Part 7/10:
Over their uniforms, soldiers carried essential gear such as belts, ammunition pouches, canteens, and tools. Leather belts with brass buckles, often stamped with the double eagle, held pouches like the 1893 model that stored 30 rounds of ammunition. Canteens made from various materials—metal, wood, or glass—were slung over the shoulder.
Additional gear included shovels, mess kits, gas masks, and bedding. The gas masks, notably the Zelinsky model, used charcoal filters originally designed for vodka purification, highlighting the resourcefulness amid wartime shortages. The bashlyk headgear for winter was carried folded across the chest, ready to be worn when necessary.