The Russian army at the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th century. Life and customs in the Russian army at the beginning of the 19th century

Returning to the beginning of the 19th century, it is useful to familiarize yourself with general structure the army that had formed by this time and the differences that existed between its individual parts. And there were many parts that differed from each other both in status and in the traditions that had developed within them.

The most privileged part of the army was the guard, but the guard also had regiments that differed from one another. The first regiments of the empire were the Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky infantry regiments, and they could be distinguished from the rest of the army not only by their banners, but also by their uniforms and other distinctive signs.

For example, on the uniform of the general of the Preobrazhensky Regiment in 1800 there was only one twisted epaulette on the left shoulder. And all the officers of the Guards Infantry wore white leggings, the same camisole, and a caftan of their traditional green color. Since 1796, the officer scarf- it was worn around the waist like a belt. The boots were above the knee and had no cuffs; on the hands were white gloves with cuffs. An obligatory attribute of an officer was a cane.

It began its existence in 1807 militia, which played a certain role in the fight against Napoleonic army. It was formed on a voluntary basis, but had its own form - a caftan with decorations and a cocked hat with a green feather.

On the day of the holiday dedicated to the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called (November 30), the guards had a special tradition: they put on a cloak-epancha, fastened in front of the neck, and appeared at the holiday ceremony with a hat in hand.

The guards of the Semenovsky regiment had their own tradition: during the campaign they put a cover on their shako, unfastening the plume, and marched in overcoats and certainly with backpacks. When marching, officers wore a frock coat, gray traveling trousers, a satchel and a cocked hat facing forward. This tradition was maintained until 1815.

During the Patriotic War, it became customary to replace the uniform headdress capless cap. Such a capless cap of a cavalry guard with a red band can be seen in the portraits of M.I. Kutuzov.

Of the infantry regiments, the most notable were the Life Jaeger regiments, created in 1812. These were light infantry, dressed in black tailcoat-cut uniforms with a high stand-up collar. The pants were shoe-length, loose, with four-stripe stripes. The huntsman's shako had a bent bottom. The Chasseur regiments performed well in the war against Napoleon.

Guards cavalry regiments appeared in the first half of the 18th century; their list was opened by the Horse Guards Regiment, formed in 1730. Then his uniform consisted of a red camisole and a cornflower blue caftan with a red collar and cuffs; the uniform was trimmed with gold braid. In 1807, the Horse Guards were dressed in a white uniform and leggings, and a helmet appeared on their heads.

Since 1796, there were regiments of Life Hussars and Life Cossacks. The life hussars of 1808 were dressed in red dolman and mentik, blue chakchirs (chikchirs, chekchirs) - narrow trousers up to the heel - and boots with cuffs under the knee. The officer's uniform was decorated with gold braid; the ordinary hussar's braid was yellow. Since 1812, the hussars were put on a shako of the general army type, decorated with a white plume. The plume with a black top meant that its owner was a non-commissioned officer. On the shako in the form of a cockade adorned double headed eagle. The hussar's saber was worn on a belt belt.

Uhlan regiments became part of the army in 1809. The lancers wore a blue uniform, but the collar and cuffs of each regiment were of a different color. Epaulets were also of different colors - each regiment had its own. All lancers, regardless of rank, wore epaulettes, but only staff officers had epaulettes with fringes. The lancers of the Life Guards had gold epaulets. The main weapon of the lancer was the pike, which had vane- small

flag (pennant). In addition to the pike, the lancers were armed with pistols.

In the 1820s, an Ulan regiment consisting of Poles appeared in the Russian army; They were called that way - Polish lancers. They were distinguished by epaulettes without fringe and collars without sewing.

The regiment of cavalry guards was formed by Paul I in 1800, replacing the personal guard of the reigning persons, created back in 1724. Now it was heavy cavalry. The cavalry guards brought a cuirass, a helmet with a horsetail crest, and were armed with a broadsword. Chief officers had silver epaulettes without fringe. The cavalry guard's legs were covered with white suede leggings and black boots above the knees. White gloves completed the outfit. In this outfit, Alexander I met with Napoleon when signing the Peace of Tilsit.

The variety in details, colors and finishes of uniform suits was so great in all branches of the military that it is simply impossible to list them without fear of missing something. For example, about the uniforms of the Guards Fleet it would be little to say that they had embroidery at the collar with images of anchors and epaulettes with fringe, but to describe the uniform and insignia of all naval ranks it would be necessary to fill more than one page. One must assume that this is not necessary: ​​the picture seems quite clear. If we take into account that changes were constantly made to the uniform, and sometimes completely new types of uniform were introduced, then anyone who wants to have complete information on this issue should turn to works on the history of military costume.

From state laws, which marked the beginning of the 19th century, one had to do with the rights of the military class on an equal basis with other sectors of society. Its importance cannot be overestimated: it was a law passed in 1801 prohibiting torture during judicial investigations.

The social life of the officer who spent most day In service, became active during ball season - from Christmas to Lent. At this time there was no such day when

in several houses there would be no ball or party, and all that was left was to choose where to go first. Even married officers with children spent only the first days of the holidays in the apartment with their families, and then went to balls - it was necessary to maintain social connections in society.

Etiquette required the officer to appear at social balls in a ceremonial uniform with epaulettes and short culottes. Only at the home ball could one attend in uniform. The remaining etiquette rules were preserved from previous times and stemmed from the Charter.

However, the Charter is one thing, but real regimental life is something else, and here, from the very beginning of the 19th century, there were very noticeable trends towards changes in the lifestyle of the officer class. Firstly, the army consisted of units that differed in status. Even the rank and file of privileged regiments had some advantages over soldiers ground army; Moreover, they were very noticeable among officers. Representatives of hereditary noble families, whose fathers and grandfathers had high ranks, considered themselves heirs to the merits of their ancestors; The belief spread among them that it was they who provided the state with a service by serving in the army, and not the state who gave them its trust, instructing them to defend the country from enemies. Moreover, service in privileged regiments began to be expensive: an officer’s salary did not cover the costs of a lifestyle that was considered worthy of, say, a guards officer. In addition, the experience of the wars with Napoleon contributed to the development of free-thinking: it was clear to everyone that the true dignity of a person is not measured by the step assigned to him in the “Table of Ranks.” By the way, the “Table”, which was reprinted several times during the 18th and 19th centuries, survived until 1917, although its text was edited several times and, in the end, changed very significantly; The only thing that remained unchanged was the division of all ranks into 14 classes. But already at the beginning of the 19th century, in many cases it was treated

only as a historical value, without considering it necessary to comply with all the rules of behavior prescribed by it.

Of course, the Patriotic War of 1812 had the strongest influence on officers’ self-awareness. Military successes associated with the manifestation of personal initiative fed the officer’s pride and sense of responsibility for his behavior not only under enemy fire, but also in everyday life. So the idea of ​​personal officer's honor came to replace the articles of the disciplinary order. Moreover, there were many examples of how going beyond “regularity” brought professional success and personal glory - just remember Denis Davydov.

