOSO (Military Communications Troops) or Railroad Troops. The cap band is black velvet, marking the "elite" status assumed by these personnel, while the light blue piping signified the service. The cap has the older teller-shaped crown and both the red star and black oilcloth chinstrap worn by officers during this period. The visor is black fiberboard coated on the top with black enamel. Railroad-type "wings" may also be found on the crown these caps, but they were not universally applied. A later version of this cap is shown on my Army 1989-1991 page. Rare

Tank/Artillery
NCO/Soldier Service
1946-1955

With the exception of the visor shape and metal from which the red star was made, this style of NCO cap remained virtually unchanged from the end of WWII through 1969. Army non-commissioned officers (and on rare occasions lower rank & file) wore it as part of their parade or service/everyday uniform. The band is black cloth (not velvet) with red piping. Had this been an officer's cap, the band would have been velvet. The chinstrap is made of black oilcloth. A large, one-piece brass and enamel star is attached to the band. What most clearly differentiates this cap from later issues is the fact the visor is squared off - or "spade" shaped. This shape was commonly found on caps during the war, but fell out of favor in the mid fifties (replaced by a rounded visor). Scarce

Tank/Artillery
Officer Service
1949-1958

Part of the new service uniform introduced for Army Armor officers in 1949 and worn until 1958, this 1953 dated cap has a dark green crown (as opposed to the brownish khaki more often seen). The band is black velvet, the traditional color and fabric for armor officers, while piping is red. The chinstrap is made of black oilcloth (impregnated fabric). The national cockade is the new officers' oval version standardized in 1955, replacing the simple red star used previously by Army officers. The visor is round-edged, rather than the square one used commonly before this date, and is made of black lacquered cardboard/ fiberboard. Scarce

Special Troops
NCO/Soldier Parade
1954-1969

Sergeants and rank & file personnel on parade wore this style cap after square visors fell out of favor and before new shaped caps were introduced in 1970. It could also have been worn for service duties, but this was seldom done (pilotka was worn instead). Produced in 1964, it is teller-shaped and has a later version one piece star emblem pinned to the band. The band is black while piping is dark blue; indicating the owner belonged to the engineers or one of the other Special Troops branches. It has a black oilcloth chinstrap, rounded-edge fiberboard visor and standard Army buttons. Rare