& Suggested Buy-List
Sections:
Suggested vendors
Uniforms
Equipment
Accessories
Brief History of OSOAVIAKhIM
Additional notes
Written by Andrew Tripp / Andryusha Taras
OSOAVIAKhIM Unit Treasurer
With Extreme Gratitude to the 9th Guards
Thank you to Andrew Poppe for the Unit History
13 Oct. 2024
Единство, Знания, Прогресс.
“Unity, Knowledge, Progress.”
Welcome to the OSOAVIAKhIM Foundation! Whether you are just getting started with Soviet reenacting, or looking to make some upgrades, we hope this guide and vendor list serves you well! OSOAVIAKhIM is a collective effort, with many of our assembly units – the 9th Guards, 184th Rifles Division, and 99th Rifles Division in particular – collaborating to present the best knowledge we can, and to make it practical and accessible! If you are just starting out, here are a few things you should know about the uniform, before you spend your hard-earned dollars. As always, if you have questions, just reach out and ask!
Importantly, there was a major uniform shift in 1943 – to celebrate a round of victories and to instill new motivation in the troops. As reenactors, we call these uniforms the Obr.35 (early) and Obr.43 (late) pattern tunics or “gymnastiorka”. Portraying 1941 or 1944 will change what tunic you wear, but a lot of the gear is otherwise just fine for most of the war. Since most events are 1944-45, we recommend getting an Obr.43 first, then an Obr.35 later. The items listed below are also color coded, to help with priority!
This guide is meant to get you started on a basic infantry rifleman impression. Other kits like our OSOAVIAKhIM Instructor uniforms are their own little world, and have a separate document coming! As do a 1940 kit, and same with NKVD troops! Ask us for those later! Any particular impression may bring some “tweaking” on kit; the purpose of this is to get you set on clothing and equipment you will for sure need at events.
It is the author’s opinion that it is better to buy quality uniforms and gear first, rather than getting an initial “starter kit” of lower quality and having to eventually replace it bit by bit. Many units will have some loaner gear for new recruits. Get in touch, see what your options are, and remember obtaining uniform items (trousers, boots, tunic) which fit is the first priority.
Our primary ways of communicating are via Facebook Messenger and Discord. Feel free to find us, send us a message, and get added to our servers. We strongly recommend trying Discord out, if you are not already on it. Not only do we have much more research and primary sources there, it’s where we host our monthly “On Guard!” cultural/historical discussions. Stay in touch!
OSOAVIAKhIM Foundation Facebook Page
OSOAVIAKhIM Discord Link
A wonderful online & visual resource for Red Army uniforms here!
Fantastic general overview of the Great Patriotic War here!
A highly recommended book on the material culture of the Red Army, here!
*This is a living document, in that vendors come and go, and new historical information comes to light. It is subject to revisions.*
Suggested Vendors!
Many of these vendors are available on facebook, or have websites which you can order from. Some are based in the US, others are overseas. Take into account shipping prices and wait times when ordering. Ask away in the Public Chat or in Discord with any questions!
- Leningrad Tailor – https://www.facebook.com/LeningradTailor
- Located in the US
- Tailor of historical clothing, military or civilian
- Will make custom garments on commission
- Makes frequent uniform orders Voin (reproduction uniform company)
- Very high quality products
- This vendor is within our Assembly Units, and is highly recommended
- Voin – https://voin.zp.ua/
- located in Zaporizhzhiya, Ukraine
- Excellent quality goods, marked with stamps
- We host regular group orders from Voin
- Must make account to view prices; does have English tab/USD prices
- Strongly recommended; primary source for OSO Instructor Uniforms
- Red Guard Militaria – https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064643501521
- Located in the US
- Prime vendor for belts, shoulder boards, pouches and gas mask bags
- Sells a fair amount of original items, boots, books, badges, etc
- Very high quality products
- Competitive prices
- Yuri Drukarov – https://www.facebook.com/groups/1101129499913428
- Located in the US, and an authorized dealer for Schusters
- Can be messaged directly for inquiries
- Carries most items for the basic rifleman impression (somewhat one stop shop)
- Provider of OSO badges and paperwork, can fill out ID books
- Schusters – https://schusters.ru/en/
- Located in Belarus
- Huge variety of reproduction items. Approximate 3-6 month turnaround
- Budget uniforms are not allowed (same case with Yuri). Confirm that the correct uniform is being purchased. We recommend putting Schuster uniforms through a few cold wash cycles to weather the material a bit, but let it air dry!
