Std.cap.

Pascu Theodora Grupa E 112 C MILITARY UNIFORMS

The term of Military uniforms means standardised dress worn by members of the armed forces and paramilitaries of various nations. Military dress and military styles have changed a lot over the centuries. At first, they were colourful and elaborate and now are extremely utilitarian. Military uniforms were used for identification and represent a typical sign of military forces equipped by a central authority. 1.History We have to make a distinction between uniforms and ethnic dress. For a particular culture or people wearing distinctive dress styles, this could easily create the impression of uniformly dressed warriors. There were also copied distinctive features such as weapons, armor, fighting style and native dress. But, we cannot forget the distinctive and colourful clothing of the Hungarian hussars. Also the kilts of Scottish highland clans were transformed into regimental dress when the British Army started to recruit from these tribal groups. Mercenary could also develop their own fashions, but were not really uniforms. 1.1.Antiquity There are a few recorded attempts of wearing uniform dress in antiquity, and this is not about ethnic or tribal dress. One example is the Spanish infantry of Hannibal who wore white tunics with crimson edgings. The terracotta army, from the Chineese Empire, have a superficial similarity, but closer examination shows up to seven different styles of armour, which do not appear to have been standardised within separate units.
1.2.Rome

The legions of the Roman Republic and Empire wore only standardised dress and armour. The basic tunic of the Roman soldier was of red or off-white wool. Senior commanders are known to have worn white cloaks and plumes. The centurions were distinguished by transverse crests on their helmets, chest ornaments corresponding to modern medals and the long cudgels that they carried. 1.3.The Ottoman Empire The highly organised armies of the Ottoman Empire had distinctive features of dress to distinguish one corps or class of soldier from another. An example would be the conical black hats of felt worn by the Deli cavalry of the early nineteenth century. However the basic costume was usually that of the tribal group or social class from which a particular class of warrior was drawn. As such it was sufficiently varied not to rank as "uniform" in the later sense. An elaborate system of colourful standards largely provided unit identification.

2.The end of bright colours Until 1914 the majority of armies still provided colourful dress uniforms for all ranks, at least for parade and off duty wear. These often retained distinctive features from the past. Most Russian troops for example wore the very dark green introduced by Peter The Great in 1700. German infantry generally wore the dark "Prussian blue" of the previous two centuries. This and other features of the historic Prussian Army uniform were generally adopted by the other German States as they fell under Prussian influence before and after the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. Bavarians however continued to wear light blue and Saxon regiments retained a number of distinctions after the establishment of the German Empire (1871). The British infantry retained their scarlet tunics for parade and "walking out" wear while the bulk of French regiments wore red trousers with dark or light blue tunics. 3.Modern uniforms As noted above, traditional coloured uniforms have long since given way to clothing more suited for actual combat in modern conditions. While by no means extinct, bright colours are now usually reserved for wear by units having ceremonial functions, some bands and officers attending formal occasions. Elite units normally contrive to having some distinctive features. The US Marines are well known for their traditional midnight blue tunics and sky blue trousers trimmed in red, but these "dress blues" are only issued to a minority of personnel and are otherwise purchased at the cost of the individual for off duty wear. The British Household Cavalry and Foot Guards wear uniforms largely unchanged from 1914 for "public duties" i.e. ceremonial. 4.Purpose 4.1.Distinctive clothing One purpose of military uniforms is to clearly distinguish combatants who are protected by the laws of war from other persons carrying weapons, who enjoy no such protection. Another purpose in historical times was to make it difficult for deserters to avoid detection; military uniforms were so distinctive with many metal buttons and unique colours that they could not be modified into unrecognizable clothing. 4.2.Visibility or camouflage Throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the typical colour scheme included bright and high contrast colour arrangements which made it easier to distinguish units in battle. Bright uniforms were required as battlefields that were often completely obsurced by smoke from black gunpowder used in both muskets and cannons. Bright uniforms allowed commanders to spot troop locations in clouds of smoke. Large flags were another aid to coordination and location for commanders.