German staff officers in the field near the aircraft Fi 156 "Storch" (Fieseler Fi 156 Storch)

Hungarian soldiers are interrogating a Soviet prisoner of war. The man in the cap and black jacket is supposedly a policeman. On the left is a Wehrmacht officer

A column of German infantry moves along the streets of Rotterdam during the invasion of Holland

Luftwaffe soldiers from the air defense unit work with a stereoscopic rangefinder Kommandogerät 36 (Kdo. Gr. 36). The rangefinder was used to control the fire of anti-aircraft batteries equipped with Flak 18 series guns.

German soldiers and civilians at the May 1 celebration in occupied Smolensk.

German soldiers and civilians at the celebration of May 1 in occupied Smolensk

German assault gun StuG III Ausf. G, belonging to the 210th Assault Gun Brigade (StuG-Brig. 210) moves past the positions of the 1st Marine Infantry Division (1. Marine-Infanterie-Division) in the Ceden area (currently the Polish town of Cedynia - Cedynia).

German tankers repairing the engine of the Pz.Kpfw. IV with a short-barreled 75 mm gun.

German tank Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. H training tank division (Panzer-Lehr-Division), shot down in Normandy. In front of the tank lies a unitary high-explosive fragmentation shot Sprgr.34 (weight 8.71 kg, explosive - ammotol) to the 75-mm gun KwK.40 L / 48. The second shell lies on the body of the vehicle, in front of the turret.

A column of German infantry on the march on the Eastern Front. In the foreground, a soldier carries a 7.92 MG-34 machine gun on his shoulder.

Luftwaffe officers in front of a car in Nikolsky Lane in occupied Smolensk.

Employees of the organization Todt dismantle reinforced concrete French defenses in the Paris region. France 1940

A girl from the village of the Belgorod region sits with a balalaika on the trunk of a fallen tree

German soldiers rest near an army truck "Einheitsdiesel" (Einheits-Diesel).

Adolf Hitler with German generals inspects the fortifications of the Western Wall (also called the "Siegfried Line"). With a map in hand, the commander of the border troops of the Upper Rhine, Infantry General Alfred Wäger (Alfred Wäger, 1883-1956), third from the right is the chief of staff of the Wehrmacht High Command, Colonel-General Wilhelm Keitel (Wilhelm Keitel, 1882-1946). Second from the right is Reichsführer SS Heinrich Himmler (1900-1945). A cameraman is standing on the parapet in a raincoat.

Church of the Transfiguration in occupied Vyazma.

Pilots of the 53rd Luftwaffe Fighter Squadron (JG53) at an airfield in France. In the background are Messerschmitt Bf.109E fighters.

Artillery officers of the Wehrmacht African Corps, photographed by the corps commander, Lieutenant General Erwin Rommel (Erwin Eugen Johannes Rommel).

Calculation of the Swedish-made 40-mm automatic anti-aircraft gun "Bofors" on the cover of the Finnish airfield Suulajärvi.

Vehicles of the Hungarian army on Vorovskogo Street in occupied Belgorod. On the right is the Polish-Lithuanian church.

The commander of the 6th German Army, Field Marshal Walter von Reichenau (Walter von Reichenau, 10/8/1884-17/01/1942) stands near his staff car. Behind him stands the commander of the 297th Infantry Division, General of Artillery Max Pfeffer (Max Pfeffer, 06/12/1883-12/31/1955). There is a version according to which, according to the words of the Wehrmacht General Staff officer Paul Jordan (Paul Jordan), when in the first months of the war, during the offensive, the 6th Army collided with T-34 tanks, after a personal inspection of one of the tanks, von Reichenau told his officers : "If the Russians continue to produce these tanks, we will not win the war."

Finnish soldiers break camp in the forest before leaving their group. Petsamo Region

A salvo of 406-mm bow guns of the main caliber of the American battleship Missouri (Missouri (BB-63) during firing practice in the Atlantic..

Pilot of the 9th Squadron of the 54th Fighter Squadron (9.JG54) Wilhelm Schilling in the cockpit of a Messerschmitt Bf.109G-2 fighter at the Krasnogvardeysk airfield.

Adolf Hitler with guests at the table in his house in Obersalzberg. Pictured from left to right: Professor Morrel (Morrel), wife of Gauleiter Forster (Forster) and Hitler.

A group portrait of policemen against the backdrop of a temple in an occupied Soviet village.

A Hungarian soldier at the captured Soviet heavy artillery tractor "Voroshilovets".

Dismantled Soviet attack aircraft Il-2 in the occupied Ostrogozhsk, Voronezh region

Loading ammunition into the German assault gun StuG III. In the background is an ammunition carrier Sd.Kfz. 252 (leichte Gepanzerte Munitionskraftwagen).

Soviet prisoners of war are repairing the cobblestone pavement of the street before the parade of Finnish troops in the center of captured Vyborg.

Two German soldiers at a single 7.92 mm MG-34 machine gun mounted on a Lafette 34 machine gun in a position in the Mediterranean

Gun crews with their 88-mm FlaK 36 anti-aircraft guns on the German artillery support ferry "Siebel" during the voyage to Lahdenpohja (Lahdenpohja).

German soldier digging a trench in the Belgorod region

Destroyed and burned German tank Pz.Kpfw. V "Panther" in the Italian village south of Rome

The commander of the 6th motorized infantry brigade (Schützen-Brigade 6), Major General Erhard Raus (Erhard Raus, 1889 - 1956) with officers of his headquarters.

Lieutenant and Oberleutnant of the Wehrmacht confer in the steppe on the southern sector of the Eastern Front.

German soldiers wash off winter camouflage from a Sd.Kfz half-track armored personnel carrier. 251/1 Ausf.C "Hanomag" (Hanomag) at the hut in Ukraine.

Luftwaffe officers walk past cars in Nikolsky Lane in occupied Smolensk. The Assumption Cathedral rises in the background.

A German motorcyclist poses with the Bulgarian children of the occupied village.

An MG-34 machine gun and a Mauser rifle at German positions near an occupied Soviet village in the Belgorod region (Kursk region at the time of this photo).

A German tank Pz.Kpfw, shot down in the valley of the Volturno River. V "Panther" with tail number "202"

Graves of German soldiers in Ukraine.

German cars at the Trinity Cathedral (Cathedral of the Life-Giving Trinity) in occupied Vyazma.

A column of captured Red Army soldiers in a destroyed village near Belgorod.
A German field kitchen is visible in the background. Next, the StuG III self-propelled guns and the Horch 901 car.