- Mospoligraf Reproduction Paper Products – https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089488222802
- Located in the US
- Makes reproduction paper products. From maps, to matchbooks, to manuals
- Will make custom items on commission; Can be direct messaged for inquired
- This vendor is within our Assembly Units, and is highly recommended
- Can fill out ID booklets
- Denis Kuparinen and New Leningrad
- Located in St. Petersburg, Russian Federation; available for online sales
- Excellent source of original and restored items, such as helmets, or various small items
- Denis Kuparinen –https://www.facebook.com/groups/531002301660163
- New Leningrad – https://www.facebook.com/groups/125681631339582
- OTK87 – https://www.ebay.com/str/redarmyreproductions
- Located in the UK
- Great source for small personal goods
- Frequently sells original paperwork or misc items, books
Equipment, Accessories, Personal Items
Required – Must have items before coming out to participate at an event to be functional.
Recommended – Items that are nice to have or that should be purchased eventually.
Accessories – Items that are up to the individual to purchase based upon personal preference.
Our group has access to a lot of loaner gear, and some events will have different requirements (especially for which tunic model to wear). You may still be able to attend an event lacking some of these items, but only if you communicate with us well in advance.
Uniforms:
Boots (Incredibly Required)
● Standard footwear was a pair of jackboots called sapogi
o” Dot” soles or leather soles are period correct, but the “tractor tread” soled boots are permitted. Having boots that fit is a top priority.
o Many Enlisted soldiers’ boots were made of a synthetic leather known as “kirza” due to a leather shortage. Officer boots were still made from leather and have an angle to the upper part, near the knee. Enlisted boots are encouraged over officer boots.
● The Soviet army also issued a pair of low boots (botinki) and puttees, since there was a shortage of the Sapogi boots. Repurposed German low-boots or English ammo boots are acceptable stand-ins. US Lend Lease boots were of a Soviet pattern, not a US Army one.
o These are a bit harder to find than jackboots, but can be more comfortable.
o Also requires knowing how to wrap puttees (legwraps). Puttees should be green or gray, as black is primarily seen in 1941.
Pants (Obr.35 “Sharovari”)
● Standard pants for soldiers of the Red Army, with knee reinforcements
o Enlisted personnel did not have branch piping on the out seam
o The pants were most commonly made from cotton, but a variety of materials and dyes were used throughout the war. Some of these materials were obtained through lend-lease, causing the pants and tunic to frequently mismatch in color.
● Women also had the option of wearing a skirt, in blue wool or khaki cotton.
Obr.43 Tunic (Obr.43 for late war, 1943-45+)
● There were two variations of the M43 tunic issued to enlisted personnel. A pocketless version was issued to the lower enlisted, while officers wore a version that included two breast pockets. There was eventually an order in late 1944 that enlisted ranks could wear officer tunics, but it’s best to be more generic and go with the pocketless version.
● As stated in the section about the pants, cotton was the most common material, but a variety of materials and dyes were used throughout the war. This means that the pants and tunic will not necessarily be the exact same color.
● Tunics worn by soldiers in the field generally had subdued (painted green) brass buttons and had a collar liner sewn in frequently. This liner was a strip of linen or cotton, which can be seen sticking a hair above the collars of soldiers in original photographs. This was done to ensure good hygiene and for comfort of the wearer.
