MSU - the numbers

[otlichnik]

There has been a lot of talk recently about the genuineness of generals and marshals uniforms. I have wrote (a few times) about the large number of existing uniforms vis-a-vis the actual numbers of Marshals of the Soviet Union. Here are some numbers:

There were a total of 41 MSUs ranging from the first five in 1935 (Voroshilov, Budenniy, Tukhachevskiy, Yegorov and Blyukher) to Dmitry Yazov in 1990. However, there were obviously fewer at any given time and thus fewer who would have had any given model of uniform. The following numbers ae based on MSUs alive at the time, includng those in retirement, and are based on uniform model. The variation is due to the fact the exact month of death and exact month of new uniform issue is not known.

M35 - there were 5 to 8

M40 - 6 to 8

M43 - 17

M54/55 - 22

M69 - 24

So you can see, for example, that only 24 people could ever have worn M69 MSU uniforms. Compare this to the umber for sale in recent years.

Shawn

[DougD]

I have to disagree with SC here. yes, there were very few postwar Marshals in reality. However, lets suppose there are 24 marshals who would have worn the "modern" Marshals uniform (leaving the older stuff out of this discussion).

While I agree that there are lots of "parts" marshals coming out of Ukraine, getting a real postwar Marshal is not that diffiuclt. Back in 2000 a friend and I found a nice service set to Ogarkov right on the old arbat st. for $500. It was real, issued, had correct ribbons, even initials inside the leather. Over here it would be more, but would be available.

Again, this is due to numbers of uniforms and numbers of collectors.

Many of these marshals, like Moskalenko, hled the rank for a long time. he would have multiple uniforms' lets say ( and I am being conservative):

6 service uniforms
2 parade uniforms
2 summer uniforms
1 field uniform

ok, thats 11 uniforms for one marshal. That is also assuming ( wrongly) that he would not get new ones over the years; the old ones would go to small museums, family, etc. They were NEVER thrown out. So, lets say that each marshal would replace 50% of his uniforms over time. That means that our example marshal, Moskalenko, would have about 16-18 uniforms. Now, multiply that by 24 and you get 400-450.

Since I was being conservative, lets round up to 500. There should be 500 M1969 marshals uniforms out there. Some are still with the family, some are still in museums, but the bulk are available.

Now, how many people want them? 100? There really should be 3/1 in uniforms of marshals and those who want them.

Yes, they are real rare compared to other soviet uniforms, but not that rare compared to real rare items like the M1943 marshals parade uniforms, or as the yet seen M1940 marashals parade uniform; each of those we can count on our fingers AND they are in much greater demand.

DD

ps- if we include all postwar marshals, then the number of uniforms jumps to close to 1000.