Uniforms?

This is coolbert:
Uniforms are a part and parcel of the soldiers experience. And over time, some interesting uniforms have been developed. Customs about wearing the uniforms are also interesting from a cultural standpoint.

During World War Two, General Patton gave the Third Army under his command the famous [infamous [??]] order for his men to wear ties into battle.

This was against all protocols practiced at the time and caused a murmur among the troops.

Well, this was part of the "let the enemy know we are coming" concept. Rather than deciding to practice normal operational security, General Patton wanted to let the German units who they were up against, the Third Army.

Seeing troops coming toward you wearing ties would let the German soldier know they were up against the troops of General Patton and that their options were limited. The German could fight, but his efforts would be futile. They would either die or they could surrender. And it is a fact that many German units surrendered or even moved into the area of operation of the Third Army to surrender, as this was felt to be honorable.

And, as I have mentioned in a previous post, the Polish "winged Hussars" wore not only unique uniforms, their battle kit and horse were also strange to modern eyes, but had a definite purpose in mind:

The ultimate weapon of the Husaria was psychological.

"As well as wearing helmets, thick steel breastplates and shoulder and arm guards the Husaria also wore wings; great wooden arcs bristling with eagle feathers attached to the back of the saddle or the shoulders [a person I mentioned this to described this as sounding sissy or queer, well, that is the prevailing mores of our modern culture, not the reaction of a person from the 1600's]. Over their shoulders they wore the skin of a tiger or leopard as a cloak. Their harnesses, saddles and horse-cloths were embroidered and embellished with gold and gems and their long lances were painted with stripes like a stick of rock and decorated with a five-foot-long silk pennant which, along with the wings and jingling jewellery, made a frightful sound (described as "an evil hiss" by some) and sight during the charge. They even sometimes painted their horses red and white!"

However, with regard to uniforms, perhaps the ultimate was that worn by the ancient Celtic warriors. Accounts from the chronicles of the Romans report that many Celtic warriors preferred to go into battle naked!!

Most Celts scorned the use of armour and before about 300 B.C. preferred to fight naked. Some Celtic tribes still fought naked at the battle of Telamon in 225 B.C.

The Latin historian Strabone wrote: "All the Britons colour themselves with woad, which gives them a deep blue colour, so they look more fearsome in battle".




"The Celts fought naked and wore torques around their necks. The torque was not simply an ornament but above all a great catalyst of energy, as was the horned helmet."

I cannot say why exactly this was done. Perhaps it was felt that as you came into the world this way, this was the way to go out of the world, if the fates had that in store for you?? Click here to see a drawing of one of these warriors undressed in his finest.

coolbert.