All this gradually affected both military etiquette and the behavior of officers. They began to allow themselves, at first, harmless liberties: for example, many grew beards following the example of partisan commanders, introduced features into their clothing that were not provided for by the regulations, began to use wheelchairs instead of riding horses, etc. Further - more: constant stay in the regiment began to seem like a boring formal duty, and friendly meetings in restaurants became fashionable; playing cards has become such a massive hobby that if it were necessary to apply the penalties established for the game to the players, half of the officer class would be sitting in the guardhouses. Circles of young officers began to form for friendly meetings; but if among the most educated officers from these circles grew secret societies, nourished by civic ideas, in most cases the matter was limited to daring revelry. During the time of Alexander I, it became fashionable to go to taverns on Krestovsky Island, in Ekateringof; “Red Zucchini” was very popular. After a night of revelry, troikas carrying companies of officers scattered from these establishments in all directions, and by nine o'clock in the morning the revelers showed up for the morning divorce at their place of duty. If complaints came about their excesses in restaurants, they never refused to admit their guilt: it was believed that

lying is shameful, while rowdying is not so shameful. The regimental guardhouse was often crowded with arrested officers.

This was especially true for cavalry units. As the famous F. Bulgarin wrote, the cavalry youth did not want to know any authority other than their regimental (well, the highest military, of course): not having a real armed enemy in front of them, they fought with the police, civilian officials and in general with everyone who was outside the military class. Although rioting was subject to punishment, it was believed that it did not stain the officer’s honor. Duels between officers of the same regiment over any trifle occurred at every turn, and such duels only strengthened comradely friendship: after them they usually drank champagne and made peace in the most cordial way. They fought with swords or sabers, and only in case of a blood grievance did they shoot. If one of the officers was offended or slandered by someone from the outside, several fellow soldiers immediately stood up for the comrade, because it was believed that the regiment was one family, the members of which had everything in common: honor, time, work, money, entertainment and danger. It happened that the entire regiment collected money to pay off the monetary debt of one of the officers, in the firm belief that he would return the collected amount at the first opportunity; and often the money was not even given as a loan, but in the form of irrevocable friendly assistance. An officer who betrayed his word or did not stand up for a comrade at the right moment was refused to be tolerated in the regiment. Daredevils and rakes were not very afraid of the consequences of their antics: the squadron “father-commander”, as a rule, was himself punished more than once in his youth, even demoted to soldiers for duels or other noisy pranks, and therefore understood the youth. He was the real (and only) authority in the regiment; its doors were always open, and the table was laid, although not very elegantly, for all the officers of the regiment. And the stricter the requirements to comply with statutory norms of behavior, the more unpredictable the officer’s amusements became: young energy demanded a way out

limits of the parade drill. According to the memoirs of contemporaries, the cavalrymen lived stupidly and cheerfully. Even in drills they brought dandy and subtleties not approved by the regulations. But they did not tolerate self-important and arrogant people in their midst, especially those who boasted of their knowledge of the French language: they were said about such people that, for the sake of greater harmony, they wore tight corsets that prevented them from breathing, for which they were nicknamed “wheezers.”

Even in the Guards regiments, many of whose officers belonged to high society - Preobrazhensky, Semenovsky, Kavalergardsky - did not shy away from adventures of a dubious nature in the first quarter of the 19th century, choosing for them, as a rule, prestigious summer cottages on the outskirts of St. Petersburg.

The officers of these regiments, maintaining a tone of refined politeness and aristocratic courtesy in their social relations with each other, during their escapades somewhere on the Chernaya Rechka organized mass entertainments like the clownish “champagne funeral”: a black coffin with bottles of this wine was accompanied as torchbearers, with singing “Rest with the saints,” young cavalry guards dressed in black epanches with flair. Another elite regiment had a dog that was trained at the word “Bonaparte!” rush at the specified random passerby and rip off his hat. If news of such pranks came to the attention of the Grand Duke, and from him it became known to the emperor, the matter could end in being sent to active army to the Caucasus, sometimes even with deprivation of the officer rank.

If this epidemic of irrepressible daring captured even the most elite regiments in the 20s, then what can we say about the life hussars, life lancers, life rangers and life Cossacks, for whom reckless youth was considered the main feature of a true military spirit. Among them, a very popular pastime was called “cooking burnt food.” A group of young bachelor officers gathered in the apartment of one of them and sat in a circle on the carpeted floor. In the center of the circle of mouth

There was a “bonfire” - a hearth on which sugar in rum was burned in some vessel. Each one had a pistol in his hand, the primer of which was sealed with sealing wax. As soon as the sugar dissolved, champagne was poured into the vessel and then the “burnt drink” was poured into pistols. This glorious hussar drink was drunk from them. The drinking session was accompanied by regimental musicians, trumpeters and songwriters playing musical instruments, who were treated to the remains of the drink. Often the commander also took part in such a company; If the drunken commander reprimanded one of his drinking buddies, even ordered him to go to the guardhouse, the offender had no thought of resisting. He left, and the drinking party continued with the same merriment. However, drinking alone was strictly condemned and was extremely rare.

The Russian army in the second half of the 19th - early 20th centuries

Dmitry Alekseevich Milyutin,

minister of war

The armed forces of the Russian Empire are the regular army and navy, as well as irregular troops (Cossacks), created by the first Russian Emperor Peter I on the basis of the so-called troops that began to appear in Russia during the reign of his father. regiments of a foreign system, taking into account the latest European achievements in this area, replaced irregular local troops, which were a feudal relic, and streltsy units that opposed Peter I during the struggle for power and were then repressed by him. Initially, the armed forces of the Russian Empire were formed on the basis of conscription (compulsory service for nobles also remained until the mid-18th century), from the second half of the 19th century after the military reform of Alexander II - on the basis of universal military service.

The Crimean War of 1853–1856 showed the shortcomings of domestic weapons, namely: with the spread of steam engines, steamships were invented, of which there were only 16 in the Russian fleet; Mass production of rifled weapons became possible, but in Russia its quantity was also insignificant. Therefore, in 1860–1870, military reforms were carried out under the leadership of D. A. Milyutin. The first steps to reorganize the armed forces were taken during the Crimean War. In 1855, by decree of the Tsar, the “Commission for the Improvement of the Military Unit” was created. It was tasked with revising regulations, discussing issues of rearmament of troops, and improving physical and combat training. On November 9, 1861, General D. A. Milyutin was appointed Minister of War; on January 15, 1862, he presented a report to Alexander II, which formulated the basic principles, goals and objectives of military reform.

In 1864, a military district reform was carried out. 15 military districts were created on Russian territory, replacing the corps organization of command and control of the armed forces in Peaceful time. The governor general was usually appointed commander of the district troops. Each district was simultaneously a body of military command and military administrative structure. This made it possible to quickly command troops and quickly mobilize them. With the creation of districts, the War Ministry got rid of wide range duties that were now performed by the commanders, only those management issues that were important for the entire army remained under his jurisdiction. The General Staff was created. The conscription system was replaced by universal conscription.

