Ways to use a German raincoat tent. Wehrmacht field equipment. From the history of the origin of raincoats

Traditionally, this element of the Russian military uniform arose in the 19th century - already in 1882, a raincoat was part of the equipment as a mandatory attribute. But the unit of that time was not much like modern light pieces of tarpaulin: it was accompanied by wooden stakes and stands, which the soldier was obliged to wear under his overcoat along with a heavy and bulky tent rolled up. And yet, the military were ready for this - finally, in field conditions, their heads could not get wet in the rain. The idea of preserving the uniform in dry form was so to the liking of the authorities that already in 1910 the canvas triangle officially received the status of a “soldier’s raincoat-tent” and was used during inspections.

From the first years, the raincoat was produced in khaki colors, masking the location of the soldier at a rest stop. U German soldiers era of the Second World War, the coloring of the raincoat was two-sided - for “our” dirt and for “native” dirt. It was possible to zip four tents together and get one large one, complete for several people. There’s just one “but”: since those very first years - that is, since 1910, no one has bothered to change the design of the tent - our brave guys have been wrapping themselves in a short, frail cape.

Modern raincoat and its alternatives

Today, the raincoat tent has a canvas size of 180 cm and cords for tightening the hood and the raincoat itself. It can be worn either behind the back or in the form of a cape, but the buttons are replaced with those same wooden pegs. If the standard makers had allocated at least another 20 cm for the length of the side of the tent, perhaps the Russian soldiers would not have had to tuck their legs in while resting.

With the help of a raincoat, the military cleans weapons, using it as a bedding and for shooting, among other things. It is used to carry foliage when cleaning the area, to cover bunks in camp shelters, etc. Thanks to its bright glory and versatility, the raincoat-tent has gained popularity among imitators of the military style - there are those who prefer to cover themselves only with it on hikes.

We won’t argue how convenient this is, but for more conservative people, an ordinary two-person tent is better suited. They are now made in a huge variety, from super-light structures and materials - up to aluminum and fiberglass, they are rolled up into such a tube that they can be placed in a backpack. As for the shapes, there is room to roam: domed ones are popular, but elongated rectangular ones are also suitable for tall people.

How to make a tent with your own hands?

A section for those who are especially devoted to tourism. You can make housing from six inner tubes from a road bike, ordinary polyethylene and tarpaulin. Such inflatable tents are mounted not on heavy metal, but on heavy-duty rubber tubes.

Having cut 4 chambers approximately a decimeter from the nipple, we get tubes of 120 cm each, to lengthen them, we take another 60 cm from the remaining chambers. It is necessary to glue the chambers and seal the ends. Now we cover it with tarpaulin, attaching a loop with a diameter of up to 5 cm to the ends. nipples are left outside to pump air into the chambers.

We cut out a circle from a piece of tarpaulin and sew it to the covers - this will be the bottom of the tent and at the same time fastening the poles. That's it, now we prepare the polyethylene awning, glue it with “Moment” to the posts and additionally stitch it with nylon thread. This tent weighs no more than 2 kg, and the installation process will not take more than 10 minutes.

Raincoat tents (English: waterproof cape) are wearable camping tent items intended for one person. The material for their execution, as a rule, is waterproof fabric, which simultaneously plays the role of both a raincoat and a tent. In case of special need, they can also be used as stretchers or drags for transporting soldiers wounded in battle or sick.

From the history of the origin of raincoats

It is known that in 1882, raincoats were a mandatory attribute of soldiers' camping equipment. This cloak looked like a light gray bundle that soldiers wore over their shoulders and tied with belts to their overcoat rolls. The set of tents included wooden pegs and poles that were pushed between the tents and the rolls.

It should be noted that for that time this was a revolutionary decision. For the first time, soldiers received protective equipment against bad weather at a halt, as well as on the march. And this was important. Previously, soldiers' camp tents were transported in second-rate convoys, which, according to regulations, followed the regiments at a distance equal to half a day's march, which was usually as much as 20-30 miles. Now soldiers had personal resting places that could be installed at any time of the day.

