Uniform of Motorised infantry

[saudadesdefrancesinhas]

Did the motorised infantry wear cavalry uniforms, with knee length leather boots etc. or did they just wear normal infantry uniforms?

I know in some armies (ie. the French) motorised infantry had special and distinctive uniforms sometimes.

Another small question, were the gaiters widely worn in 1941? In the Osprey on the Romanian Army Mark Axworthy says that they were not, and were quickly replaced by the more traditional putees.

Is this accurate?

And the Adrian helmet, was it at all common apart from among sailors?

[Kepi]

The Romanian motorized infantrymen were in fact rifles (vanatori) regiments (the 3th and the 4th) so they had ordinary infantry uniforms, as other rifles units. However I suspect they wore mountain rifles kaki berets instead of Capela. There are many photos of Romanian infantrymen accompanying tanks who wear berets. They might be motorized rifles. No other special insignia or equipment for them.

Motorized cavalry units wore cavalry uniforms, with cavalry boots (and spurs) and, as the moto-rifles, the they had no special insignia. I think they had no time to adopt a new headgear, so they carried capelas.

The Head of State Guard Regiment (Regimentul de Garda al Coducatorului Statului) that arose from the Light Infantry Battalion (a motorized unit) had mountain style berets, and as result of their special status: “IA” cipher on the shoulder boards, aiguillettes, and red collar patches.

According the 1939 regulation Romanian infantry troops should wore baggy trousers and leather leggings but reserve troops had old style uniforms and puttees. From 1942 the breeches, puttees and capelas were officially reintroduced for infantry uniforms.

The dutch pattern helmets were carried especially by front line units. Second line troops (AA units, sailors, marines, gendarmes) carried old Adrian style helmets with the Carol’s badge removed. From 1943, because of the shortage of dutch pattern helmets, many troops (especially the cavalry) were supplied with different models of WW2 german helmets.

I think this topic should be moved to the “Small Arms, Daggers & Uniforms” section.

[saudadesdefrancesinhas]

Hello Kepi,

Many thanks for this information!

Where do you find good information on Romanian uniforms? I have heard of an author called Colonel Cristian Vladescu, have you heard of him?

Do you know the titles of anything he has published so that I can try and find something by him?

[Kepi]

Colonel Cristian M. Vladescu was one of the first uniformologists in Romania. He has published a few articles on this subject in different issues of the National Military Museum yearly bulletin. In 1977 he also published a book about the Romanian army uniforms from 1830 till 1947. Unfortunately his studies focused especially the full dress, ceremonial and gala uniforms and not the campaign dress and equipment. However they still are the main source of information concerning the Romanian military uniforms.

Colonel Vladescu died in 1993 at the age of 61.