A standard squadron of the Tekinsky Cavalry Regiment, led by regiment commander Colonel S.P. Zykov (left) at a review of units of the 9th Army, conducted by Emperor Nicholas II near Khotyn

On January 1, 1874, the “Charter on all-class military service” was adopted. In accordance with it, the entire male population, regardless of condition, was subject to military service from the age of 21. The period of active service was 6 years in the ground forces and 9 years in the reserve, in the navy, respectively, 7 years and 3 years. Rearmament took place - the transition to rifled breech-loading weapons. In 1868, the American Berdan rifle was adopted, in 1870 - the Russian Berdan rifle No. 2, in 1891 - the Mosin rifle. Since 1861, the production of armored steam ships began, and in 1866 - submarines. By 1898, the Russian navy, consisting of the Baltic, Black Sea fleets, Caspian and Siberian flotillas, had 14 battleships, 23 coastal defense battleships, 6 armored cruisers, 17 cruisers, 9 mine cruisers, 77 destroyers, 96 torpedo boats, 27 gunboats .

At the beginning of the 20th century, the active development of military equipment continued. In 1902 in armed forces armored cars (automobile troops) appeared, in 1911 - military aviation (Imperial Air Force), in 1915 - tanks (tank troops).

Large and small shipbuilding programs have been adopted, battleships of the Sevastopol and Empress Maria types have been laid down; Izmail-class cruisers.

In 1901, an attempt was made to eliminate the separate armed forces of the Grand Duchy of Finland. This meant that Finnish recruits who had previously served in their country could, from 1901, be sent to any part of the Russian Empire. The result of such measures was general discontent among the Finnish population. In 1902, only half of the recruits showed up at the recruiting stations; in 1904, the Governor-General of Finland, Nikolai Bobrikov, was killed by a Finnish nationalist.

Already after the outbreak of the First World War, in 1916, an attempt was made to extend conscription to the “foreign” population of Turkestan, and conscription was supposed not to the front, but to military and logistical work. This led to mass unrest, suppressed with the help of the army and Cossacks, and costing the lives of up to 100 thousand civilians.

As of 1898, the Russian Imperial Army represented the largest army in Europe.

In the first years of the 20th century, the main organizational unit of the armed forces was a corps, consisting of 1 cavalry and 3 infantry divisions, and for each infantry division war time a mounted Cossack regiment was created.

Gabriel Tsobekhia

During the reign Alexandra III there were no wars or big battles. All decisions on foreign policy were made personally by the Sovereign. The position of state chancellor was even abolished.
In foreign policy, Alexander III set a course for rapprochement with France, and in building the army, much attention was paid to restoring Russia's naval power. The Emperor understood that the lack of a strong fleet had deprived Russia of a significant part of its great power weight. During his reign, the foundation was laid for armored squadrons instead of light flotillas of corvettes and clippers and the reconstruction of the Black Sea Fleet. The ships were built by Russian engineers, in Russian factories, from Russian materials.
In 1891, the beginning of the Great Siberian Road was laid - a huge step forward was taken towards understanding Russia. It was laid by Tsarevich Nikolai Alexandrovich during a trip to the Far East.
Nicholas I and Alexander II were military men by vocation. They were often seen at divorces, parades, regimental holidays, in meetings, talking with officers, taking events in the regimental family to heart. Alexander III had no passion for military affairs, but he saw and felt that the fate of the Fatherland entrusted to him depended on the state of his armed forces. Russia has only two true allies - its army and its navy, he said, and, realizing this, he steadily strived for the comprehensive development of Russian military power. Under him, royal reviews began to be held less frequently, divorces were completely abolished, aide-de-camp and retinue monograms, generously distributed by Alexander II to the army regiments, became rare and even in the guard, becoming the privilege of a very small circle of people.
The main concern of the Military Department during the reign of Alexander III was to increase the trained reserves of the army by passing a large number of people through its ranks. Under Alexander II, the annual contingent of recruits was 150,000 people; in 1881, 235,000 people were already drafted.
1882 was the year of reform of the Russian cavalry, the so-called dragoon reform. The highest decision was made to convert all Russian regular cavalry to the dragoon style. The beginning was made by renaming the cavalry regiments and changing the uniforms, which the cavalrymen were so proud of, who considered this an encroachment on the very soul of the cavalry - its traditions. The peaks were abolished, which remained only in the Cossack units. The basis of training was foot formation and shooting, and the horse turned from the main weapon of a cavalryman into simply a means of transportation. Conditions of service in the cavalry became unsightly. Many officers left the ranks of the cavalry, especially after the introduction new form- caftans and army jackets of the new pseudo-Russian cut. In general, the quality of Russian cavalry in the 80s and 90s decreased noticeably, and it became closer to the type of riding infantry.
At the end of the 1880s, all Russian artillery was re-equipped with wedge guns of the 1877 model with good ballistic qualities, which hit 4.5 versts. And in 1891, a mountain artillery regiment was formed, in which mountain guns of various types were tested.
In connection with the intensified construction of fortresses on the western border, the composition of the engineering troops has been significantly increased. At the end of the reign of Alexander III, there were 26 battalions (21 engineer battalions, 5 railway battalions).
Emperor Alexander III did not allow conversations about politics in the family circle and did not involve his heir in state affairs at all, considering him too young and believing that there would always be time for this. But on October 20, 1894, the Tsar-Peacemaker passed away. His heir, the young Emperor Nicholas II, was 26 years old. He had just commanded a battalion in the Preobrazhensky Regiment and was soon to receive the rank of general and a regiment, but instead of the regiment he received the entire Russian Empire. There was no one to turn to for advice.

Reign of Emperor Nicholas II

At first, everything remained as during the previous reign, from the ministers to the cut of the uniforms. The state mechanism seemed to have been established for many centuries - the mighty hand of Alexander III could still be felt everywhere. Russia's international position was brilliant, and the Moscow coronation celebrations of 1896, when all of Europe stood in the retinue of the young imperial couple, were the apotheosis of Russian great power.
When he was heir to the throne, Nicholas II received thorough combat training, not only in the guards, but also in the army infantry. At the request of his sovereign father, he served as a junior officer in the 65th Moscow Infantry Regiment. The Tsarevich became acquainted in every detail with the life of the troops and, having become the Emperor of All Russia, paid attention to improving this life: salaries and pensions were increased, and the allowance of soldiers was improved. He canceled the passage with a ceremonial march and run, knowing from experience how difficult it was for the troops.
Russia's defeat in Russian-Japanese war revealed serious shortcomings in the central management, organization, recruitment system, combat training and technical equipment of the army.
Back in 1895, the position of cavalry inspector general was restored and Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich the Younger was appointed to it. In ten years - from 1895-1905 - he managed to eliminate the consequences of the unsuccessful reform of 1882 and the Russian cavalry again became the best cavalry in the world.
The artillery began to be re-equipped with a 3-inch rapid-fire cannon of the 1900 model, and the only type of cartridge adopted was shrapnel. The grenade is reserved only for 6-inch mortars. Rearmament was hastily started in 1900, when the Putilov plant produced 1,500 guns, but was then suspended due to some defects that became apparent. These flaws were eliminated in the 1902 model cannon, which carried out the final rearmament in 1903-1904, starting with the border districts. The Model 1900 gun with a buffer knurled gun later turned out to be an excellent anti-aircraft gun.
The terms of active service were shortened (in the infantry and field artillery from 5 to 3 years, in other branches of the military from 5 to 4 years, in the navy from 7 to 5 years), rejuvenated officers; The life of soldiers and sailors (food and clothing allowances) and the financial situation of officers and long-term servicemen were improved.
The reform of 1910 brought all infantry into a homogeneous composition of field troops and introduced mounted fire guns into the corps artillery. In the same year, the Imperial Air Force was created. This was only the first step towards the planned radical reorganization of the Russian army, which significantly strengthened its composition and technical power. This required finance - 500 million rubles. Only in 1913 did the War Department manage to obtain loans to carry out the Great Program within a five-year period. According to this program, by the end of 1917 the Russian army was compared in equipment with the German one. By Big program our land armed force was increased from 1,230,000 men to 1,710,000 men in peacetime. According to the Great Program, 32 infantry regiments and 6 rifle regiments, 26 cavalry regiments were to be formed again, and the artillery was especially strengthened. All this remained on paper. In the spring of 1914, the 4th Finnish Infantry Brigade was formed - all that they managed to implement from the entire grandiose plan. In 1914, the last war of the Russian Imperial Army began.
The First World War lasted more than four years. It became one of the bloodiest and most significant in terms of consequences in the history of mankind.

