Greatcoats

iirc 'proper' WW2 Russian greatcoats are a wierd brownish grey in a horrible rough wool. You can certainly get them as I've seen people at event swearing them.

I just wear one of those padded jacket thingies whose design remained unchanged from 1940 to 1975.

Cheers
Martin

I did consider just getting a telegroika, it's just that the greatcoat is the stereotypical soviet look.

My only word of warning (from wearing a German greatcoat admittedly!), is they are really bloody hot! I've never managed to wear one in a game, even in the sub zero temperatures of the Sevestapol game, as once you're moving around you find that you heat up very quickly. Perfect for sitting around the fire in though!

Martin is correct, WW2 Soviet 'Shinel'greatcoats are greyish brown made from the roughest wool I've ever known. If you can find a post war greatcoat they are very similar and can be converted fairly easily, if you like , guide here:
http://theredguard.weebly.com/overcoat- ... -coat.html

Be wary while shopping around however. Many sellers offer Cold war Bulgarian, Czech or other Eastern Bloc items as 'Russian' or 'Soviet'.Fastest way to tell; no buttons on the front of a Soviet soldier's coat, only officers had buttons.

There's two variants but the M1943 was the norm.

A replica 1943 coat (without shoulderboards), for reference

Good hunting!

That's the one I'm looking for. Mine is a post war Bulgarian coat with buttons so I'll have to get shot of that. I have found some ww2 Soviet greatcoats but they are selling for a lot of money. I may have to settle for a telogreika after all.

Yes, they can be pretty pricey (which was why I ended up with a Telegroika) and of limited use.

I've only ever managed to wear greatcoats at two games (both sub-zero and both my original WW2 Swedish greatcoat which is actually pretty thin). They are much more useful for sitting around in the evening.

Even at the infamous Sevastopol game I just wore my summer Russian uniform with a woolen shirt and leggings underneath and a headover. It just doesn't get that cold in the UK, particularly if you are moving around. I just wore my (British) greatcoat in the evening at that one, as it was a wee bit chilly.

If you are doing the Rattenkrieg game you actually just need to wear your plash as a batman cape, Jude Law style

I'll also point out the telegroika was perferred by soldiers fighting in urban environments. Less likely to snag on things!

That settles it, telogreika it is.

I like the plash and telogreika Jude law look too and it'd be great because I can't do a Russian accent either.