At first, tents were simple panels with holes in the corners for ease of installation. However, soldiers more often covered themselves with tents from the rain on marches. They learned to use tents as a cloak. The authorities took a closer look at the soldiers' behavior, and in 1910 the tents were modernized.

IN Soviet times Since 1936, command and rank and file personnel in the rifle units of the Red Army were provided with a set of raincoats, which included:

The raincoat cloth measures 180×180 cm;
A collapsible stand, which includes two half-racks-rods 65 cm long;
Two jokes;
Lacing rope.

If used skillfully, raincoats became excellent protection for commanders and Red Army soldiers from inclement weather. Moreover, these attributes were used to camouflage and carry the wounded. Also, with the help of raincoat tents filled with hay or straw, it was possible to overcome water obstacles.

Such raincoats were used to make tents for personnel for half of the squad, and they were also used to equip awnings, canopies, cover huts, open trenches, and entrances to dugouts. In addition, the panels could serve as bedding and blankets. Since 1942, the defense industry began producing fabrics with double-sided camouflage to improve the camouflage properties of the raincoat.

Raincoat today

After 1910, soldiers' raincoats did not change anymore (apart from minor modifications) and remained until the beginning of the 21st century. It is clear that these days they are hopelessly outdated. Nowadays, these are no longer raincoats or tents.

So, in the case of putting it on as a raincoat, it is immediately discovered that the front panel is almost not enough to reach the knees. Drops flowing from the cloth soon make your knees wet. When moving, the angle chosen at the back makes it possible for water to flow alternately into one or the other boot. If you bend it, it will drag with a rustling sound, clinging to anything and getting dirty. The material for the canvas itself is also outdated - it is an ordinary thin tent fabric that does not have a serious water-repellent impregnation. Those who served in the army know that within a couple of hours the raincoat will get wet and will not protect at all from the rain.

Despite the fact that raincoats are currently unable to perform the real tasks assigned to them, no one particularly objects to them or demands that they be updated with something appropriate that meets today's realities.

Today, raincoat tents are used as:

Bedding while cleaning weapons in the field;
Bedding when firing from a machine gun;
An improvised tablecloth when eating in the field;
For carrying bread and other food;
A stretcher for removing swept dry leaves and other debris;
A stretcher for carrying sick or wounded soldiers;
Bedding on bunks in camping tents;
Doors in barracks or dilapidated dwellings from shelling;
Material for closing windows in destroyed homes;
In any other cases where durable, dense fabric is required.

For protection from rain today, the well-known combined arms protective kit (OZK) is more effective.

As often happens, since 1910 no one has been involved in modernizing soldiers' raincoats and this issue is not even raised. And this despite the fact that even during the Second World War, the Wehrmacht had more comfortable, practical raincoats made of waterproof tarpaulin. In addition, German raincoats had double-sided camouflage paint and could be used as a camouflage covering. There are also excellent examples of the American poncho-type raincoat.

Raincoat tents - Bundeswehr

Raincoat tents of the 1931 model (Zeltbahn 31) were released as a replacement for earlier square models. They were originally known as "Warei specimens". Tents were triangular panels made of waterproof cotton gabardines, and were used as multi-purpose shelters, bedding for lying on the ground, and raincoats. On one side there was a dark camouflage image, on the other - a light one. Collectors call these camouflage images “three-color (brown and two shades of green) splinter camouflage.”

Before the end of the war, most raincoats were printed with dark, double-sided images. Limited numbers of reed green or light bronze were released for North Africa. However, continental models were widespread.

German tents were 203x250 cm in size; there were 12 buttons with loops on the shorter sides. The underside had six button loops and six small rings. A tightening rope was threaded through them, and 6 more buttons were sewn a little above the buttonholes.

Buttons and loops on the short sides of the tents were used to attach additional sections of tents and thus fold together a total tent of any size. When the tent was used as a cloak, buttons with loops at the base of the flap were fastened around the legs. In the middle of the cloth there was a slot for the head. It was covered with two strips of fabric.

As soon as raincoats were introduced, they came with detachable triangular hoods, which were soon abolished. With the help of large metal rings at the corners of the tent panels, it was possible to tension the erected tents using ropes or stakes.

