The legendary naval sweatshirt - how much meaning is put into these words! This is the story of more than one generation. The vest is valued on a par with a shrine. In Russia, it became not only part of the infantry and submarine navy, but also the airborne armed forces, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, special forces and the internal army of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Each Russian army has its own vest with a unique stripe color, the selection criteria of which, one can assume, characterize the field of activity of each...
German opponents spoke of sailors and marines during the Great Patriotic War as “striped devils.” This one wears T-shirts with black stripes. It was not a matter of color, not how many stripes there were on the vest, and not even the extremely strong-willed qualities of Russian sailors. The roots of this nickname go back to the history of Europe, where in the past, for a very long time, striped clothes were worn by heretics, lepers, and executioners who did not have any rights, rejected by society. When the Germans saw Marines on land, they were overwhelmed with fear at the genetic level. The sailors, even in battles on land, refused to change their main parts of their uniform: a peakless cap and a vest with a pea coat. This is what distinguished them from infantry soldiers.
For camouflage, the Marines dressed in the uniform of the ground forces. But even in it, the vest remained an underwear shirt. If someone carried it in a duffel bag because they wanted to keep it longer, then it was mandatory to put it on before the fight. After all, since ancient times there has been a Russian tradition: to put on a clean undershirt before the start of a battle. Someone thinks that the power of Russian sailors is hidden in a special sweatshirt - its color and how many stripes there are on the soldier’s vest.
After all, at one time the French Navy adopted a standard in 1852, according to which a vest should have 21 stripes. This is the number of victories of the great Napoleon.
Sailors have always been distinguished by a special courageous spirit. Throwing their overcoat and pea coat to the ground, dressed in a vest, they walked towards the enemy with a bayonet in their hands. The sailors' first battle on land took place in June 1941, on the 25th.
Sergeant Major Prostorov, at the head of the Baltic corsairs, shouted “Polundra” and disgraced the Germans, who were known as victors in Europe. The strike force of the Russian army was formed from fighters in vests. The whole point is not how many stripes there are on the vest, but the inner strength of the Russian spirit. The command knew: these warriors would not retreat! They were where it was most dangerous to fight. The Marine Corps of the Soviet Union threw panic and instilled fear in the enemy...
The history of the vest itself dates back to the time of the conquest of the geographical space of the Earth - in the seventeenth century. At that time, maritime professions were just developing. Accordingly, there was a shortage of personnel. Most of the European fleet was made up of sailors from Brittany. Most likely, the Bretons did not care how many stripes there were on their vests - they wore black and white work shirts, which played the role of a talisman against sea evil spirits.
In addition, in such a shirt the sailor can be seen better against the background of the surrounding landscapes. In addition, dirt is not so noticeable. Most of the Breton seafaring personnel ended up on Dutch ships. They paid well here and Bretons were not prohibited from wearing striped overalls. By the end of the 17th century, it would become the body uniform of sailors throughout Europe.
The Russians were no exception. It is not known for certain how many stripes there are on a sailor’s vest and when exactly it entered the life of the Russian fleet. But, most likely, the vest was brought to Russia by the Dutch in the mid-seventeenth century. Their merchant ships began to sail to Arkhangelsk and Kholmogory. The Dutch and British were known as trendsetters in fashionable naval equipment. Therefore, Peter I adopted the Dutch uniform for the Russian flotilla, which was in its infancy.
But she was not yet wearing Breton striped shirts. They became more widespread among Russian sailors of the second mid-19th century. There is a legend that in 1868, Prince Konstantin Romanov, who was also an admiral, received the crew of the frigate. All sailors came to the meeting in European striped sweatshirts.
They praised their merits so much that after some time the prince signed a decree from the emperor to officially include the vest in the ammunition of Russian sailors (1874).
It became a cult garment later, after the Russo-Japanese War. When there was demobilization, sailors filled the cities. All around you could hear the rhythms of sea dances and stories about the brave battles for Port Arthur.
They were looking for adventure. This is the time when flotilla culture became widespread among the masses, and the concept of “sea soul” appeared, the symbol of which was the vest.
When and how did the iconic clothing of the navy become part of the blue beret and how many stripes are there on the vest of a Russian paratrooper? History says that back in 1959 they were awarded to a parachutist for a jump into water, which is considered one of the most dangerous.
That's when vests appeared in paratroopers' uniforms (unofficially). But the key person who made the naval sweatshirt was the legendary commander. It didn’t matter how many stripes there were on the Navy vest - it didn’t matter to the paratroopers. The introduction of the “sea soul” into blue berets was opposed by Sergei Gorshkov, the commander-in-chief of the USSR Navy. He said that these were manifestations of anarchy among the paratroopers.
But Margelov said harshly that he fought in the Marine Corps. And therefore he knows what paratroopers deserve and don’t deserve!
