What a soldier looks like in different countries. Unusual military uniforms of various countries
France
These are the orange aprons worn by sappers of the French Foreign Legion. At the Bastille Day parade they do not carry any load, but in field conditions they can accommodate various instruments. Veterans of the Legion wear beards. There are other options for combat aprons, which in terms of consumer qualities compete with unloading vests.
Vatican
The Vatican does not have its own army. Therefore, even such a shrine as the Pope is guarded by a mercenary corps of the Swiss Guard, founded in the 16th century. Since Catholic guardsmen have no time to read fashionable army magazines, their uniform, designed by Michelangelo himself, has not changed for 400 years.
Italy
The police officers of Rome, walking around Piazza Navona in their uniforms, are very similar to Count Dracula.
Italian military headdresses are also of interest. “Bye-bye-swinging your peeeers on your hataaaaaah”:)
And also the brave Italian guard:
Greece
This is strange, but often the soldiers of the honor guard, who guard quite serious and even holy places, are dressed in the most ridiculous uniforms. This is what the soldiers of the Presidential Guard look like - Greek Evzones, marching at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Athens.
The changing of the guard of the presidential guard is the most lively curiosity of Athens. In such a heavy and warm uniform, not only walking, but standing, and even that is not easy. In the summer, in the heat of about forty, in double woolen stockings, heavy boots - five kilograms each, in a fez hat that doesn’t look like a Panama hat, and even with a carbine - marching is a real feat!
Evzon means “well-belted.” One of the “belted men” has a special position: this person is obliged to ensure that the clothes of those standing on duty are always in proper in perfect order. And at the same time, and to ensure that tourists, trying to take a photo next to the Evzones, do not go beyond the bounds of reason.
At 11 am every Sunday in Athens there is a ceremonial changing of the guard. Everyone takes part in the ceremony personnel Evzone companies - more than 150 people. On the eve of the event, the police are blocking the avenue along which the procession, led by an orchestra, will leave the barracks to the main square of the country. During each parade changing of the guard, the band traditionally plays the national anthem.
It seems that when marching, the Evzones make a lot of unnecessary, too “ceremonial” movements. But this is exactly what their traditional march looks like. Strange looking boots with pumpons - tsarukhi - weigh 5 kilograms each, and each is lined with 60 steel nails. Nails - so that the Evzones could click beautifully on the pavement. The sound of “well-belted” steps cannot be compared with anything. Pumpons are also meaningful. Once upon a time, the Evzones hid dangerous and insidious weapons in them - sharply sharpened knives that could unexpectedly hit the enemy. That is why they so diligently demonstrate pumpons as they walk along the pavement.
Not everyone is accepted into the Evzones. The candidate must be handsome and tall - at least 187 cm tall - and, moreover, psychologically stable. Recruits are taught the drill step for not too long, only 5 weeks, but the classes are very intense. After training, soldiers are allowed to stand guard at the Parliament and the entrance to the Presidential Palace.
South Korea
Wardrobe royal guard South Korea is as similar to a military uniform as a squirrel suit is to a judge's robe. Nevertheless, these courageous and stern warriors belong to elite units and are capable of solving the most difficult combat missions. They just probably don't want to show it off, so they traditionally dress up in robes, long johns and tall hats.
And this is what it looks like dress uniform South Korean diving forces:
And here attention to the South Korean parade was attracted not by the uniform, but by the actions of the military :)
Fiji
It's hard to believe, but these guys in tattered skirts and flip-flops are also the most honorable guard of the President of Fiji.
Russia
Black Sea elite units of combat swimmers at the celebration of the Day Navy Russia in Sevastopol. To avoid stepping on each other's fins, the fighters did without them.
Thailand
December 5, National holiday in Thailand - the birthday of His Majesty the King. In a colorful ceremony at Bangkok's Royal Plaza, elite crayon-shaped Royal Guards solemnly renew their oath to His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
Iran
Parade Iranian army in Tehran. It is very difficult to determine not only the rank, but also the type of troops behind the camouflage in the form of wild vegetation.
Women's troops:
India and Pakistan
The “Evening Dawn Ceremony” is a complex, highly artistic ritual performed by Pakistani and Indian border guards at the checkpoint in the city of Amritsar to the delight of tourists. Occurs daily before sunset.
It must be understood that this is a purely local custom, because the tradition of lowering the flag at the Wagah checkpoint originated in 1947, when the newly independent British India split into India and Pakistan. Although the Indian uniforms and headdresses of Pakistani and Indian border guards are from the times of colonial England.
The evening ceremony at the post of Wagh reflects all the complexities of relations between now hostile states that were once part of the same great country demonstrating strength and determination to defend their interests.
Here is the ceremony itself:
On the Pakistani side, the stands are chanting: “Pakistan zindaba-a-d!” (“Long live Pakistan!”), the Indian side replies: “Bharat! Bharat! (“India! India!”). The patriotic song “My Pakistan” plays from the speakers, drowning out the screams. Singing can also be heard from the Indian side. Here an old man in a green robe runs out to the gate, the national flag flutters in his hands. The crowd greets him with a loud cheer: “Pakistan bapu!” (“Pakistani dad!”). It turns out that he is as much a part of the tradition as the descent ceremony national flag. “Muslims!” – the old man shouts invitingly, addressing the stands. "Long live Pakistan!" - the crowd answers. Music and slogans from both sides merge, forming some kind of unimaginable cacophony.
Meanwhile, in front of the flagpoles, the main action begins. Guardsmen in national uniforms appear on both sides. After complex formations, the gates swing open and the honor guards greet each other. On the Pakistani side, the rangers, big Pashtun guys, perform something like a war dance. Then the officers from the Pakistani and Indian sides (some in black uniforms with black plumes on their heads, others in khaki uniforms with red plumes) shake hands. The crowd in the stands greets the handshake with loud cheers. The officers begin to lower the banners - the spectators go wild. Then another handshake and the gates slam shut.
Having thrown out the accumulated emotions, the audience returns to their work with a sense of fulfilled civic duty. Of course, to a certain extent this is an invented and rehearsed show, but it has the main meaning: each side strives to show “we peaceful citizens“We do not violate borders, we are ready to cooperate, but our strength and power are enough to defend our interests in the event of a conflict.”
India
Indian ceremonial military uniform:
Military on parade dedicated to the Day Republics:
This is the Sikh leadership in service:
God forbid you encounter something like this in battle:
Parade. Speech by the military.
Peru
Special unit for suppressing riots. It looks like they are not uncommon there:
Bulgaria
The Garni guys are very reminiscent of the footage from the film “Ivan Vasilyevich Changes His Profession” :)
China
Ninzi of the 21st century. And if you also imagine that there are more than a billion of them...
Based on materials from the sites freemindforum.net, vsyako-razno.ru and ngine.com.ru.
The honor guard is pride and business card armed forces countries. His soldiers guard palaces, mausoleums, serve at the eternal flame and do not pay attention to annoying tourists. AiF.ru found out who is included in the “elite” and what they have to do in office
Russia. Honor guard at the Kremlin
Servants of the Presidential Regiment stand on the guard of honor at the “Tomb of the Unknown Soldier” under the walls of the Kremlin. The special guard company recruits guys from 180 to 190 centimeters tall, with excellent health and a good reputation. Soldiers similar to each other are divided into pairs. Over the course of a year, they train together: they master steps, practice techniques with weapons, and take up post together.
The guards are changed daily according to the established schedule, regardless of weather conditions and time of year. Four groups take guard duty and replace each other every hour, from 8:00 to 20:00.
The sentries walk towards the post at a “printed step”. His honor guard company works several hours a day. Soldiers synchronously raise their leg 90-120 degrees, pull their toes back, and then lower their foot to the ground. In the hands of the guards - self-loading carbines Simonova. Since 1959, self-loading carbines have been replaced by machine guns in the main units of the army, but they also remain in service with some units, for example, the honor guard.
United Kingdom. Guard of honor at Buckingham Palace
The changing of the guard ceremony in front of Buckingham Palace takes place every day on summer months and every other day - in winter. It starts at 10:45 and lasts about 45 minutes. Units from four guards regiments are taking part in it: two guard regiments and two orchestra regiments. The latter perform not only traditional military marches, but also popular modern melodies.
The soldiers wear heavy three-kilogram hats made of bear hair and red uniforms made of thick cloth.If “conscripts” take over the Russian guard, in the UK this service is performed by contract soldiers. The military receive about 800 pounds for their work, and once a year they meet with Elizabeth II and her husband - Prince Philip- at a special reception.
It is very difficult to become a member of the Royal Guard, but representatives of national minorities, natives of India, Africa, and Pakistan are accepted there. And in June 2017, for the first time in the history of the Kingdom, the guard Buckingham Palace headed by a woman: 24 years old Megan Cuoto, captain.
Greece. Guard at the entrance to parliament
The Evzones stand guard at the Greek Parliament building: elite unit infantry, which arose back in early XIX century. Now it performs only peaceful functions: participation in ceremonial events of the country and guarding the gates to buildings legislative bodies authorities.
Candidates for the role of sentries undergo a strict selection process. Only those who have a pleasant appearance, a stable psyche and a height of at least 187 centimeters can become Evzones. Recruit training lasts only five weeks, then they receive a uniform and begin service.