Colonel General Heinz Guderian (1888 - 1954) and SS Hauptsturmührer Michael Wittmann

Italian dictator Benito Mussolini and Field Marshal Wilhelm Keitel at the Feltre airfield.

German road signs at the intersection of K. Marx and Medvedovsky (now Lenin) streets in the occupied Ostrogozhsk, Voronezh region

Wehrmacht soldier near road signs in occupied Smolensk. Behind the ruined building, the domes of the Assumption Cathedral are visible.
The inscriptions on the plate on the right side of the picture: Bridge (to the right) and Dorogobuzh (to the left).

A German sentry and a soldier (probably the driver) at the Mercedes-Benz 770 headquarters car near the Market Square in occupied Smolensk.
In the background is a view of Cathedral Hill with the Assumption Cathedral.

Wounded on the Eastern Front, a Hungarian soldier is resting after bandaging.

Soviet partisan executed by the Hungarian invaders in Stary Oskol. During the war, Stary Oskol was part of the Kursk region, at present it is part of the Belgorod region.

A group of Soviet prisoners of war sit on logs during a break during forced labor on the Eastern Front

Portrait of a Soviet prisoner of war in a shabby overcoat

Soviet captured soldiers at the assembly point on the Eastern Front.

Soviet soldiers with raised hands surrender in a wheat field.

German soldiers in Koenigsberg next to the MG 151/20 aircraft gun in the infantry version

The bombed-out historic center of the German city of Nuremberg

A Finnish soldier armed with a Suomi submachine gun in the battle for the village of Povenets.

Mountain rangers of the Wehrmacht against the backdrop of a hunting house.

Luftwaffe sergeant near the airfield. Presumably an anti-aircraft gunner.

Jet fighter Messerschmitt Me-262A-1a from the 3rd group of the 2nd combat training squadron of the Luftwaffe (III / EJG 2).

Finnish soldiers and German rangers are sailing in boats along the Lutto River (Lotta, Lutto-joki) in the Petsamo region (currently Pechenga, since 1944 part of the Murmansk region).

German soldiers are tuning the Torn.Fu.d2 radio station, a backpack VHF infantry radio station manufactured by Telefunken.

The crash site of the Re. 2000 Heja pilot István Horthy (István Horthy, 1904-1942, eldest son of Hungarian regent Miklós Horthy) from the 1/1 fighter squadron of the Hungarian Air Force. After takeoff, the plane lost control and crashed near the airfield near the village of Alekseevka, Kursk Region (now the Belgorod Region). The pilot is dead.

Citizens at the Annunciation Market in German-occupied Kharkov. In the foreground are artisan shoemakers repairing shoes.

Finnish troops at the parade at the monument to Swedish Marshal Thorgils Knutsson in captured Vyborg

Three marines of the 1st Kriegsmarine Division (1. marine-infanterie-division) in a trench on the bridgehead in the Zeden area (currently the Polish town of Cedynia - Cedynia).

German pilots look at peasant oxen at one of the airfields in Bulgaria. A Junkers Ju-87 dive bomber is visible behind. On the right is a Bulgarian officer of the ground forces.

Technique of the 6th German Panzer Division in East Prussia before the invasion of the USSR. In the center of the picture is the Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.D tank. An Adler 3 Gd car is visible in the background. In the foreground, parallel to the tank, is a Horch 901 Typ 40 vehicle.

Wehrmacht officer whistle gives the command to attack.

German officer on the street of occupied Poltava

German soldiers during street fighting. Medium tank Pzkpfw (Panzer Kampfwagen) III on the right
initially armed with 37s, and then with a 50-mm 1/42 cannon. However, their shots were
unable to penetrate the inclined armor protection of the Soviet T-34, as a result of which
the designers re-equipped the machine with a 50-mm KwK 39 L / 60 gun
(60 calibers versus 42) with a longer barrel, which made it possible to increase
the initial velocity of the projectile.

German staff car with a French flag on the hood, abandoned on the coast of France.

The photographs were taken on May 8, 1945 during the retreat of the 6th Wehrmacht Infantry Division in the Neustadt area near Tafelfichte in the Ore Mountains (Bohemia, modern Nové Město pod Smrkem, Czechoslovakia) and the Giant Mountains (Riesengebirge, Silesia, Czechoslovakia). The photos were taken by a German soldier who still had Agfa color film in his camera.
Retreating soldiers at rest. The emblem of the 6th Infantry Division is visible on the cart.

Adolf Hitler and German officers walking their dogs at Rastenburg headquarters. Winter 1942-1943.

German dive bombers Junkers Yu-87 (Ju.87B-1) in flight over the English Channel.

Soviet captured soldiers butcher a horse for meat in a village in the Kursk region.

Adolf Hitler takes the parade of German troops in Warsaw in honor of the victory over Poland. Hitler, Colonel General Walther von Brauchitsch, Lieutenant General Friedrich von Kochenhausen, Colonel General Gerd von Rundstedt, Colonel General Wilhelm Keitel, General Johannes Blaskowitz and General Albert Kesselring and others are present on the podium.
German Horch-830R Kfz.16/1 vehicles are passing in the foreground.

German soldiers at the wrecked Soviet T-34 tank in the village of Verkhne-Kumsky

Oberfeldwebel of the Luftwaffe gives a coin to a gypsy girl on the island of Crete.

A German soldier inspects a Polish PZL.23 Karas bomber at the Okentse airfield

Destroyed bridge across the river Seim in Lgov, Kursk region. In the background is the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.

Parts of the Koll tank brigade (Panzer Brigade Koll) enter the Soviet village near Vyazma. The column consists of Pz.35(t) tanks.

German soldiers parse letters - they are looking for items addressed to them.

German soldiers at their dugout listening to their comrade play the accordion during a lull during the fighting in the Belgorod region

German dive bombers Junkers Ju-87 (Ju.87D) from the 7th Squadron of the 1st Dive Bomber Squadron (7.StG1) before taking off on the Eastern Front.

A column of German vehicles of the Koll tank brigade (Panzer Brigade Koll) moves along the road near Vyazma. In the foreground is the command tank Pz.BefWg.III of the brigade commander, Colonel Richard Koll. Phänomen Granit 25H ambulances are visible behind the tank. On the side of the road, towards the column is a group of Soviet prisoners of war.

A mechanized column of the 7th German Panzer Division (7. Panzer-Division) drives past a Soviet truck burning on the side of the road. In the foreground is the Pz.38(t) tank. Three Soviet prisoners of war are walking towards the column. Vyazma region.

German artillerymen are firing from the 210-mm Mrs.18 heavy field howitzer (21 cm Mörser 18) at the positions of the Soviet troops.