Using one or two tents connected, it was possible to form hut-type shelters from the rain. Four cloak-tents connected could form a pyramidal tent that could accommodate four soldiers. There were standard methods for constructing tents for 8-16 people. For this purpose, there was a whole set of tent accessories, which was carried in a bag.

When they used tent panels as raincoats, they used three options for wearing them: on foot, cavalry and scooter. Tents were used as bedding or pillows, and when they were stuffed with hay or branches, they were used as a means of floating.

In addition to the external component, the functional component is also important. A soldier of any country on the battlefield must be comfortably and practically equipped.
According to art critic M.R. Kirsanova, in war they recognize friend and foe by their uniform. S.V. Struchev, a costume designer, complements this statement with the following: “So that you can see who to shoot at. Because the contact between the shooter and the enemy is visual.”

USSR

The soldiers of the Red Army were perfectly equipped at any time of the year. In summer, caps and helmets were used. The most common helmet was the SSH-40. Semyon Budyonny participated in its creation, testing the helmet with saber strikes and shooting from a revolver. In winter, earflap hats with earflaps were introduced, which provided good protection from the frost. The lightweight uniform also included cotton tunics with breast welt pockets and trousers. Soldiers could store things in backpacks or duffel bags. They drank water from glass flasks suspended in a bag from a belt. Grenades were also worn on the belt - in special bags. In addition, the uniform included a bag for a gas mask and cartridges. Ordinary Red Army soldiers wore raincoats that could be used as raincoats. In winter, the uniform was complemented by a short fur coat or a padded jacket with a padded jacket, fur mittens, felt boots and cotton pants.

The Red Army uniform seemed to have been thought out to the smallest detail: the 1942 model duffel bag even had a compartment for an ax. This is how one of the Red Army soldiers described the condition of his clothes in a letter: “My clothes are pretty shabby and are of no value for the house.” And this is what Professor P.M. said about the army uniform. Shurygin, participant in the Battle of Rzhev: “Soon we will have quilted trousers, padded jackets, and warm underwear. They will give you felt boots with snow. The material is good quality, so you wonder where so much of this wonderful material comes from.” From the memories it is clear that the Red Army uniform was of high quality and practical. Numerous pockets and bags for ammunition made military life much easier.

Germany

The uniforms of German soldiers were sewn at the Hugo Boss factory. It included: a steel helmet with a double-sided cover, an overcoat, a gas mask case, a sword belt, rifle pouches, a raincoat, and a bowler hat. The Wehrmacht uniform was complete for European territory. The frosty Eastern Front required a completely different approach. During the first winter, the soldiers were freezing. They had already prepared for the second: insulated jackets, quilted trousers, as well as woolen gloves, sweaters and socks were introduced into the uniform. But this was not enough.

Despite the fact that the Soviet uniform was much heavier and easier to manufacture, it was considered more suitable for military operations in winter time. Reenactor of the Eastern Frontier club Yuri Girev comments on the difference in the uniforms of the key powers as follows: “The uniform of a Red Army soldier was much warmer than the uniform of the Germans. Our soldiers wore cowhide boots on their feet. Boots with tapes were used more often.” One of the German representatives of the Wehrmacht wrote in a message to loved ones: “Driving through Gumrak, I saw a crowd of our retreating soldiers, they trudged along in a wide variety of uniforms, wrapping all sorts of items of clothing around themselves, just to keep warm. Suddenly one soldier falls into the snow, others pass by indifferently.”

Britannia

British soldiers wore a field uniform: a collared blouse or wool shirt, a steel helmet, loose trousers, a gas mask bag, a holster on a long belt, black boots and an overcoat. By the beginning of World War II, a new uniform was adopted. The regular units of the British Army were the last to receive it, because first it was necessary to equip recruits and those whose clothes had already lost their decent appearance. As the war progressed, minor changes occurred: the collar and other elements of clothing were lined to prevent the rough twill from chafing, and buckles began to be made with teeth.

