Soviet Uniforms: WW2 and Cold War Photo Guides

Explore Soviet military uniforms, boots and field equipment through historical photographs and illustrated guides, from the Red Army to the Afghan War.

Illustrations of three Soviet soldiers, with arrows and question marks highlighting an AK carrying case, blue sneakers and a brown vest.
What Soviet Soldiers Really Wore in Afghanistan – From Afghanka Uniforms to Spetsnaz Gear
Comparison of a 1940s Soviet ushanka and a Bulgarian Army ushanka
Is a Bulgarian Ushanka Good for Red Army Reenactment? The Truth Behind the Legend
Soviet Adidas “Moscow” Sneakers: Why VDV and Spetsnaz Wore Them in Afghanistan
Illustrations of three Soviet soldiers, with arrows and question marks highlighting an AK carrying case, blue sneakers and a brown vest.
What Soviet Soldiers Really Wore in Afghanistan – From Afghanka Uniforms to Spetsnaz Gear
October 11, 2026
Soviet Afghan War Uniforms and Spetsnaz Gear: Afghanka, KZS Camouflage and Field Equipment More interesting articles: Soviet Spetsnaz…
Comparison of a 1940s Soviet ushanka and a Bulgarian Army ushanka
Is a Bulgarian Ushanka Good for Red Army Reenactment? The Truth Behind the Legend
October 6, 2026
The Legend of the “Bulgarian Ushanka”: How a Bulgarian Hat Became Part of Red Army Reenactment “History became…
Soviet Adidas “Moscow” Sneakers: Why VDV and Spetsnaz Wore Them in Afghanistan
October 4, 2026
Soviet Adidas Moscow sneakers have an unusual story. Adidas shoes first went to the Soviet Olympic team. Then…
Arnold Schwarzenegger wearing a Soviet ushanka in Red Heat
Ushanka History: Meaning, Origin and When It Was Invented
September 27, 2026
Invented centuries ago, this hat is still popular in the 21st century. If you ask a foreigner what…
Soviet Officer Uniform: M43, M55, M69 & M88 History, Ranks and Insignia
September 25, 2026
The uniform of the Soviet Army changed several times during its history. But the postwar period was the…
Cheka and NKVD officers wearing leather jackets
Why Did Cheka and NKVD Officers Wear Leather Jackets?
September 22, 2026
A leather jacket, a peaked cap, and a Nagant revolver. This is how many people imagine an officer…
Soviet VDV blue beret and Airborne Forces uniforms from the USSR
Soviet Military Berets: Complete History of Berets in the USSR
September 18, 2026
History of Soviet Military Berets The story of a man who said he took part in the events…
Soviet Panama Hat history showing a Soviet Army soldier and military Panama hat designs
Soviet Panama Hat History – 1930s, Afghanistan & Modern Russia (Part 2)
September 9, 2026
Soviet Panama Hat History: From the First Subtropical Helmet to Modern Military Panama Hats This is Part 2…
Soviet WW2 tanks and military vehicles – 100+ USSR tanks, armored cars and military vehicles complete guide
100+ Soviet WW2 Tanks & Military Vehicles – Complete USSR Armor Guide
August 19, 2026
Complete Guide to Soviet Tanks, Armored Cars & Military Vehicles of WWII 100+ Soviet WW2 tanks and military…
Preview illustration of Soviet Afghan War uniforms featuring Soviet Army, VDV, Spetsnaz, Tsarandoy, Afghan Commandos, and DRA Army soldiers from 1979–1989.
Soviet and Afghan Military Uniforms During the Soviet-Afghan War (1979–1989)
August 4, 2026
A Complete Guide to Soviet Army, VDV, Spetsnaz, DRA Army, and Mujahideen Uniforms in Afghanistan Soviet Afghan War…
Soviet Spetsnaz soldiers wearing Gorka mountain suits during the Soviet-Afghan War.
How the Soviet Army Uniform Changed: From M69 to Afghanka & M88
July 31, 2026
ON THE SCORCHED LAND OF AFGHANISTAN Soviet Field Uniforms During the Soviet-Afghan War (1979–1989) A Different War At…
Step-by-step guide showing how to wrap military puttees around ankle boots
Military Puttees: History, Uses and How to Wrap Them
June 17, 2026
Military Puttees in World War I and the Red Army It would be incorrect to say that military…
Muslim Battalion soldiers during tactical training before Operation Storm-333 in Afghanistan
Operation Storm-333: The Soviet VDV Assault on Amin’s Palace in Afghanistan
June 7, 2026
Operation Storm-333 and the Beginning of the Soviet-Afghan War On December 27, 1979, Soviet special forces carried out…
Portyanki vs Puttees comparison - Soviet Russian footwraps and military leg wraps
Puttees vs Portyanki in World War 1 – Which Military Footwear Was Better?
June 5, 2026
Puttees vs Portyanki – Why Soldiers Wrapped Their Legs in World War 1 The endless argument – puttees…
Soviet VDV soldiers in Afghanistan in 1981
9th Company in Afghanistan – Real War Stories and Rare Photos from a Soviet VDV Veteran (Part 2)
May 31, 2026
9th Company Afghanistan Through the Eyes of a Soviet VDV Veteran Earlier, we published the part 1 of…
Colorized photo of Soviet Red Army soldier wearing pre-war panamanka hat during the Battle of Khalkhin Gol in 1939
Soviet Panamanka Hat History – From NKVD to Afghanistan War (Part 1)
May 26, 2026
Soviet Panamanka Hat in the Red Army, World War II and Afghanistan War (Part 1) This is the …
Soviet GP-5 gas mask Cold War civil defense collage USSR respirator history
How to Use a GP-5 Gas Mask (Cold War Survival Guide)
May 19, 2026
How to Put On and Use the GP-5 Gas Mask Step by Step Imagine it’s the Cold War…
Soviet soldier with portyanki foot wraps compared to shocked German soldier during World War 2
Why German Soldiers Started Copying Soviet Portyanki During World War II
May 17, 2026
How Soviet Portyanki Helped Red Army Soldiers Survive The Russian Winter In the footage from the summer of…
Cold War Soviet soldiers wrapping portyanki foot wraps before putting on kirza boots.
Why Soviet Soldiers Used Portyanki Instead of Socks
May 15, 2026
“One! Two! Little doll!” says the scout while teaching a 12-year-old boy how to wrap portyanki foot wraps…
VDV soldiers from the movie 9th Company wearing M88 boots and telnyashka shirts
VDV 9th Company Afghanistan – The Real Battle of Hill 3234
May 12, 2026
VDV 9th Company Afghanistan and the Battle of Hill 3234 VDV 9th Company Afghanistan became one of the…
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