UBB.threads Forums Uniform & Accessories German Military Uniform Forum Cossack Volunteers - Cherkesska coat

I just recently picked this up. Now I want to complete it. Red Army Shoulder boards will be fine with it. But, I don't know what rank would be appropriate? Does the gold threat in the pouches and the gold trim at the sleeve have any significance? I also could not yet find out what the gold / silver chevron means. I consulted my reference books and the internet, but no success. I will also try to find a Russian uniform forum.
Any ideas? I it said that this one once came out of the George Peterson collection.

can you post a shot of the eagle?

Your best bet is to search the internet. There used to be a lot of period photos of men wearing these..

oh yeah,,,is there any ink stampings inside?

hi gaspare
great picture of this cossack soldier volenteer in the third reich service. maybe you can answer this question the cartridge holders on his jacket appears to be flare cartridges they are very long in size and appear to be more like a pencil size wonder what gun it was used in they appear to be long for the flare pistols wonder what gun they fit in . this is the first timw i ever noticed this fact can any one answer this question thanks andy militarynut

Actually it's not ammo. They are called Gaziri. Gaziri were initially used as caps for gunpowder cartridges but later became a purely decorative part of the Cossack uniform worn in the special pockets on the Cherkesska jacket.

I think the cherkeska style seen here is a form of traditional dress not uncommon in the Caucasus region with Georgians circassians etc- the bandolier like pockets were probably at one time designed for a rifles bullets but as I understand it they are largely decorative today and sometimes just filled with a decorative piece called a masri or just left as they are- at least that's what I was told recently by a new neighbor of mine (Andy and Gaspare - the Russian guy I was telling u about) who moved here from Russia last year

hi vern
gun powder that makes sence long tubes makes a nice long trail of gun powder to what they wanted blown up wow vern you are the man when it comes to guns ammo etc. i just picked up a blast from the past ammo scarce as hens teeth and hens dont have teeth they are 318 bee rounds for old winchester rifle 219 zipper is rareer then 218 bee.but dont have any of them i have all ways bought old obsolete ammo most of the ammo i have cant be bought at wall mart they dont even know what we are talking about sorry got of the post of those powder pencils the cosacks carried best to every one andy militarynut

Vern you are correct. Gaziri are purely decorative. I looked at all the photos I could find, but nothing matches my coat. I still have no clue about the chevron.

Don't know about the chevron but the gold thread and trim are for an officer

That is what I believe as well. Also the cap that came with it has a silver thread officer wreath.

Andy,,what ever that rifle you had we were shooting had really long cartridges,,,and a big ******** kick!


Something somewhat related... When we were evacuating just before Sandy hit,,,I threw a few things in my attic. This cap,,one of the few things to survive the flood..

It is a standard issue German Wehrmacht for the Kuban Cossack volunteers. Near mint condition..

Here is a Russian Army issue Cossack hat.

Used by a defector to the German Army [skull device].. This one didn't make it into the attic

hi gaspare
that rifle you fired was a 1884 springfield 45-70 kicked like a mule i remember when you touched it off 405 grains of powder i looked at your pants leg and i think you pooped yourself ha ha . we had a lot of fun the 33 inch brl scares you even before you fire it make my day ok guys merry christmas to all safe new years andy militarynut

this is why I love hanging out with these two- next time bring me along! Great story guys,
Mike

hi mike
if i can get you guys together june/july at my house in penn we can have a nice day shooting some different weapons from the third reich they all shoot as well as the day they left the factory wellcome abord best to all santa all ready brought my mint german luger its on the gun forum so far no body has posted i love this christmas present hope you guys get what you asked for merry christmas to all andy militarynut

yeah,, we had WW2 Russian, German, and U.S rifles going.. Targets small and far and we sure were ventilating that target!

Sorry to hijack topic..,, So was there any ink stamps in your jacket.
Maybe a help,,some period Cossack insignia regs...

No stamps at all.
I consulted two books
Pannwitz Cossacks 1942-1945
Uniforms and Insignia of the Cossacks in the German Wehrmacht.
On page 52 of the latter, I found this picture.

That's a good book Herr Wolf.! Osprey I believe also has a monograph or 2 about foreign volunteers / Cossacks..

The chevrons are a toughie. Regional, cultural, it probably changes with each group - Kuban, Don, etc. etc.

Looks good coming out of George's collection never I myself got bad from him these would be hard to find east front item as Stalin had these stooges shot like flies. timothy