The beret is an important part of military uniforms in many countries around the world. In many cases, a beret shows that a soldier belongs to a special or elite unit. Soldiers are often proud to wear it.
The Black Beret of the Soviet Marines
Soviet VDV: From Crimson to Blue Berets
The Legendary Maroon Beret
The Green Beret of the Border Troops
What Berets Does Alpha Wear?
The Brightest Beret: Emergency Services
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Today, berets are also worn by members of the Belarusian Armed Forces, Internal Troops, Special Police, State Security Committee, Border Guard and Emergency Services.
“Berets appeared in the Soviet Armed Forces later than in many other armies,” says Colonel Alexander Gruenko, Deputy Commander of the Special Operations Forces.
According to some sources, the Soviet Army started using berets partly because special military units in other countries were already wearing green berets. Soviet military leaders decided that berets could also become part of Soviet Army tradition.
The new berets quickly became popular among soldiers. Many young men wanted to serve in elite units, especially the Soviet Airborne Forces with their famous blue VDV beret.
The Black Beret of the Soviet Marines
The first berets used in the Soviet Armed Forces were not blue, as many people think. They were black.
In 1963, the black beret became a symbol of the Soviet Marines. A new field uniform was introduced for Marine units by order of the Soviet Minister of Defense.
Officers wore black wool berets. Sergeants and sailors wore black cotton berets. The beret had a leather-like band around the bottom. On the left side was a small red flag with a gold anchor. Officers also wore a Soviet Navy badge on the front.
Soviet Marines first appeared in their new field uniforms at the November 1968 parade on Red Square in Moscow.
Later, the red flag was moved to the right side of the beret. This was because the Mausoleum and the stands for important guests were on the right side of the marching troops.
Later, the star worn by sergeants and sailors received a wreath of laurel leaves. Researchers say these changes may have been approved by Soviet Defense Minister Marshal A. Grechko. However, no written order about these changes has been found.
Soviet Marines continued to wear these special parade versions of their berets and field uniforms at November parades in Moscow.
In 1969, a new badge was officially introduced for the berets of Soviet Marine sergeants and sailors. It was a black oval badge with a gold border and a red star in the center. Later, this badge was replaced by a star inside a wreath.
For some time, Soviet tank crews also wore black berets. These berets were part of a special tank crew uniform introduced by the Soviet Minister of Defense in 1972.
Soviet VDV: From Crimson to Blue Berets
In the Soviet Airborne Forces, the first beret was crimson. At that time, crimson or maroon berets were already common symbols of airborne troops in many countries.
VDV commander Vasily Margelov approved a new uniform for Soviet paratroopers. It included two types of berets.
For everyday use, soldiers were supposed to wear a khaki beret with a red star. However, this version was never introduced.
Margelov chose the crimson beret for parades. On the right side was a small blue flag with the VDV emblem. Soldiers and sergeants wore a star inside a wreath on the front. Officers wore an officer’s badge and a winged aviation emblem.
Crimson VDV berets began to arrive in military units in 1967. In November of the same year, Soviet paratroopers wearing their new uniforms and crimson berets marched through Red Square for the first time.
Only a year later, the crimson beret was replaced by the famous blue VDV beret. Blue represented the sky and was seen as a better color for airborne troops.
Some sources say Soviet paratroopers were already wearing blue berets when Soviet troops entered Czechoslovakia in August 1968. However, other historical research says VDV units taking part in Operation Danube were still wearing crimson berets at that time. The blue beret appeared later in 1968.
The blue beret officially became part of the VDV uniform by order of the Soviet Minister of Defense in July 1969.
Soldiers and sergeants wore a star inside a wreath on the front. Officers wore an Air Force officer’s badge.
Members of Guards units also wore a small red flag with the VDV emblem on the left side of the beret. During military parades in Moscow, the flag was moved to the right side.
