Picture

World War II Parade Uniforms
​of the Soviet Union

Welcome To The Sinclair Collection

Picture
Marshal Zukov leading the Victory Parade celebration in Moscow, June 24, 1945
The collection focuses on the World War II parade uniforms of the Marshals, Generals and Admirals of the USSR. Many extremely rare and never before seen examples of uniforms, including many different branch variants, are shown in their full glory. 

For those serious collectors a two volume book set is available for purchase and offers a stunning visual glimpse of some of the most beautiful uniforms of the Great Patriotic War.

Victory Day Celebration

I would like to thank His Excellency Yuri V. Ushakov Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary for inviting me to exhibit part of the collection at the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Washington D.C. and for accepting a copy of my book, World War II Parade Uniforms of the Soviet Union. I can’t tell you how wonderful it was to speak with the many Soviet World War II veterans who were there to accept their Anniversary medals. The Russian veterans' heartfelt appreciation and understanding of the collection humbled me, and I was very touched by their kind words.
Picture
His Excellency Yuri V. Ushakov Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary (L) with James C. McComb Sinclair II (R) at the Russian Embassy in Washington DC.

The Collection

Previous to the fall of the Soviet Union, and for that matter since I was a little boy, I have been collecting uniforms and memorabilia from the Second World War. Everyone’s family, to some extent, was involved in the war effort, and my family was no exception. My father, aunts and uncles, friends and neighbors, all played a part in helping with the war effort. Knowing I was interested in the war, visitors to my parents’ house would sometimes give me a WWII memento. I still have almost every one of those gifts and remember who gave each of those items to me.    ​
PictureMarshal Stalin, President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill at the Russian Embassy in Teheran. November 28 - December 1, 1943.
Later, my focus turned to flag rank uniforms. In the mid- 1990’s, I decided to add a Russian generals' service uniform to my collection, which would give me another example of one of the major players of the war. Little did I realize at the time that this would be the start of an interest and a passion that would change my life. Assembling a collection such as this was beyond my wildest dreams. It is very rare to find a grouping of parade uniforms, from one of the Allies or Axis powers that is so inclusive, with so many well-known military leaders and personalities of the war. Few collections of this type exist! So many of the great uniforms of WWII were found and sold, or were accessioned into museums right after the war. Very few examples of Soviet Marshals, Generals and Admirals uniforms had made their way into the hands of Western collectors. The only information about these uniforms existed inside the Soviet Union in the hands of a few dedicated collectors. ​
Uniforms were being offered to me that were very important examples of World War II Russian  history. It occurred to me that if they were allowed to be sold to anyone, they could be lost forever, spread out amongst many collectors all around the world ending up in private collections hidden from view. I decided to try to put together a definitive collection that would be a great representation of some of the most beautiful uniforms of WW II, and keep them together for posterity to enjoy. My hope is that anyone reading these books and looking at these magnificent uniforms will have a new appreciation for what has been, up until now, unseen and unknown outside of the former USSR.
​
The two volume compendium and this website are a wonderful “go-to-source” for the World War II Soviet uniform collector. I doubt that a uniform collection such as this could ever be put together again, and I am gratified in knowing that this compendium has been kept intact and preserved. I have done my best to medal the uniforms with the appropriate decorations where possible. Please forgive me for any errors. I would also add that there is a slight color variation in the uniform photos. This is due to the fact that the Volume I pictures were shot with film and the Volume II pics were shot digitally.

This web site serves as a primer. The uniforms shown here are just a partial representation of the compendium. The books go into much more detail, with text and historical information pertaining to each individual uniform set. Each uniform set has gone through an extensive and very time consuming vetting process. In addition to the tunic images seen here, many of the sets have accompanying trousers, parade and service belts, boots with spurs, overcoats and more. Each example has close ups of the beautiful embroidery and epaulettes. The inside linings of all uniforms, including tunics, hats and trousers are pictured for examination. Museum stamps and tailor labels are also identified. There are also examples of General officer's dress swords and daggers. An original period photo archive of Marshals, Generals and Admirals is also featured in both volumes. I hope that you will enjoy this historically important compendium. I believe that these uniforms are the most beautiful uniforms of World War II. I hope that, after viewing the collection, you will agree.

The Uniforms

M-1935 PARADE UNIFORMS

M-1940 PARADE UNIFORMS

M-1943 PARADE UNIFORMS

M-1945 WALKING OUT DRESS UNIFORM​

M-1945 "VICTORY PARADE" UNIFORMS

M-1943 SERVICE UNIFORMS

Including
​Overcoats & Raincoats

The Books

World War II Parade Uniforms of the Soviet Union:
Marshals, Generals and Admirals – The Sinclair Collection
New for World War II Soviet collectors, this volume of Marshals’, Generals’ and Admirals’ parade uniforms is the first comprehensive book on the subject. With hundreds of beautiful, large format full-color photographs, detailed close-ups of uniforms, and an archive of vintage photographs, this book will take you on a visual journey through the development of the Soviet WWII flag rank parade uniform. Many extremely rare and never before seen examples of named Marshals’, Generals’ and Admirals’ uniforms, including many different branch variants, are shown in their full glory. A must for the serious WWII collector and a welcomed addition to any library, this book offers a stunning visual glimpse of some of the most beautiful uniforms of the Great Patriotic War.
World War II Parade Uniforms Vol II of the Soviet Union:
​Marshals, Generals and Admirals – The Sinclair Collection
The second volume of the Sinclair Compendium brings into focus a new group of World War II Soviet uniforms. Several uniforms, including one of Generalissimus Stalin’s and very rare examples of Branch Marshals and other flag ranks, are represented in this second volume. A new archive of period photographs, gathered for the second volume, makes this a “must have” for the World War II Soviet collector and enthusiast.

Reference Libraries

Both volumes of the World War II Parade Uniforms of the Soviet Union, along with additional reference materials can be found at the following libraries. 
​Click on the images to be taken to each website for further details:
Davis Center Collection
Fung Library
1737 Cambridge Street
Cambridge, Ma 02138
The National WW II Museum
945 Magazine Street
New Orleans, LA 70130
West Point Museum Library
2110 South Post Road
United States Military Academy
West Point, NY 10996
Nimitz Library
United States Naval Academy
589 McNair Road
Annapolis, MD 21402
The Embassy of the Russian Federation
2650 Wisconsin Avenue NW 
Washington DC, 20007
The Museum of World War II, Boston
#8 Mercer Road,
​Natick, Ma. 01760
Got A Question?

The website serves as an introduction to the Sinclair Collection and the accompanying two volume compendium. If you have a question, or comment, I would be happy to answer you back with an email.

The Sinclair Collection is available for viewing to qualified interested parties at it's state-of-the-art  storage facility located in Wilmington, Delaware, USA. Notice must be given one week in advance to secure a time slot and conference room. Please submit your request using the contact form on the right.
QUICK LINKS
HOME | WELCOME TO THE SINCLAIR COLLECTION | THE UNIFORMS | THE BOOKS | REFERENCE LIBRARIES | CONTACT US
​

© 2023 |The Sinclair Collection. All Rights Reserved | Time Magazine is property of Time Warner, Inc