Oil leak from the engine of a German fighter Messerschmitt Bf.110C-5 from the 7th Squadron of the 2nd Training Squadron (7.(F)/LG 2). The picture was taken at the Greek airfield after the return of 7. (F) / LG 2 from a sortie to cover the landing on Crete.

Field Marshal Erich von Manstein, commander of Army Group South, and Panzer General Hermann Breith, commander of 3rd Panzer Corps, at a meeting near the map of military operations before Operation Citadel.

Destroyed Soviet tanks in a field near Stalingrad. Aerial photography from a German aircraft.

Polish prisoners of war captured during the Polish campaign of the Wehrmacht.

German soldiers at the assembly point, taken prisoner by the Allies during the Italian campaign.

German command tank Pz.BefWg.III from the Koll tank brigade (Panzer Brigade Koll) in a village near Vyazma. In the hatch of the tank turret is the brigade commander, Colonel Richard Koll.

If you do not take into account the dress uniform, then the most important component of military uniforms is its functionality. During combat operations, soldiers must be provided with uniforms and equipment for convenience and practicality. Since ancient times, by the uniform they recognize their own and others. The goal is pursued one - to be seen where to shoot and recognize their comrades and the enemy.

In ancient times, when the uniform of a warrior was pretentious and replete with decorations and decorations, there were curious cases. A historical fact is the case of a partisan of the Patriotic War of 1812, Denis Davydov. The peasants, who were poorly versed in uniforms, mistook his detachment for French marauders or food masters and fought back, which almost cost the life of the brave partisan and his subordinates. The whole thing was in the hussar uniform, which was similar to the hussar uniform of the French. After that, Denis Davydov was forced to change into a Cossack, which was the uniform of Russian Cossacks.

During Second World War the personnel of the army of the warring parties were uniformed in accordance with the traditions and economic capabilities of a particular state. At the same time, it should be noted that uniforms and equipment changed depending on the time of year and the theaters of hostilities.

Workers' and Peasants' Red Army

On the equipment and uniforms Red Army soldiers were influenced by the Winter (Soviet-Finnish) War of 1939-1940. It was during the fighting on the Karelian Isthmus and north of Lake Ladoga that it turned out that the soldiers of the Red Army were not equipped for winter conditions. “The equipment of the troops, primarily riflemen, did not meet the conditions of the winter, and even as severe as the past one. There were few felt boots, there were not enough sheepskin coats, mittens; the old helmet turned out to be of little use for wearing in great cold and it needed to be replaced with a hat with earflaps.

The soldiers of the Red Army were equipped according to the time of year. In the summer, caps and helmets were used. The most common was a steel helmet. In the initial period of the war, the old SSH-40 helmet was still used, which had an overlay on its top. It was provided in order to protect the head from a saber strike. According to legend, Marshal of the Soviet Union Semyon Mikhailovich Budyonny took part in its development. However, it was replaced by a lighter and more comfortable steel helmet. The war has shown That the enemy will not reach saber attacks.

The personnel of the rifle units were shod in cowhide boots or boots with canvas windings. During mass mobilization, cowhide boots were replaced with tarpaulin boots.

.

0 - Soldiers of the Red Army during the fighting in Stalingrad

2 - Soldiers of the Red Army at the end of the war

In winter, hats with earflaps were introduced with falling earmuffs that protected the neck and ears from frost. The lightweight uniform also included cotton tunics with breast welt pockets, trousers, and a cloth overcoat with hooks. The overcoat was adjusted taking into account her socks on a quilted padded jacket.

for storage property a satchel or duffel bag was used. However, even during the Finnish campaign, it was noted that there were not enough satchels for supply, which was more convenient as an item of equipment. But its production (leather or tarpaulin was used) was expensive. Therefore, the soldiers of the rifle units were equipped with duffel bags.

Water was carried in an aluminum flask. To save aluminum, flasks of the same shape began to be made from bottle glass with a stoppered (rather than screw) cork. These flasks are also hanging in a bag from the belt. But neither convenience nor practicality, they did not possess. At the end of the Great Patriotic War, their production was almost curtailed.

Grenades and cartridges were worn on the belt - in special pouches. In addition, the outfit included a bag for a gas mask. The Red Army wore raincoats, which could be used to design individual and group tents. The tent set included an aluminum peg and a coil of hemp rope. In winter, the uniform was supplemented with a short fur coat, a padded jacket or padded jacket, fur mittens, felt boots and padded pants.

Thus, the uniform of the Red Army seemed to have been thought out to the smallest detail: in the duffel bag of the 1942 model there was even a compartment for an ax. It follows from the documents that the uniform of a Red Army soldier was of high quality and practical. Numerous pockets, bags for ammunition greatly facilitated the conduct of hostilities.

Army of Nazi Germany (Wehrmacht)

field uniform a Wehrmacht soldier included: a steel helmet with a double-sided cover, an overcoat, a gas mask case, a harness, rifle or automatic pouches, a cape, a bowler hat. A leather satchel was used to store property. German soldiers put on leather boots. Moreover, by the beginning of the German attack on the Soviet Union, the leather and footwear industry throughout Europe was working for the needs of the Third Reich. Wehrmacht uniforms were produced at the Hugo Boss factory and were complete for European territories. The calculation for a lightning war did not provide for the procurement of warm clothes (short coats, fur products, felted boots and hats). The eastern front, with its frosts, required a completely different approach. The first winter the soldiers froze.

First of all, warm clothing saves from frost. Troops provided with uniforms for the season are able to withstand any frost. Analyzing the memoirs of German servicemen relating to this period, you understand how unsatisfactorily the Wehrmacht army was provided, buried in the winter of 1941. “The lack of warm clothes became our main misfortune in the next few months and caused our soldiers a lot of suffering ...” - recalls the commander of the 2nd tank army (group), Colonel General G. Guderian.

.

1 - Wehrmacht soldiers in summer uniform 1941
2 - Wehrmacht soldiers in winter uniform after 1943.

By the second winter, things had changed. AT uniform insulated jackets, quilted pants were introduced, as well as woolen gloves, sweaters and socks. But this was not enough. To solve the problem of supplying the troops with warm uniforms and footwear and to save their soldiers from the cold, the troops began to make straw boots that are worn over ordinary boots. However, in the memoirs of German soldiers, which have now appeared on the bookshelves, one can find a comparative assessment of the uniforms of Soviet and German soldiers. This assessment was not in favor of the latter's uniform. Most of all, there are complaints about German soldier's overcoats, sewn from fabric that is not adapted to any frost due to the low wool content.