Infantry shoulder boards (Obr.43 pogoni)
● For the standard rifleman impression, infantry boards the rank of private will be required, other options (medical, signals) can be discussed later
o The correct shoulder boards are described as having a raspberry-colored piping along the outer edges with a plain green field on the board itself
● No rank stripes are to be on the shoulder boards for a “private’s” impression, and no parade boards for field use. Not wearing pogoni is typically reserved for off duty officers or as a punishment.
● Red Guard Militaria and Voin are both excellent reproductions.
● The materials used for making shoulder boards varied greatly depending on what was available in the factory; cotton, wool, Lend Lease material, etc.
Obr.35 Tunic (Obr.35 for early war, 1939-42)
This is the standard tunic from 1935-1942, and “Transitional” versions can be seen throughout the war (Obr.35 with Pogoni attached, more-so in 1943).
Features two chest pockets, and typically black painted brass buttons, as well as a collar liner sewn in. Insignia varies wildly by year and scenario, but a blank Obr.35 is very suitable for 1941 and 1942 events, so we can cross the insignia bridge later
Pilotka
- Pilotkas were the summer hat. They are worn with the star center to the face (over the nose) and with a slight tilt.
- The entire unit would turn in their pilotkas in the fall to get issued ushankas, and vice versa in the spring.
● Pilotkas could also vary slightly in color based on available dyes; different branches of the military did wear different color pilotkas (ie. navy wore black pilotkas, air force pilotkas were blue). Officer pilotkas may be piped with branch of service trim. Infantry enlisted pilotkas are of double twill material.
● There were slight differences in wartime and postwar pilotkas (especially those made after 1969), so be sure to get the correct type
o Postwar pilotkas had a different sweatband and were made from a slightly
different material (single twill vs double twill)
● Historically, there were a few variants, both red enamel or simply painted red or a muted color. All are correct, but production methods changed after the war. Be sure to get a wartime style of star, feel free to ask. Red Guard Militaria will help with this, for both pilotka and ushanka stars. Leningrad Tailor makes excellent pilotka, in all sizes, with fun lining material.
Belt
● The Soviets produced two different belts worn by soldiers during the war, a leather belt, and a canvas belt with a leather strip as reinforcement. Both types of belts are correct for this impression from 1940-45. US Lend Lease belts are okay from ~1943 on.
● The belt is to be worn on top of the outermost layer of clothing around the natural waist. Allow some room for wearing an overcoat or telogreika jacket.
● This will be referred to as the equipment or waist belt, and will hold your canteen, e-tool, and ammo pouch. The buckle should be in your left hand when putting it on.
- The belt is a part of the basic uniform of the soldier. You should keep your belt on as often as possible, especially for pictures. The tunic should be gathered and “tucked” behind the belt to look smart and more form fitting. Without a belt on, you are out of uniform.
Three different original belts; a typical leather EM belt, an economy canvas belt, and US Lend Lease belt.
Trouser belt
● The trouser belt is a simple slim canvas belt.
● The pants are already adjustable to an extent, so this is only needed if the pants are still not tight enough or for the added security.
Undershirt
● A thin, white, long sleeve undershirt made of linen, for when not wearing a tunic. Leningrad Tailor, Voin, and Schusters all make excellent reproductions.
Footwraps (called “Portyanki”)
● A personal preference if worn instead of socks. If not folded correctly, footwraps can be very uncomfortable to wear.
- US Army arctic socks or knit wool socks for Civil War are a great start on socks.
● Footwraps are very good at filling out boots, as Soviet boots were simply made to be worn with them. These come in a winter (flannel) and summer (cotton) weight. Soldiers were instructed to re-wrap portyanki at every stop.
Winter clothing
Telogreika Jacket (also called a vatnik)
● These were issued in the colder months and returned in the spring, originally as a liner for the greatcoat, but were often worn as a standalone coat.
