General Infantry
Universal items
These are items that can be used across all impressions, ranging from the start of the war all the way to the end. Most of these items are essentials, and can pass off for the bare minimum for one's impression while the rest of the kit comes from extra loaner gear.
Barbarossa
In 1941, the Worker’s and Peasant’s Red Army was in the midst of a buildup. Fueled by tensions in Europe and an active conflict in the Soviet Far East, in 1939, conscription, previously mandated of all 20 year old men, was lowered to call up 18 year olds.
Between this new conscription law, passed in September 1939, and June 1941, the Red Army more than trebled in size, from 1.5 million men to 5 million. This created an immense burden on the Soviet people and government, as these millions of new conscripts had to be housed, fed, clothed, and of course, trained.
Despite initial concerns, it appears that these issues were largely met, and the Red Army man of 1941 was a personally well equipped soldier. Defense spending accounted for 25. 6% of Soviet state spending, and millions of rifles, machine guns, and shineli were rolling into the quartermaster’s depots.
1942
In 1942, the Worker’s and Peasant’s Red Army had survived its largest test to date. The unmitigated disaster of the German attack in the summer of 1941 had been endured, and although severely wounded, the Red Army did not break. It was able to make good on its estimated 4.4 million casualties (including 2.3 million lost as prisoners of war).
1942 would be another trying year, but the initiative was beginning to shift to the Soviet side. Through more trials at Rzhev, Leningrad, and Stalingrad, the Red Army would suffer more casualties, more loss, but they would enter 1943 on the front foot, no longer merely responding to German attacks, but forcing them back.
The Soviet uniform in 1942 was largely dictated by the need to place even more men (and women!) in service. As such, we see simplifications and deletions of “extra” gear wherever necessary. Lowboots and puttees over jackboots, meshoki over rucksacks, and the almost complete disappearance of aluminum from the soldier’s kit. Wartime strain for resources and the isolation or destruction of industrial capital meant that substitutions had to be made.
Mid-war
The Red Army in 1943 was an army in flux. Fresh off the successes of late 1942, Red Army commanders and men began to regain their confidence, and now knew the Germans could be beat, and beat on a large scale. Emboldened, a series of attacks in the spring of 1943 saw limited success, with gains the biggest in the south. This created a large salient, or bulge in the frontlines, centered around the city of Kursk.
The Soviets knew a large German attack was due in the summer, and correctly surmised that the bulge was a tempting target. Accordingly, they committed huge forces to defend the bulge in depth, building thousands of kilometers of defensive lines into the summer. With visions of success and large prisoner hauls to fuel their slave-labour empire, the Germans decided to spend their energy for the 1943 season attacking this nest, with fateful consequences for the outcome of the war…
Late-War
In 1944, The Red Army was poised to bring war home to Germany. After three years of genocidal warfare within the borders of the USSR, the Wehrmacht was in full retreat along the whole front. By February, the Red Army had reached the 1941 border in places, and the deadly siege of Leningrad was finally ended. The best was yet to come.
The summer of 1944 would see the greatest Soviet victory of the war, Operation Bagration. In a brilliantly fought campaign, the German army was fully ejected from the territory of the USSR. Now the Soviets had the whip-hand, and they fully intended to use it. While it was not easy going, a cornered rat struggles the hardest, afterall, the result was never in doubt. On May 9th, 1945, the war in Europe ended, due in no small part to the sacrifices of the Soviet people.
This guide covers the Soviet campaigns in 1944-45, covering battles and campaigns from the swamps of Estonia and Byelorussia, to the urban hellscapes of Budapest and Berlin, to the hills of Manchuria.
Universal Items
These are items that can be used across all impressions, ranging from the start of the war all the way to the end. Most of these items are essentials, and can pass off for the bare minimum for one's impression while the rest of the kit comes from extra loaner gear.
Barbarossa
In 1941, the Worker’s and Peasant’s Red Army was in the midst of a buildup. Fueled by tensions in Europe and an active conflict in the Soviet Far East, in 1939, conscription, previously mandated of all 20 year old men, was lowered to call up 18 year olds.
Between this new conscription law, passed in September 1939, and June 1941, the Red Army more than trebled in size, from 1.5 million men to 5 million. This created an immense burden on the Soviet people and government, as these millions of new conscripts had to be housed, fed, clothed, and of course, trained.
Despite initial concerns, it appears that these issues were largely met, and the Red Army man of 1941 was a personally well equipped soldier. Defense spending accounted for 25. 6% of Soviet state spending, and millions of rifles, machine guns, and shineli were rolling into the quartermaster’s depots.
1942
In 1942, the Worker’s and Peasant’s Red Army had survived its largest test to date. The unmitigated disaster of the German attack in the summer of 1941 had been endured, and although severely wounded, the Red Army did not break. It was able to make good on its estimated 4.4 million casualties (including 2.3 million lost as prisoners of war).
1942 would be another trying year, but the initiative was beginning to shift to the Soviet side. Through more trials at Rzhev, Leningrad, and Stalingrad, the Red Army would suffer more casualties, more loss, but they would enter 1943 on the front foot, no longer merely responding to German attacks, but forcing them back.
The Soviet uniform in 1942 was largely dictated by the need to place even more men (and women!) in service. As such, we see simplifications and deletions of “extra” gear wherever necessary. Lowboots and puttees over jackboots, meshoki over rucksacks, and the almost complete disappearance of aluminum from the soldier’s kit. Wartime strain for resources and the isolation or destruction of industrial capital meant that substitutions had to be made.
Mid-War
The Red Army in 1943 was an army in flux. Fresh off the successes of late 1942, Red Army commanders and men began to regain their confidence, and now knew the Germans could be beat, and beat on a large scale. Emboldened, a series of attacks in the spring of 1943 saw limited success, with gains the biggest in the south. This created a large salient, or bulge in the frontlines, centered around the city of Kursk.
The Soviets knew a large German attack was due in the summer, and correctly surmised that the bulge was a tempting target. Accordingly, they committed huge forces to defend the bulge in depth, building thousands of kilometers of defensive lines into the summer. With visions of success and large prisoner hauls to fuel their slave-labour empire, the Germans decided to spend their energy for the 1943 season attacking this nest, with fateful consequences for the outcome of the war…
Late-War
In 1944, The Red Army was poised to bring war home to Germany. After three years of genocidal warfare within the borders of the USSR, the Wehrmacht was in full retreat along the whole front. By February, the Red Army had reached the 1941 border in places, and the deadly siege of Leningrad was finally ended. The best was yet to come.
The summer of 1944 would see the greatest Soviet victory of the war, Operation Bagration. In a brilliantly fought campaign, the German army was fully ejected from the territory of the USSR. Now the Soviets had the whip-hand, and they fully intended to use it. While it was not easy going, a cornered rat struggles the hardest, afterall, the result was never in doubt. On May 9th, 1945, the war in Europe ended, due in no small part to the sacrifices of the Soviet people.
This guide covers the Soviet campaigns in 1944-45, covering battles and campaigns from the swamps of Estonia and Byelorussia, to the urban hellscapes of Budapest and Berlin, to the hills of Manchuria.
