Blue Beret and Telnyashka: How the Symbols of the Soviet Airborne Forces Were Born
The Soviet Airborne Forces (VDV) were the elite of the Soviet military, and elite troops needed to look different. The blue beret and the famous telnyashka became the main symbols of Soviet paratroopers. No other branch of the Soviet Army, except the Naval Infantry, was allowed to wear these famous items. But why did they become the symbols of the "Winged Infantry"?
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Like many other traditions of the VDV, these symbols came from the legendary commander General Vasily Margelov, known to every paratrooper as "Uncle Vasya." He commanded the Soviet Airborne Forces from 1954 to 1979 and transformed them into one of the best fighting forces in the world.
Under Margelov's leadership, the VDV received its own military transport aviation and airborne armored vehicles that could be dropped by parachute. He also introduced a demanding selection process and a unique training system that accepted only the best soldiers. It was also under his command that Soviet paratroopers began wearing the blue beret and the striped telnyashka.
A Striped Soul
Today, the telnyashka is closely connected with elite military units. It is worn by Soviet and Russian paratroopers, Naval Infantry, and special forces. A famous military song says:
"When enemies came to our land, when we paid our debts in blood, victory came with the sailors, Spetsnaz, the Airborne Forces, and the Marines — the men in striped shirts."
However, the telnyashka did not begin as a military symbol. It first appeared on sailing ships as practical work clothing.
The close-fitting striped shirt allowed sailors to climb the ship's rigging more easily. The stripes also made them easier to see against the white sails, helping officers keep track of the crew while they worked high above the deck.
Vasily Margelov always wore a telnyashka under his general's uniform shirt.
From the Sea to the Sky
During the Second World War, the telnyashka became a proud symbol of the Soviet Naval Infantry. Its connection with the Airborne Forces began in an unexpected way.
In the summer of 1959, Soviet paratroopers were testing parachute jumps into water. The weather was cold, and many soldiers became soaked. One of the officers brought out a stack of naval telnyashkas and handed them to the freezing paratroopers, joking:
"Now that you are airborne troops, we can also call you naval troops."
The idea immediately caught the attention of General Vasily Margelov, who had previously served in the Naval Infantry during the war.
However, the Navy was not happy about sharing one of its greatest symbols. Admiral Sergey Gorshkov, Commander-in-Chief of the Soviet Navy, argued during a meeting that paratroopers had not earned the right to wear the telnyashka.
Margelov answered in his usual direct style:
"I fought in the Naval Infantry, and I know what paratroopers have earned—and what they have not."
On July 6, 1969, the Soviet Minister of Defense officially approved a new uniform for the Airborne Forces. From that day, the telnyashka became part of the official VDV uniform.
To make it different from the Navy version, the stripes were changed to light blue, the color of the sky. The Naval Infantry kept its traditional dark blue stripes.
The telnyashka became a permanent part of the VDV parade uniform.
In the 1970s, the VDV received another special privilege. Paratroopers began wearing the telnyashka under their parade jacket instead of the standard dress shirt. At first, this was allowed only during military parades, but later it became normal for all parade uniforms.
Blue Instead of Crimson
General Vasily Margelov understood that the Airborne Forces needed a strong identity. Young men should want to join the VDV, and veterans should be proud that they had served there. For this, the Airborne Forces needed symbols that everyone would recognize.
There was no need to invent something new. Around the world, paratroopers traditionally wore crimson berets. Soviet paratroopers also received crimson berets and wore them during military parades in 1967 and 1968.
Crimson berets worn by Soviet VDV paratroopers during the 1967 military parade.
Why the Blue Beret?
The beret itself was very practical. It stayed firmly on the head while running or in strong wind. It was light, easy to fold, comfortable to wear under a helmet, and could even be used as a pillow during rest stops. It was also inexpensive to produce in large numbers.
But the choice of the beret's color caused a serious debate inside the Soviet Ministry of Defense.
The original crimson beret did not match the light blue shoulder boards and collar tabs worn by the Airborne Forces. There was also another problem: many Western airborne troops already wore crimson berets, and Soviet leaders did not want to copy the uniform of a potential enemy.
At first, General Vasily Margelov also preferred the crimson beret. However, his deputy, General Ivan Lisov, who had served in the airborne troops since the 1930s, convinced him to choose the color of the sky instead.
Modern VDV berets have a different shape than the Soviet ones.
For a short time, Soviet Airborne units wore two different beret colors at the same time. During the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968, some paratroopers wore crimson berets, while others already wore blue berets. Local people even mistook the soldiers in blue berets for United Nations peacekeepers.
The blue beret officially became part of the VDV uniform on July 26, 1969, when Soviet Defense Minister Marshal Andrei Grechko signed Order No. 191.
For more than 50 years, the blue beret has remained a symbol of pride for every Soviet and Russian paratrooper.
More interesting articles:
The History of the Telnyashka: From Russian Sailors to the VDV
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