Simplifying the economy. [About soldiers' uniforms]

In the Russian army of the late 19th century, economic management took the place that in the first half of the century was occupied by the front - shagistics. With minimal funding, the troops were forced to support themselves. It was necessary to build premises, ammunition, dress and feed the troops economically, without expenses from the treasury. Regimental bakeries, regimental shoe workshops, trash shops, saddlers, joiner's and carpenter's artels began to take up all the forces of the troops and all the attention of the commanders.
Until now, the treasury only provided the army with money and material for the provision of linen, construction of clothing, and sewing. boot and so on, but all this was manufactured in the units themselves. Tailor shoemakers were selected from the soldiers, and all of them were given work according to their trade. For this purpose, each unit had its own scum and workshops. This arrangement is inconvenient because it takes away a lot of people. Instead of serving all the years of military service in the ranks, many, and even very many, soldiers spent more than half of their service sitting at the needle, at the dredge and the awl, and almost did not study military affairs at all. Now that the period of military service has been reduced to three years, it is completely impossible to burden the troops with household chores. There's barely enough time to lower ranks We managed to fully learn what we needed to do.
It is necessary that the uniform items shoes , underwear clothing and bedding were released from the treasury in finished form. Taking care of the preparation of these things for the entire army is the direct responsibility of the commissariat. Combat units of the army should be trained only in real military affairs. It is large, complex and difficult and is becoming more and more difficult. Of course, the commissariat will have to create extensive uniform workshops and, in general, expand its business. Without a doubt, all this will cause new expenses for the treasury, but it is necessary to introduce such a change in the military economy.
The commissariat, having taken upon itself the care of the uniform of the army, must especially vigilantly ensure that all things supplied to the troops are of completely good quality. If the commissary will let go of all rot, then is it possible to demand from the soldier that the government cloth And shoes were worn no less than the prescribed period?..
The commissariat should pay special attention to shoes our lower ranks. Durable, lightweight shoes, a good boot fit is the first priority for an infantryman. It’s not for nothing that they say that half the victory is in the legs!.. Rough, heavy boot, and even poorly fitted, is a disaster for a soldier, especially on a campaign. Because of boot Most of all there are laggards. Because of the same shoes, our infantry is somewhat heavy on the move, unable to move easily and quickly. A Russian soldier can generally walk a lot and endure such a transition that no foreigner can do - but give him shoes better!.. And everything in general equipment The Russian warrior needs a makeover. The last war indicated that the uniform of our soldier and equipment poorly designed for combat time. In winter a soldier is cold because he is lightly dressed, and in summer it is hot because he is forced to carry heavy uniforms and shoes .
How to dress a soldier, how to come up with clothes for him so that he feels good at any time of the year, in any weather - it is difficult to decide; This issue is complex, but it needs to be resolved as quickly as possible so that the army is dressed in a practical, comfortable, inexpensive, and beautiful way. beauty soldier's clothing has its own meaning. A soldier must be dressed not only comfortably and neatly, but he must also feel beautifully dressed. He is the hope, the best flower, the protection of the state; it is indecently wretched, ugly dress: it must correspond to his high rank.
Although the commissariat has already begun to prepare clothing for the army and some items of soldier's uniform are already being released from the treasury in finished form, it is necessary that such a change occurs in the military economy as quickly as possible and is completely completed.

Uniforms

Uniform under Alexander III

The beginning of the reign was marked by a complete change in the appearance of the troops. The elegant uniforms of the beautiful army of the Tsar-Liberator did not suit the massive figure of the new Sovereign. Alexander III did not take into account aesthetics, demanding national cut and practicality. The new form was introduced in the summer of 1882. The army became unrecognizable. The guards have disappeared helmets with a plume, cap and shako with sultans, spectacular uniforms with colored lapels, ulankas and mentiks, sabers and broadswords. All this glitter was replaced by long-skimmed kaftans with hooks, wide trousers and low caps of fake lamb. In the army infantry, where backpacks were abolished and duffel bags were introduced instead bags. Not everyone liked the new uniform. Some officers, for example, shortened the uniform according to the previous model, others, on the contrary, lengthened it, bringing it closer to the frock coat, while others, following the example of the riflemen, exaggerated the slouch of the trousers, bringing them to the socks boot. As a result, foreign correspondents who saw the Russian army noted that it was impossible to meet two officers dressed in the same way. The soldiers, leaving for the reserve, refused to take uniforms of the new cut, and at their own expense altered them according to the old uniform - always with lapels. The only positive side of this re-uniform, which everyone appreciated, was the introduction of white shirts during the hot season, which until then had been worn only in the Caucasus and Turkestan.
Alexander III looked at the shiny uniforms as if they were expensive tinsel. But in the eyes of officers and soldiers it was far from tinsel. They maintained continuity with past heroic eras.
Already with cap The glorious memories of Shipka and Sheinov were associated, and the legends of Friedland and Borodin went with the lapels and mentiks.

Uniforms of combatant lower ranks

Lower combat ranks of private troops, military departments and military department establishments are entitled to the following uniform items:
1. Uniform without buttons along the side
a) With side pockets: in grenadier and army infantry regiments; in army rifle, line, reserve and serf infantry regiments and battalions; in army dragoon regiments and reserve cavalry; in engineer (grenadier and army), railway and pontoon battalions; in serf sapper companies and personnel teams; in mine, electrical and fortress mine companies.
b) Without side pockets: in artillery: grenadier, field, reserve and reserve cavalry, mountain, serf and local; in artillery, engineering small flying, mortar and military telegraph parks; in local military units; in the gendarme corps (with the exception of the guards gendarmerie personnel team); in the corps of topographers; in the directorates and headquarters of the above-mentioned units of the troops, as well as in the headquarters and control of the army cavalry; in departments and institutions of the military department; in the master engineering teams (Circus. Chief. Pieces, 1882 No. 137).
2. Shortened bloomers, without piping: in all grenadier and army troops, headquarters, departments and institutions of the military department.
3. Overcoat, with a modified collar, without buttons on the side: in all grenadier and army troops, headquarters, departments and institutions of the military department.
4. Tie new cut.
5. Lamb a cap .
6. Cap without a visor. Notes: 1) A cap with a visor is required for ensigns, estandard cadets, sergeants majors, senior sergeants and officer servants (Circus. Glav. Sht. 1882 No. 101). -2) Combatant lower ranks of troops, departments and military institutions of the Transcaspian region cap also relies on a visor, which is summer must always be covered with a white cover - in all cases; lamb a cap from uniform items has been completely abolished (According to military history, 1891, No. 331), with the exception of the lower ranks of combat units of troops, which have insignia on their headdresses. (According to military history, 1892, No. 76).
7. Modified cap.
8. Officer's wool sash. Sergeant majors and senior sergeants are supposed to have it in all military units, departments and institutions. Note. The white sash for sergeants and sergeants must be made of thread, so that it can be cleaned (Addition to military history of 1881, No. 340 and 1882, No. 6 and 325).
9. Papakha- troops of the Omsk, Irkutsk and Amur military. districts.

