Original Item: Only One Available. The Russian Papakha (Russian: папа́ха), also known as astrakhan peruk in English, is a wool hat worn by men throughout the Caucasus and also in uniformed regiments in the region and beyond. The word papakha is of Turkic origin (papak). In Azerbaijani, papaq literally translates to hat.

There are two different Russian papakhas. One, called a papaha, is a high fur hat, usually made of karakul sheep skin. The hat has the general appearance of a cylinder with one open end, and is set upon the head in such a way as to have the brim touch the temples. Some of them come with ear flaps which can be folded up when not in use. The other called a kubanka, which is similar to the papaha, except shorter and with no ear flaps.

Papakha are very common in Armenia as well as other mountainous regions, where a man's hat is considered a very important part of his identity.In Georgia, papakhi are also mostly worn in mountainous regions of Pshavi, Khevi, Mtiuleti, and Tusheti. Papaq are also very common in Azerbaijan. Papakhi are also donned by the Chechens, Dagestanians, and other Caucasian tribes. In 1855, after the campaigns in the Caucasus Mountains, the Papakha was introduced in the Russian army as an official part of the uniform for the Cossacks, and later for the rest of the cavalry.

Shortly after the Russian Revolution of 1917, papakhas were removed from the new Red Army uniform because of their association with the old Tsarist regime and the fact that many Cossack regiments of the Tsarist army fought against the Bolsheviks. During the Russian Civil War, many Bolshevik cavalrymen and officers (like Vasily Chapayev) wore papakhas or kubankas because many of them were cossacks and the hat had been part of the cavalryman's uniform.

Papakhas became part of the uniform again in 1935, but in 1941, were reserved exclusively for full colonels, generals and marshals, thus becoming a symbol of status and high rank.

This is a genuine WWII Soviet Russian officer issue Papakha offered in good condition in approximately a size 7 US (56cm). Unlike the WWI Imperial Issue, these are not designed to have the Astrakhan wool outer layer fold down, and do not have the hook closure in the front. The top of the cap is dark blue with red piping crossing the top, which may indicate the type of officer it was issued to.

The interior has a painted T762624, which is probably the operating number of the owner. There also is a maker marking in the center, but it is mostly faded and we are not able to read it. The cap shows moderate use, and has a lovely broken in look. The Soviet Star on the front of the cap is in good shape, with fully intact enamel, and nice patination on the brass.

A very nice example of a Classic hat design from the Caucasus, as used by the Red Army during WWII. