Why Do Russian Soldiers Wear Striped Shirts?

Why Russians Love the Telnyashka and What Makes It Special

The Telnyashka first became popular among sailors. Sailors have always believed in superstitions and tried not to challenge fate while at sea. Breton sailors wore black and white striped shirts that looked very similar to today's Telnyashka. Many believed these shirts had magical powers that could scare away evil spirits and protect them from dangers in the sea.

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So why did this striped shirt become so popular in Russia, and why do Russians still love it today?

During the economic crisis of the 17th century, many Breton sailors moved to other European countries, especially the Netherlands. By the end of the century, the striped shirt had become a fashionable item, much like Gucci or Adidas is today.

Many people still argue about how many stripes a real Telnyashka should have.

Today, the number of stripes simply depends on the shirt size. But in the 17th century, every stripe had a meaning.

A traditional French Breton shirt had 21 stripes, which were said to represent Napoleon's victories in battle. For Breton sailors, the number 21 became symbolic.

Dutch sailors wore shirts with 12 stripes, representing the twelve human ribs. At that time, there was a belief that wearing such a shirt made a sailor look like a ghost, helping him fool fate and survive dangerous sea voyages.

The Telnyashka arrived in Russia during the 19th century. At first, it was mostly worn by merchants who had traded for these shirts abroad. Russians were not very interested in them at first, but over time the striped shirt became more popular.

The real popularity of the Telnyashka began after sailors returned home from the Russo-Japanese War. These veterans proudly shared stories about their service, and people started calling them the "Soul of the Navy." Wearing a Telnyashka became a symbol of courage and honor.

It is easy to understand why sailors wore the Telnyashka, but how did it become part of the airborne troops?

According to an unofficial story, paratroopers first received Telnyashkas in 1959 as a symbolic reward after completing parachute jumps into water.

The main reason the shirt became popular in the airborne forces was the legendary commander Vasily Margelov. Some naval leaders, including Admiral Sergey Gorshkov, believed that paratroopers should not wear a sailor's striped shirt and called it an outdated tradition.

Margelov strongly disagreed. He believed that airborne soldiers had earned the right to wear the Telnyashka.

The shirt became famous during the Prague Spring of 1968, when Soviet paratroopers were first seen wearing both the blue beret and the blue-striped Telnyashka. At that time, this uniform was not officially approved by any military document.

One year later, the Soviet Ministry of Defense officially allowed airborne troops to wear the Telnyashka under Order No. 191.

There is another interesting story about why Vasily Margelov loved the Telnyashka.

Some believe he was inspired by the popular film "This Sporting Life." The movie tells the story of rugby players. One famous scene shows a player wearing a striped jersey who is badly injured by an opponent but refuses to leave the game and keeps fighting until the end.

Many believe this scene impressed Margelov and strengthened his belief that the striped shirt represented courage and determination.

The Telnyashka also had another unusual advantage.

Its horizontal stripes create an optical illusion. When Soviet sailors landed on shore and entered battle, enemy soldiers often believed there were more sailors than there actually were.

German soldiers even called them "Striped Devils."

This nickname also came from old European traditions. In medieval Europe, striped clothing was often worn by people considered outsiders, such as heretics, lepers, or social outcasts. Because of this, striped clothing carried a mysterious and intimidating image, making the Telnyashka even more frightening to enemy soldiers.

Today, the Telnyashka remains an important part of Russian military tradition.