The Russian Army radically revised its personal equipment for the infantry following a poor showing in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904. As a result of these changes the frontovik went to war in 1914 with simple and practical kit that was the equal or superior to any then in service except perhaps the British 08 pattern webbing..

Original Russian Equipment - Courtesy of Stephen Perry

The basic uniform consisted of a furazhka (visor cap), gymnasterka (tunic or shirt), sharovari (trousers), and sapogi (knee-length boots). A khaki/olive green shade was chosen in 1907 and remained essentially unchanged until the late 1960s. In summer a cotton uniform was issued and in winter a wool one. All soldiers were issued a shinel, a long grey wool greatcoat that was usually carried rolled up over the shoulder. Also in winter a fur cap, the papakha was issued along with a wool hood called a bashlyk.

This replaced the old uniform of a white tunic and dark green trousers although these items were still in use by many militia units at the outbreak of the war.

Furazhka with Cockade in Imperial Colours

The Furazhka was made of wool or cotton with a high crown. The visor was made of black leather, which was sometimes painted green in the field. Officers and NCOs caps had chinstraps which sat above the visor in the usual military fashion, as did cavalrymen. The caps are often seen with wire stiffeners to enhance their shape. There was also a coloured parade version with the colour variations being numerous. The cockade was stamped metal painted in the imperial colours of orange and black. The example above is for an enlisted man, the NCOs and officers had speparate and distinct patterns of cockade. Militia units also wore the 'opelchenie' cross on their caps above the cockade, just as their forebears had at Borodino in 1812.

Enlisted Man's Model 1914 Gynasterka in Cotton

The Gymnasterka was a simple pull-over style shirt based on the traditional Russian peasant garment. It was worn untucked, over the trousers and belted at the waist. There were numerous variations on the basic garment, the most common being the addition of one or two patch pockets on the chest and shirt-style button cuffs. Officers and NCOs frequently had their uniforms privately tailored and were therefore of a higher quality than the enlisted men's garments. The shoulder boards (pogoni) were reversible, one side being khaki and the other being in the colour of the appropriate arm of service. Both sides had the unit number or cipher painted in yellow.

Reproduction Wool Bashlyk Hood and Papakha

The Sharovari were cut comfortably and designed to fit inside the sapogi which were of black leather. Wartime economies and the practicalities of trench warfare forced the adoption of ankle boots and puttees by many soldiers.

The shinel was fastened by hooks and eyes on the right-hand side and had coloured tabs on the shoulders, the colour again being dependant on the arm of service. When worn rolled ove the shoulder the shinel would be wrapped in a one-sixth tent section.

Leather Belt with Infantry Pattern buckle and Ammunition Pouch.

The infantry wore a black or brown leather belt fastened with a brass buckle which bore the imperial double-headed eagle. On either side of the buckle the belt supported an ammunition pouch, each of which held six five-round stripper clips of 7.62mm cartridges for the three-line rifle. The belt also supported a linnemann entrenching tool in a brown leather carrier. As the war dragged on a simpler belt with a pronged half-buckle was produced in brown leather and the entrenching tool carrier was often made from canvas.

Model 1909 Aluminium Water Bottle

The water bottle was covered in wool worn over the right shoulder. An aluminium drinking cup was attached to the bottom of the cover.

Model 1909 Krushka Mess Tin and Model 1894 Linnemann Entrenching Tool & Reproduction Carrier

The copper krushka mess tin was carried strapped to the rolled greatcoat with the ends of the coat tucked inside. Every soldier carried a spoon, wooden or aluminium in a distinctive Russian design, usually tucked in the top of their boot.

Reproduction Model 1910 Haversack

The infantryman carried his personal effects and ephemera in a canvas haversack that was worn slung over the right shoulder and hung at the hip. Interestingly the strap could be reconfigured to make it a backpack although only the Guards regiments were permitted to do this and their packs were dyed black. Later in the war a simplified brown cotton haversack was produced.

Canvas Ammunition Pouch

On active service thirty rounds of additional ammunition was carried in a canvas pouch worn across the chest with the strap over the right shoulder. Also an infantryman would could carry a cotton bandolier carrying thirty 7.62mm cartridges giving them a potential total of one hundred and twenty rounds of ready ammunition.

French Supplied Model 1915 Adrian Helmet with Eagle Badge

In 1916 the Russian Army adopted steel helmets for its front-line troops in line with the other combattants. France supplied four million adrian helmets which the Russians painted green and attached a double-headed eagle badge to the front of. Officers helmets had the officer's version of the cap cockade attached to the front. The first indigenous Russian steel helmets were based largely on this design. At the same time the Army started using the pilotka fore-and-aft cap alongside the furazhka.