Original Cold War Soviet Police (Militia) Officer Service Parade Visor Cap Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. Despite its rather militaristic name, the Soviet Militia was a police organization, with all of the same duties of police departments in the West as well as a few unique to a totalitarian regime. These included enforcing the criminal laws of the USSR; fighting corruption, traffic control, and maintaining public order. They also maintained the internal passport system, authorized residency and maintained surveillance over citizens. The Militia was subordinated to the NKVD or MVD (depending on the time period), which has caused no end of confusion to novice collectors and historians. However, the Militia was a separate administration within the NKVD/MVD, not part of the more notorious State Security organs or Internal Troops. For most of the Cold War period, Militia forces were actually subordinated to the various republics making up the USSR, but uniforms were the same for all police regardless of location. The most significant changes to police uniforms occured in 1969 when dark gray replaced dark blue as the main fabric color, although you will see a number of lesser changes in color and style prior to that date on the caps described below. In terms of availability, while the later gray caps are still fairly easy to acquire, blue caps are surprisingly hard to find outside the Former USSR.

In 1947, the Soviet Militia changed their uniform colors to dark blue with red as the secondary color but cockades were again changed in 1958. This 1960s era cap has a dark blue napped wool crown with red wool band and piping. All personnel below the rank of Commissioner wore the black oilcloth chinstrap and gilt metal buttons shown here during this period. The visor is black-lacquered fiberboard of semi-circular shape.

The cockade is what identifies this as an officer’s cap – vice that worn by Militiamen and Sergeants. From 1947 to 1961 only officers used a fluted-edge oval cockade such as the one on this example – with lesser ranks using a different one with pebbled edges.

Interior bears maker logo. Size is approximately a U.S. 6 3/4 (54 cm). Overall condition is very good. Dates from the 1960s.