Red Army Junior Lieutenant, Barbarossa, 1941

Operation Barbarossa was the code name assigned by Adolf Hitler to the invasion plan of the Soviet Union by the Axis forces during World War Two. It started on June 22th, 1941 and opened the eastern front of the war. This front became one of the most complex theatre of operations of the war and witnessed some of the greatest and most brutal battles of the conflict in Europe.

The Soviet Army, surprised by the German attack and demoralized by the violence and precision of the offensive, has no other option than retreating disbanded to safer positions. This retreat will carry it to the very gates of Moscow. With the coming of winter and the reorganization of the defense, the Russians would be able to regain the initiative.

This young officer wears a regulation cap or “pilotka” with the typical enameled red star badge. The jacket or “gymnastiorka” is the early war model and sports the rank insignia in the collar, in this case indicating Infantry. They can be painted to match any other rank of the Red Army.