- Wartime and postwar telogreika are nearly identical
o Buttons on postwar jackets may need to be swapped out for original ones, and the inside pocket may need to be removed and the holes steamed with an iron.
o Postwar telogreika can often be found for cheaper than an overcoat. If the event is cold, and you don’t have an overcoat, you may wear a telogreika.
o Being safe in cold weather is better than authentically freezing.
- Shoulder boards are not needed, as they are often seen missing on enlisted troops.
- Obr.41 telogreika also had a fall down collar and belt loops. These are also acceptable.
Telogreika Trousers
● Very thick, quilted pants to be worn with the telogreika jacket or greatcoat. These are worn over your normal trousers as an additional layer. These pants are extremely warm, and while it will rarely be cold enough to wear them, they are excellent pillows.
- These were issued with ushankas and the jackets, during cold months. Green or blue color (“gulag material”) trousers are both acceptable.
- Postwar pants can be modified to be nearly identical to wartime ones by removing the thigh pocket and the knee reinforcements and steaming the stitch holes with an iron (If the vertical padding lines go through the knee reinforcements, don’t remove them).
Greatcoat
● The standard issue piece of cold weather gear, and often lacking any insignia on enlisted ranks. The greatcoat also doubled as the soldier’s blanket, and could be linked together by several soldiers for warmth as a big “sleeping bag”.
● On marching order, the greatcoat was rolled up and worn across the body and over the left shoulder, secured with the equipment strap, called a “skatka” roll.
● Saving for a reproduction from Voin is highly suggested. Although Schusters’ overcoats are cheaper, they have a high synthetic content and as a result aren’t as warm.
- Postwar Obr.69/73 “Brezhnevka” overcoats may be worn with some modifications, although they are narrower in the chest, and have a noticeably smaller collar. Replacing the back-belt buttons and removing any additional vanity buttons will make one into a good beginner overcoat.
Gloves
- Soviet gloves were issued in two pairs, a wool “liner” three-fingered mitten set and cotton/woolen mitten “outer” set, both in a “trigger finger” pattern. We do many events in spring and autumn, when the temperature can drop at night. Having gloves when it is raining can be useful, or for yanking that hot cooking pot off the fire.
- Civilian or captured German gloves/mittens are also seen. Any simple knit wool glove/mitten in a natural or subdued color is acceptable. Stay warm.
Ushanka
● An iconic warm hat worn in cold weather. The entire unit would turn in their piltokas to be issued ushankas in the fall, and vice versa in the spring.
● Postwar hats made from blue “fish fur” or other synthetic, commercial materials are not acceptable. Please inquire before purchase. Schusters and Voin are good starts.
- These were made in a large variety of materials during the war. One of the most common was a dark “baika” cotton flannel with gray artificial “fish fur”.
Equipment
Canteen + Cover
● Both glass and aluminum canteens are correct. All canteens will need a cover in order to be worn on the equipment belt, this is the Obr.41 cover. They may also be put in a gas mask bag.
- Wartime canteens had “skinny” threads on the caps. Postwar had “fat” threads. Postwar canteens may be stripped of their paint, cleaned and used.
● It is common to get a canteen with cosmoline inside of and on it, so be sure to clean out the canteen thoroughly before drinking from it. Dish soap with hot water, vinegar, and alcohol are all effective cleaning and disinfecting agents for this.
Original Wartime Canteens, note the smaller threads.
Mess kit
● A period correct mess kit will be required for eating meals at events. These are the Obr.36 “kidney” mess kit, or the Obr.24/27 mess pot, made of aluminum or steel.
● Postwar mess tins changed color from a matte green coating to a glossy green-brown paint. The mess tin itself is correct but the green-brown paint will need to be removed prior to an event. From there, the metal can either be left bare or blackened by fire. Wartime mess kits were either painted or left bare. The paint will come off quickly in a campfire.
● The meal items include an aluminum mess tin, an enameled steel cup, and a spoon
o The cup should be either green, white or brown enamel.
