Pygmy Wars Uniforms

A surprisingly poorly served subject, except in Polish naturally, though the Deryabin Nationalist and Interventionist books both have a few notes.

Very few Poles wore the formal regulation dress: instead most wore ex-WWI surplus of the army from which they had originally descended (though normally without trench-warfare extras such as gas-masks and entrenching tools).

Thus the Poznan and Pomeranian units wore a uniform that was almost 100% WWI German, though often this might be a bit mixed since the men might originate from different units in the German army or be equipped from different stores. Units that had served in France, or were recruited there after 1918, wore "horizon blue" French uniforms. The Galician units were largely Austrian in dress and the ex-Russians generally wore a uniform that was recognisably Tsarist in origin. To add to the mix, 1920 "volunteer" units had a tendency to be dressed in civilian clothes and British uniforms were also worn (largely by the later formed units).

Generally the only people in the official regulation uniform were the officers. This was a khaki outfit (close to the British colour), with loud silver braid on large black collar tabs and hat band. Stars on the cap also indicated rank.

Other than with senior officers, the rogatywka cap was not particularly common: men also wore round caps (especially the cavalry) and sidecaps. Helmets were often issued, and frequently "lost". The cockade was a stamped eagle of various patterns, sometimes pinned onto or accompanied by a white in red rosette

Most cavalry carried lances. They were often dressed quite colourfully, with cap bands in regimental colours and shoulder tabs in the colours of their pennons (though the pennons themselves were not flown in battle).

The on-line auction seller Allegro has large numbers of period photographs on offer (the keyword here is "zdjecia" = photos, subdivided into Polska).