The blue striped vest made its official debut at the Prague events in August 1968: Soviet paratroopers wearing the striped jersey proved to be a decisive force in ending the Prague Spring. The blue berets received a baptism of fire, bypassing all bureaucratic issues - with the blessing of Margelov.
The new form was not prescribed by any official document. And it doesn’t matter how many stripes there are on an Airborne Forces vest (the number simply depends on the size of the jersey) - it has become a symbol of masculinity and a special spirit of fearlessness. Even future fighters have the honor of wearing a striped sweatshirt.
Today, Russian troops of various kinds wear a vest. The kit for cadets of naval, civil river and maritime educational institutions includes a naval vest as a mandatory element of the uniform. Although border guards, thanks to the creation of the border flotilla of the White, Baltic and Caspian Seas, put it on back in 1893, and in 1898 it began with green stripes. In the 90s of the 20th century, vests for border guards were officially developed - green, for the special forces of the VV - maroon, for the special forces of the FSB and the presidential regiment - cornflower blue, for the Ministry of Emergency Situations - orange.
Of course, you can simply count how many stripes there are on a naval vest, but this will not give anything. Since the period of the USSR, the number of stripes has depended on the size of each military man, be it an infantryman or a border guard. Conventionally: size forty-six contains 33 stripes, size fifty-six - 52.
The problem of the number of stripes has its roots in the symbolic numerology in the vests of the French. The Dutch and the British had the same symbolism. They preferred shirts with 12 stripes, the same as the number of human ribs, thus wanting to deceive fate: as if it were not a person, but a ghost-skeleton of the deceased...
Jun 04,2017
For many years, vests have been a symbol of the navy. Read about what other colors striped vests come in in the military trade article “Starshina”.
The history of the naval undershirt began a very long time ago. Once upon a time, sailors, while passing the time, knitted themselves comfortable and warm vests from wool, and for hot climates from cotton yarn. According to existing legends, it was not for nothing that the vest became striped; there is a completely logical explanation for this.
English sailors in vests. It can be seen that the stripes are slightly narrower than on domestic ones.
Sailors are probably the most superstitious people in the world. Killing a seagull is a bad omen, a woman on a ship is unlucky. But the imagination of sea workers played out most vividly when it came to the inhabitants of the depths of the sea. The imagination of sailors populated the abyss with huge squids and krakens, which could swallow a sailboat in one sitting. The crafty mermaids, with their angelic singing, forced the sailors to throw themselves overboard at their call, and sea snakes of gigantic size, unexpectedly emerging, grabbed the unfortunate guys and dragged them into the depths. The solution suggested itself: to pretend to be already dead, to become like a skeleton. Most likely, this is how the stripes on the “sea soul” appeared. French sailors from Brittany are considered pioneers in this. The innovation quickly spread among the sailors of Western Europe at the beginning of the 16th century.
Ukrainian marines during the parade wearing traditional vests with black stripes.
There is a more practical explanation for the “striations” of the vest. The color of the sea vest is blue and white. A sailor in a striped shirt was easier to spot when he fell overboard. And against the background of light sails, the sailors climbing the shrouds were better visible to the officer standing on the deck, and it was easier for him to correct their actions. But on warships, the heterogeneity of homemade vests irritated the officers, and the wearing of such shirts was almost universally prohibited by the beginning of the 18th century. Only 100 years later the vest became legal naval clothing, and in Tsarist Russia it received official status in 1874 by decree of Alexander II. The number of stripes in the European fleet then varied from 12 to 21. A person has 12 pairs of ribs and the practical Dutch took this as a basis. The French regulated 21 stripes - according to the number of Bonaparte's largest victories. In general, today everything depends on the size of the shirt; the larger it is, the more stripes will fit on it.
Belarusian retired border guard in a green vest
In many CIS countries, a vest with orange stripes is used by the Ministry of Emergency Situations
The first sign of changing the usual blue stripe to a different color in the Russian fleet was the introduction of green for the border patrol fleet in 1912. Already in the mid-60s, when berets began to be introduced into the Soviet army, a gradual “repainting” of vests began and their introduction in all branches of the military. In many ways, today the colors of vests depend on the berets worn by soldiers.
A cherry/red vest is a sign of internal troops (in Ukraine - the National Guard).
According to established tradition, in the young Armed Forces of Ukraine, the color of the vest by branch of the military means the following. Dark blue traditional stripes on Navy vests. Submariners can be distinguished by their black stripes, the color of the abyss. Airborne troops wear sky-blue stripes, while green ones are worn by border guards. The special forces of the Internal Troops are easily recognized by their maroon stripes, and the SBU by their cornflower blue stripes. The Ministry of Emergency Situations has adopted the color orange, which means danger and a call for help.