- Some bare aluminum cups are seen
o Mess pots, cups, and spoons were often marked or graffitied to show personal character & ownership.
o Spoons were often considered one of the few truly personal effects a soldier had. Bringing a spoon from home was common practice.
Obr.24/27 Mess Pot Obr.36 Mess Kit
Ammunition Pouch
● Having at least one ammo pouch for your rifle is required, this may be leather or canvas (Mosin Nagant M91/30 or SVT-40 “universal”).
o Wearing two pouches was more common during the beginning and for SVT gunners later in the war. Bandoliers show up infrequently and are scenario dependent.
o Production of leather two cell Obr.37 pouches ceased in 1941, but these pouches are significantly safer to hold blank rounds in than canvas pouches.
● Postwar Kirza pouches are not allowed.
- Red Guard Militaria and Voin make excellent reproduction pouches.
Meshok
● A very simple backpack meant to hold rations and personal items
● The fabric that is used to tie the bag closed are also the shoulder straps
- Avoid post-war models of this bag with external pouches and straps
● Video on how to tie the Meshok: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ax5rH55bo04
Plasch-Palatka with rope
● The plasch was the soldier’s personal tent, as well as their raincoat.
● In reenacting, the plasch primarily serves as a rain cape or tarp to cover up modern items. One plasch is required, but having multiple is strongly recommended.
● The plasch should also come with a rope, so be sure to ask if this is included when
purchasing one. Plasches can also be roped/stitched together to make larger structures
● The plasch should also have leather grommets on the corners. Metal grommets are not correct.
Rifle
● The standard infantry rifle throughout World War 2 was the Mosin Nagant M91/30
o Must have a period correct sling on the rifle
o Even though it was doctrine to have a bayonet on the rifle at all times, we do not attach them to our rifles for safety reasons. They are used for display only.
o Variants of the Mosin Nagant other than the M91/30 are not appropriate for a
standard rifleman’s impression
● An SVT-40 may also be used
o Would then require the correct ammunition pouches and sling
o Also requires the correct bayonet (to be worn the equipment belt)
● The rifle will most likely be the single most expensive piece of equipment. We
understand this, and some members may be willing to loan out a spare rifle at events
for a time. New members should be making an active effort towards getting their own
weapon on a reasonable time-table.
Stripper clips
● Stripper clips are used for loading ammunition into the rifle
● Each ammo pouch can hold up to six clips (12 clips for two pouches)
Canvas equipment strap for the plasch-palatka or greatcoat
● The plash-palatka or the greatcoat can be rolled up and worn over the shoulder when on marching order. The ends are secured by a small canvas strap. A canvas equipment strap was also used to “stack” four rifles together when resting on the march.
SSh-40 helmet
● The helmet is to be worn when portraying a soldier in combat and at tacticals.
● There are three sizes of the helmet. P1-P3.
● The correct liner will have three pads on the inside and a canvas chin strap.
- There are two other models of helmets commonly seen in wartime, the SSh-39 and the SSh-36. These are primarily seen in the early-war, and are considerably more expensive.
● The pilotka or a balaclava was often worn under the helmet.
Gas mask bag
● Most soldiers were issued a gas mask bag, but quickly ditched the gas mask itself and kept the bag to carry additional personal items or ammunition, grenades.
● If purchasing a gas mask bag, the gas mask is definitely not required. Red Guard Militaria makes excellent gas mask bags. Obr.40 bags are the most universal for a late war impression.
- Obr.28 and Obr.36 bags are suitable for an early war impression, but quickly disappear from original photographs past ~1942. Obr.40 bags show up in 1940/1 and appear through the war.
Entrenching Spade and Cover (Called a Lapota)
● Useful for things such as filling sandbags and digging firepits. Soviet soldiers were trained in personal defense with their shovels, and tended to carry them.
● The cover is required for attaching the shovel to the equipment belt. This cover should be of a canvas type material, with a leather strap and buckle closure, or a button closure. Simplified cotton material covers existed as well.