What I, and others, have found useful for painting wargames armies: modelers and detail freaks might like to dig a little deeper. The pictures on this page are taken, shamelessly, from the Encyclopedia "Civil War and Military Intervention in the USSR". I have a page which explains some of the technical language used below. All external links will open in a new window.
Sources used “Men-at-arms” series (Osprey Publishing) The Russian Army 1914-1918 by Nik Cornish The Russian Civil War (1) The Red Army by Mikhail Khvostov The Russian Civil War (2) White Armies by Mikhail Khvostov Ukrainian Armies 1914–55 by P. Abbott and E. Pinak Books by A.I. Deryabin (AST Publications) have a similar layout to the Ospreys. They are available in translation from Gauntlet Publications. The Red Army The White Armies The Nationalist Armies The Interventionist Armies The White Armies of North-West Russia 1918 – 1920 Other texts (potentially available from Gauntlet): Armii Ukraini 1917-1920 by Y. Tinchenko (much larger than an Osprey or AST) Table of Uniforms of the Russian Army, 1910 by Colonel V. K. Shenk (or the Xenophon site for some of it) Belaia Rossiia Fotoal'bom (White Russia Photoalbum) (published by Posev) has hundreds of period photographs, plus some uniform illustrations. The text and captions are in Russian. Wargames Illustrated: "Uniforms and equipment of the RCW 1917 - 1921: The Volunteer Army" by Nik Cornish. As well as the Shenk work, there is the similar study by Ruhl. Facsimiles can be found, both paper and CD. I find eBay a source of useful pictures: both modern colour shots of period clothing and period photographs of units (especially Czechs). I also find on-line postcard sellers can be quite good for period photographs (for Baltic stuff particularly). I have included some sample photographs to show the sort that appear in the Posev Photoalbum, and also to illustrate some of the points I make later on this page.	A progression of Red Army cockades
Basics The armies of the Russian Civil War dressed for the most part in surplus WWI kit, mostly Russian obviously. However, this is not to say that they dressed the same – part of the point of uniforms is that they distinguish armies apart. The starting point for painting most Pygmy Wars armies is therefore the uniforms of Imperial Russia up to 1917. I have found the Russian Army 1914-1918 Osprey to be the most useful of my texts, and recommend it strongly. Sometimes I have wanted to find information about odd bits of uniform for lesser known units: the cloth colour for the kubankas of Astrakhan Cossacks, for example. In that case I have sometimes found the work by Colonel Shenk on Tsarist uniforms to be useful as giving a likely answer: although much changed in the 10 years, I find it hard to believe that facing colours were much altered.	Red Commander in WWI style uniform
Red Army For the Civil War the Reds took pride in not caring terribly much about looking pretty – at the start it was almost de rigueur to look as scruffy as possible. Mostly the “uniforms” are just a matter of painting your troops in khaki, of varying shades, then adding the appropriate red button, strip of cloth or star to the hat. Rank markings were on the sleeve, but often not applied. Most wargamers start with the Red Army Osprey, naturally enough. The uniform information seems alright (although I don’t trust the other material) and combined with a book on the Imperial army it is nearly all you need. The Deryabin Red Army book is worthwhile if you care about getting things right. The full 1919 Red Army regulation uniform of greyish kaftan, razgovory breast tabs and budenovka hat (such as in the picture to the right) was extremely uncommon during the RCW, other than for senior commanders: although the budenovka itself was common enough by the Polish campaign. Gamers therefore have to decide whether they want figures with this regulation uniform which wasn’t really worn (such as the Peter Pig Soviet figures) or to greatly limit the available range of figures by avoiding them. Red Soldiers were commonly kitted out in other nation’s surplus as well, especially as the war went on, especially British garb taken from White stores. Red cavalry were generally not armed with lances, but as the war progressed they seem to have been adopted more and more (presumably by recruiting ex-White soldiers).	Red Commander in regulation uniform
Red Army Elite Units The Red Army was not interested in pretty uniforms, so on the whole all the units looked alike. Anything showy was likely to be reserved for rear-area troops (like Trotsky's train guard). The Latvians Rifles started out as a standard Imperial Army unit, and continued to dress as such. Only some Latvian on their flags would distinguish them. This applies in general to all "International" units, who would be lucky to have a special sleeve badge, though the Osprey on the Reds describes a Hungarian cavalry unit with a bit more colour. Kursanty, ChON and ChEKa wore standard uniforms, although usually of better quality perhaps than the run-of-the-mill units. Perhaps a big red star on the sleeve might be added and a particularly loud and slogan covered flag. (NB: I don't believe ChEKa infantry were elite, though ChON and Kursanty definitely were.) The famous sailor units wore a mix of their naval uniforms and normal army uniforms. There are a few well-known photos showing quite a mixed effect from this. The Deryabin book is useful for the naval uniforms.
Volunteer Army: Regular units The VA deliberately based itself on the Imperial past and took much more pride with regards to uniforms. Three main features distinguish them from WWI soldiers: The centre of the cockade on the hat was changed from being the Imperial colours of orange and black to the national colours of white, blue and red. Now you can’t see this on a wargames figure obviously, but the important thing is that these cockades were really obvious. Photos from the period show the whitish splotch in the centre of the cap very prominently. The old system of pogoni (shoulder-boards) was kept, generally with the coloured side showing, instead of the khaki field side. Thus the main difference between "Red" and "White" toy soldiers is that the Whites will have enormous great slabs of colour on their shoulderboards, while the Reds won’t even have pogoni at all. The soldiers were meant to wear an army marking on the left sleeve – a tricolour chevron for the VA and AFSR. Photos seem to show these were not always worn, or were extremely small. Since they are nasty to paint, it is as well to just leave them off. Most units can be painted in Imperial uniforms using the Nik Cornish book (or similar). In the case where the units traced a history back to an Imperial unit then even the small details like trouser stripes can be worked out: for instance, my Composite Guard Division has each company painted in the colours of a different Imperial Guard regiment. Despite their titles, both the Osprey and Deryabin "White Army" books are nearly useless for non-elite units of the VA. Towards the middle of 1919 the VA became increasingly dressed in British uniforms. However, that does not necessarily mean that they would look like a Tommy. Sometimes the full British uniform might be worn (although helmets were rare) but at other times the Russian style caps and Russian knee-boots were retained. An attempt would normally be made to sew pogoni onto the shoulders. VA regular cavalry was generally half lance-armed.	White infantryman