Drawing of uniforms and equipment of the lower ranks of the army infantry

Uniform drawing
lower ranks
army dragoons

Uniform under Emperor Nicholas II

In the spring of 1908, to raise the prestige of military service, a beautiful uniform was introduced. This uniform with its colored lapels and shakos with a plume (this headdress- in the guard) was close to the examples of the era of Alexander I. Officers (but only in the army infantry) could wear sabers instead of ugly checkers, as before Alexander III. The cavalry sparkled with the splendor of helmets, shakos, tunics, dolmans and mentiks. The new form had opponents who grumbled about waste, but they were not listened to. The question was raised about lengthening uniforms and overcoats, fitting them at the waist, and introducing a pointed cloth helmet-bump.
In 1910, military protective clothing was introduced into the army: the tunic khaki and officer jacket excellent (with a reddish sparkle) matter.

Opinion of General M. Dragomirov

A remarkable feature of a long period of peace: proposals for all sorts of improvements in uniforms, weapons, training, and even in internal military order, grow like mushrooms after rain; unfortunately not edible, but more fly agarics.
Here, whatever you want, that’s what you ask for, starting from piping and tabs (with which others would like to distinguish not just parts, but even small subdivisions of parts), and to muzzles that muffle the sound of a shot. Let's take a look at some of these improvements.
So, one of the projectors wants the uniform of the main command of one of the types of weapons to be different from the uniform of combat officers of the same type of weapon; why this is needed for business, who will benefit from it and in what sense it will benefit is a mystery, wisdom. Is it really possible that, in the fascination with uniform mania, this projector has not observed that simple property of a person, that, regardless of any form, he recognizes and recognizes another person first and most importantly by a portrait, i.e. by his physiognomy, and not at all by what he is wearing or wearing?
Large units of troops have uniform differences, and this is necessary both for control and to make it easier to understand the masses. But for any of the departments, which are, after all, strong in the system and existing for it, to lay claim to some kind of special form!.. You can’t help but remember the late Shchedrin, who proposed, of course in mockery, to give uniforms even to writers, on the collar of which it would be embroidered: from one edge to the middle an owl-lyre, an owl-lyre, and from the middle to the other edge - a lyre-owl, lyre-owl, lyre-owl.

Uniform reform of 1907

The Sovereign Emperor, on the 1st day of December 1907, deigned to command:
1) Restore to the guards units of infantry, artillery and sapper the uniforms from the reign of Emperor Alexander II, abolished in 1882, with fastened lapels, and in the regiments of the Life Guards Jaeger, Finland and Volynsk have lapels: in the first green, and in the second and third dark -green.
2) For the army infantry, for all artillery units in the engineering troops (except for the guard and horse artillery), install a double-breasted uniform with 6 buttons, diverging at the top by 4 ½ inches, and on the belt by 3 inches, with a slit at the back, pocket flaps and 4 buttons on them.
3) Bloomers with the uniforms specified in points 1 and 2 remain shortened with high boots. Officers should have both short and long trousers, instead of dark green - black.
4) Assign applied weapons to the serf infantry cloth dark orange instead of the existing brown.
5) The fourth regiments of all infantry divisions and reserve brigades are assigned instrument cloth green instead of dark green.
and 6) In all units of troops, departments and establishments of the military department, both combatant and non-combatant lower ranks, have caps on the band instead of codes, cockades new sample.
About the timing of the introduction of newly approved uniforms, applied cloths and cockades will be announced additionally upon approval of samples and descriptions.
(According to the Main Quartermaster Directorate).

Rules on dress code
1. Division of uniforms.
Dress is divided into:
A) wartime uniform, and
B) peacetime form.
The peacetime form is divided into:
a) front door,
b) ordinary,
c) official
d) everyday.
Dress in peacetime, ceremonial, ordinary and service - of two types - for the formation and outside the formation.
Formal and ordinary uniforms, of two types - winter and summer .

His Majesty's Retinue
1.St.E.V.Major General. Winter ordinary form.
2. Adjutant General. Winter dress uniform.
3. Aide-de-camp assigned to the Cossack troops. Casual uniform.
4. Adjutant General assigned to the Cossack troops.
Summer dress uniform.
5. Adjutant General. Wartime uniform.
6. Adjutant General winter service uniform

Generals in general general's uniform
7. Ordinary winter uniform out of formation, for those serving in the field artillery. 8. Winter dress uniform in formation, for those enlisted in the infantry. 9. Winter dress uniform out of formation, for those enlisted in the cavalry. 10. Summer ordinary uniform, out of formation and outside the camp location. 11. Winter ordinary uniform, in formation, for those serving in the cavalry in the Siberian district. 12. Everyday uniform for those enlisted in the infantry when visiting subdepartments

Occasions of wearing uniforms.
A. Wartime uniform.
The wartime uniform is worn by all ranks located in the area of ​​military operations and in units mobilized to be sent to the theater of military operations.
When wearing a military uniform, the following are worn: orders, stars, ribbons and badges;
Not worn:
in service - marching bag with binoculars and officer's uniform bag ,
and out of order - also a revolver in the following cases:
1) At services on the following days: the accession to the throne of the Sovereign Emperor, the Holy Coronation of Their Majesties, the birth and namesake of Their Majesties and the Heir Tsarevich.
2) At church parades.
3) At shows and parades.
4) When the oath of allegiance to service is taken.
5) At meetings of the cavalry councils.
6) In military courts - by the composition of the court presence, the accused and witnesses.

Winter forms
13. Corps of military topographers in everyday uniform.
14. General Staff service uniform in service.
15. General Staff uniform out of formation (general). 16. Military doctors in winter, dress uniform, in formation. 17. Main Directorate of the Military. Min. winter, dress uniform, out of formation. 18. Main Directorate of the Military. Min. casual uniform, "business" uniform

Winter forms
19. Adjutant. The usual form in the ranks for those enlisted in the cavalry. 20. Adjutant. Dress uniform, out of formation, for those enrolled in the Cossack troops. 21. Military Campaign Office of His I.V. dress uniform. 22. Adjutant. Dress uniform out of formation, for those enrolled in the Guards. cuirass item 23. Adjutant. Dress uniform out of formation, for those enrolled in the army infantry.
24. Gendarme Corps dress uniform out of formation

Guard. Infantry and Guard. Foot artillery
25. Winter, ordinary uniform, out of order. 26. Guard. Infantry and Guards Foot artillery. Winter dress uniform in service. 27. Guard. Infantry and Guards Foot artillery. Winter dress uniform is out of order. 28. L.-Gv. 4th Page Imp. Surnames battle. Winter dress uniform, out of formation. 29. L.-Gv. 4th Page Imp. Surnames battle. Summer casual uniform. 30. L.-Gv. 4th Page Imp. Surnames battle. Summer service uniform, in ranks

