This Nutcracker Soldier with a Flag
is 15 inches high and is wearing a blue shirt with white buttons on it. The Wooden Nutcrackers Soldiers shirt has a red collar, white cuffs with red stripes, and gold shoulder pads. The standing Christmas Nutcracker is wearing a gold belt with a black buckle. His pants are red and the boots are black with gold tops. These Christmas Nutcracker Decorations figures are holding a gold wooden pole in his right hand with a red triangle shaped flag on it. His hat is a black fur ushanka style hat with a red feather and red jewel surrounded by a gold diamond pattern. The nutcracker is standing on a red and gold base that is .75 inches high, 3 inches wide, and 3.5 inches long. Select to view a complete listing of our Christmas Decorations Ideas.
History of the Military Uniform
It is unclear when the first uniforms were developed, and for what purpose. Uniforms are typically a sign of well-organized military forces equipped by a central authority. Mercenaries and irregular troops are less likely to wear uniforms. It is important to distinguish between uniforms and ethnic dress. If a particular race or culture favoured a distinctive dress style this could easily create the impression of uniformly dressed warriors. The issue is further complicated by the fact that especially efficient troop types were often copied - weapons, armor, fighting style and native dress. The colorful clothing of the Hungarian hussars became the uniform of hussar units all over Europe. Soldiers could also develop their own fashions, which set them apart from civilians, but were not really uniforms. The clothing of the German Landsknechte of the 16th century is an example of distinctive military fashion. There are a few recorded attempts at uniform dress in antiquity, going beyond the similarity to be expected of ethnic or tribal dress. One example is the Spanish infantry of Hannibal who wore white tunics with crimson edgings. Another is the Spartan helot in his red garment.
The Legions of the Roman Republic and Empire.
The Roman soldiers wore fairly standardized dress and armour. However the concept of uniforms was not part of their culture and there were considerable differences in detail. Even the armour mass produced in state factories varied according to the province of origin. Fragments of surviving clothing and wall painting indicate that the basic tunic of the Roman soldier was of red or more commonly undyed, off-white wool. Senior commanders are known to have worn red cloaks and plumes. The centurions who made up the long serving backbone of the legions were distinguished by traverse crests on their helmets, chest ornaments corresponding to modern medals and the long cudgels that they carried. The regular thematic (Provincial) and Tagmata (Central) troops of the Byzantine Empire (East Roman) are the first known soldiers to have had what would now be considered regimental identification. During the tenth century AD each of the cavalry "banda" making up these forces is recorded as having plumes and other distinctions in a distinctive color. While some auxiliary cohorts in the late Roman period had carried shields with distinctive colors or designs, there is no evidence that any one legion was distinguished from another by any feature other than the numbers on the leather covers protecting their shields. The feudal system of Western Europe provided instances of distinguishing features denoting allegiance to one or another lord. These however seldom went beyond crude colors and patterns painted on shields or embroidered on surcoats. Select to see a complete listing of our Large Nutcrackers.
Regimental Dress.
The styles and decoration of military uniforms varied immensely with the status, image and funds of the military throughout the ages. Uniform dress became the norm with the adoption of regimental systems, initially by the French Army in the mid seventeenth century. Some Swedish infantry had been issued with standard coloured dress under Gustavus Adophus. However in the main the levies of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries wore civilian dress with scarves, pieces of foliage or other makeshift identification. Even Royal guards would only be issued with surcoats to wear over ordinary clothing. Check out our Wooden Nutcracker Ornaments for the holidays.