- The Soviets made two differing styles of shovel, simplifying the manufacturing process over the war years. Either type of shovel is fine for the vast majority of events, and plenty of original pre-war/wartime shovels are around for a reasonable price. Red Guard Militaria, Yuri Drukarov, and Denis Kuparinen are excellent sources for shovels and covers.
Accessories
Cigarette case and Smoking pouch
● Smoking was extremely common in the Red Army; tobacco, papers and matches were issued. When papers ran out, soldiers often turned to any available paper materials – including newspapers, regimental library books, and propaganda leaflets. The loose tobacco is generally called “Makhorka”.
● Metal cigarette cases can keep small things dry, and the pouches are good for anything. These pouches were often made by civilian groups and sent to the front en-masse with patriotic and hopeful sayings embroidered onto the front. Others were very simple red bags.
- Soviet cigarettes are called “papirosi” and resemble a cardboard tube which is pinched twice to form a filter. These were often expensive, and the stuff of officers.
- Cigarette holders were popular. Pipes were also very common. Cigars were not widely available until the Red Army entered Western Europe, when they became a popular trophy item.
Examples of Original Smoking Pouches
Cleaning kit
● Having the original cleaning kit for your weapon will provide all the tools necessary for maintaining it, including oil and maybe some patches or rags.
● When using corrosive blanks, it is absolutely necessary to clean the weapon as soon as possible. Corrosion starts immediately after firing, quick care is a must.
Matches
● Having a period correct matchbox to light fires is much preferred to using a modern
lighter. Many unique designs are reproduced.
Flashlight
● A period correct flashlight can become very useful at night and is better than using a
phone light or modern flashlight; Denis K and Red Guard Militaria are good sources
Watch
● A period, or period looking, watch is much better than looking at a phone for the time.
Period watches were smaller than modern mens watches, more similar to modern women’s watches. They had a simple face with no date, and normally the second hand was a separate dial on the watch face.
Hygiene Kit and Cover
● Period hygiene kits include two towels, a toothbrush, tooth powder, and a bar of soap. Early war, each item had a small bakelite container and was placed into a specific pouch. It’s just as correct to keep these items in a small pouch.
- We recommend a simple bamboo brush as a starter toothbrush.
- Simple white cotton waffle towels are perfectly correct.
Can Opener
● Red Guard Militaria tends to have period can openers in stock. They can probably also be found in a local antique store. They do require a lesson in proper use.
Pocketknife
● A period pocketknife is one of the most useful tools to have on hand during an event. Many Civil War sutlers have fine ones, both Yuri and Red Guard Militaria tend to have them as well. Opinel knives from France are another good, cheap pocket knife.
Ration Bags
- The Red Army issued one large cotton bag (for canned goods), three medium cotton or linen bags (for flour, kasha, and macaroni), and three small cotton bags (salt, tea, sugar).
- These bags can be repurposed to hold a good amount of food for the weekend or out in the field, ensuring whatever you bring is in a period container!
Period Glasses Frames (if required)
● Period looking frames are highly recommended, but we understand that a second set of frames are not always covered by insurance, can have a high out of pocket cost, or may not be possible with some prescriptions.
- 1940s Soviet glasses had circular lenses with metal or bakelite frames, and “riding” temples which curved around your ears. Red Guard Militaria and Denis Kuparinen tend to have these available. 1944 Militaria has German frames.
ID Booklet
● Paper booklets issued to all members of the Soviet military, along with a paper scroll and bakelite tube (“death medallion”); these tubes and scrolls were often not filled out and tossed out of superstition. The ID booklets could have a nicer cover, or canvas pouch to place it into.
This booklet contains the soldier’s:
o Personal information (commonly including a photograph)
o Rank and promotions
o Current and previous units
o Equipment issued
o Awards, medals, wounds, decorations
Pencils and Notebook
- Often useful to take down info at events; soldiers could send mail free of charge as well – these letters were folded into triangles as envelopes and dropped in a unit post box.