British Royal Armed Forces

The British soldiers did not have a single field uniform. It was different depending on the parts of the country that are part of the Commonwealth countries. The personnel of the dominion units had elements and distinctive features in uniforms, including field uniforms. Field uniform included: a collared blouse or woolen shirt, a steel helmet, loose trousers, a gas mask bag, a holster with a long belt, black boots and overcoats (jackets). By the beginning of hostilities in Europe, a uniform was adopted that differed from the previous one in separate elements. In connection with the mass call of recruits, the form was simplified and became more universal.

During the war, there were minor changes, in particular, a lining appeared at the collar and other elements of clothing that prevented the rough twill from rubbing against exposed skin. Buckles began to be produced with teeth. Instead of boots, British soldiers were provided with boots with short windings. British soldiers had to wear a heavy down-lined tropal cloak. Knitted balaclavas were worn under helmets in cold weather. In the conditions of the African desert, the uniform was lightweight and often consisted of shorts and shirts with short sleeves.

It should be noted that the uniforms of the British army were intended for the European theater of operations. When landing in Norway, soldiers of special units were provided with Arctic uniforms, but this was not widespread.

1 - Sgt. Territorial Guard of Wales. England, 1940
2 - Sgt. 1st Command, 1942

United States military

field uniform American soldiers for many years was considered the most convenient and thoughtful in the conditions of World War II. The uniform included a woolen shirt, a light field jacket, trousers with linen spats, low brown boots, a helmet or cap. Functionality was distinguished by all the clothes of US soldiers. The jacket was fastened with a zipper and buttons and was equipped with slit pockets on the sides. The best equipment allowed the Americans to become arctic kit, consisting of a warm parka jacket, lace-up boots with fur. The command of the US Armed Forces was convinced that the American soldier had the best equipment. This statement is controversial, however, it has its own reason.

..

3 - Officer of the 10th Mountain Rifle Division

Japanese Imperial Army

During World War II, the Japanese had three types of uniform. Each of them included a uniform, trousers, an overcoat and a cape. For warm weather, a cotton version is provided, for cold weather - woolen. The outfit also included a helmet, boots or boots. Warm uniforms were provided by servicemen operating in the north of China, Manchuria and Korea.

For a more severe climate, such uniforms were not suitable, because the uniform included overcoats with fur cuffs, woolen quilted trousers, and underpants. It was suitable only for certain latitudes with a tropical climate.

.

2 - Japanese army infantryman in tropical uniform.

Italian army

Outfit Italian soldiers were more suited to the southern European climate. For operations in severe weather conditions of 1941-943, the uniform of the Italian military was completely unsuitable. During the Second World War, the soldiers of the Italian Armed Forces wore a shirt and tie, a single-breasted tunic with a waist belt, breeches with tapes or wool knee socks, ankle boots. Some soldiers were more comfortable using breeches.

A uniform not suitable for winter campaigns. The overcoat was sewn from cheap coarse cloth, which did not warm at all in the cold. The army was not equipped with winter clothing. Insulated options were available only to representatives of the mountain troops. The Italian newspaper "Provincia Como" in 1943 noted that only a tenth of the soldiers during their stay in Russia were provided with a suitable uniform for this.

Italian command statistics report that 3,600 soldiers suffered from hypothermia during the first winter alone.

1 - Private Army Group "Albania"

Army of France

French soldiers fought in colored uniform. They were outfitted in single-breasted button-down tunics, double-breasted overcoats with side pocket flaps. The floors of the overcoat could be buttoned back to make it easier to walk. The clothes had belt loops. Foot troops wore breeches with windings. There were three types of hats. The most popular was the kepi. Adrian's helmets were also actively worn. Their distinguishing feature is the presence of an emblem on the front.

In very cold weather, the French uniform expanded its range to a sheepskin coat. Such clothes can hardly be called optimal for different weather conditions.

1 - Private of the Free French Army
2 - Private Moroccan troops "Free France"

Determine which dress was exemplary difficult. Each army was provided depending on the economic opportunities and the planned regions of the troops' operations. However, there were often miscalculations when the calculation was based on a lightning war, and the troops had to operate in severe cold conditions.

Photo: Alexey Gorshkov

The WAS special project is dedicated to the 72nd anniversary of the surrender of Nazi Germany. Study and compare the infantry uniforms of the seven armies that fought in the European theater of World War II.

Andrey, 35 years old, elevator maintenance engineer

Form: Wehrmacht, 1945

WHAT WEARED

This is a uniform set of 1940, but it could be seen at the end of the war. In 1945, the uniform of different times was already used in the German army. The supply was broken, and everything they had was given out from the warehouses. The set did not remain in use for long even after the war, in the occupation zones until the formation of the GDR and the FRG.

The German uniform made of woolen cloth is considered hot for the summer, but it is comfortable. In autumn and early spring, it is much better than in the cotton tunic of the Red Army. During these seasons, the Germans were in a better position.

DETAILS

Caps of the 1943 model entered the Wehrmacht instead of caps. The headdresses of mountain rangers were taken as a sample. Unlike the cap, the cap has a visor to protect the eyes from rain and sun. The lapels are detachable to cover the ears and neck. Closer to 1945, the model was simplified: the lapels became false, decorative.

In battle, they wore a steel helmet. I have it of the 1942 model, also simplified to reduce the cost of production. For example, stamping is now without bends at the edges. And yet, the German helmet protects the ears and neck better than the Soviet one.

The color of the gaps on the buttonholes determined the type of troops. Green (later grey) clearance is a badge of infantry. In the artillery gaps were red. Chevrons were not supposed to be ordinary.

On the pocket is an infantry badge. This is not a reward. It was issued for 10-15 days spent at the front. In fact, this is a certificate of a participant in hostilities.

EQUIPMENT

On my back I have an unloading frame, which is attached to the harness belts. It was introduced at the end of 1941 to increase the number of items worn by a soldier. It can be combined with a backpack or used without it.

A bean-shaped bowler hat is fixed on the frame (tourists still use similar ones) and a raincoat section with a tent set: pegs, half-racks. The tent is assembled from four such panels. A bread bag was fixed under the tent, in which everything needed for a short combat operation could be put: a rifle cleaning kit, a sweater, a towel, a soap dish.

MILITARY UNIFORM OF THE SECOND WORLD

The military uniform of the USSR has gone through several significant periods in the history of the country. For the Red Army, it was introduced immediately after the revolution, in 1918. But a few years later, with a change in military leadership, a revision of uniforms followed. This was done in order to erase the bloody imprint of the revolution.