Guards Cuirassier Regiments
31. Winter dress uniform in equestrian formation.
32. Winter, ordinary uniform out of formation (general here).
33. Court uniform (here Cavalry Guard).
34. Summer full dress uniform, out of formation.
35. Winter, ordinary uniform, on foot.
36. Ballroom (festive) uniform

B. Peacetime form.
a) Dress uniform. The dress uniform is worn:
1) Upon presentation to Their Majesties, Persons of the Imperial Family, General Field Marshals, the Minister of War, the Commander of the Imperial Main Quarters, his boss, inspectors general, heads of main departments and commanders of military districts.
2) When bringing congratulations to the Persons of the Imperial Family.
3) At the Highest exits in the Palace.
4) At ceremonial meetings of Persons of the Imperial Family and commanding officials and during honor guards.
5) At official receptions with foreign ambassadors and envoys.
6) At shows and parades, unless ordered to be in a different uniform.
7) At church parades on unit holidays.
8) When consecrating banners, standards and banner flags.
9) When the oath of allegiance to service is taken.
10) When presented to all direct superiors on the occasion of arrival for service in the unit.
11) On highly solemn days: the accession to the throne of the Sovereign Emperor, the Holy Coronation of Their Majesties, the birth and namesake of Their Majesties and the Heir Tsarevich and on solemn days: the New Year, the first day of Holy Easter and the first day of the Nativity of Christ, in the following cases:
a) at church parades and services (at Bright Matins).
b) on duty, under the Sovereign Emperor,
c) in the inner guards at the Palaces of Their Majesties.
d) when bringing congratulations to superiors,
e) at official meetings, dinners and balls.
12) Those participating in the marriage ceremony: the groom, best men and fathers.
13) At burial: generals, staff and chief officers, both in service and in reserve, and retired, as well as lower ranks.
14) In all cases when an order follows to be in full dress uniform.

Guards Cavalry and Guards. Horse artillery
37. Guards.Reserve.cav.p. winter, ordinary uniform, in service.
38-39. L.-Gv. Dragoon Regiment: winter, dress uniform out of formation and ordinary winter uniform in formation. 40-41. L.-Gv. Horse Grenadier Regiment: winter, ordinary uniform out of formation and winter dress uniform in formation. 42. Guards Con.-Art. Brig. winter, full dress uniform

Guards Hussars and Lancers
43. Guards Hussar, winter, full dress uniform, out of formation.
44. Guards hussar, winter, ordinary uniform in formation. 45. Guards hussar, everyday uniform. 46. ​​Guards Uhlan, winter dress uniform out of formation. 47. Guards Ulan, winter ordinary uniform in service. 48. Guards Ulan, casual uniform

Army Dragoon Regiments
49. Primorye Dragoon Regiments, winter, full dress uniform, out of formation. 50. Dragoon regiments, not former cuirassiers, winter, ordinary uniform, in formation. 51. Dragoon and Caucasian cavalry divisions (here Nizhny Novgorod) winter, full dress uniform, out of formation. 52. Dragoon regiments, not former cuirassiers, winter dress uniform, out of formation.
53-54. Dragoon regiments, former cuirassiers, ordinary uniform out of formation and winter dress in formation

Army lancers and hussars
55. Officer cavalry school winter, full dress uniform, out of formation (in cold weather).
56-57. Army lancers, winter ordinary uniform out of formation and winter ceremonial uniform in line.
58. Army Hussar Regiments winter dress uniform, out of formation. 59. Life Hussar Pavlograd Regiment winter, full dress uniform in formation. 60. Army hussar regiments winter ordinary uniform in formation

b) Ordinary form.
The ordinary uniform is worn;
1) Appearing at the Palaces of Their Majesties and Persons of the Imperial Family in the capitals.
2) Appearing on orders to Persons of the Imperial Family.
3) On guard at the Palaces of Their Majesties.
4) When nailing banners, standards and banner flags in the Highest presence.
5) Appearing on business of service or on their own need to Persons of the Imperial Family, Field Marshals, the Minister of War, the Commander of the Imperial Main Apartment, their boss, inspectors general, heads of main departments and commanders of troops of military districts, as well as high-ranking non-military persons departments.
6) Upon arrival to serve in the unit, upon introduction to all officers of the unit, except for direct superiors.
7) At church parades on Sundays and holidays.
8) During official prayer services, during the laying and lowering of military courts, during the laying and consecration of churches and government buildings, at public ceremonial meetings, acts, examinations and noble elections.
9) Those invited to worship on church holidays, partaking of the Holy Mysteries, those present at the marriage ceremony, recipients from the font and during the removal and burial of the Holy Shroud.
10) In the Imperial theaters and in the noble assemblies of Moscow and St. Petersburg on highly solemn days; accession to the throne of the Sovereign Emperor. The Holy Coronation of Their Majesties and the births and namesakes of Their Majesties and the Heir Tsesarevich.
11) At official meetings, dinners and balls (concerts, masquerades).
12) At burial civil officials all departments of civilians and ladies.
13) At official funeral services.
14) In all cases when an order follows to be in ordinary uniform.

Cossack units
61. Caucasian Cossack troops dress uniform.
62. Plastun battalion of the Kuban Caucasian army, ordinary uniform. 63. Crimean Cavalry Regiment winter dress uniform in formation. 64. His Majesty's convoy winter dress uniform. 65-66. Army Cossack units wear daily uniforms and winter dress uniforms, in formation.
67. Guards Cossack units winter dress uniform, in formation

Summer forms
68-69. Infantry out of formation is ceremonial (adjutant) and ordinary (outside the camp location).
70-72. Cavalry ordinary uniform in formation, out of formation (in a camp disposition) and service uniform out of formation (outside a camp disposition).
73. Artillery: service uniform, in formation (mountain)

Outerwear
74. Short fur coat, service uniform (combat training in the cavalry). 75-76. Coat, dress uniform and service uniform in formation. 77. Cape, out of order ( summer cavalry dress uniform, in a camp location).
78. Coat out of order. 79. Overcoat out of order

Wartime Uniforms and Camping Equipment
80. Artillery officers. 81. Infantry officers.
82-83. Cavalry officers.
84.Officers of the Cossack troops. Engineer officers

c) Service uniform. The service uniform is worn both in winter and summer:
1) Upon entry into service for training in all cases.
2) When performing guard duty, except for guard duty at the Palaces of Their Majesties.
3) With all official duties (on duty in all military units, departments, institutions and establishments).
4) When representing and appearing to the authorities (except for those named in paragraph 1 of the dress form) and local military authorities;
a) on official business, by order and according to one’s own needs;
b) on the occasion of promotion to the next rank, on the occasion of receiving awards, a new appointment or transfer (in the previous place of service), on the occasion of a business trip or going on vacation or returning back from a business trip or vacation to the unit;
c) while on a business trip or vacation - on the occasion of arrival at the place of business trip and vacation, as well as departure from the place of business trip.
5) When nailing banners and standards not in the Highest presence.
6) At meetings of cavalry councils and councils.
7) In military courts - by the composition of the court presence, the accused, witnesses and, in general, all persons summoned at the court hearing.
d) Casual uniform. Everyday uniform is worn outside of formation and combat dress and in all cases when it is not necessary to be in another uniform.

