Budyonovka
The Budjonowka ( Russian Будёновка ; also listed as Budenovka or Budionovka or called Budjonny hat ) is a headgear that was introduced during the Russian Civil War as part of the uniform of the newly founded Red Army and was worn by them until the late 1930s. Due to its characteristic appearance and its use in numerous caricatures, it became a symbol of the Red Army and post-revolutionary Russia far beyond the Soviet Union .
description
The Budjonowka is an independent type of hat. The classic basic shape remained largely unchanged during its use, only the height was reduced over time and the shape was further rounded. The body of the hat is adapted to the shape of the head and, like the rest of the hat, is made of gray felt . A circumferential neck, ear and cheek protector can be folded down on the side and back of the cap, which can cover a large part of the face, but is usually pushed to the side. This protection can also be turned up and fastened with metal buttons on the side. As a striking sign of its use in the Red Army, a five-pointed star made of fabric with a diameter of 8.8 cm, the color of which varied depending on the type of troop, is attached to the front body of the cap . For the most part, it was red, which represented simple infantry . For the cavalry he was blue, for the artillery orange, for the Air Force light blue, for the pioneers in black and for the Border Patrol green. On top of this star was another five-pointed red enamel star with a golden hammer and sickle symbol . By order № 628 of the Revolutionary War Council of April 8, 1919, the diameter of the fabric star was finally increased from 8.8 to 10.5 cm. Until the Budjonowka was finally replaced by the Ushanka at the end of the 1930s, only minor changes were made to the height and rounding of the hat.
history
When the Red Workers 'and Peasants' Army was founded in February 1918, it became necessary to introduce a new uniform in order to be able to clearly distinguish the army from that of Tsarist Russia and the White Army . There should be as few parallels as possible to the old uniforms of the Russian army, which is why a new hat for the red troops should be introduced. On December 18, 1918, the revolutionary council of war finally agreed on the Bogatyrka . It was first issued to the First Cavalry Army under Semyon Budjonny , which is why it was finally renamed Budjonowka based on the Soviet military leader. The army of General Frunze also received the Budjonowkas quite early, which led to their second name, Frunsowka .
The cap remained in service with the Red Army throughout the Russian Civil War, with minor changes. Nevertheless, their shortcomings became apparent during the civil war. Due to the high structure, helmets could not be worn over her and the large, mostly red, fabric star made the Red Army soldiers easy targets for enemy snipers, especially in winter. In addition, it offered insufficient warmth in winter temperatures, as the felt was too thin for effective protection. Despite these sometimes serious shortcomings, the Budjonowka remained part of the Red Army's uniform as the main headgear. From 1935 onwards it was replaced in summer by the Pilotka ( little boat ) M1935, so that the Budjonowka only had to be worn in winter. 1939-40, after the Winter War showed the unsuitability at extremely low temperatures against Finland finally got the final out as the Ushanka was introduced, from the Finnish Turkislakki was born. Nevertheless, due to the impossibility of eliminating all Budjonovkas from the units of the armed forces overnight, many of the hats remained in the various units, so that Soviet soldiers with Budjonovkas were still to be found frequently even in the initial phase of the Great Patriotic War . Last but not least, this also served many anti-Bolshevik clichés of the German invaders, who often misused the captured Red Army soldiers with Budjonowkas for their anti-communist propaganda and, for example, presented them as typical "Bolsheviks" in the German newsreel .
The Budjonowka in art and culture
As a long-standing main component of the Soviet military uniform, the Budjonowka manifested itself as a central symbol for the Red Army in the 1920s, especially during the civil war. It was therefore often portrayed cinematically and theatrically, for example in almost all films that deal with the Russian Civil War. It was also regarded as typical headgear for Soviet soldiers after it was worn and was used in many caricatures during and after the war.
Typical caricature from 1923 showing Semyon Budyonny and Leon Trotsky as representatives of the Red Army with a Budyonovka on their heads.
Soviet poster from 1920 (in Ukrainian)
Representation of Budyonovka on a poster of the Association of the Fighting Godless in 1930
Finnish poster from the Winter War 1939/40 urging Red Army soldiers to surrender
Finnish propaganda from the time of the Winter War 1939/40
Soviet postage stamp from 1958 commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Red Army
literature
- Raymond L. Garthoff: The Soviet Army. Essence and Teaching , Cologne 1955.
- David M. Glantz: Stumbling Colossus. The Red Army on the Eve of World War , Lawrence, University Press of Kansas, 1998, ISBN 0-7006-0879-6 .
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Laurent Mirouze: infantrymen of World War II , published by Karl-Heinz Dissberger, Dusseldorf, ISBN 3-924753-27-X , page 28
- ^ The German newsreel of August 6, 1941 (prisoners of the Red Army, including a soldier with Budjonowka, can be seen from 5:00 am)