Blankets
- Formally, the Red Army didn’t particularly issue blankets to their troops. Only wounded soldiers at hospitals may see a blanket and bed sheets during service. As reenactors, comfort and safety at chili events are a priority. There are some options.
- Plain color wool blankets are a great start, as are many 18th/19th century wool blankets. Trophy Italian and German blankets can be utilized, and frequently found in surplus stores. Soviet hospital blankets (blue with three white stripes at one end) can also be found.
Chair or stool
● A wooden folding chair is a must if you want to have a seat at events. They are very common in antique stores. Civil War sutlers sell folding camp stools, which take no space in your vehicle or tent when folded.
A Brief History of OSOAVIAKhIM
Wikipedia of OSOAVIAKhIM
Historically, ‘OSOAVIAKhIM’ (Oso-avia-KhIM) is a Soviet-shorthand for “Society for the Assistance of Defense, Aircraft and Chemical Construction”. (We casually shorten this to ‘OSO’ among ourselves, and you can too). Launched in 1927 from two prior sister organizations, OSOAVIAKhIM was neither a branch of the Red Army nor a formal entity of the Soviet state. Instead, it was a sort of grassroots civil defense organization, which spanned the whole Soviet Union through various branches and clubs. We can think of their training and courses as a curious blend of boy scouts, civil air patrol, local fire departments, and Sportsmen’s clubs – with heavy Soviet political undertones of course. This was a semi-voluntary organization (KOMSOMOL members were mandated to participate) which achieved civil defense programs such as marksmanship classes, horse riding, naval programs, parachuting & pilot schools, military defense theory, chemical & air defense, medical classes, general physical fitness & education, and much more. The organization also published these theories and skills into magazines and other publications, such as “Aviation and Chemistry” (1926) and “On Guard” (1934) which were widely available in the pre-war Soviet civilian world.
Many Red Army soldiers were members of OSOAVIAKhIM to boost their own knowledge of these skills, and participated in these classes. These course awards are commonly seen in photos from 1939-41 of RKKA soldiers. By 1931 OSOAVIAKhIM claimed some 11 million members and would have 13 million by the time the war started in 1941 – from an initial total of 3 million in October of 1927. Within the confines of classroom learning, which began in 1932, OSOAVIAKhIM taught skills to children as young as 8, with those as young as 13 training on shooting. These activities were co-ed and covered a wide range of military subjects. There were some 10,000 OSOAVIAKhIM instructors, men and women who taught these classes, who hosted guest lecturers from Civil War veterans and active duty NKVD Border Guard officers to school children and interested workers or farmers. These instructors help teach over 400,000 nurses, and instructed 98 million people in Air & Chemical Defense. It is estimated that of the initial wave of mobilized soldiers in 1941, nearly 80% of them had some kind of shooting qualification from OSOAVIAKhIM – whether a Voroshilov Marksmanship Badge, or a Sniper Certificate. Famous sniper Lyidmilla Pavlichenko learned to shoot in one of these courses. Many other Society awards can be seen on Red Army troops in the immediate pre war years; Ready for Air & Chemical Defense, Parachutist badges, Sports badges and Ready for Sanitary Defense awards, to name a few which are common. All of these various awards had associated certification cards which were given upon completion of the relevance class and passing specific criteria.
Various Pictures of Non-Shooting based OSOAVIAKhIM Classes
Raising funds for these courses and other programs fell on the shoulders of the organization as well. In addition to stamps and lottery sales to raise funds, the organization also turned to illegal liquor (“samogon”) manufacturing to ensure steady income. These funds were used for everything from facilitating future lectures and classroom materials, to bulk donations to the state aviation or chemical agencies to help obtain needed resources for State Defense. This was certainly an interesting relationship with the Soviet state, historically.
