Old Military Uniforms Versus Modern Military Uniforms

[Lunar Echo 10,334]

 

Which Military Uniform Past or Present do you like most, please feel free to share pictures of the Military Uniform's you're most keen on. Plus any additional information you'd like to add such as history, origin and maybe even the story behind it. I look forward to seeing what everyone digs up.

Edited September 30, 2016 by Lunar Echo

[JonasDarkmane 19,777]

I like most the German uniforms from the First and Second World Wars. Some people might not like how hostile and scary they look, but I do. I think scaring your opponent should be one of your goals in warfare. Plus, good coverage for Urban Warfare in Europe. 

 

WW1

 

 

 

WW2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think these uniforms emitted effective terror during both World Wars, plus, I am just an overall fan of dark colors (better than the dark blue and red uniforms of the French which made them easily detectable during the beginning of the First World War).

[Ethan Tran 949]

Hussars:

long time ago it was an art. today it's practical.

 

 

Edited October 1, 2016 by Ethan Tran

[Lunar Echo 10,334]

@@JonasDarkmane

 

I always thought the Uniform of the German Army in WW1 and WW2 were quite smart. While the other countries went for a more imperial or empire elitist look to their uniforms. I was also going to say how much the German Army in WW1 and WW2 reminded me of Stormtroopers from Star Wars but then I remembered they were designed from them.

 

@@Ethan Tran

Those are some... Lovely uniforms.

[Corgis 574]

Early WWI uniforms looked so cool for Belgium and France.

 

Belgians with those epic hats.  Colour was very dark blue if I remember correctly.

 

 

Completely useless (but they look awesome) French uniforms with red pants.  On any sort of battle field they would stick out like a sore thumb.  The French even used the logic that the blue would blend in with the sky. 

[Lunar Echo 10,334]

@@Ethan Tran

 

I wouldn't say I'm an expert but if you asked me, Pinkie is in a Football Band Uniform and Sunset is in sort of a Ringmaster with tight spandex short pants. Although they probably were intended to be military, they sadly do not come off as such to myself. And at the most, Pinkie is a French soldier and Sunset is a British soldier.

 

@@Corgis

 

Yep the Belgium Army had some wicked fashion sense back then and just look at how menacing the men look. I especially like there boots that they're wearing, they look stylish as hell for the time. Are you sure this isn't just a fashion shoot and not a Belgium Army march? Either way, good find. And as for the French uniforms, very stylish but as you said not effective at hiding your men from enemy iron sights. Bet it was super effective at identifying your own forces though. 

 

--

 

Here is a modern one.

Soruce

Belgium Sniper and Infantry during a training exercise in their classic Jigsaw camouflage. Always really liked that unique camouflage, I nickname it candy camo. And the Sniper seems to have a bush suit with something similar to the jigsaw camouflages colour.

Edited September 30, 2016 by Lunar Echo

[Corgis 574]

 

Yep the Belgium Army had some wicked fashion sense back then and just look at how menacing the men look. I especially like there boots that they're wearing, they look stylish as hell for the time. Are you sure this isn't just a fashion shoot and not a Belgium Army march? Either way, good find. And as for the French uniforms, very stylish but as you said not effective at hiding your men from enemy iron sights. Bet it was super effective at identifying your own forces though. 

 

Yea those uniforms were a thing in 1914.  A fair amount of pictures of Belgians in crazy uniforms out there if you google  search it. I think most of them were replaced by 1915 though, French red pants included.

[Vlazamal 338]

If you want really old fashionable uniforms (if this counts as a uniform), the assyrians were quite fashionable, as concealment is not really a wanted thing.

 

 

But however, the Ethnic Assyrian soldiers have mainly taken different sides in the civil war. Their millitary uniforms vary, but they are all noticably invisible.

 

[Lunar Echo 10,334]

Source

Vietnam War Era US Marine Sniper at the beginning of the War. His camouflage pattern was I believe given out to the US Armed Forces after WW2. I believe it is referred to as "Duck Hunter Camouflage" today but unsure if it had another name back then or was just known as camouflage.

 

Edited September 30, 2016 by Lunar Echo

[Octavia_Melody2 187]

 

The Zouaves were a class of light infantry regiments of the French Army serving between 1830 and 1962 and linked to French North Africa, as well as some units of other countries modelled upon them. The zouaves, along with the indigenous Tirailleurs Algeriens, were among the most decorated units of the French Army.

 

 

Numerous Zouave regiments were organized from soldiers of the United States of America who adopted the name and the North African–inspired uniforms during the American Civil War.^[28] The Union army had more than seventy volunteer Zouave regiments throughout the conflict, while the Confederates fielded about twenty-five Zouave companies.

 

Cuirassiers (/ˌkwɪrəˈsɪər/, from French cuirassier,^[1]pronounced: [kɥiʁasje]) were cavalry equipped with armour and firearms, first appearing in late 15th-century Europe. This French term means "one with a cuirass" (cuirasse), the breastplate armour which they wore.^[2] The first cuirassiers were produced as a result of armoured cavalry, such as the man-at-arms and demi-lancer, discarding their lances and adopting the use of pistols as their primary weapon.

 

Use of the Totenkopf as a military insignia began under Frederick the Great, who formed a regiment of Hussar cavalry in the Prussian army commanded by Colonel von Ruesch, the Husaren-Regiment Nr. 5 (von Ruesch). It adopted a black uniform with a Totenkopf emblazoned on the front of its mirlitons and wore it on the field in the War of Austrian Succession and in the Seven Years' War.