From the history of the regiments

Infantry

Russo-Japanese War

The sight of a military officer in an area of ​​military operations does not amaze anyone, but I am sure that if an officer from a bivouac found himself on Nevsky Prospect, he would immediately be surrounded by a crowd and... in the end, not asking who he is and what his merits are, would have raised him “with a bang” as an undoubted hero.
Imagine an officer not in a frock coat or uniform, as you are used to seeing him, but in a gray shirt, often worn directly on the body - otherwise it is difficult to bear the heat. On many jackets from khaki. From under caps The back of the head goes down from the back, also because of the heat. Sometimes an ordinary handkerchief serves as a back cover. High boots, if they were cleaned, it was a long time ago, since on a hike for three days you don’t have to take them off. In rainy weather boots They are decorated to such an extent with molded work of Manchu mud that it is difficult to even judge the shape and size of the leg. The tan on the face is so thick that it never reaches at home, and it is supplemented by an even thick layer of dust. Many officers and even soldiers wear closed edges to protect their eyes from dust. glasses .

Alexandra Feodorovna regiment 1881-1895

Life Guards Ulansky of Her Majesty the Empress
Alexandra Feodorovna regiment 1895-1903

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At the beginning of the 19th century. serious military reforms were carried out in Russia. This was due to the process of decomposition of feudalism and the transition to new capitalist relations. The country's noble elite actively opposed changes in the army and navy, so radical reforms in the military sphere were postponed until the second half of the 19th century.

Alexander I, having ascended the throne in 1801, proclaimed a policy of reforming all aspects of life and the state, including in the military field. In 1802, the central military administration was reorganized. Instead of the Military and Admiralty Collegiums, Military and Naval Ministries were created. Reforms have been carried out in the organization of troops.

In the infantry and cavalry, a division consisting of 2-3 brigades of two regimental composition and an artillery brigade became a permanent military formation. Divisions were consolidated into corps - the highest formations, both in infantry and cavalry. The corps had, as a rule, two divisions and two artillery brigades. The corps united into armies.

So, at the beginning of 1812, the troops were consolidated into 8 infantry, 4 cavalry corps and two Cossack detachments and were distributed between the 1st and 2nd Western, 3rd Reserve and Danube armies. The number of Jaeger regiments capable of fighting in loose formation has increased.

The Russian army of 1809 received a more advanced 7-line flintlock rifle, which made it possible to introduce targeted shooting training for troops. With the participation of General P.I. Bagration and the Minister of War. M. B. Barclay de Tolly developed and introduced new charters and instructions. The officer training system has received some improvements, and the network of military educational institutions has been expanded.

These changes had a positive effect on the Russian army, which during the Patriotic War of 1812 under the command of M.I. Kutuzova defeated Napoleon's army, the strongest in the world at that time.

Defeat in the Crimean War 1853 - 1856 forced the country's leadership to undertake more radical reforms of the armed forces system. In 1861 General D. A. Milyutin (1816-1912), a supporter of reforms in the army, who, with the modest economic capabilities of the state, managed to increase the power of the Russian army, was appointed to the post of Minister of War. In 1862, he presented the tsar with a draft military reform, who approved it. Russia entered a period of military reforms that lasted until 1874.

The purpose of these reforms was to create a mass army, to eliminate the military backwardness of Russia, revealed in the Crimean War of 1853-1856.

Main reform activities:

replacement of recruitment kits with all-class military service. According to the adopted Charter on Military Service (1874), all men who had reached the age of 20 were invited to serve. The period of active service in the ground forces was determined to be 6 years and then 9 years in the reserve, in the navy - 7 years and 3 years in the reserve.

The charter exempted from military service ministers of religious worship, teachers, doctors, peoples of Central Asia and Kazakhstan, the Far North and Far East, and the Caucasus. Exempted from conscription into the army marital status(only son, if he was the breadwinner of the family).

In the country as a whole, the number of people drafted into the army annually did not exceed 30% of those of military age. People who had an education received benefits: for those who graduated from higher educational institutions, the period of active service was reduced to six months, and from gymnasium to one and a half years.

The transition to universal conscription allowed the state to reduce the size of the army in peacetime and significantly increase the number of military-trained reserves. Its population by the end of the century was about 3 million people.

Military education reform

A reform of military education, training and retraining of officers has been carried out. In the 60s of the 19th century. transformations of military educational institutions were carried out. Their goal was to train officers loyal to the Fatherland, well-educated and trained in military affairs.

Two new academies were opened; Military-legal and maritime. At the end of the century, there were six military academies in Russia (General Staff, Medical-Surgical, Artillery, Engineering, Legal and Naval). But the number of listeners in them was small. For example, at the Artillery Academy the number of students did not exceed 60 people.

The secondary military school was seriously reformed. Instead of cadet corps, military gymnasiums were created, which provided general secondary education and prepared young men for entry into military schools, and pro-gymnasiums with a four-year period of study to prepare for entry into cadet schools.

In the early 60s, military and cadet schools were created. In military schools, the training period was three years; young men who graduated from military gymnasiums were accepted there. In military schools, the internal regulations were based on the implementation of the strictest military discipline.

Junker schools trained officers from people who did not have a general secondary education, as well as from the lower ranks of the army, who came from noble and chief officer families. the quality of military knowledge given to cadets was lower than in military schools.

To train technical specialists, weapons, technical, pyrotechnic, topographical, paramedic and other schools were created. In order to improve military knowledge and retrain officers, one-year schools were established.

Results of the reform:

• As a result of the military school reform, the training of command and engineering personnel has noticeably improved, and their number has increased. By the end of the 19th century. On average, 2 thousand officers were graduated per year, which made it possible to provide up to 80% of vacancies in the army and navy.
• In 1882, military gymnasiums were liquidated. At the same time, the government restored the cadet corps as closed educational institutions for the nobility.
• As a result of the reform of the military school, the training of command and engineering personnel was significantly improved, and their number increased.

By the end of the 19th century. annually: about 12 thousand people studied in cadet corps, - 5.5 thousand people in military schools, - 2.8 thousand people in cadet corps, - 850 people in academies.

Profound reforms were carried out in the field of military command and organization of troops. Central administration was still carried out by the War Ministry, which consisted of:

• 1) Military Council;
• 2) Offices;
• 3) General Staff;
• 4) Main Directorates.

The powers of the ministry increased: now the entire army was under its subordination, including the guard and the active army.

A military district system was created

The country was divided into 15 military districts, led by commanders who were subordinate to the emperor. The War Ministry exercised control over the district commanders. The supreme command over all armed forces was exercised by the emperor, his closest assistant was the minister of war.

Army rearmament

An important component of military reforms is the rearmament of the army and navy. The Russian infantry began to receive rifled small arms - the Berdan system rifle, and then the three-line Mosin system rifle (1891).

Berdanka is a single-shot rifle of 4.2 line caliber (10.67 mm) chambered for a metal cartridge. Charged from the treasury. Developed by Russian engineers sent to the USA by Colonel A.P. Gorlov and captain K.I. Guius with the assistance of the American Colonel X. Berdan. Berdan rifles No. 1 (1868), No. 2 (1870) were adopted for service. There were 3 types No. 2 - infantry, dragoon and Cossack rifles.