It was not uncommon for British soldiers to wear a heavy down-lined tropal raincoat. To keep warm, they wore knitted balaclavas under their helmets. Russian historian Igor Drogovoz appreciated the British uniform: “The uniform of soldiers and officers of the British army became a role model for all armies of Europe. The entire European military class very soon began to dress in khaki jackets, and Soviet soldiers took Berlin in boots with tapes in 1945.”

USA

The uniform of American soldiers is objectively considered the most comfortable and thoughtful for the conditions of the Second World War. They were guided by it even when developing uniforms in the post-war period. The uniform included a woolen shirt, a light field jacket, trousers with linen leggings, low brown boots, a helmet or cap. All these things have replaced the twill jumpsuit. All clothing of US soldiers was distinguished by functionality: the jacket was fastened with a zipper and buttons, and was equipped with cut pockets on the sides. The best equipment for the Americans was the Arctic set, consisting of a warm parka jacket and lace-up fur-lined boots.

Japan

During World War II, the Japanese had three types of uniforms. Each of them included a uniform, trousers, an overcoat and a cape. For warm weather, a cotton version was provided, and for cold weather, a woolen version. The uniform set also included a helmet, boots or boots. For Japanese soldiers, winter warfare meant operations in northern China, Manchuria, and Korea. It was there that the most insulated uniform was used. Naturally, it was not suitable for the harsh climate, because it consisted of overcoats with fur cuffs, quilted woolen trousers and long johns. In general, it is difficult to call Japanese uniforms functional. It was suitable only for certain latitudes with a tropical climate.

Italy

Italian soldiers during World War II wore a shirt and tie, a single-breasted jacket with a waist belt, tapered trousers with wraps or woolen socks, and ankle boots. Some soldiers found it more comfortable to wear breeches. The uniform was not suitable for winter campaigns. The overcoat was made from cheap, coarse cloth, which did not provide any warmth in the cold. The army was not equipped with winter clothing. Only representatives of the mountain troops had insulated options. The Italian newspaper Province of Como noted in 1943 that only a tenth of the soldiers during their stay in Russia were equipped with a suitable uniform. In their memoirs, the soldiers wrote that at times the temperature reached minus 42 degrees, so many died from frostbite, and not during combat operations. Statistics from the Italian command report that in the first winter alone, 3,600 soldiers suffered from hypothermia.

France

French soldiers fought in colored uniforms. They were dressed in single-breasted jackets with buttons and double-breasted overcoats with side pocket flaps. The coat tails could be buttoned back to make walking easier. The clothes had belt loops. Foot troops wore breeches with windings. There were three types of hats. The most popular was the cap. Adrian's helmets, which had an emblem on the front, were also actively worn. Apart from its appearance, this helmet could hardly boast of anything else. It did not provide protection from bullets. In very cold weather, the French uniform expanded its range to a sheepskin coat. Such clothing can hardly be called optimal for different weather conditions.

The best uniform of American soldiers became the prototype for all modern field clothing. It was distinguished by functionality and thoughtful appearance. They didn’t freeze in it, and this was one of the decisive factors in the war.

You need two lengths of fabric. Then you can sew two such raincoats.

The Zeltbahn 31 raincoat was a waterproof raincoat made of thick cotton water-repellent fabric and was used everywhere.

The Zeltbahn 31 raincoat tent had the shape of a triangle 203x203x240 cm, on both sides it had a “broken glass” camouflage pattern, darker on one side and lighter on the other.It had 62 metal buttons sewn onto it, 31 on each side, and it had 30 loops. In the middle it had a slot with a double valve.

Simplified, modern version Zeltbahn 31:

Using loops and buttons, it could be fastened in several ways, thereby creating maximum protection in various conditions.

Four tents could be combined into one large one four-person tent.

Army Central Clothing Service All the time he invents some kind of backpacks, suitcases, portable field kitchens for 5-10-20 people (who will wear them and how?). And the soldier, just as he carried his things in the orphan sidor, still carries them, just as he got wet in an outdated raincoat, he still gets wet.