In the prewar period, insignia for military ranks were introduced, which required changes in uniforms. The military uniform of the USSR was also improved during the war with Germany, and after the victory over fascism, it changed about once every 10 years, and this continued until 1991.

front-line soldier

Corporal (1) in the uniform of the 1943 model. The insignia from the buttonholes were transferred to shoulder straps. The SSH-40 helmet became widespread since 1942. Around the same time, submachine guns began to enter the troops in massive quantities. This corporal is armed with a 7.62 mm Shpagin submachine gun - PPSh-41 - with a 71-round drum magazine. Spare magazines in pouches on the waist belt next to the pouch for three hand grenades. In 1944, along with the drum magazine for the PPSh-41, a 35-round open-end magazine began to be produced, also suitable for the PPS-43. Carob magazines were carried in pouches in three compartments. Grenades were usually carried in pouches on the waist belt. By the beginning of the war, there were pouches for one grenade, in this case the F-1 (Za) grenade is shown. More practical pouches for three grenades appeared later, a pouches with a fragmentation grenade RG-42 (Зb) are shown. Pouches with two compartments were intended for high-explosive grenades RGD-33, here a grenade with a fragmentation ring (Zc) is shown. The duffel bag of the 1942 model had a simple to primitive design. Each section had an ax, which was carried by one of the soldiers on a waist belt in a special case (5). A new type of bowler hat (6), similar to the German model. Enamel mug (7). Due to the lack of aluminum, glass flasks with a cork stopper were found in the troops (8). The glass of the flask could be green or brown, as well as transparent. The flasks were suspended from the waist belt by means of a cloth cover. The BN gas mask was equipped with a speech box and an improved TSh filter (9). Gas mask bag with two side pockets for spare eyepiece lenses and a pencil with anti-fogging compound. The spare ammunition pouch was hung on the back from the waist belt and contained six standard five-shots for both (10).

Rookie

Private (1 and 2) in the summer field uniform of the 1936 model with insignia of the 1941 model. Helmet of the 1936 model and boots with windings. Field equipment of the 1936 model, almost all equipment of this type was lost in the first year of fighting. The equipment includes a duffel bag, a roll with an overcoat and a raincoat, a food bag, cartridge pouches with two compartments, a sapper shovel, a flask and a gas mask bag. The Red Army soldier is armed with a 7.62-mm Mosin rifle of the 1891/30 model. The bayonet is attached in the opposite direction for ease of carrying. A bakelite medallion (3), a sapper shovel with a case (4), an aluminum flask with a case (5), a bandolier for 14 rifle clips (6) are shown. In the future, instead of leather equipment, tarpaulin was produced. Two five-shot clips (7) were placed in each compartment of the cartridge pouch. The idle pot (8) served both as a saucepan and as a bowl. Boots (9) with windings (10). Gas mask BS with a bag (11). The protrusion between the eye sockets made it possible to wipe the glass that was fogged from the inside and clear the nose. The gas mask was equipped with a T-5 filter.

Uniform of a German corporal (non-commissioned officer)

Uniform of a German corporal (non-commissioned officer), 1939-1940 01- M-35 field jacket with the emblem of a non-commissioned officer in 02- M-35 steel helmet with Heeres markings 03- Zeltbahn M-31 tent fabric camouflage "Splittermuster" 04- gray ("Steingrau") trousers 05 - leather belt 06 - gas mask filters 07 - M-38 gas mask 08 - M-24 grenade 09 - black leather pouch 10 - M-31 aluminum bowler hat 11 - boots 12-7, 92 mm Mauser 98k 13- Seitengewehr 84/98 bayonet 14- sapper shovel.

Lieutenant's uniform of the 82nd Airborne Sicilly

Uniform of Lieutenant of the 82nd Airborne Sicilly, 1943 01- M2 helmet with camouflage net 02- M1942 jacket 03- M1942 trousers 04- M1934 woolen shirt 05- boots 06- M1936 Carrying belt with M1916 holster for Colt M1911 and pistol 07- M1936 straps 08- M1A1 carbine 09- M2A1 gas mask 10 - M1910 folding shovel 11- M1942 bowler hat 12- M1910 bag 13- dog tags 14- M1918 Mk I knife 15- M1936 backpack

Uniform Luftwaffe Hauptmann (Captain)

Uniform Luftwaffe Hauptmann (captain), FW-190-A8 pilot, Jagdgeschwader 300 "Wild Sau", Germany 1944 01- LKP N101 headphones 02- Nietsche & Günther Fl. 30550 goggles 03- Drager model 10-69 oxygen mask 04- Hankart 05- AK 39Fl. compass 06-25 mm Walther Flarepistol M-43 with ammunition on the belt 07- holster 08- FW-190 parachute 09- aviation boots 10- M-37 Luftwaffe breeches 11- Luftwaffe leather jacket with Hauptmann emblem and Luftwaffe armband

Private ROA (Vlasov's army)

Private ROA (Vlasov's army), 1942-45: 01- Dutch field jacket with ROA on buttonholes and shoulder straps, Heeres eagle on the right chest 02- M-40 trousers 03- medallion 04- M-34 cap with ROA 05- boots 06- M-42 gaiters 07- Grman unloading belt with pouches 08- M-24 grenade 09- M-31 bowler hat 10- Bayonet 11- M-39 straps 12- M-35 helmet with camouflage net 13- "New life" magazine for " Eastern "volunteers 14-7.62 mm Mosin 1891/30 g

US Army Infantry Uniform 1942-1945

US Army infantry uniform 1942-1945: 01- M1 helmet 02- M1934 shirt 03- M1934 sweatshirt 04- M1941 trousers 05- boots 06- M1938 leggings 07- M1926 life buoy 08- M1937 ammo belt 09- M1924 personal care products 10 - M1910 bowler hat 11- gas mask 12- M1918A2 Browning Automatic Rifle with M1907 belt 13- patches 14, 15- allowances 16- sleeve badges: A-1st Armored B-2nd C-3rd Infantry E-34th F -1st Inf

Kriegsmarine (Navy) Matrosengefreiter

Kriegsmarine (navy) Matrosengefreiter, 1943 01- naval jacket, Iron Cross 2nd class, veteran crew badge on the left side of the chest, Matrosengefreiter badges 02- Kriegsmarine cap 03- naval pea coat 04- "deck" trousers 05- Signal magazine, July 1943 06- tobacco 07- cigarette paper 08- "Hygenischer Gummischutz-Dublosan" 09- boots

Major Maintenance Parts

Major of the maintenance unit of the 1st Polish armored division, Germany, 1945 01- M 37/40 everyday uniform 02- black epaulette of the 1st armored division 03-1st Div badge 04- Silver cross from Virtuti Militari 05- M 37 straps 06-11.43mm Colt M1911 pistol 07- officer boots 08- leather vest 09- drivers gloves 10- armored unit driving helmet 11- AT Mk II motorcycle helmet 12- Mk II helmet 12- leggings

