NKVD and KGB Uniforms - An Intro

[otlichnik]

N.K.V.D. & K.G.B. UNIFORMS

Soviet state security organs were militarized organizations. Most of their employees held military rank, ranging from Private to Army General, and were issued military style uniforms. The vast majority of state security personnel wore their uniforms on a daily basis. This is particularly true of personnel belonging to Border Guard, Guard and Troop directorates [for example members of the KGB's 8th (Guards) and 15th (Bunkers) Directorates or the NKVD's GUVV (Internal Troops) and GULAG (Prison Guards) Directorates]. However, some state security personnel often wore plain clothes during normal duty though they wore their uniforms for special actions including training and ceremonial occasions. Uniforms were worn by students at state security schools, for I.D. and pass photos as well as for official photos, and during award ceremonies. Even personnel of the foreign intelligence directorate had uniforms and wore them on some occasions.

During most of the Soviet era, state security uniforms followed the same general guidelines as military uniforms (as outlined in People's Commissariat/Ministry of Defence uniform regulations). It must be emphasized that the People's Commissariat/Ministry of Defence uniform regulations did not apply to the state security organs, which instead had their own regulations. Unfortunately, the uniform regulations of the Soviet state security organs (with the exception of some police uniform regulations) have not, to my knowledge, ever been released. However, from close observation of state security uniforms and photos and from anecdotal evidence it is clear that state security uniform regulations were almost identical to those of the military and that almost all regulations were the same.

FAMILIES OF STATE SECURITY UNIFORMS

There are several major divisions, or families, of uniforms within the Soviet state security organs corresponding to some of the major branches of service within these organs. These divisions date from the earliest days of the Soviet state security organs.

- True State Security personnel, those responsible for internal security and foreign espionage (whether GPU, OGPU, NKVD-GUGB, NKGB, MGB, or KGB), had what can be described as the basic state security uniform.

- The Border Guards (whether GPU, OGPU, NKVD, MGB, MVD or KGB) have always had uniforms that are distinct from those of other branches.

- The Prison Guards and Convoy Escort Troops (whether GPU, OGPU, or NKVD-GULAG) had distinct uniforms until they were finally incorporated into the general MVD troops in 1953.

- The Militsia (Police) (whether NKVD-GUM or MGB) had distinct uniforms, a tradition which they carried on when they were finally incorporated into the MVD in 1953.

In addition, state security personnel serving in a military counter-intelligence role (the NKVD's Chief Directorate of Military Counter-Intelligence, its wartime SMERSH incarnation and the KGB's 3rd Chief Directorate) served in "special sections" within armed forces units and wore the uniforms of the military unit in which they worked, though they carried state security I.D.

Some specialists within the state security organs also wore regular military uniforms. For example, although NKVD signals troops wore regular NKVD uniforms with signals branch insignia, it appears that KGB signals personnel may have worn army uniforms. A picture in a 1989 Soviet propaganda publication "The KGB Must Abide by the Interests of the People" shows a class of officer cadets wearing uniforms of army signal troops with the caption: "Future officers for security services are being trained at the Higher School of the USSR KGB". These are presumably KGB Communications Troops.

Shawn