At the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War, military uniforms were produced and worn in accordance with Order No. 176 of 3 December 1935. There were three types of uniforms for officers and soldiers — service, guard and dress uniforms. All of them had winter and summer versions.

The 112th Bashkir Cavalry Division was being formed during winter — from November 1941 to March 1942. The government of the Republic of Bashkortostan and the regional committee of the Communist party obliged local authorities to supply conscripts with uniforms and equipment. The kit included a sheepskin coat, a hat with earflaps, a pair of boots, wadded trousers, a military shirt, two pairs of underwear, two pairs of warm footwraps, a pair of woolen gloves, a pair of mittens, two towels, some handkerchiefs, waist belts and belts for trousers, a duffel bag, as well as a mess kit, a flask, a mug, a spoon and a shaving razor. All this was provided by individuals, collective farms and local authorities.

The famous winter hat with earflaps called “ushanka” was introduced by order of the People’s Commissariat of Defense of the Soviet Union No. 187 dated July 5, 1940. Hats for senior and middle command personnel were made of woolen fabric and gray fur. At their own expense, officers could sew hats made of lamb fleece or the grey wool of Karakul sheep.

The sheepskin coat was made of tanned sheepskin and fastened with the help of loop-straps and buttons. It was quite long and had two vertical pockets. The turndown fur collar was made of white sheepskin.
Officers also had a “kamcha” — a whip that was used to control a horse. It was often made of rawhide. In the old days, most nomadic peoples used to have similar whips.