Private, Luftwaffe, France 1944

Private, Luftwaffe, France 1944 01- M-40 helmet 02- Einheitsfeldmütze M-43 cap 03- M-43 camouflaged T-shirt "Sumpftarnmuster" 04- pants 05- shoulder straps 06-7,92 mm Mauser 98k rifle 07- M-31 breadbag 08- M-31 bowler hat 09- M-39 shoes 10 - medallion 11- "Esbit" pocket heater

Lieutenant uniform, RSI "Decima MAS", Italy

Lieutenant uniform, RSI "Decima MAS", Italy, 1943-44 01- "Basco" beret 02- Model 1933 helmet 03- Model 1941 flight jacket, leutenant badges on cuffs, lapel badges 04- German belt 05- holster for Beretta 1933 and pistol 06- German M-24 grenade 07-9 mm TZ-45 SMG 08- pouches 09- trousers 10 - German mountain boots 11- badge of participation in the Folgore company

8 SS-Kavallerie division "Florian Geyer"

8 SS-Kavallerie division "Florian Geyer", summer 1944. 01- M-40 Feldmutze cap 02- M-40 helmet with SS badges 03- field jacket 44- new cut, cavalry badges on shoulder straps 04- trousers 05- M-35 belt 06- wool shirt 07- M-39 straps 08- "Florian Geyer" armband 09 - woolen gloves 10 - Panzerfaust 60 11-7.92 mm Sturmgewehr 44 12 - M-84/98 bayonet 13 - canvas pouches 14 - M-24 grenade 15 - Waffen SS salary card 16 - M-31 bowler hat 17- M-43 leather boots 18- leggings

Captain

Captain- submarine commander, 1941 01 - officer's jacket, Kapitanleutnant insignia 02 - Kninght Cross of the Iron Cross 03 - submarine badge 04 - Unofficial badges of the 1st and 9th submarine fleets 05 - cigarettes Kriegsmarine cap officers - 06 07 - leather gloves 08 - leather coat "U-Boot-Päckchen" 09 - boots 10 - "Junghans" 11 - naval binoculars

Partisan of the Peasant Battalion

Partisan of the Peasant Battalion (Battaliony Chlopskie), Poland, 1942 01- wz.1937 "rogatywka" cap 02- jacket 03- pants 04- boots 05- improvised headband 06-9 mm MP-40 SMG

The uniform of the Soviet tank commander, 1939 01- tarpaulin hat with earmuffs 02- model 1935 cap with a red star 03- linen overalls 04- canvas bag for gas mask 05- officer boots 06- holster for 7.62 mm Nagant 07- leather zama tablet 08- officer's belt

Polish infantry uniform 1939

Polish infantry uniform 1939 01- wz.1939 “rogatywka” cap 02- wz.1937 “rogatywka” cap 03- wz.1937 steel helmet 04- wz.1936 jacket 05- token 06- WSR wz.1932 gas mask in canvas bag 07- hygiene products 08 - leather pouches 09 - wz.1933 breadbag 10 - leather unloading belt 11 - wz.1938 bowler hat 12 - wz.1928 bayonet 13 - folding shovel in a leather case 14 - wz.1933 backpack with a blanket 15 - biscuits 16 - wz .1931 combined bowler hat 17- spoon + fork set 18- owijacze fabric straps used instead of socks 19- boots 20 - GR-31 fragmentation grenade 21- GR-31 offensive grenade 22-7.92 mm Mauser 1898a rifle 23-7 .92 mm 24-WZ clip cartridges. 1924 bayonet 25

Private, Red Army

Private, Red Army 01- Cap "earflaps" 02- coat 03- felt boots 04- belt 05-7.62 mm Tokarev SVT-40 rifle 06- bayonet 07- ammunition 08- gas mask bag 09- folding shovel

NKVD lieutenant, 1940-41

NKVD lieutenant, 1940-41 01- Model 1935 NKVD cap 02- Model 1925 NKVD tunic 03- dark blue cloth trousers with raspberry piping 04- boots 05- waist belt 06- holster for Nagant 1895 revolver 07- model 1932 officer's tablet 08- NKVD badge established in 1940 09 - Red Star badge 10 - military ID 11 - revolver cartridges

Soviet infantry, 1941 01- Model 1940 steel helmet 02- padded jacket 03- field trousers 04- boots 05-7.62 mm Mosin 91/30 rifle 06- rifle oiler 07- Model 1930 bandolier 09- military ID 10- tablet

Soviet infantry officer, 1943 01 - model 1943 "tunic" sweatshirt, officer's version 02 - model 1935 breeches 03 - model 1935 cap 04 - model 1940 helmet 05 - model 1935 officer's belt and straps 06 - Nagant holster 1895 07 - tablet 08- officer boots

Red intelligence officer 1943

Red intelligence officer 1943 01- Model 1935 cap 02- camouflage clothing, autumn 03-7.62 mm PPS-43 04- canvas bag for ammunition 05- officer's belt 1935 06- leather case with 7.62mm Pistol TT 07- Model 1940 knife 08 - Adrianov's compass 10 - officer's boots

Military insignia are present on the uniform of military personnel and indicate the corresponding personal rank, a certain affiliation to one of the types of armed forces (in this case, the Wehrmacht), branch of service, department or service.

Interpretation of the concept of "Wehrmacht"

These are the "defense forces" in 1935-1945. In other words, the Wehrmacht (photo below) is nothing but the armed forces of Nazi Germany. At the head is the Supreme Command of the Armed Forces of the country, in whose subordination were the ground forces, the Navy and the Air Force, and the SS troops. They were led by the main commands (OKL, OKH, OKM) and the commanders-in-chief of various types of the Armed Forces (since 1940 also the SS troops). Wehrmacht - Reich Chancellor A. Hitler. A photo of Wehrmacht soldiers is shown below.

According to historical data, the word in question in the German-speaking states denoted the armed forces of any country. It acquired its usual meaning when the NSDAP came to power.

On the eve of the Second World War, the Wehrmacht numbered approximately three million people, and its maximum strength was 11 million people (as of December 1943).

Varieties of military signs

These include:

Uniform and insignia of the Wehrmacht

There were several varieties of uniforms and clothing. Each soldier had to independently monitor the condition of his weapons and uniforms. Their replacement was carried out in accordance with the established procedure or in case of serious damage during the exercise. Military uniforms lost color very quickly due to washing and daily brushing.

The shoes of the soldiers were subjected to a thorough inspection (at all times, bad boots were a serious problem).