Zeltbahn and Zeltaustrüstung (Tent Quarter and Tent Equipment)

The Zeltbahn was invented by the Austrians during the First World War, then the Zeltbahn 31 went into service with the Germans and was preserved by the Swedes as the Zeltbahn M39.

The Model 31 raincoat (Zeltbahn 31) was originally known as the "Warei" type and replaced the previous model, the gray Model 11 square raincoat.

The new raincoat had triangular shape, was made of tightly woven gabardine, and thanks to this it was waterproof.

There were three ways to wear a raincoat as a raincoat: an option for an infantryman, a horseman and a cyclist.

Initially, the raincoat of the 1931 model was painted in feldgrau (field gray) color, but by 1939, most military units were using raincoats with “fragmented” camouflage.

One side of the raincoat was covered with dark camouflage (dunklerer Buntfarbenaufdruck), on the other side with light camouflage (hellerer Buntfarbenaufdruck).

By the end of the war, raincoats appeared with dark camouflage on both sides. In North Africa, they mainly used the continental version of the raincoat; there was also a special tropical version, which was painted greenish-yellow or light beige on both sides, but it was produced in limited quantities.

Two sides of the new style raincoat were 203 cm long, and the third side was 240 or 250 cm long. There were 12 buttons and loops along the short sides. Along the wide side there were six holes with a steel edge through which the tension rope passed, and six buttons were sewn above the holes.

Buttons and loops on the short sides served to connect several raincoats into one large tent, and the size of the tent depended on the number of panels combined.

When a cloak-tent was used as a cape, holes and buttons at the base of the cloth made it possible to fasten the cloak around the soldier’s legs. In the center of the panel there was a slot for the head, closed by two overlapping flaps.

At first, a fastened hood was provided with the raincoat, but it was soon stopped being used.

In each corner of the canvas there was a large hole edged with metal; with the help of these holes the tent was fixed with pegs or a rope was passed through them, depending on the type of tent being installed.

One or two raincoat tents could serve as a simple blanket, four panels connected together made it possible to set up a pyramidal standard four-person tent. In addition, a special illustrated manual for using the ’31 model raincoat tent contained standard designs for eight- and sixteen-person tents.

Standard installation kit tents (Zeltausrustung) included:

black two-meter rope (Zeltleine)
collapsible wooden post (Zeltstock)
with metal tips (consisting of four interconnected parts, each part 37 cm long)
two pegs (Zeltpflocke)

A special bag was intended for carrying these items. The bag was made from gabardine or thin tarpaulin "splintered" camouflage, field gray (feldgrau), grey, olive green, greenish yellow (tropical version), brown or beige. The top of the bag was closed with a flap, which was fastened with one or two buttons.

Originally on the bagthere were two leather straps with which the bag was attached to other items of equipment, and then the straps gave way to leather loops.

Tent pegs could have different shapes; light metal alloys, steel or impregnated wood were used for their manufacture. At the top of each peg there was a hole through which, if necessary, a rope was threaded, making it easier to remove the peg from the ground.

The raincoat could be worn by attaching it with an additional belts to a waist belt, sword belt, to a backpack or combat backpack in the form of a roll (with or without a blanket).

Due to an acute shortage of materials, in 1944, raincoats were issued only to selected field units. Other raincoats were used in limited quantities, including captured camouflage Italian ones from 1929 and square Soviet ones in a dirty olive color.

In addition to its main functions as a raincoat and tent cloth, the ’31 sample could be used in a number of other cases:

as a custom camouflage cape for military personnel and military equipment; as a blanket or pillow;
as a floating device for overcoming water obstacles (one or two rolled-up raincoats filled with branches or hay);
as an improvised means for carrying the wounded or items of ammunition in combat conditions;
for carrying waste to construction time;
as a simple field table.

In addition to the above-described raincoat tent of the 1931 model, the German army used a number of other army tents of various designs, including special headquarters and medical tents.

Heinrich Hofmann made zelt of 1941 vintage.

The raincoat-tent appeared in the equipment of the Russian soldier a very long time ago.

