The Soldier is Wearing:
The steel grey wool cap (with cardboard visor) featuring gold bullion embroidery and a red enamel star device.  The napped wool jacket with red cuffs had a red and gold plastron attached by ten gold washed buttons made of brass.  The rank shoulder boards are trimmed in gold lace and the number "1" is embroidered with gold bullion thread.

The trousers are a dark blue pattern with a red stripe running down the outside of each leg.  A special parade belt of officer quality and an enlisted buckle is also shown.  White gloves and highly polished black boots complete the uniform.

In this picture the soldier is depicted wearing the summer enlisted uniform for a Jr Sergeant of the 1^st Separate Honor Guard company.  This depiction is correct for the years 1955 to 1970.

Sources Cited

Return to Army Uniforms
of the Era of Rebuilding
 

More about the uniform...

Prior to 1955 most Soviet military units formed honor guard detachments on an ‘as needed’ basis.  In these cases, the uniform of the day was typically a standard parade uniform (possibly upgraded with color guard sashes or white parade slings on rifles).

The history of Soviet honor guard uniforms began with the establishment of the NKVD “Dzerzhinsky” division in 1944.  It was a special unit that would represent the military as a whole in special ceremonies in Moscow.  Four years later, the unit was reorganized as the 465^th Separate Rifle Company.  During this period the unit continued the practice of wearing regular NKVD parade uniforms for its functions.  It was only in 1955 that the special honor guard uniform was authorized.  A year later the unit was reorganized into the 1^st Separate Honor Guard Company. 

The uniform is comprised of a steel grey visor cap, a wool tunic with gold embroidery and a red plastron, a special belt, and blue trousers with a red stripe running down each leg.  Officer’s style ‘chrome’ boots are worn with the uniform.

Its cap is modeled on the small crown caps of the ‘Zhukov’ style.  It is made of the same napped grey wool of the tunic and it is decorated with thick gold embroidery.  The star is composed of red enamel and aluminum.  On later versions of the uniform a gold colored aluminum device with a red star replaced the embroidery.

The tunic is made of a napped wool identical to the other 1955 ‘Zhukov’ uniforms of the era.  The cuffs are red and, in most cases, but not all, they come to a point.  A single embroidered gold spool is sewn into each side of the stiff high collar.  Rank insignia are red with gold trim and an embroidered number 1.  The buttons are a gold washed brass that have a richer tone when compared to other buttons of the period.  A large red plastron with gold embroidery is affixed to the tunic by two rows of five buttons gold washed brass buttons.

The five buttons on the right side are functional.  They fasten through both the tunic and the plastron.  The plastron itself can be completely detached from the tunic for cleaning if all ten buttons are unfastened.  A hook and eye closure at the neck allows for a secure fit of the collar.

On the back of the uniform are four gold washed brass buttons that give an accent to the uniform and keep it from looking bland from the rear.

Complementing the tunic is a special red and yellow belt.  This belt is made of the same fabric as the officer’s parade belt, but features a number of red vertical lines on the yellow background.  The belt buckle is the standard infantry pattern of the day.  White gloves were also worn.

The trousers are dark blue in color and feature a red stripe down the outside of each leg.  They are worn tucked into boots.

A major change to the uniform came about in 1960 when the air force and navy were authorized special honor guard uniforms to wear alongside the army version.  Of these, the air force uniform was the closest in appearance – simply replacing the red colored portions with light blue on the tunic and attaching the air force cap device to the honor guard visor cap.

Though the uniforms were originally established for use by the Moscow garrison, by the mid-1960’s they were being used by the different Groups of Soviet Forces abroad and by various Soviet garrisons serving domestically.  On one instance in 1965 a version of the uniform with black plastrons and cap bands were observed.(2)

This uniform was authorized for wear by selected army sergeants, soldiers, and cadets performing special duties.  It was never a casual daily uniform.  Often seen at anniversary parades, special holidays, and for welcoming visiting foreign dignitaries.  In 1971 a new uniform regulation replaced the M-1955 uniforms with new more modernly styled ones marking the end of the first era of Soviet honor guard regalia.