Check out more Soviet Army pre 1969 military photos!

Morning fam. More military photos for you!

Today I have added some military photos of Soviet Army from pre 1969 era.

Why pre 1969?
For those of you who are not aware why I specify about the “pre 1969” is that in 1969 a big change in uniform has happened in the forces. Notably, the old and usual Gymnasterka type of overhead jackets have been finally retired from the everyday and field use. This was a dramatic change for the Soviet Army, as this type of wear was in service for decades, most notably during the second period of WW2, when Soviet Army has entered Europe.

Another big change in soldier’s uniforms was the complete redesign of the parade (going out) wear. Classy looking high collar parade jackets were now disbanded, following the modern fashion. Soldiers would now wear office type jackets with shirts and tiesm along with civilian style laced boots. This made soldier’s parade uniform look very similar to officers. At the time this new uniform was highly popular among lower ranks.

Officer’s wear was also changed, however, not as dramatically. Finally, the blue breeches were no more part of the everyday wear – their colour was changed to regular khaki, same as the jacket. This was a big change, as the blue breeches were traditional since the very formation of the Red Army.

So…What’s so cool about pre 1969 military photos?

Well, the cool thing about military photos from that era is their rarity. It is relatively easy to find photographs from the later years of Soviet Army, but everything between the end of the WW2 and early 70s is in the shadow. This calls for more research and I hope that these photos will help someone in it!

I recomend starting with the increadubly interesting pack of photos from the late 60s. Both old and new equipment is used side by side, which is highly unusual for the Soviet Army.