The raincoat-tent appeared in the equipment of the Russian soldier a very long time ago. The author was unable to trace the moment of the appearance of this very interesting piece of equipment. However, it is known for sure that since April 1882, the raincoat was already a mandatory element of soldier’s camping equipment.

True, at that time it was intended only to serve as a soldier’s individual tent. The picture shows the equipment of an army infantry soldier of the 1882 model. Among other elements, a light gray tent bundle is clearly visible, tied with a belt to an overcoat roll worn by a soldier over his left shoulder. The tent included had wooden pegs and a stand that were pushed between the tent and the roll.

For that time it was a truly revolutionary decision. For the first time, a soldier received a means of protection from bad weather both during rest and on the march. This was very important, because soldiers’ camp tents were transported in a second-class convoy, which, according to regulations, followed the regiment at a distance of half a day’s march, i.e. 20-30 versts. Consequently, before, after a day's march, a soldier could get a place to rest and shelter from the rain, at best, by the middle of the night, and if we take into account the time required to set up tents, then by the morning. Those. by the time the next day's march had to begin. Thus, it turned out that during all the days of the march the soldier was constantly under open air and could count on somewhat normal conditions for rest only when the regiment stopped for a daily rest.

An individual tent radically changed the situation. A soldier, having arrived at his place of lodging for the night, could pitch himself some kind of tent and hide from the night dampness, rain, coolness, and dew. Having united, three or four people could already create something more similar to a real tent from their tents.

Initially, the tent was simply a canvas with holes in the corners for installation and was intended to be used only as a tent. The soldiers immediately adapted to shelter from the rain with a tent during the march. They themselves began to adapt the tent so that it was convenient to use and as a raincoat. The soldiers' ideas were noticed and appreciated by the authorities, and in 1910 the tent was modernized. From that time on she received official name\"Soldier's cloak-tent\". In a drawing of a soldier in uniform from 1912, a bundle of a raincoat with pegs inserted into it is seen tied to an overcoat roll (behind the right hand).

However, since 1910, the soldier's raincoat remained practically unchanged (with the exception of minor changes) and was preserved in this form by the beginning of the 21st century.

Today it is hopelessly outdated. We can say that today it is neither a raincoat nor a tent.

If you put it on as a cape, it immediately becomes clear that the front panel does not even reach the knees. The water flowing from the cloth quickly makes the knees wet even if the soldier is standing. The corner tucked at the back ensures that when walking, water flows alternately into the left and right boots. If you turn the corner, then with a loud rustling he drags through the mud behind his back, clinging to all the blades of grass, twigs, etc., and trying to pull the cloak off his shoulders. In addition, the cloth itself is made of ordinary thin tent fabric without any serious water-repellent impregnation; after two or three hours the raincoat gets wet and no longer provides protection from rain. The picture shows a soldier with a machine gun (it looks like he is much shorter than average) in modern raincoat with a machine gun in a standing shooting position.

A modern soldier's raincoat looks like this: A square cloth with a side of 180 cm. There are holes in the corners of the panel, lined with durable lace or leather overlays. The edges of the cloth are double with a number of small slits and sewn wooden sticks used as buttons. A figured arc-shaped part is sewn onto the cloth, which forms a second layer of protection for the shoulders from water when wearing a raincoat-tent in the form of a raincoat. Closer to one of the edges there is a rectangular slot. covered with a plank. This slit allows the soldier to stick one arm out from under the cloak. when all the buttons are fastened. In two places, cords are passed through the cloth, allowing them to be pulled together to form the neck of the cloak and the hood.

The raincoat set includes: 1-panel, 2-two half-posts, 3-sewn cords, 4-four wooden or metal pegs.

As a rule, pegs, half-posts and sewing cords are instantly lost or outright thrown away, because at present no one is trying to use a raincoat as a tent. Agree that the structure depicted in the figure, consisting of a cloth, a stand, and four pegs, is hardly acceptable for a modern soldier.

With minimal amenities, such a tent can only accommodate a small child. And the open side allows the wind to blow into the tent, and rain can also get inside. A soldier of modern dimensions, trying to lie down in such a tent, necessarily leaves either his legs or his head outside.