[Anneal 2,194]

 

The Italian Carabinieri knows how to walk the streets and protect the people in style. I mean, look at the cape! Certification of badassery. It also has a deep two hundred year history, especially around the WWII era (unfortunately tainted when they were essentially used as Mussolini's secret police, but they also played a role in taking him down as well). 

 

 

The French paras at Dien Bien Phu. Too bad they lost, but they sure know how to look classy. 

[Colt 45 148]

My favorite uniforms would be German uniforms from WWII. I especially like the way the old stahlhelms looked, with their streamline appearance. The really old ones never really appealed to me.

[Lunar Echo 10,334]

@

 

The Italians always had very stylish uniforms throughout history, I'd class them as most stylish Army. And that picture looks like it's something straight out of some military anime, very nice indeed. The Italians didn't get much praise during WW2, I think they mostly adopted German gear over their own. The French soldier looks very gruffy and grizzled indeed, very bad ass picture. As for the French, they put up as good a fight as a flanked army could, there focus was on their border with Germany, not Belgium's. The French also had one of the best equipped armies at the time, it was sad how such a great nation could fall to such evil. 

Edited October 1, 2016 by Lunar Echo

[Lisa 5,552]

Any Napoleonic era uniforms look nice, from all European armies, especially the French. I like their distinction of vibrant blues along with white and reds and some gold.

 

 

 

The Prussians had some nice uniforms as well.

 

Edited October 1, 2016 by Holiday

[Anneal 2,194]

@

 

The Italians always had very stylish uniforms throughout history, I'd class them as most stylish Army. And that picture looks like it's something straight out of some military anime, very nice indeed. The Italians didn't get much praise during WW2, I think they mostly adopted German gear over their own. The French soldier looks very gruffy and grizzled indeed, very bad ass picture. As for the French, they put up as good a fight as a flanked army could, there focus was on their border with Germany, not Belgium's. The French also had one of the best equipped armies at the time, it was sad how such a great nation could fall to such evil. 

 

The Carabinieri did adopt more German features into their gear during WWII, and they sure didn't have the classy capes and hats; most of these good-looking ceremonial clothing they have on them are mostly recent, since the Carabinieri has become less of an armed corps and more of a gendermerie, kind of like the RCMP, though they are still dispatched to other countries for peacekeeping, more recent ones being Iraq and Kosovo. 

 

All in all Europe was pretty great with modern military uniforms, though you don't really get many modern Asian uniform praise, mostly because they're rather plain or just mundane. (Samurais don't count since most made their own armor rather than mass produced it.) Most Asian military uniforms are based off Western designs, even the ceremonial ones. There is this interesting Japanese uniform mix in the 1860s and 70s at the start of the Meiji period, though:

 

 

On another note, don't forget the USMC:

 

[zerox 1,050]

the nazis had great uniforms. I still hate the nazis and adolf.

[CT-1138 3,180]

I like the way the U.S. Army looked near the end of the Second World War. They started becoming mismatched and customized. A soldier fighting the Italians in southern Italy didn't dress the same as the soldiers fighting the Nazis in Northern France, simply because of the difference in environment. The fact that supplies have began to run low for everybody, and there were breakdowns in uniform enforcement also showed as some soldiers began customizing their uniforms to their preferences. In the end, you could have a soldier in April 1945 with brand new boots issued that year, but a jacket and pants made in 1939. It created an interesting look. We also didn't demand our soldiers to wear so much armor and equipment, so it was a very utilitarian look. Basically all you got was a soldier with the bare basics and a gun. So, you got somebody who looked like this:

Edited October 6, 2016 by CT-1138

[nolongerabout 403]

Can't beat 19th century uniforms. They have the perfect balance of style and impracticability that makes you think "I really want to wear that, but not on a battlefield."

 

 

 

I've a fair amount of appreciation for First World War uniforms too. They really reinforce that high-industrial, nearly post-apocalyptic feeling.

 

Modern uniforms seem to have lost all feeling. They're all a different sort of camo, and difficult to distinguish beyond that.

 

Still, I guess it's better to blend in a little bit than be visible well beyond a thousand yards, like men in red coats.

Edited October 7, 2016 by ForthEorl

[Denim&Venöm 16,498]

the nazis had great uniforms. I still hate the nazis and adolf.

They may have been despicable, but they had good fashion sense at least. 

 

Hell, the SS were the worst of the bunch, but dayum did they have some sick threads. 

 

Edited October 7, 2016 by Denim&Venom

[King 5,625]

I really adore the old military uniforms of World War 1, especially those worn by Germans and, of course, my own countrymen

 
compared to modern Australian Army formal uniforms:


I guess its partly because it brings forward thoughts of a time when we were transitioning from old world military tactics to modern warfare.

[zerox 1,050]

what do you people this about these uniforms?

[Lunar Echo 10,334]

@@zerox

 

I think they look simply perfect for any nation free of allied or warsaw influence, plain and basic, a great starting ground.

Edited October 7, 2016 by Lunar Echo

[Faze Five 61]

Greece traditional uniforms are great

 

Edited October 7, 2016 by Faze Five

[NotoriousSMALL 1,984]

what do you people this about these uniforms?

ugly af and very bland, just another generic uniform. 

[Snow Frostflame 3,567]

This is my all time favorite uniform, and soldier. These were the true grim reapers of the battlefield back when they used them.

 

 

Only thing I'd add is a gasmask, and some matching gloves.