Since the formation of the Reichswehr in the period 1919 - 1935), the military uniform has become unified for all existing German states. Its color is "feldgrau" (translated as "field gray") - a wormwood shade with a predominant green pigment.

A new uniform (the uniform of the Wehrmacht - the armed forces of Nazi Germany in the period 1935 - 1945) was introduced along with a new steel helmet model. Ammunition, uniforms and a helmet outwardly did not differ from their predecessors (which existed back in the Kaiser era).

At the whim of the Fuhrer, the smartness of the military was emphasized by a large number of various elements with signs, stripes, piping, badges, etc.). By applying a black-white-red imperial cockade and a tricolor shield on the helmet on the right side, devotion to National Socialism was expressed. The appearance of the imperial tricolor dates back to mid-March 1933. In October 1935, it was supplemented by an imperial eagle holding a swastika in its claws. At this time, the Reichswehr was renamed the Wehrmacht (the photo was shown earlier).

This topic will be considered in relation to the Ground Forces and Waffen SS.

Insignia of the Wehrmacht and specifically the SS troops

To begin with, some points should be clarified. First, the SS troops and the SS organization itself are not identical concepts. The latter is the militant component of the Nazi Party, formed by members of a public organization, parallel to the SS, conducting their profiling activities (worker, shopkeeper, civil servant, etc.). They were allowed to wear a black uniform, which since 1938 has been replaced by a light gray uniform with two Wehrmacht-type shoulder straps. The latter reflected the general SS ranks.

As for the SS troops, it can be said that they are a kind of security detachments (“reserve troops” - “Dead Head” formations - Hitler’s own troops), in which only members of the SS were accepted. They were equated with the soldiers of the Wehrmacht.

The difference in the ranks of members of the SS organization in buttonholes existed until 1938. On the black uniform there was a single shoulder strap (on the right shoulder), by which it was possible to find out only the category of a particular SS member (private or non-commissioned officer, or junior or senior officer, or general). And after the introduction of a light gray uniform (1938), another distinctive feature was added - shoulder straps of the Wehrmacht type.

The insignia of the SS and the military personnel and members of the organization are the same. However, the former still wear a field uniform, which is an analogue of the Wehrmacht. It has two epaulettes, outwardly similar to those of the Wehrmacht, and their military rank insignia are identical.

The rank system, and consequently the insignia, underwent many changes, the last of which occurred in May 1942 (they did not transform until May 1945).

The military ranks of the Wehrmacht were designated with buttonholes, epaulettes, galloons and chevrons on the collar, and the last two insignia were also on the sleeves, as well as special sleeve patches mainly on camouflage military clothing, various stripes (gaps of a contrasting color) on trousers, headwear design.

It was the field uniform of the SS that was finally established around 1938. If we consider the cut as a comparison criterion, then we can say that the uniform of the Wehrmacht (ground forces) and the uniform of the SS were no different. In color, the second one was a little grayer and lighter, the green tint was practically not visible.

Also, if we describe the insignia of the SS (specifically, the patch), then the following points can be distinguished: the imperial eagle was slightly above the middle of the segment from the shoulder to the elbow of the left sleeve, its pattern differed in the shape of the wings (there were often cases when it was the Wehrmacht eagle that was sewn onto the field uniform of the SS ).

Also, a distinctive feature, for example, on the SS tank uniform, was the fact that the buttonholes, like those of the Wehrmacht tankers, were in pink edging. The insignia of the Wehrmacht in this case is represented by the presence of a “dead head” in both buttonholes. SS tankers in the left buttonhole could have insignia by rank, and in the right - either a "dead head" or SS runes (in some cases it might not have signs or, for example, in a number of divisions the emblem of tankmen was placed there - skull with crossbones). Even buttonholes were located on the collar, the size of which was 45x45 mm.

Also, the insignia of the Wehrmacht include the way the numbers of battalions or companies were squeezed out on the buttons of the uniform, which was not done in the case of the SS military uniform.

Emblematics of epaulettes, although identical to the Wehrmacht's, were quite rare (the exception was the first tank division, where the monogram on epaulettes was regularly worn).

Another difference in the system accumulating SS insignia is how the soldiers who were candidates for the rank of SS navigator wore a lace of the same color as his piping at the bottom of the shoulder strap. This rank is an analogue of the Gefreiter in the Wehrmacht. And candidates for SS Unterscharführer also wore a nine-millimeter wide galloon (braid embroidered with silver) at the bottom of the shoulder strap. This rank is an analogue of a non-commissioned officer in the Wehrmacht.

As for the ranks of the rank and file, there was a difference in buttonholes and sleeve patches, which were above the elbow, but below the imperial eagle in the center of the left sleeve.

If we consider camouflage clothing (where there are no buttonholes and shoulder straps), we can say that the SS men on it never had insignia in ranks, but they preferred to release collars with their buttonholes over this one.

In general, the discipline of wearing a uniform in the Wehrmacht was much higher than in the troops of which they allowed themselves a large number of liberties regarding this issue, and their generals and officers did not seek to stop this kind of violation, on the contrary, they often made similar ones. And this is only a small part of the distinctive features of the uniforms of the Wehrmacht and the SS troops.

To summarize all of the above, we can conclude that the insignia of the Wehrmacht is much wiser than not only the SS, but also the Soviet ones.

Ranks of the ground forces

They were presented as follows:

• privates;
• non-commissioned officers without belts (galoon or belt sling for wearing a tasha, cold, and later firearms);
• non-commissioned officers with belts;
• lieutenants;
• captains;
• staff officers;
• generals.

Combat ranks extended to military officials of various departments and departments. The military administration was subdivided into categories from the most junior non-commissioned officers to noble generals.

Military colors of the ground forces of the Wehrmacht

In Germany, the branch of service was traditionally designated by the corresponding colors of edging and buttonholes, hats and uniforms, and so on. They changed quite often. During the outbreak of World War II, the following color distinction was in effect:

1. White - infantry and border guards, financiers and treasurers.
2. Scarlet - field, horse and self-propelled artillery, as well as general edging, buttonholes and stripes.
3. Raspberry or carmine red - non-commissioned officers of the veterinary service, as well as buttonholes, stripes and epaulettes of the Headquarters and the General Staff of the Wehrmacht High Command and the ground forces.
4. Pink - anti-tank self-propelled artillery; edging of tank uniform parts; gaps and selection of buttonholes of service tunics of officers, gray-green jackets of non-commissioned officers and soldiers.
5. Golden yellow - cavalry, reconnaissance units of tank units and scooters.
6. Lemon yellow - signal troops.
7. Burgundy - military chemists and courts; smoke curtains and multi-barreled reactive "chemical" mortars.
8. Black - engineering troops (sapper, railway, training units), technical service. The sappers of tank units have a black and white border.
9. Cornflower blue - medical and sanitary personnel (except for generals).
10. Light blue - edges of motor transport parts.
11. Light green - military pharmacists, rangers and mountain units.
12. Grass green - motorized infantry regiment, motorcycle units.
13. Gray - army propagandists and landwehr and reserve officers (edging on epaulettes of military colors).
14. Gray-blue - registration service, ranks of the American administration, specialist officers.
15. Orange - military police and officers of the engineering academy, recruiting service (pipe color).
16. Purple - military priests
17. Dark green - military officials.
18. Light red - quartermasters.
19. Light blue - military lawyers.
20. Yellow - horse reserve service.
21. Lemon - feldpochta.
22. Light brown - recruit training service.