Ukrainian sailors
Many people are interested in why the stripes don’t fade (if, of course, the product is of high quality)? They can be printed on the finished fabric, that is, with paint, or they can be knitted during the production of knitted fabric with threads of two colors; such models are more expensive. If the paint is applied in compliance with all technological requirements and has the correct composition, it will never fade. The durability of paint on a material also depends on the composition and quality of the base on which it is applied. If it is a high-quality cotton product (stitched stitch, interlock, or double elastic), then there will be no problems with the paint. And if the model feels rough and hard to the touch, it is better to refrain from purchasing it. Brushed (lined) fabrics are usually made from 2 colors of yarn rather than dyed.
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Sailors of all generations of the Russian fleet have always been partial to the vest and called it the soul of the sea.Among sailors, a knitted undershirt with transverse white and blue stripes, commonly called a vest, is a particularly favorite garment. The vest got its name due to the fact that it is worn on a naked body.
What did the vest look like before, what are the stripes and what does their color mean?
History of the vest
The vest appeared during the heyday of the sailing fleet in Brittany (France), presumably in the 17th century.
The vests had a boat neckline and three-quarter sleeves and were white with dark blue stripes. In Europe at that time, striped clothes were worn by social outcasts and professional executioners. But for Breton sailors, according to one version, a vest was considered lucky clothing for sea voyages.
In Russia, the tradition of wearing vests began to take shape, according to some sources, in 1862, according to others, in 1866. Instead of narrow jackets with uncomfortable stand-up collars, Russian sailors began to wear comfortable flannel Dutch shirts with a cutout on the chest. Under the shirt, an undershirt was worn - a vest.
At first, vests were issued only to participants of long-distance hikes and were a source of special pride. As one of the reports of that time says: “lower ranks... mainly wore them on Sundays and holidays when going ashore... and in all cases when it was necessary to be smartly dressed...”. The vest was finally established as part of the uniform by an order signed on August 19, 1874 by Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolaevich. This day can be considered the birthday of the Russian vest.
The vest has a great advantage over other underwear shirts. Fitting the body tightly, it does not interfere with free movement during work, retains heat well, is convenient to wash, and dries quickly in the wind.
This type of light sea clothing has not lost its importance today, although sailors now rarely have to climb the shrouds. Over time, the vest came into use in other branches of the military, although in few places it is an official part of the uniform. However, this item of clothing is used both in the ground forces and even in the police.
Why is the vest striped and what does the color of the stripes mean?
The blue and white transverse stripes of the vests corresponded to the colors of the Russian naval St. Andrew's flag. In addition, sailors dressed in such shirts were clearly visible from the deck against the background of the sky, sea and sails.
The tradition of making stripes multi-colored was strengthened in the 19th century - the color determined whether a sailor belonged to a particular flotilla. After the collapse of the USSR, the colors of the vest stripes were “distributed” among the various branches of the military.
What does the color of the stripes on the vest mean:
black: submarine forces and marines;
cornflower blue: presidential regiment and FSB special forces;
light green: border troops;
light blue: Airborne Forces;
maroon: Ministry of Internal Affairs;
orange: Ministry of Emergency Situations.
What is guy?
In the navy, a guy is called a collar that is tied over the uniform. The real meaning of the word "geus" (from the Dutch geus - "flag") is a naval flag. The flag is raised daily on the bow of ships of the 1st and 2nd ranks during anchorage from 8 a.m. to sunset.
The history of the appearance of the guy is quite prosaic. In the Middle Ages in Europe, men wore long hair or wigs, and sailors wore their hair in ponytails and braids. To protect against lice, hair was smeared with tar. To prevent tar from staining their clothes, the sailors covered their shoulders and back with a protective leather collar, which could be easily wiped clean from dirt.
Over time, the leather collar was replaced with a fabric one. Long hairstyles are a thing of the past, but the tradition of wearing a collar remains. In addition, after the abolition of wigs, a square cloth collar was used for insulation - in cold windy weather it was tucked under clothes.
Why are there three stripes on the butt?
There are several versions of the origin of the three stripes on the butt. According to one of them, three stripes symbolize three major victories of the Russian fleet:
at Gangut in 1714;
at Chesma in 1770;
at Sinop in 1853.
It should be noted that sailors from other countries also have stripes on their butts, the origin of which is explained in a similar way. Most likely, this repetition occurred as a result of borrowing the form and legend. It is not known for certain who first invented stripes.
According to another legend, the founder of the Russian fleet, Peter I, had three squadrons. The first squadron had one white stripe on its collars. The second has two stripes, and the third, especially close to Peter, has three stripes. Thus, the three stripes began to mean that the naval guard was especially close to Peter. (
Underwear naval shirt - this is it sea vest, which should be made of knitted fabric with a peculiar alternation of white and blue stripes.
