The typical appearance of the Red Army was Budenovka - a complex, multi-functional headdress. Along with a gymnast and an overcoat, she is seen as a visiting card of the Workers 'and Peasants' Red Army . Budenovka was depicted on postcards, posters issued a century ago. Until now, for foreigners, it remains one of the symbols of Russia.
A bit of the history of the appearance of Budenovka
To the question of how the Budenovka appeared, there is no single answer, because there are two versions of these events: the Soviet and the imperial.
Soon, the first samples went to operating units: long-field overcoats with complex side clasps, gymnasts, breeches and helmets, which were originally called “heroes”.
Budenovka consisted of several wedges that formed a pointed tip . The shape of the headdress resembled the helmets of epic heroes, and therefore received this name. In the army under the command of Frunze, he was gradually renamed "Frunzevka." When the new uniform reached the cavalrymen Semyon Budeny, the name was reborn into Budenovka, and there were no other options in the future.
The imperial version says that in this form, sewn under the tsar in 1915, Russian troops were supposed to participate in the Victory Parade over Germany in Berlin. It was also created according to the sketches of Vasnetsov. In this case, one can explain her “heroic” style . Helmets, hats, overcoats with "conversations", free gymnasts, fasteners on them and on their overcoats - everything is full of ancient Russian motifs, which was alien to the young republic, which was choking with blood.
Important! One way or another, but Budenovki appeared in the Red Army and lasted until 1943. They could not stand the test of frost during the Soviet-Finnish War of 1940 and gradually began to be replaced by warmer caps with earflaps, summer caps and caps.
What is this hat?
A mandatory element was a pentagonal star as a symbol of belonging to the Red Army. She was sewn in front in the center, above the visor. Initially, the stars were not red. They had a blue color, and then its color changed depending on the belonging of the Red Army to any kind of army. The infantry was awarded raspberry stars, the artillery sewn orange, which was then replaced with black, the cavalrymen got the blue version.
The armored forces (later armored) received a red star, the pilots were assigned a blue color, and the engineering troops also joined the black version, the border guards settled on green stars on a gray background with a headgear. And only on posters or paintings were the Red Army men always depicted in Budenki with red stars .
The same hat was worn by the Chekists since 1922. Their version was dark blue with a dark green cloth star. A year later, the color of the budenovka was changed to black, the stars to raspberry. The following year, the helmet became a dark gray shade with a crab star.
Several versions of budenovki
Over its quarter-century history, this headdress has undergone several changes:
- the size of the star has also undergone changes, increasing and decreasing;
- a linen budenovka was introduced instead of a cloth one, which they began to wear only in the winter. The summer headgear was deprived of a head, but had two visors - one in front and one in the back. The people dubbed this version of "hello-goodbye." With a sharp tip, he looked like a helmet of the Germans ;
- soon instead of a linen version, a cap was introduced for the summer, and the winter version was kept behind the budenovka;
- in the mid-1920s, the spherical wedges of the headgear ended in a more gentle, rather than sharp, end. The helmet became rounded, the top - not so protruding. Its overall height has decreased.
How has she changed so far?
Many of them sewed or knitted such hats on their own, always preserving the red star. With her, the child could participate in games on military topics - especially popular among Soviet children.
Interestingly, such an "ancient" style suddenly began to revive life in the 21st century. Fashionistas now prefer to wear knitted options with elongated ears. In its modern form, the budenovka has become a low, pointed headgear with hanging sides . The most common type of knit fashionable hat is the wrong side of the surface. So she looks united and monolithic. Only a hat that fits tightly to the head will keep its shape. A prerequisite for maintaining the hairstyle is a fabric lining, preferably made of silk.
Important! Knitted with braids, cones, stripes, and circles, the Budenovka hat looks stylish and fresh. And its two- or multi-color variants are also very popular. Headwear with a Norwegian ornament on a lining of silk, fleece or faux fur is especially beautiful.
What place does budenovka take in fashion today?
In men, budenovka as a woolen hat is also popular. There are more refined options associated with knitting needles with various patterns and motifs. There are also simple single-color crocheted models, tight, keeping the top sharp. Budenovka is also used as a bath hat made of felt, which reliably hides the head from exposure to high temperatures . In this embodiment, playful inscriptions and drawings are usually embroidered on the helmet.