The infantry uniform consists of a fustanella (woolen pleated skirt with 200 pleats), a fareon (a red cap with a black tassel), a white shirt, woolen stockings and a vest. But the most unusual element of the uniform is leather boots with a pompom on the toe. They are called tsarukhi. These shoes weigh about 6 kg (3 kg each shoe), and the sole is lined with 60 steel nails for a spectacular “clack” on the pavement.
The usual changing of the guard occurs every hour and lasts 10 minutes. And on Sundays at 11 am in Athens they close the main street for the parade shift, where the orchestra is already present. During service, Evzones are prohibited from making movements not provided for by the regulations, so a special sergeant corrects the folds on the skirt and tassels on the cap.
India-Pakistan border. Guard and change of flags
In the small village of Vagakhe, eight kilometers from Indian city Amritsar, on the India-Pakistan border. Every day since 1959, before sunset, there is a changing of the guard there, which turns into a real theatrical performance with a huge amount spectators.
The Pakistani military wears black uniforms, while the Indian military wears khaki uniforms. Each side wears fan-shaped headdresses. Wear them tall men with a strong build, a large mustache and, apparently, good stretch marks. During the changing of the guard, soldiers raise their legs so high that they can get a bump on their forehead with their knees. At the performance, the soldiers raise their legs and show each other the soles of their boots, thereby insulting the “enemy” and showing their disrespect for him.Such a ceremony symbolically shows the relationship between India and Pakistan: the countries have been engaged in a long-term armed struggle for the territory. And the changing of the guard is intended to prove that since the border guards were able to come to an agreement and put on a show, then a resolution to the conflict is possible.
Vatican. Guard at St. Peter's Basilica
At the Vatican, the guards are on guard, dressed in striped red, blue and yellow Renaissance uniforms. One hundred and ten people guard the entrance and floors of the Apostolic Palace, the chambers of the Pope and the Vatican Secretary of State. All soldiers are Swiss citizens, descended from German accounts, between the ages of 19 and 30, single and at least 174 centimeters tall. Each of them receives a monthly salary of 1,300 euros, as well as uniforms, food and a roof over their heads.
The guard is carried out by three teams. While one is on duty, the second insures her, performing the duties of an operational reserve. And the third one is resting at this moment. Units change every 24 hours. Only during grandiose events do three teams serve at once.
Fiji. Guard at the Presidential Residence in Suva
In the army island state Fiji serves about 3,500 people. The best of them stand on a guard of honor at the presidential residence in Suva.
If ordinary Fiji soldiers are dressed in modern uniforms, i.e. trousers, then the military honor guard wears a sulu skirt: a traditional attire that was in use even before the arrival of the British colonialists. The rank and file have it white, and for officers - black. The color of the top of the uniform also depends on the rank. A red jacket reminiscent of a British uniform Victorian era, worn by soldiers. The officers flaunt in snow-white uniforms with gold aiguillettes. The warriors are shod in leather sandals, and on their belts they wear a belt with a badge on which the coat of arms of the Fiji Armed Forces is depicted. Military personnel do not wear a headdress; a white cap embroidered with gold is reserved only for the commander of the guard. He is also the only owner of trousers.
The military, as a rule, is presented as serious and brave guys who are ready to defend their country at any moment. True, sometimes a military uniform looks so unusual that it evokes the most ambiguous feelings among tourists - from admiration to bewilderment.
The changing of the guard of honor in Greece always attracts crowds of people. Military men in skirts and shoes with pom-poms look very comical. This form of clothing is a tribute to the Evzone partisans who fought against the Turks. They say that warriors carried piercing and cutting objects in pom-poms, which no one could find in the event of a search.
A funny headdress will definitely make this fearless Pakistani warrior stand out from the crowd, and one can only envy his excellent stretching.
For 500 years in a row, the Vatican has been protected by a mercenary corps of the Swiss Guard. According to legend, the uniform for the guards was designed by Michelangelo himself. Yellow-blue-red camisoles and morion helmets look very colorful in modern society.
If almost the whole world uses for disguise protective colors khaki, the colors of the Ivory Coast uniform are more reminiscent of a zebra.
The military uniform in Fiji evokes mixed feelings among visitors. Meanwhile, white skirts with a cut hem are nothing more than a stylization of Aboriginal clothing of the 15th-17th centuries.
Indian border guards appeared in all their glory to celebrate Republic Day. But because of their colorful shape, it is difficult to discern law enforcement officers in them.
France is a trendsetter. In this country, even the military has large berets, as if from couture.
This is what the elite of the Royal Guard of Thailand looks like.
Some types of military uniforms are certainly quite funny. An equally interesting photo project was presented by Tom Atkinson - From these photographs you can trace how the shape has changed over 1000 years.