The idea of these small beret flags also came from Margelov. The earlier blue flags on crimson berets had an official size. The later red flags were made by individual military units, so their size and shape could be different.
In March 1989, new uniform rules officially allowed all members of the Airborne Forces, air assault units and special forces units to wear the flag on their berets.
Today, members of the mobile units of the Belarusian Armed Forces still wear blue berets.
Original Soviet VDV Blue Beret
Original 1991 Soviet VDV blue beret made in the USSR. Features the classic Soviet Airborne Forces badge and red VDV paratrooper insignia.
View Soviet VDV BeretThe Legendary Maroon Spetsnaz Beret
The question of a special beret also came up when special forces units of the Soviet Ministry of Internal Affairs were created.
In May 1989, leaders of the Internal Troops and the Ministry of Internal Affairs proposed a special beret for these units. The Minister of Internal Affairs approved a maroon, or dark crimson, beret for special forces soldiers.
Unlike the berets of the Soviet Marines and VDV, the maroon beret was not simply part of the uniform. It was a sign of special qualification.
A soldier could receive the maroon beret only after completing special training and passing difficult tests.
This tradition continues today.
The Green Beret of the Border Troops
The strong and brave look of Marines and paratroopers in berets was noticed by other Soviet military units. After some time, many soldiers across the Soviet Union also wanted to wear berets. The Border Troops were no exception.
The first known use of berets by Soviet Border Troops was in 1976. During the summer, cadets from a Border Troops training unit in Kaliningrad and the Higher Border Troops Command School in Golitsyno tested a new uniform for one month.
The uniform was based on the VDV style. It included an open cotton jacket, a white and green striped telnyashka, and a green beret with a small red flag on the side.
The Border Troops were part of the KGB, but changes to their military uniforms still had to be approved by the Soviet Ministry of Defense. The Ministry did not approve this new uniform, so its use was stopped.
In 1981, a new camouflage uniform was introduced for the Soviet Border Troops. It also included a camouflage beret with a removable visor.
Green berets returned to the Border Troops in 1990. From February 1990 until September 1991, the KGB Border Troops included the only operational airborne division of its kind in the Soviet Union.
In April 1991, soldiers of this division received green berets to wear with their standard Border Troops uniforms. The berets had small blue flags with the VDV emblem on the side.
After Belarus became independent, the Main Directorate of Border Troops was created on January 16, 1992. A new uniform for the national Border Troops was soon developed. The green beret became part of this uniform.
More changes came in 1995. They were officially confirmed by Presidential Decree No. 174 on May 15, 1996. Under these rules, only members of Border Troops special forces units were allowed to wear light green berets.
What Berets Does Alpha Wear?
Less is known about the beret of Alpha, the anti-terrorist special forces unit of the Belarusian KGB. It has the traditional cornflower blue color used by state security units.
A person who wants to serve in Alpha must first pass different tests and exams. After he is officially accepted into the unit, he receives his beret.
There are no strict rules about when the beret must be worn. It depends on the situation, such as a combat operation or normal daily service.
Unlike some other special forces units, Alpha does not have a special test to earn the beret.
Why? The reason is simple. Alpha accepts experienced soldiers and officers. Many are skilled athletes and some already have combat experience. They do not need another test to prove their skills.
The Brightest Beret: Emergency Services
If you see a strong man wearing a red beret, he may be a member of the Special Forces Unit of the Belarusian Emergency Services.
For these soldiers, the beret is simply part of the uniform. It does not show a special qualification or status.
Emergency Services personnel use two main beret colors: red and green.
Red berets are worn by officers and commanders. During emergency operations, the bright red color makes commanders easy to see. This helps other team members quickly find their commander and hear important orders.
Green berets are worn by regular personnel and warrant officers.
Russian VDV Summer Telnyashka
Classic blue and white striped sleeveless Telnyashka in the traditional VDV Airborne style. Made from lightweight 100% cotton fabric for comfortable summer wear.
View VDV Telnyashka
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