Most participants were civilians, and wore their normal civilian clothing to classes. However the uniforms of OSOAVIAKhIM instructors were rather unique. The boots and trousers are identical to Red Army garments. The tunics are very close to Obr.37 NKVD pattern tunics, with brass buttons on an open placket and external chest pockets. These tunics have their own unique insignia from the Red Army, being collar tabs with silver metallic trim on a field in branch-of-service color. The collar tabs could be crimson (general arms), light blue (aviation), dark blue (cavalry), or black (chemical), featuring either a unique OSOAVIAKhIM seal button, or metal airplane for aviation instructors. Ranks are denoted by star pips on these collar tabs, versus the triangle and square pips of the Red Army at the time. These instructors can be seen wearing pilotka, Obr.35 field visor caps, or visor caps with branch of service trim and a unique OSOAVIAKhIM cap star. Female instructors can be seen in skirts, civilian shoes, and berets. Instructors often have typical enlisted belts or officer belts, with cross straps. We have a whole other document just for these uniforms!
OSOAVIAKhIM Classes and Instructors
OSOAVIAKhIM activism and efforts also resulted in a huge collection of institutionalized knowledge. Another byproduct was a nearly paramilitary organization with a loosely centralized, but rather democratic cell network dispersed across the Soviet Union, with Party connections and contacts. When invasion came in June 1941, OSOAVIAKhIM class graduates fled to the ranks of the Red Army, and OSO instructors who found themselves in occupied areas were prime agitators and recruiters for a Partisan movement. These OSOAVIAKhIM Instructors did their best to ensure the nation’s population was ready when war did finally come to the USSR. Their studies contributed directly to the writing and publication of The Partisan Manual during the Great Patriotic War, which is influential in military theory to this day. One prewar song of the Soviet Union was titled “If War Comes Tomorrow/ Если завтра война” which we feel embodied the spirit of OSOAVIAKhIM’s project, and is incredibly catchy.
“On the land, in the skies and on the oceans
Our song is both powerful and rigid:If tomorrow brings war,
If tomorrow we march,
Then be ready to fight today!”
As a unit, we hope to embody this spirit of unity, togetherness, and shared knowledge. We chose this niche group of late 30’s Civil Defense activists as a way to symbolize building bridges within existing Soviet WWII Reenacting Units across the United States, and providing a common base of understanding. We hope you join us on this voyage together!
Other Notes
Using Modern items
Using items such as a modern sleeping bag or bringing a cooler for drinks is allowed (a sleeping pad is sometimes recommended); but should be hidden away during the day. Plasches, feed sacks, or crates are great for this. Modern clothing like socks and underwear are fine too. The general idea is: if choosing to use modern items, it should be kept to a minimum and hidden away while not in use. Health and safety come first, always.
Use of Original items
While there is nothing wrong with using original items, it should be kept in mind that they hold historical significance and value. A general rule for bringing out historical items, and this really applies for anything, is: do not bring anything out to an event you are not willing to lose forever. We have seen many reenactors damage, destroy, or misplace rare or valuable historical items at events.
Note on Wearing Awards, Decorations, and Medals
Other than the guards badge, it would not be appropriate for a new member to wear any other awards, decorations, or medals to their first few events. Medals are strongly discouraged from being worn to tacticals (without the expressed permission of leadership) and may primarily be worn at living histories when tied to a very specific impression.
Captured Equipment
While there are many examples of Red Army soldiers using captured equipment, it requires proper context to carry many foreign items as a part of the standard rifleman impression. The use of captured German gear would fall under a similar rule to wearing medals. It is recognized by the group that captured equipment and trophy pieces existed, but these items would be more tied into a specific impression – such as rear line troops. Some examples of captured equipment may include: Knives, Mauser pouches, belts, some German firearms, grenades, and limited uniform pieces. Using captured items requires the approval of a senior member of the group and is highly context dependent. Watches, due to their practical nature, are fine for 1943 on.