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THE EASTERN
FRONT
A WORLD WAR ONE SUMMARY
Troops of the
Eastern Front
The images below show just a few of the many
different types of uniforms and styles which were used during the course of the
war. Russian experiences fighting the Japanese had resulted in a number of
reforms and improvements, but typical line troops began the war relatively
unprepared for the enormous tasks before them. The ravages of the fighting
quickly transformed clothing and equipment. By the end of the war, the uniforms
and weapons carried by troops were far different than those used a few years
earlier, although this was more applicable to the Germans than the Russians,
who did not vary their existing methods such a large degree. This was partially
because of existing Russo-Japanese War era reforms and partially because of
advances in German methods. |
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 These Austrian infantrymen display typical uniforms
of the Dual Monarchy. Additional winter clothing would include fur caps, wool
overcoats and and sheepskin lined jackets. The first year of war saw over 40%
of officers killed, an event from which the army never really recovered. After
1915, some regiments made up of Slavic troops surrendered wholesale to Russian
forces. |
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 The Russian soldier of World War One was much like
his stereotypical predecessors; simply trained, stolid and available in
apparently unlimited numbers. This last fact was to be sorely abused in this
war, and the appalling consumption of Russian lives brought the country to a
state of open revolt. The uniforms shown here are normal for the period, with
cloth cap and loose fitting trousers and tunic. |
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 A classic image of the standard Russian soldier. His
gear includes two brown leather ammunition pouches, each holding 30 rounds of
rifle ammunition. Another 30 rounds of reserve ammunition are carried in the
bandolier seen over his left shoulder. As is usual, the ammo pouches at his
waist are dragging down under the weight of the ammunition. No bayonet scabbard
was supplied for active service, so his bayonet is semi-permanently
attached. |
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 The appearance of the early war German uniform is
apparent in this image of troops marching in the field. As the war progressed,
the soft "picklehaub" helmets shown here gave way to steel helmets which
offered protection against artillery shrapnel. These troops are wearing covers
over their helmets. The early war leather boots were replaced by hob-nailed
boots and puttee leg-wrappings. The tunics also were eventually stripped of
unnecessary ornaments and buttons were either removed or covered with cloth
flaps. |
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