Video channel about uniforms of many post-war conflicts

[cuprum]

"Here you will find detailed reviews of the equipment and uniforms of the Armed Forces of various countries that participated in conflicts in the 20th and 21st centuries. I also review airsoft guns and share videos about the history of equipment. In the future, I plan to show reviews of firearms from my personal collection.

I am originally from Odessa, but live in Florida, so in the future we may discuss American gun culture, visit various exhibitions and discuss local gun laws.

It is important to note that my channel is completely apolitical. All materials are aimed exclusively at learning history, developing interest in military topics and airsoft".
Red Ivan Military







English version of the channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@RedIvanMilitaryEng/playlists

Russian-language version of the channel (richer in information):

https://www.youtube.com/@RedIvanMilitary/videos

[Tom Dulski]

 WOW that is a comprehensive uniform source!

[Rick]

I think I've seen this before - it's primarily aimed at re-enactors and airsoft gamers rather than a resource for accurate uniforms; more of a 'how to' guide to get something that looks more-or-less close to what would have been worn at the time. Take a close look at the uniforms here and check out other sources to compare them with rather than assuming this will be 100% accurate.

[cuprum]

I'm not prepared to judge on topics unfamiliar to me, but on the Russian/Soviet uniform, this guy is considered an expert and can definitely be trusted.

[Rick]

I never assume just one source will be accurate, it always pays to check out several sources to compare what each source is saying. Also who, exactly, is saying that he is an expert? Other airsoft players, or military historians? It also pays to check who it citing him as an expert on these matters.
I'm not saying he isn't accurate, just that it would be prudent to check with other sources as well.

[Patrice]

Thanks cuprum, that is interesting. 

I now think I should search in my old pictures, when I was doing compulsory military service in the French Army in 1980 ... not in any conflict, but training etc. ...I didn't realise that a few of them could now be interesting for military history.

[cuprum]

Rick, I don't know how it works abroad, but our reenactor clubs often communicate quite closely with uniform historians. Reenactors are often also collectors of real uniform items. And it is usually customary for them to collect items for a specific image of a specific military unit, and sometimes a specific serviceman. In such cases, they collect any available photos and videos on the topic being studied, contact the participants in the events, if they are still alive (their personal photos are priceless in such a situation). All this is systematized and studied. This is the same work of a historian, only in this case its ultimate goal is somewhat different.
Of course, this does not apply to all reenactors. There are also so-called "operetta" reenactors. They don't care how much their costume corresponds to reality. Fun, beer and entertainment are more important to them. But such people are not allowed to participate in serious official reenactor events.
I myself attend several Russian forums of reenactors and collectors of military items. And among the reenactors there are quite a lot of people who have excellent knowledge of the topic they are interested in.
As for this particular guy - he has many Russian-language videos not only on his channel, but also on others, on similar topics. I would recommend asking him to translate his other (and maybe not only his) videos into English.


Uniform of the First Chechen War 1994-96. Uniform and equipment of a motorized rifleman, a paratrooper of the Airborne Forces, a marine, police: a riot policeman and an employee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Alas - only in Russian.

Patrice, yes, any events in our lives are part of history and, perhaps, someday they will be in demand... Archaeologists restore the culture of vanished peoples from pieces of broken clay cups... Digitize your photos - let them become public domain, and not disappear into oblivion. And who knows - maybe they will contain some unique information that will later prove important.

I am interested in the uniforms of the Russian Civil War period - and every photo, especially with reference to a specific military unit or even with the names of the participants in the events, is priceless.

[Rick]

Cuprum - I mean no disrespect to you or anyone else that collects and researches historical militaria - my brother is one such reenactor and is extremely serious about his sources, accuracy and provenance of the data. On the other hand, I have been to at least one site where the so-called 'accurate uniforms' were of civilian cut, dyed to not-quite the correct colour and with completely the wrong equipment, straps and boots. These are both reasons why I will always suggest to people that they use more than just one source and be sure to check them thoroughly.

[cuprum]

Accuracy is never superfluous 
Of course, several sources are much better than one. This approach can only be welcomed.

And have you seen those very "operetta" reenactors...





Reenactors joke 

[Ultravanillasmurf]

Well, that is going to turn up in the Weird War section ^__^

[carlos marighela]

There's a logical explanation to that last photo. Those three chaps have just been awarded the Order of Ivan Nevsky. Very literal folk our Russian friends.   

The bicycle borne winged hussars have a certain charm to them. Glad to see that the tradition of the Polish joke lives on.

Thanks for sharing the link to the channel. I learned something quite useful. Black equipment was not universal, in fact it seems to have been in the minority for Soviet Naval Infantry. That's handy to know as it means I can paint up chaps in KMLK suits give them standard army equipment and use them for both without a sense of guilt.

[cuprum]

Glad it was useful.
And the name of Prince Nevsky was Alexander 

Marine of the 61st separate Kirkenes Red Banner Marine Brigade of the Northern Fleet. Grozny, March 1995. Artist Andrey Karashchuk.

When in April 1989 the commander of the 61st separate Kirkenes Red Banner Marine Brigade of the Northern Fleet, Colonel A.N. Borzenko, proposed developing a sleeve insignia for the unit, he had no idea that he would become a "pioneer" in the field of creating insignia for specific military formations.

The insignia was based on an image of a polar bear, which had been an unofficial identification mark applied to the brigade's combat equipment since 1966. Based on the sketch of the brigade artists, the Murmansk cooperative "Mercury" produced sleeve insignia using silkscreen printing, which the entire brigade personnel sewed onto the right sleeve of their field uniforms on May 15. In June of the same year, the unit was visited by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the United States, Admiral J. Crowe, who was accompanied by the Chief of the General Staff of the USSR, General of the Army M.A. Moiseyev.

The latter approved the sleeve insignia and gave verbal permission to wear it. After the visit, the 876th separate airborne assault battalion of the brigade made its own sleeve insignia with an additional image of a parachute. Sketches were also developed for other units of the brigade, but none of them were approved by the command. Subsequently, when the cooperative ceased to exist, the insignia began to be made in the brigade, printing with oil paint on a stencil on leatherette.

The illustration shows the insignia of the 61st separate marine brigade of the Northern Fleet:
1. Brigade insignia (1989-1993);
2. Insignia of the 876th separate airborne assault battalion (1989-1993);
3. Brigade badge, made in 1991 from leatherette;
4. New brigade badge, from a series of badges approved by the Coastal Troops Commander (II. 1993);
5-6. "Homemade" brigade badges and the 876th separate assault brigade, made in 1993.

More details: Alexey Stepanov "Sleeve badges of the Coastal Troops of the Navy" (issue 4 of the "Zeughaus" magazine, 1995).

[Rick]

"Ivan Nevsky?" 
Does kinda prove my point about researching your data.

And those Polish winged hussars (?) on bicycles are genius - I think I'll want some of those on a wargames table at some point!

[carlos marighela]

He was the younger brother. Looked after the ticket booth at the ice rink where they both worked.

[Rick]

He was the younger brother. Looked after the ticket booth at the ice rink where they both worked.

Oh right the ice rink with the dodgy floor where those German ice skaters had that unfortunate accident?