Soviet Army Uniforms of the 1969 reforms

Army Uniforms of the Soviet Superpower
(1960 - 1978)

This section covers the uniforms worn by the Soviet army between 1960 and the Afghanistan war. The period was arguably the height of Soviet power, and the uniforms of this period were the most familiar to Western observers. Even as late as the mid-eighties, these uniforms would be shown in books as 'current' examples of the Soviet army.

The uniforms at the beginning of this period were a combination of the 'Zhukov' reforms, post-war designs, and Great Patriotic War issue. This all changed on 26 June, 1969 with the Presidium of the Soviet Union issued Decree No. 4024-VII which completely redesigned the uniforms of the Soviet Army. Only a very few special purpose uniforms escaped the effects of the order. Yet, as sweeping as the changes brought about by the decree were, the Ministry of Defense still found reasons to modify existing clothing as well as implement new uniforms on a case by case basis throughout the seventies. These uniforms are also detailed in this section.

General's uniforms are described in the upper section, while officers and praporshchik are listed in the middle of the table. Conscripts, extended service men, and cadets are shown in the bottom part of the table. From this section you can also see earlier and later period uniforms by clicking the appropriate links below. We have found that this is quite useful for tracking the modifications and changes in a particular uniform.

The uniforms of this period can be seen on the table below. The uniforms of marshals and generals are described in the upper section. Officers and praporshchiks can be found listed in the middle of the table. Conscripts, extended service men, and cadets are shown in the bottom part of the table. Special purpose uniforms such as tank operator coveralls, chemical protection suits, and the like can be found in the final section. At the bottom of the page is a list of source material that we have used to compile information about the uniforms.

Marshals and Generals
Officers and Praporchiks
Conscripts, Extended Servicemen, and Cadets
Special Purpose Uniforms
Source Material

Earlier Period Uniforms
(1946-1959)

Back to
Main Uniform Index

Later Period Uniforms
(1979-1991)

Works Cited

(1) Prilutskaya, N. V. and N. L. Kortunova, ВОЕННАЯ ОДЕЖДА ВООРУЖЕННЫХ СИЛ СССР И РОССИИ (1917-1990), Moscow: Military Publishing, 1999.

(2) Zaloga, Steven J., Inside the Soviet Army Today, London: Osprey Publishing, 1987.

(3) ПРАВИЛА НОШЕНИЯ ВОЕННОЙ ФОРМЫ ОДЕЖДЫ, Moscow: USSR Ministry of Defense, 1989.

(4) ПРАВИЛА НОШЕНИЯ ВОЕННОЙ ФОРМЫ ОДЕЖДЫ, Moscow: USSR Ministry of Defense, 1973.

(5) Schofield, Carey, Inside the Soviet Military, New York: Abbeville Press, 1991.

(6) Desmond, Dennis, Camouflage Uniforms of the Soviet Union and Russia 1937 to the present, Altgen, PA: Schiffer Publishing, 1998. Print.

(7) Руководство по ремонту средств противохимической защиты и приборов [Repair guide for chemical protective equipment and devices], Edited by V. V. Golovanova, Moscow: Military Publishing House, 1959.

(8) Правила ношения военной формы в мирное время [Regulations on wearing military uniforms in peacetime], Moscow: USSR Ministry of Defense, 1958.

(9) радиоактивные и отрабляющие вещества, бактериалые средства и защита от них [Radioactive substances, bacterial agents and protection from them], edited by B. T. Emelyanova, Moscow: Military Publishing House, 1962.

(10) Jane's NBC Protection Equipment 1988-1989, Edited by Terry J Gander, Alexandria, VA: Jane's Information Group, 1988.

Last Updated 9 January 2019 by Ryan Stavka