Volunteer Army: Colourful units It’s an unusual wargamer that has a White army of southern Russia and doesn’t have at least one coloured unit. But careful gamers might like to bear in mind that very few men in the coloured units wore the full outfit. The lower ranks wore standard khaki uniforms, with only the pogoni (shoulderboards) distinguishing them from normal line – a few might muster the proper coloured caps. Towards the end of the war the ranks were frequently smartly kitted out in British uniforms. Officers might be able to muster more or less of the regulation outfit: photos show Markovski wearing white gimnastërkas (blouse top) rather than black for example, and trousers might be any colour. It’s hard to say how many of the men in an “Officer Company” would be able to wear the full kit – not many it would seem. Senior officers could be expected to dress smartly, and photos often show them in black or white gimnastërkas. The photos one sees of the colourful units all uniformly dressed in black or white gimnastërkas with appropriate coloured caps date from after the Civil War, in Gallipoli. If you use Osprey book on the Whites beware that it has major errors. Of importance for colourful units: The Samursky cap was black cloth with yellow piping, with a yellow band with black trim: i.e. exactly the reverse of the hat shown in Plate E, picture 4. The Alekseyev Partisan Infantry (Plate E, picture 3 and text page 14) did not wear white gimnastërkas, at least in the ranks, during the RCW: they wore khaki – though perhaps some senior officers wore white. (Sometimes what look like white gimnastërkas are in fact merely very faded khaki.) For details of the authorised uniforms for the elite units in the south of Russia, the Deryabin book is the best starting point, although it still pays to have Imperial practice in mind.	Kornilovski
White Cossack units The outfit most people associate with the Cossacks – the red coats with bullet holders on the chests and big furry hats – owes more to the Tsar’s personal guard and later dance troupes than true Cossack uniforms. Sad but true. Most Cossacks (those from the Don, Astrakhan, Ural and all the various Siberian Hosts) wore uniforms that differed only in minor details from regular Russian cavalry, such as slightly baggier trousers and a preference for controlling the horse by way of a short whip. Traditionally the Cossacks had to supply their own uniforms and equipment (although the extreme circumstances of the Great War and following Civil War meant that central authorities had to often supply them). This meant that equipment and uniform colours could vary wildly. Such Cossack units were generally half lance-armed.	Don Cossack
Caucasian dress During the Civil War the following units might be expected to wear Caucasian dress: units raised by the Whites from the Caucasian mountains – Chechens, Ingush, Dagestanis etc – since it was, in fact, their traditional dress that the Cossacks had copied. units of the Kuban and Terek Cossack Hosts (the two hosts by the Caucasus). units of the VA/AFSR/Russian Army which were raised largely from Kuban Cossacks and therefore chose to adopt this style, for example the Markov Cavalry or Shkuro’s “Wolves”. Kuban and Terek units who defected to the Reds might keep the basic uniform, though without Tsarist era regalia (at least one of these seems to later have defected to the Poles). The kaftan (coat) varied wildly in colour, usually from light grey to black (though brownish and khaki shades might be seen) and the coloured bashlyks (hoods) were also individual shades. Not all the men had the full kit, and gymnastërkas might be seen. Such units did not carry lances.	Kuban Cossack wearing a burka cape over kaftan
Other White Armies The other anti-Bolshevik Russian forces are not at all well served for literature. The Deryabin "White Armies of North-West Russia" is your best bet for Iudenich’s army: the other books on the Whites only have scraps. The Siberian armies have even worse coverage – you have to make do with bits and pieces. Generally working on the dress uniform from Tsarist times, adding in British items for Kolchak. The Posev Photoalbum has quite a few pictures and some nice illustrations (especially of the more famous units).
Komuch The People's Army started with Tsarist era uniforms shorn of all markings, as was revolutionary practice, and only a white armband to distinguish them from the Bolsheviks. They replaced the cockade on their caps with a diagonal strip in the colours of St George (black-orange-black-orange-black). Later shields were added to the left sleeve, with arm of service insignia and showing ranks by the arrangement of chevrons and stars. These were khaki for most field units, with a thin border in red for infantry, orange for cavalry and black for artillery. Eventually shoulder boards were introduced, under pressure from the officer corps, but these remained a restrained khaki cloth type with only the regimental number. Allied Cossacks retained their Tsarist markings.
Czech Legion At first the Czechs wore a straight Imperial Russian uniform in khaki also shorn of all markings except a red/white ribbon on the cap, usually placed diagonally where the cockade would normally be. Later some men wore shields on the left sleeve which showed the unit number and indicated rank by the number and colour of the chevrons (red for NCOs, silver for junior officers and gold for senior). These appear to have been khaki trimmed in red, like the Komuch ones. Beware that many illustrations show the Czechs in Austrian-style uniforms, which is incorrect for the Czech Legions in Russia. The fancy "Czech" style hats were late in the war: during the early stages soft Russian style caps are correct.
Ukrainian Armies The Osprey Ukrainian Armies book gives the basics. Armii Ukraini is much more detailed, but unfortunately is without a full translation yet. The Nationalist Armies by A. Deryabin has only a little bit of information. There is a new book out in Ukrainian on the UGA which looks interesting.
Poles A surprisingly poorly served subject, except in Polish naturally, though the Deryabin Nationalist and Interventionist books both have a few notes. Very few Poles wore the formal regulation dress: instead most wore ex-WWI surplus of the army from which they had originally descended (though normally without trench-warfare extras such as gas-masks and entrenching tools). Thus the Poznan and Pomeranian units wore a uniform that was almost 100% WWI German, though often this might be a bit mixed since the men might originate from different units in the German army or be equipped from different stores. Units that had served in France, or were recruited there after 1918, wore "horizon blue" French uniforms. The Galician units were largely Austrian in dress and the ex-Russians generally wore a uniform that was recognisably Tsarist in origin. To add to the mix, 1920 "volunteer" units had a tendency to be dressed in civilian clothes and British uniforms were also worn (largely by the later formed units). Generally the only people in the official regulation uniform were the officers. This was a khaki outfit (close to the British colour), with loud silver braid on large black collar tabs and hat band. Stars on the cap also indicated rank. Other than with senior officers, the rogatywka cap was not particularly common: men also wore round caps (especially the cavalry) and sidecaps. Helmets were often issued, and frequently "lost". The cockade was a stamped eagle of various patterns, sometimes pinned onto or accompanied by a white in red rosette Most cavalry carried lances. They were often dressed quite colourfully, with cap bands in regimental colours and shoulder tabs in the colours of their pennons (though the pennons themselves were not flown in battle). The on-line auction seller Allegro has large numbers of period photographs on offer (the keyword here is "zdjecia" = photos, subdivided into Polska).	Pole in "Blue" uniform
Other nationalist armies The Deryabin book on the Nationalists has brief coverage of many of these. Generally again they wore a mixture of WWI-surplus with rudimentary national markings on the hats, and often collars. They did not wear pogoni.

Uniform resources

Sources used

Basics

Red Army

Red Army Elite Units

Volunteer Army: Regular units

Volunteer Army: Colourful units

White Cossack units

Caucasian dress

Other White Armies

Komuch

Czech Legion

Ukrainian Armies

Poles

Other nationalist armies