Shoulder straps in the military uniform of Germany

They had a dual purpose: as a means of determining the rank and as carriers of a unitary function (fasteners on the shoulder of various kinds of equipment).

The shoulder straps of the Wehrmacht (rank and file) were made of simple cloth, but with the presence of an edging, which had a certain color corresponding to the type of troops. If we take into consideration the shoulder straps of a non-commissioned officer, then we can note the presence of an additional edging, consisting of braid (width - nine millimeters).

Until 1938, there was a special army epaulette exclusively for the field uniform, which was worn by all ranks below the officer. It was entirely dark blue-green in color with the end slightly tapered towards the button. It did not have a piping corresponding to the color of the military branch. Wehrmacht soldiers embroidered insignia (numbers, letters, emblems) on them to highlight the color.

The officers (lieutenants, captains) had narrower shoulder straps, which looked like two intertwining strands made of a flat silvery “Russian braid” (the strand was woven in such a way that thinner threads were visible). All strands were sewn onto the valve of the color of the branch of service, which is at the heart of this shoulder strap. A special bend (U-shaped) of the braid in the place of the button hole helped to create the illusion of eight of its strands, when in fact there were only two.

The shoulder straps of the Wehrmacht (headquarters officers) were also made using the “Russian braid”, but in such a way as to demonstrate a row consisting of five separate loops located on both sides of the shoulder strap, in addition to the loop around the button located in its upper part.

The general's shoulder straps had a distinctive feature - "Russian braid". It was made from two separate golden strands, twisted on both sides with a single silver ribbed thread. The method of weaving meant the visibility of three knots in the middle and four loops on each side of it, in addition to one loop located around the button at the top of the shoulder strap.

Wehrmacht officials had, as a rule, the same shoulder straps as those of the active army. However, they were still distinguished by the slight introduction of a thread of dark green braid and various emblems.

It would not be superfluous to recall once again that shoulder straps are signs of the Wehrmacht.

Buttonholes and shoulder straps of generals

As mentioned earlier, the generals of the Wehrmacht wore epaulettes, for weaving which were used two thickened gold-metal cords and a silver soutache between them.

They also had removable epaulettes, which (as in the case of the ground forces) were lined with scarlet cloth with a special figured cutout running along the contour of the harnesses (their lower edge). And the bending and sewn-in shoulder straps were distinguished by a direct lining.

The generals of the Wehrmacht wore silver stars on their shoulder straps, while there was some difference: major generals did not have stars, lieutenant generals - one, a general of a certain type of troops (infantry, tank troops, cavalry, etc.) - two, oberst general - three (two adjacent stars at the bottom of the shoulder strap and one slightly above them). Previously, there was such a rank as a colonel general in the position of field marshal general, which was not used by the beginning of the war. The epaulette of this rank had two stars, which were placed in its upper and lower parts. It was possible to distinguish the general-field marshal by the crossed silver batons along the shoulder strap.

There were also exceptional moments. So, for example, Gerd von Rundstedt (Field Marshal General, who was removed from command due to the defeat near Rostov, chief of the 18th Infantry Regiment) wore the number of the regiment on the shoulder straps on top of the field marshal's batons, as well as on the collar the white and silver ceremonial buttonholes of an infantry officer troops instead of richly ornamented gold buttonholes embroidered on a scarlet cloth flap (40x90 mm in size) relying on generals. Their drawing was found back in the days of the Kaiser's army and the Reichswehr, with the formation of the GDR and the FRG, it also arose among the generals.

From the beginning of April 1941, elongated buttonholes were introduced for field marshals, which had three (instead of the previous two) ornamental elements and shoulder straps made of golden thickened harnesses.

Another sign of general dignity is stripes.

The field marshal could also carry in his hand a natural baton, which was made of especially precious wood, individually designed, generously inlaid with silver and gold and decorated with reliefs.

personal identification mark

It had the form of an oval aluminum token with three longitudinal slots, which served to ensure that at a certain moment (the hour of death) it could be broken into two halves (the first, where there were two holes, was left on the body of the deceased, and the second half with one hole was given to headquarters).

Wehrmacht soldiers wore this, as a rule, on a chain or on a neck lace. The following was stamped on each token: blood type, badge number, numbers of the battalion, regiment where this badge was issued for the first time. This information was to accompany the soldier throughout the entire service life, if necessary, supplemented by similar data from other units and troops.

The image of the German soldiers can be seen in the photo "Wehrmacht Soldier" shown above.

Finding in Besh-Kungei

According to official data, in April 2014, a treasure from the era of the Second World War was found by a citizen D. Lukichev in the village of Besh-Kungei (Kyrgyzstan). When digging a cesspool, he came across a metal army field locker of the Third Reich. Its contents are a baggage shipment of 1944 - 1945. (age - more than 60 years), which is not affected by moisture due to tight insulation through the rubber gasket of the lid of the box.

It included:

• a light case with the inscription "Mastenbrille" containing glasses;
• a folded travel bag with pockets filled with toiletries;
• mittens, interchangeable collars, socks with footcloths, clothes brush, sweater, suspenders and dust protectors;
• a bundle tied with twine, with a supply of leather and fabric for mending;
• granules of some remedy (presumably from moths);
• an almost new tunic worn by a Wehrmacht officer, with a spare sewn-on emblem of the military branch and a metal dog tag;
• hats (winter hat and kepi) with insignia;
• military passes through front-line checkpoints;
• a banknote of five Reichsmarks;
• a couple of bottles of rum;
• a box of cigars.

Dmitry thought about donating most of the uniforms to the museum. As for the bottles of rum, the box of cigars and the tunic worn by the officer of the Wehrmacht, he wants to keep them for himself on the rights of the legal 25% laid down by the state when finding historical value.