The first mention of the appearance of the vest dates back to the time of the appearance of the sailing fleet. Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolaevich Romanov is the founder of the introduction of this element of clothing into the equipment of sailors.
Like any other thing naval vest also has its own distinctive features. These primarily include horizontally alternating blue and white stripes. This unusual color design initially made it possible to observe the work and actions of the sailors, both on deck and with sails on the yards. Subsequently, the presence of stripes on the vest became a kind of tradition.
From the very beginning of its appearance, vests exclusively with dark blue stripes were supplied to the personnel of the USSR and the Russian Navy. After some time, a black and blue vest appeared as an addition to the uniform. The Marines of the Great Patriotic War, like the revolutionary sailors of the Civil War, with their exploits made the vest a real romantic symbol of sea prowess and courage.
The vest eventually became very popular among the common population. Its other name, which sounds like “sea soul,” speaks volumes about the fame and demand for this clothing brand.
During the creation of the uniform of the USSR airborne troops, the naval infantry uniform was taken as a model. For military personnel in the summer, a vest or, in other words, a sleeveless vest is intended. The sailors' uniform also includes insulated winter vests made of thick cotton jersey, with or without fleece.
In the early nineties of the last century, manufacturers developed a vest with stripes of various colors, which later became indispensable for various troops of the Russian Armed Forces:
The Botsman store carries out sale of vests wholesale and retail. In addition, the store sells various workwear, naval uniforms, naval souvenirs and personal protective equipment.
First of all, the type of military service can be determined by the vest
It should not be surprising that in Russia there is such a holiday - Russian Vest Day, which is celebrated on August 19. Today, striped undershirts are worn by sailors and marines, paratroopers and border guards, special forces of the National Guard and rescuers of the Ministry of Emergency Situations.
They wanted to cheat death
If we look at history, the first naval vests appeared in the Breton fleet back in the 16th century. Then they had exactly 12 black and white stripes, the number of ribs in a person. It is believed that in this way the sailors wanted to deceive death itself. They believed that the “bony one” would take them for dead and pass them by. This belief did not appear by chance; in those days, traveling by sea was extremely dangerous.
It is known that French sailors already had 21 stripes on their vests. Each of them symbolized one of Napoleon's major victories. The Russian Navy first used vests on August 19, 1874. It was on this day that Grand Duke Konstantin Romanov signed a decree introducing a new form. At first, the vest was considered a form of clothing for “the lower ranks of ships and naval crews.” The blue and white transverse stripes on the shirt symbolized the St. Andrew's flag - the official banner of the Russian Navy.
Navy vests
History says that initially the white and blue striped vest belonged exclusively to sailors of the Russian military fleet. Even at the end of the 19th century, the naval vest consisted of white and blue stripes. Interestingly, the white stripes were much wider back then. On a modern sailor's vest, the white and blue stripes are the same width.
Previously, vests were made from cotton and wool, which were used in equal proportions. Nowadays, 100% natural cotton is used in most cases. The service life of a vest in the navy is one year.
Marines
Even during the Great Patriotic War, the Nazis well remembered the black and white vests of the Marines. There is even a legend that German soldiers and their allies called Soviet marines “striped devils.” Many may think that such a nickname appeared due to the courage and bravery of the sailors, but there is another background to this. Europeans remembered well that once their executioners wore striped clothes.
It is interesting that the Marines often dressed in the uniform of the ground forces for camouflage, but did not part with their vests, considering them their amulet.
Airborne vest
It is very difficult to imagine a paratrooper without a vest. In recent years, on Airborne Forces Day, wearing vests has become a good tradition not only for the paratroopers themselves, but also for their wives and children.
If you look more closely, light blue stripes alternate with white on the paratroopers’ vests, which symbolize the color of the sky in clear weather. A number of sources indicate that vests have officially become an item of clothing in the Airborne Forces since 1969. According to other sources, the paratroopers put on vests when Vasily Margelov commanded the Airborne Forces.
Vest for border troops
Since the 1990s, vests with stripes of different colors began to appear in other troops. Thus, border guards began to wear vests with green stripes. The paratroopers who served at that time said that in the late 80s the Vitebsk Airborne Division was transferred to the KGB of the USSR, as a result of which the blue vests and berets were “repainted” green, which was perceived by the former paratroopers as an insult to their military honor. After the collapse of the USSR in 1991, the division was transferred to Belarus, where it again became an airborne unit. But the tradition of border guards wearing green vests remains.
Ministry of Emergency Situations, special forces of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Russian Guard
Currently, one of the attributes of EMERCOM rescuers is vests with white and orange stripes. Vests with brown stripes are worn by representatives of the special forces of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, as well as the Russian National Guard.
