“Razgovory” (разговоры—literally meaning “conversations” or “talks”) is the historical Russian military nickname for the iconic colored, horizontal chest tabs worn across the front of early [Red Army uniforms and greatcoats (kaftans / shinels)
Introduced in April 1919, these distinct, spearhead-shaped cloth tabs served both a symbolic and structural purpose during the Russian Civil War era.
Key Features of the Razgovory Greatcoat
- The Design: The classic winter uniform featured three large, horizontal cloth strips across the center breast button flap to secure the heavy, single-breasted wool coat (kaftan), plus one smaller matching tab across the neck collar.
- Branch-of-Service Colors: The tabs were vibrantly colored to immediately distinguish military roles:
Crimson / Red: Infantry
Blue: Cavalry
Orange / Black: Artillery
Green: Border Guards
- Historical Inspiration: They were deliberately modeled after the traditional chest fastenings worn by the 17th-century Streltsy (the elite Russian guards who famously revolted against autocracy) to evoke a sense of historic Russian military heritage.
Why Were They Called “Conversations”?
The name razgovory was a slang term coined by the rank-and-file soldiers. There are two main historical theories behind the nickname:
- Mocking Commanders: Enlisted men used the word sarcastically to poke fun at the talkative, “big-talking” commanders and political commissars who were the first to be issued the new uniforms.
- Fiddly Fasteners: Soldiers joked that the complex, multi-loop tabs were so difficult and time-consuming to button up in the freezing winter cold that they required a “long conversation” just to get the coat closed.
Obsolescence
While highly striking, these brightly colored tabs proved dangerous and impractical on the muddy, modern battlefield because they gave away sniper positions. In combat zones, they were often replaced by subdued, khaki-colored versions. The iconic razgovory tabs were officially abolished by Red Army uniform regulations in 1924
- Crimson / Red: Infantry
- Blue: Cavalry
- Orange / Black: Artillery
- Green: Border Guards
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