How the VDV Got Their Telnyashka and Why Their Beret Became Blue
No branch of the Russian military is surrounded by as much legend and prestige as the VDV - the Russian Airborne Forces.
Often called "Uncle Vasya's Troops," after their most famous commander, General Vasily Margelov, the VDV became the elite of the Soviet military under his leadership. Margelov developed the concept of rapid airborne assault - a strategy often described as "from the sky straight into battle." This approach helped shape modern airborne warfare and made the VDV one of the most recognizable military formations in Russia.
Read more interesting articles:
How to Choose a Real GOST TelnyashkaTelnyashka: History of the Russian Navy and VDV Striped Shirt
What is telnyashka? Short history of the Russian striped shirt
Despite their reputation, the Airborne Forces are actually one of the youngest branches of the Russian military. The first group parachute jump took place on August 2, 1930 - a date that later became Airborne Forces Day. The first official VDV unit was formed in 1931.
How Five Paratroopers Captured a Town
When people think of airborne troops, they usually imagine soldiers descending under parachutes. But airborne operations can also involve aircraft landing troops directly on the ground. This type of operation played an important role in the early history of Soviet airborne forces.
The first Soviet airborne deployments took place in Central Asia during operations against Basmachi insurgent groups in the late 1920s.
In 1928, a small reconnaissance team was flown into the Karakum Desert on three civilian aircraft. After completing their mission, they were flown back the same way.
A year later, in April 1929, a larger airborne operation took place near the town of Garm in present-day Tajikistan. A force of around 450 Basmachi fighters had crossed the border from northern Afghanistan and moved toward the town.
There were no major Red Army units nearby, so Soviet commanders decided to transport troops by aircraft. The first two planes could carry only five officers, whose task was to assess the situation and prepare for the arrival of reinforcements.
After evaluating the enemy's position, the five officers made a bold decision. Instead of waiting, they launched an immediate attack.
Using horses borrowed from a nearby village, they transported machine guns toward Garm and opened fire on the insurgents.
The attack was so unexpected that the Basmachi believed they were facing the advance guard of a much larger force. They began to retreat.
By the time additional Soviet troops arrived, the outcome had already been decided. The remaining soldiers completed the operation and secured the town.
Soldiers Under White Canopies
The success of the Garm operation showed Soviet military leaders how valuable airborne troops could be. Special units capable of landing behind enemy lines and fighting independently offered entirely new military possibilities.
However, transport aircraft of the late 1920s were limited. They could carry troops, but they could not land almost anywhere. Parachutes offered a much more flexible solution. At that time, parachutes were already widely used, mainly as emergency equipment for pilots.
To test the idea and demonstrate the potential of airborne forces, Soviet commanders organized a large demonstration jump during military exercises near Voronezh in August 1930.
A week before the event, 30 selected soldiers began parachute training under the supervision of Leonid Minov, one of the Soviet Union's first parachute instructors.
On August 2, 1930, twelve paratroopers made a group jump from a Farman Goliath aircraft. They became the first soldiers of the Soviet airborne forces, and this date is still celebrated today as Airborne Forces Day.
A New Parachute for a New Branch
The first Soviet paratroopers used American-made pilot parachutes because no domestic military parachutes were available yet.
That began to change in 1930 when a new parachute factory opened in Tushino, near Moscow. The factory produced parachutes designed by a special research department of the Soviet Air Force.
The project was led by Mikhail Savitsky, an experienced pilot who understood the requirements of modern parachute design.
In 1931, Savitsky and his team developed the PD-1 (Parachute Desantnyy-1), the first parachute specifically created for Soviet airborne troops.
The PD-1 officially entered service with the Red Army in 1933. Soon afterward, improved designs followed, and by the beginning of World War II, Soviet airborne forces were already using several different parachute models.
Building the Airborne Forces
Although August 2, 1930 is considered the birthday of the Soviet Airborne Forces, the first official airborne unit was not created until the spring of 1931.
It was formed within the 1st Aviation Brigade of the Leningrad Military District and consisted of 164 personnel. The unit was equipped not only with small arms but also with T-27 tankettes and armored vehicles, since troops were expected to be deployed by aircraft landings as well as by parachute.
Later, the brigade also organized a dedicated parachute unit.
Looking for a Real Telnyashka?
Add extra Telnyashkas and accessories - shipping stays the same.
Flat Worldwide Shipping - $14.98
Shipping is charged only once per order.
Shop TelnyashkasDuring military exercises in 1931, airborne troops were actively used in both the Leningrad and Ukrainian Military Districts. They landed behind mock enemy lines and carried out various tactical missions.
As the airborne concept proved successful, the Soviet military decided to expand it. On December 11, 1932, the Revolutionary Military Council ordered the creation of airborne units in several major military districts across the country.
One major problem remained: there were not enough trained parachute instructors.
To solve this issue, the Higher Parachute School of OSOAVIAKHIM opened in Moscow on May 31, 1933. Its primary mission was to train parachute instructors and parachute riggers for the rapidly growing airborne forces.
Khalkhin Gol and Izmail: The First Combat Operations
Before World War II, the Soviet Airborne Forces expanded rapidly.
The first regular airborne units appeared in 1933, and five years later the Soviet military began forming full airborne brigades. Each brigade contained between 1,500 and 1,800 personnel.
These troops were equipped with much more than rifles. Airborne units also operated 45 mm anti-tank guns, light mortars, motorcycles, and even small tractors.
The first combat experience for Soviet paratroopers came during the Battle of Khalkhin Gol in 1939.
A group from the 202nd Airborne Brigade was deployed behind Japanese lines and played an important role in defeating enemy forces. Soldiers of the 201st Brigade were less fortunate and were used as ordinary infantry without an airborne operation.
