01-30-2003, 09:19 PM
I thought I?d do a nice informative article-post on the rarely encountered M1943 Generals Parade uniform. I will not cover naval variants in detail nor marshals variants in detail.
The M1943 shares in common the high quality gray wool material of the first true soviet generals parade uniform, the M1940. However, in almost all other respects it differs. While both share the 6 button front , as opposed to the standard 5 buttons on t he service uniform, the M1943 was the first to use features that would continue throughout the entire Soviet era. First were the bright gold generals shoulder boards ( rifles generals could have one to 4 stars while branches such as armor and signals could only go up to 3 stars) with branch piping. see below for a list of generals pipings.
The main addition to the uniform from 1940 to 1943, besides the boards, was all the intricate gold embroidery. Done win real gold wire, and by hand, the quality was far superior than anything found past 1948. The embroidery was in leaf patterns on the collar and hat band and in spool shape on the cuffs ( jr officers had 1 spool senior officers 2, and generals 3). branch piping continued to be seen around the cuffs and collar, as well as on the chest lapel. A new bright silver Tsarist looking belt ( rumor has it the first ones made were made from Tsarist stocks). This replaced the traditional leather parade belt.
Note that this engineer major general wears the medals in the new 1943 fashion, hanging from ribbons. Often the medals had not yet been replaced in 1943 with the new style variants and the older screwbacks are often seen on this type of uniform.
The M1943 shares in common the high quality gray wool material of the first true soviet generals parade uniform, the M1940. However, in almost all other respects it differs. While both share the 6 button front , as opposed to the standard 5 buttons on t he service uniform, the M1943 was the first to use features that would continue throughout the entire Soviet era. First were the bright gold generals shoulder boards ( rifles generals could have one to 4 stars while branches such as armor and signals could only go up to 3 stars) with branch piping. see below for a list of generals pipings.
The main addition to the uniform from 1940 to 1943, besides the boards, was all the intricate gold embroidery. Done win real gold wire, and by hand, the quality was far superior than anything found past 1948. The embroidery was in leaf patterns on the collar and hat band and in spool shape on the cuffs ( jr officers had 1 spool senior officers 2, and generals 3). branch piping continued to be seen around the cuffs and collar, as well as on the chest lapel. A new bright silver Tsarist looking belt ( rumor has it the first ones made were made from Tsarist stocks). This replaced the traditional leather parade belt.
Note that this engineer major general wears the medals in the new 1943 fashion, hanging from ribbons. Often the medals had not yet been replaced in 1943 with the new style variants and the older screwbacks are often seen on this type of uniform.