True, the design of the raincoat tent allows you to connect several panels with each other using cords. In this case, you get something like a tourist summer tent. However, the instructions for the raincoat tent are overly optimistic. For example, she claims that two raincoats make a two-person tent. But this is not a tent, just a canopy. The minimum required to create a more or less acceptable tent for one person is four sets, and six sets for two or three people. The picture shows a six-pack tent. The instructions state that this is a tent for six people. However my personal experience allows me to say that it can accommodate two or three people. If you cram six people in there, it will be torture, not relaxation.

However, despite the fact that the raincoat is currently unable to perform the tasks assigned to it according to its intended purpose, no one objects to it or demands its replacement with something more appropriate. The raincoat-tent is used as a bedding when cleaning weapons in the field; litter when shooting from a machine gun in bad weather conditions so as not to get your uniform dirty; as an improvised tablecloth when eating in the field. It is used for carrying bread and other products, dry rations. A raincoat tent is indispensable when removing swept away dry leaves and other debris. Cloak tents are used to cover bunks in soldiers' camp tents. They also replace doors in war-damaged houses. They cover windows in occupied, broken down houses (and instead of glass they provide blackout, and they will also stop a grenade thrown at the window). You never know when you need a piece of durable, dense fabric.

And for protection from rain, the well-known chemical protection kit (OZK), consisting of rubber stockings-shoe covers, worn over any shoes and a rubber raincoat with a hood and sleeves, which, with the help of simple manipulations, turns into overalls, is much more effective. And modern soldiers sleep more and more in cars, of which there are almost more of them in the army than there are soldiers themselves. So an ordinary camping tent is becoming less and less common in a soldier’s life.

But it wouldn’t be a bad idea to work on creating a raincoat that meets modern requirements and is more versatile. For example, in Afghanistan, soldiers folded two edges and stitched them with thread. Such a raincoat-tent, having threaded two sticks into the resulting fabric tubes, was used as an improvised stretcher for carrying the wounded. Yes, you even need to increase the size of the panel itself. The average height of a soldier has increased by at least 20-30 cm compared to 1909.

However, it seems that since 1910 no one has been involved in modernizing the soldier’s raincoat and no one wants to do so. But already during the Second World War, the Wehrmacht had much more comfortable, practical raincoats made of waterproof canvas fabric. In addition, the German raincoat had a double-sided camouflage coloring and could also be used as a camouflage covering. There are excellent examples of American poncho-type raincoats.

In general, it’s quite strange - our army adopted the German pot (the Red Army entered the war with a soldier’s copper pot from the First World War, which was just a saucepan with a bow). The modern Russian army bowler is an exact copy of the German bowler (and by the way, the Czech-style bowler is more convenient than the German one). But there is no German water flask. And it is more convenient than ours, because... closed on top by a mug. No need to have a separate mug. The German flat three-light lantern under the KSF brand was adopted, but the raincoat was not adopted. The central clothing service of the army is constantly inventing some kind of backpacks, suitcases, portable field kitchens for 5-10-20 people (who will wear them and how?). And the soldier, just as he carried his things in the orphan sidor, still carries them, just as he got wet in an outdated raincoat, he still gets wet.

In the picture there is a German machine gunner from the Second World War in a raincoat of the 1931 model (the German army was forbidden to have, and the authorities were already thinking about how best to dress the soldier of the future Wehrmacht!).

Literature

1. Manual on military engineering for the Soviet Army. Military publishing house. Moscow. 1984

2.I.Ulyanov, O.Leonov. History of Russian troops. Regular infantry. 1698-1801. Moscow. AST.1995.

3. I. Ulyanov. History of Russian troops. Regular infantry. 1801-1855. Moscow. AST.1996.

4. I. Ulyanov, O. Leonov. History of Russian troops. Regular infantry. 1855-1918. Moscow. AST.1998.

5. S. Drobyazko, A Karashchuk. Second World War 1939-1945. Russian liberation army. Moscow. AST.1998.

6. S. Drobyazko, I. Savchenkov. World War II 1939-1945. Wehrmacht infantry. Moscow. AST.1999.