A year later, during the Soviet occupation of Bessarabia, the 201st Brigade finally had an opportunity to demonstrate its airborne capabilities.
On June 30, 1940, paratroopers were dropped near the city of Izmail. By the end of the day, they had successfully secured the city, marking one of the first major airborne operations in Soviet military history.
Forged in the Fires of World War II
When Germany invaded the Soviet Union in 1941, the Soviet Airborne Forces were in the middle of a major expansion.
On April 23, 1941, the Soviet military began forming five airborne corps, each with more than 8,000 personnel. Two were stationed in the Kiev Military District, while the others were deployed in the Western, Baltic, and Odessa Military Districts.
All five corps took part in the first and most difficult battles of World War II. Although paratroopers often fought as regular infantry, Soviet airborne troops also participated in several major airborne operations during the war.
The most famous were the Vyazma Airborne Operation, the Dnieper Airborne Operation, and the Maikop Airborne Landing.
The Soviet government highly valued the contribution of its airborne troops. Every airborne unit received Guards status, and 296 soldiers and officers were awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union.
"Uncle Vasya's Troops"
One of the paratroopers who fought during World War II was Vasily Margelov, the future commander who would become the most famous figure in VDV history.
Ironically, Margelov did not begin his military career as a paratrooper. During the war, he commanded a naval ski regiment formed from Baltic Fleet sailors. By the end of the conflict, he had reached the rank of Major General, commanded a rifle division, and earned the title Hero of the Soviet Union.
In 1948, Margelov was appointed commander of the legendary 76th Guards Airborne Division, one of the oldest airborne formations still active today.
His rise was rapid. Two years later he commanded an airborne corps, and in 1954 he became Commander of the Soviet Airborne Forces. He remained in that position for most of the next twenty-five years.
Under Margelov's leadership, the VDV was transformed into one of the most elite military branches in the Soviet Union.
The airborne troops received their own armored vehicles, specialized parachute systems, advanced training programs, and dedicated military transport aircraft. Margelov pushed constantly for new equipment and better conditions for his soldiers.
Because he always defended the interests of his paratroopers, they gave him the affectionate nickname "Uncle Vasya." Over time, many soldiers jokingly began to interpret the abbreviation VDV as "Voyska Dyadi Vasi" - "Uncle Vasya's Troops."
Even today, Vasily Margelov remains the most respected and influential figure in the history of the Russian Airborne Forces.
How the VDV Got Its Famous Telnyashka
One of the most recognizable symbols of the Russian Airborne Forces is the blue-striped Telnyashka. Its appearance in the VDV is closely connected with General Vasily Margelov.
Margelov greatly respected the striped shirts worn by Soviet naval infantry. During World War II, he commanded a unit of Baltic Fleet sailors and admired the Telnyashka as a symbol of courage and military tradition.
In 1959, after a large airborne exercise involving water landings, several officers decided to reward participating paratroopers with Telnyashkas. The idea was simple: these soldiers had been tested both in the sky and on the water.
The tradition quickly became popular. For several years, Telnyashkas were awarded to paratroopers who completed water jumps.
By the mid-1960s, Margelov convinced Soviet military leaders that airborne troops deserved their own official striped shirt. On July 6, 1969, the Soviet Ministry of Defense approved a new VDV uniform that included the Telnyashka.
To distinguish paratroopers from sailors, the stripes were changed from dark navy blue to light blue, symbolizing the sky.
Why the Beret Became Blue
The famous blue beret also appeared thanks to Vasily Margelov.
In the mid-1960s, he wanted the Airborne Forces to have a unique headdress that would emphasize their elite status. The first berets introduced in 1967 were actually crimson, a color traditionally used by paratroopers in several other countries.
However, the crimson beret looked unusual when combined with the light-blue insignia already worn by Soviet airborne troops.
General Ivan Lisov, one of the pioneers of Soviet airborne forces, suggested changing the beret color to blue. The idea was approved, and the blue beret quickly became a symbol of the VDV.
In 1969, both the blue beret and the blue-striped Telnyashka officially became part of the Airborne Forces uniform.
Today, these two items remain the most recognizable symbols of Russian and Soviet paratroopers around the world.
The Heroism of the 6th Company and the Dash to Pristina
Since the Soviet war in Afghanistan, the Russian Airborne Forces have played a major role in many modern military conflicts.
During the Chechen Wars, VDV units became known for their courage and determination. One of the most famous examples is the battle fought by the 6th Company of the 104th Guards Regiment from the 76th Airborne Division.
In March 2000, the company defended Hill 776 against a much larger enemy force. The battle became one of the most well-known acts of heroism in modern Russian military history.
After the battle, 22 paratroopers were awarded the title Hero of Russia, while dozens of others received military decorations for bravery.
The Dash to Pristina
Another famous operation took place during the Kosovo conflict in 1999.
On the night of June 12, a Russian airborne battalion made a rapid 600-kilometer movement from Bosnia to Kosovo and secured Pristina International Airport before NATO forces could arrive.
The operation surprised many international observers and became known as the "Dash to Pristina."
By reaching the airport first, Russian paratroopers gained an important strategic position and demonstrated the mobility and readiness of the Airborne Forces.
A Symbol of Elite Service
Today, the Russian Airborne Forces remain one of the most respected branches of the military.
Many young men still dream of earning the blue beret and wearing the famous blue-striped Telnyashka.
Competition for admission to the Ryazan Guards Higher Airborne Command School, named after General Vasily Margelov, remains extremely high, reflecting the lasting prestige of the VDV and its traditions.
Read more interesting articles:
How to Choose a Real GOST Telnyashka
0 comments