Uniforms of the Army, Corps and Divisional HQs and General Staff
of the Czecho-Slovak Corps, 1918-1920

All material and reconstructions are by A. Karevskiy.

The main sources for this material are:

Tatarov, B. "Czechoslovak Military Formations in Russia: Part 1, 1917-1918 // Staryi Tseykhgauz, No. 5-6", Moscow, 2015. pp. 54-76; and " ... Part 2, 1919-1920 // Staryi Tseykhgauz, No. 3", Moscow, 2016, pp.73-83.

Orian, E., Panus, B., Stechlik, E. and Steidler, F. "Ceskoslovenska Legie v Rusku, 1914-1920", Prague, 2014.

Bullock, D. "The Czech Legion // Men-at-Arms No. 447", Oxford, 2007.

Insignia of army, corps and divisional HQs according to Order No. 15 of 30 December 1917:
1 to 3 – lieutenant-colonel, staff-captain and sergeant-major of the Czechoslovak Corps HQ;
4 to 6 – captain, lieutenant and sergeant of the 1st and 2nd Czechoslovak Division HQs;
7 – ensign of the independent telegraph company at Corps HQ;
8 – sergeant of the independent telegraph company at Corps HQ;
9 – second-lieutenant in the communications komand of the 2nd Division HQ;
9 – corporal in the communications komand of the 1st Division HQ

Initially with the movement to sleeve badges, for headquarters formations, and units attached to the corps headquarters, the cipher was the Russian letters "ЧС", and for similar formations and units at divisional level, the Roman numerals "I" and "II".

Insignia of army, corps and divisional HQs according to Order No. 117 of 27 October 1918:
1 to 3 – captain, lieutenant and sergeant-major of the Czechoslovak Corps HQ;
4 to 6 – lt-colonel, 2nd-lieutenant and sergeant of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Division HQs;
7 – lieutenant of the independent telegraph company at Corps HQ;
8 – private of the independent radio telegraph company at Corps HQ;
9 – ensign in the communications komand of the 1st Division HQ;
9 – corporal in the communications komand of the 2nd Division HQ

Order No. 117 of 27 October 1918 made alterations to the piping (for everyone, not just officers) and the ciphers:

§8. The designation of the unit and speciality is placed in the lower half of the shield, with the unit number above the designation of the individual's speciality. It is established that: ... for the army corps headquarters and seconded units, the letters "ČS" are to be used, and for division headquarters and seconded units, "I" and "II" are to be used.

After the formation of the 3rd Czechoslovak Division in January 1919, the cipher "III" was added for it.

1 to 3 – sleeve badges of the division commanders: 1st Hussite (Colonel K. Vozhenilek),
2nd Czechoslovak (Colonel L. Krejcí) and 3rd Czechoslovak (Colonel L. Prchala);
4 and 5 – sleeve badges of officers of the General Staff of the Czechoslovak Army

Order No. 117 of 27 October 1919 stated that for the general staff the piping of the shield should be black and red, with the black on the outside. However, judging by photographs, they were made differently – the shield had a black border, under which a red cloth lining was added.

Uniforms of the Czechoslovak Corps Headquarters from December 1917 to October 1918

Uniforms of army, corps and divisional HQs:
1 – Corps HQ, up to October 1918; 2 – Army HQ, from October 1918 to June 1919;
3 and 4 – Headquarters of the 1st Czechoslovak Division

Figures 1 to 3 are in the period after the revised sleeve badges, but before the introduction of the "vydumka" headgear

Examples of aiguillettes worn by staff officers and regimental adjutants:
1 and 5 – with small shoulder-straps; 2 – with a large shoulder-strap;
3 and 7 – sewn directly to the shoulder of the tunic;
4 – with a twisted shoulder-strap serving as a continuation of both aiguillette cords;
6 – under a sewn-in rectangular strip of fabric;
8 – with a cloth strap and button

The reconstructions show the variety of ways in which the cords were attached to the tunic. Apparently there were no clear instructions on the wearing of aiguilettes in Czechoslovak units, and they continued to be worn due to the inertia of tradition.

Examples of aiguillettes worn by staff officers and regimental adjutants:
1 – with a cloth strap and button; 2 to 4 – under soft uniform shoulder-straps

The wearing of aiguilettes continued even after the introduction of the so-called "Vladivostok uniform" in June 1919. Judging by photographs, they took on a more orderly character: the lower cord was attached to the first button of the tunic (at the collar), and the upper cord to the second button.

The evolution of the uniform of Colonel L. Krejcí, commander of the 2nd Division:
1 and 2 – in the period before June 1919, with a Russian-style uniform;
3 and 4 – in the period July 1919-1920, with the "Vladivostok uniform".