Mosin Sergei Ivanovich (1849-1902) - Russian designer of small arms, major general since 1900. In 1890 he created a “three-line” rifle - 7.62 mm caliber, five-round magazine. The rifle was modernized in 1910, 1930 and 1933. Its combat rate of fire is 10-12 rounds per minute, its sighting range is up to 2 thousand meters, its weight with a bayonet is 4.5 kg, without a bayonet - 4 kg.

Artillery units received steel rifled guns. In the second half of the 19th century. the sailing fleet gave way to the steam-powered armored fleet. By the end of the century, Russia occupied third place in Europe in the number of warships: Great Britain had 355 ships, France - 204, Russia - 107.

Reformers tried to improve the financial situation of officers and increase the prestige of military service. In 1859, higher salaries for officers were established. In 1886, salaries for combat officers were increased by 10-40%. As a result, the annual salary was: corps commanders - 10,950 rubles, division chiefs - 5,256 rubles, regiment commanders - 3,711 rubles, battalion commanders - 1,380 rubles, company commanders - 1,032 rubles. However, the salary of Russian officers in comparison with the salary of French or German officers was low, sometimes two or even three times lower.

Military reforms of the second half of the 19th century. had a progressive meaning. The combat effectiveness of the Russian army and navy increased, as demonstrated by the Russian-Turkish War of 1877-1878.

Until the end of the 17th century, the defensive function of the state was performed by the Streltsy army. They lived on lands issued by the king and were ready to attack the enemy at the first call. The first regular army appeared only under the first Russian emperor, Peter the Great.

The history of the creation of the Russian army takes place from the village of Preobrazhenskoye, to which they were exiled young Peter, together with his mother Natalya Naryshkina. There he gathered his army from the children of the boyars, his peers. On the basis of this amusing army, Peter the Great's Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky regiments were created.

They showed themselves brilliantly, arriving to defend Peter at the Trinity-Sergius Lavra. The second time they showed themselves during the battle of Narva, where they were the only ones who stood to the death. As a result of this battle, the Life Guard was created, which became the basis of the army of the Russian Empire.

Beginning of conscription into the Russian army

During the Northern War, in 1705, Peter issued a decree introducing the recruitment of soldiers into the Russian army. From that moment on, the training of lower ranks began. Service in the tsarist army was difficult and many people wonder how many years did you serve in the tsarist army?

In those days, the country was constantly in a state of war, for this reason people were drafted into the army for life.

For the nobles there was no choice; they all had to serve, albeit in the officer rank, except for the guards regiments. The peasants had to choose who they would send to serve. Most often this choice was determined by lot.

The nobles lived in the regimental barracks and received the usual soldier's rations. In the first years of the creation of the state army, escapes of recruits were frequent occurrences, so for safety they were shackled. Later, recruits began to be marked with a cross tattoo on the palm. But Peter generously rewarded his soldiers for good service. A number of bonuses were introduced for participation in significant battles.

Changing the period of military service

Under Peter the Great, they carefully ensured that family ties were not used in assigning titles; titles were assigned only on the basis of personal merit. Soldiers drafted from ordinary peasants had the opportunity to receive a noble rank for service to the Fatherland and pass it on by inheritance.

After the change in Peter's reign, the nobles gradually began to receive the opportunity to be exempt from military service. At first, one family member had this right to manage the estate, but later the service life was reduced to 25 years.

Under Catherine II, the nobles had the opportunity not to serve at all. But the bulk of the nobles continued to serve, since this was a good source of income, and not everyone had estates. In those days, one could buy oneself out of service by paying for an expensive recruit ticket.

Pension for retired soldiers

In Tsarist times in Russia, soldiers who had already served and were of advanced age were cared for with reverence. Under Peter the Great, almshouses were created at monasteries, where they cared for injured soldiers.

Under Catherine II, the state took on this responsibility. All soldiers received pension benefits, and if a soldier was injured, pension benefits were assigned regardless of how long he served. When transferred to the reserves, they were entitled to a considerable payment, with which they could build an estate, as well as a small allowance in the form of a pension.

Due to the fact that the length of service in the army was shortened, many retired officers appeared who were still able to serve. Under Paul, such soldiers were collected into separate companies. These companies served in the protection of prisons, city outposts and other significant objects; they were sent to train young recruits. After service, retired soldiers and officers were exempt from paying taxes and had the right to do what they liked.

Personal life of a soldier

Soldiers were not forbidden to marry. In addition, the girl, being a serf, became free after marrying a soldier. To accompany their husbands, after a certain time, wives were allowed to settle next to the regiment. Soldiers' children were under the control of the military department almost from birth. Upon reaching a certain age, they were required to study. Regimental schools were created to train them. Thanks to their training, they had the opportunity to obtain an officer rank.

In matters of housing for soldiers, everything was more complicated. At first they stopped at local residents, but later they began to build soldier settlements for soldiers. Each settlement had a church, a hospital and a bathhouse. Barracks began to be built only towards the end of the 18th century.

Organization of the conscription principle in the army

In the 19th century there was a significant revolution in matters of military service. During this century, the service life was reduced to 10 years. Emperor Alexander II carried out a military reform, which resulted in a change from conscription to universal conscription. The reform affected not only conscription, but also the military administration system and the system of military educational institutions.

In addition, the military industry was developed and the army was rearmed. The whole country was divided into military districts. A central headquarters for the control of ground forces was created. The entire male population, aged 21 and older, served in the army.

But too many people were subject to conscription, so not everyone was sent to serve, but only those fit for military service and who would be drawn by lot. Everyone was divided into two groups:

• The first to whom the lot fell were sent to the location of the active army.
• The second to the militia, from which they could be called up in the event of mobilization.

The call was carried out once a year in the autumn after the harvest.

Early 20th century army

At the beginning of the 20th century, the service life was 3 years for infantry and artillery. Served in the navy for 5 years. After serving in the army, a semi-literate peasant could gain decent knowledge and advance in life, and the service life was not as long as, for example, in Peter's times. But while serving in the imperial army, the ordinary soldier had some restrictions. He had no right to marry and engage trading activities. During his service, the soldier was exempt from paying debts. If he had a debt, he had to wait until he left the army.

Under Nicholas II, the army still formed the backbone of the state. It was staffed according to the principle of conscription, adopted under Alexander II. As long as they were proud of the officer's uniform and preserved the memory of the conquests made by the Russian army, it was invincible. But at the beginning of the 20th century, an unhappy time began for the Russian army.

The war of 1904-1905 was a significant blow. As a result of the First World War, the Russian Empire itself disappeared. Active mobilization took place throughout the country. The soldiers all went to the front as one to repulse the enemy. Only the Bolshevik leaders did not support the start of the war. The leader of the proletariat, Vladimir Lenin, condemned the actions of the authorities. A few years later, this war was used to change power. The tsarist system was replaced by a revolutionary system, which finally changed the composition of the army and its principles.
They tried to destroy the memory of the Russian army in every possible way. In the Red Army, the image of the tsarist officers was denigrated, but when faced with a real threat, the army of the Red Army during the battles of the Second World War showed best features old Russian army. The exploits of the great commanders were not forgotten; the Russian army spirit, which was the basis of all victories, was remembered.