"What was taken from the battle": what trophies did the soldiers of the red army bring home from Germany?

When World War II ended, many Soviet soldiers and officers were finally able to return home to a peaceful life. Five years of continuous war took a lot of our compatriots. Even more lives and destinies were crippled by physical and mental trauma. War is always hard work, and therefore, after its end, the soldiers were entitled to trophies, which were supposed to be a reward and partial compensation for their inhuman efforts. What did the Red Army men bring home from Germany and how did they get these things?

Where did the trophies from the soldiers and officers come from?

Trophies were handed out after the war. | Photo: waralbum.ru.

That which was "taken in battle" is not a trophy, but looting. Of course, in the Red Army, as in any other army in the world, such precedents took place, you cannot erase words from a song. However, they were not as massive as some are trying to portray, and even more so looting has never been the policy of the command: neither official nor tacit. Just the same with this, the situation was strictly the opposite: the marauders were punished, up to execution. This was especially closely followed in 1945. After entering Germany, a series of separate orders even passed, which required the command of the army at all levels to make sure that the soldiers and officers on the ground do not suddenly "feel like victors" by the most impartial way.

Looting is a crime. Receiving trophies is a system of rewarding soldiers and commanders for their dangerous and strenuous work at the front. Trophies were distributed among the servicemen by special bodies in accordance with the current orders for the army. Depending on the position and rank, the Red Army soldier could count on a variety of things. Moreover, most often there was a choice. Everyone could ask for himself from the available assortment what he needs or wants more.

The meaning of the distribution of trophies was extremely simple: for many years people were cut off from work and peaceful life, they took risks, and their households logically lost their level of well-being. The war ravaged the country, and therefore, before a peaceful life will be restored again, the fighters should somehow be supported and thanked. Of course, the Red Army men were paid salaries, bonuses and bonuses. There is nothing blasphemous in this: alas, war is the same work, sorrowful and dangerous, but still work. As a result, those who survived by the end of the war accumulated quite good sums, especially when they began to pay "shortfalls" and delays in 1945 for previous years. True, in the early years there was nowhere to spend them. But back to our post-war trophies.

1. Bicycles and cars

Perhaps one of the most useful things a Red Army soldier could bring home. Of course, a soldier or a sergeant could not count on a car. By and large, the car did not shine for most of the lieutenants and captains. There were not so many cars, and therefore they relied only on the high command or especially distinguished in leadership and command posts. The sergeants could still count on a moped or a motorcycle, but only the decency of special services to the Motherland.

Moreover, most ordinary soldiers and sergeants could get a bicycle! Fortunately, in Germany by 1945, the Wehrmacht alone had about 3 million of them. Almost half are made in Germany. The rest were confiscated by the Germans in 1939 in the conquered countries of Europe.

2. Clock

The watch was rare, but extremely useful and therefore a very coveted trophy. Of course, they were often simply removed from the enemies. However, to burn out on such an initiative was a terrible flight before the authorities and most of the comrades. As trophies, watches were mainly given to those soldiers, sergeants and officers who took part in the storming of Berlin.

3. Lighters

A huge number of people traditionally smoke in the army. First of all, from the nerves. The Red Army was no exception. Soldiers smoked, sergeants and officers of all levels, up to marshals, smoked. Therefore, a lighter that does not go out in strong winds was one of the most coveted trophies. That is why many wanted to get IMCO in their duffel bag after the war. Fortunately, after the defeat of the Wehrmacht, the warehouses from them simply burst. It is interesting that IMCO lighters turned out to be so successful and popular in the USSR that after the war they even set up production of their own analogue.

4. Sewing accessories

On the one hand, not the most remarkable, but very important trophy, which many willingly took and carried home. Soldiers were given more than just sewing kits. Those who knew how to sew (and there were actually quite a few of them, many Red Army soldiers after serious injuries went to work in the rear, including in front-line sewing workshops) could get sewing typewriter! The Soviet leadership willingly distributed them to the fighters, as they understood that after returning to their homeland, "home workshops" in destroyed cities and villages will be able to mitigate the destruction of the country's light industry in the first post-war years. In the collective farms of the communist country, "small sewing commerce" flourished altogether. Front-line soldiers lined entire rural areas. The authorities knew about this, but they closed their eyes with understanding.

5. Razors

Most men have facial hair. That is why a good razor is always useful in the personal household. Soviet servicemen could also get a personal hygiene item from captured warehouses, if their old razor for some reason ceased to suit them.

6. Musical instruments and photographic equipment

If a soldier knew how to play a musical instrument or had the appropriate education, then he could count on receiving an instrument. True, most of the complex and expensive musical instruments were requisitioned in favor of the national economy for schools, colleges and universities, as well as rural and urban clubs. The situation was similar with photographic equipment. Particularly distinguished soldiers or military correspondents could receive a camera as a gift from the Motherland.

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7. clothing

Outerwear and underwear, bedding, fabrics, leather and hides. Most of this stuff was requisitioned from German warehouses. It is ironic that the Wehrmacht uniform, devoid of insignia, was also handed out. Many Soviet citizens were left without houses after the war, and therefore the bundle of cloth brought home for the family was worth its weight in gold. After the war, many families, especially in the villages, sewed themselves on their own. The special value of the fabrics was that they weighed a little and it was possible to bring them home even for more than one family. Many Red Army men sent the fabric by mail. By the way, canned food, egg powder and cigarettes bought with the money earned during the war were often put in parcels with her.

If you want to know even more interesting things, then you should definitely read about what did the Soviet trophy teams do with enemy weapons.
Source: https://novate.ru/blogs/221220/57189/

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