Our version of the gymnasterka is an exact copy of the tunic which was the iconic field blouse of the Imperial Russian Army during the First World War. It is worn by enlisted soldiers across the Eastern Front, and it became the most recognizable part of the Russian uniform and influenced Soviet military dress for decades afterward.
The wool gymnasterka is constructed from khaki /sand-colored wool (less than 12 oz. weight, 100% natural wool with some cotton and natural incipents, mill dyed – not vat dyed – using natural pigments) for winter use, the gymnasterka is a pullover-style tunic with a straight cut. It features a standing collar, a 3 button placket down the chest, and long sleeves with simple cuffs. The back is unvented and plain, emphasizing economy and practicality.
Collar tabs (petlitsy) display branch of service colors — red for artillery, light blue for infantry, yellow for cavalry, black for engineers, etc. Enlisted ranks wore simple cloth tabs, while NCOs might have additional piping.
Designed to be worn over wool sharovary breeches, secured with a leather waist belt and paired with M1910 boots and puttees, the gymnasterka completed the essential uniform of the Russian soldier (ryadovoy). Wool Sharovary breeches, M1910 boots, leather belt, caps, and puttees also avaailable on this page.
Branch of service collar tabs are available free of cost and a table of the colors of various branches is given below.
Imperial Russian Army Branch of Service Colors (WW1)
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Infantry – light blue
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Artillery – red
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Cavalry (including Cossacks) – yellow
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Engineers – black
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Medical Service – white
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Transport (Train) – violet
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Gendarmerie (Military Police) – dark blue
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Administrative / Commissariat – crimson
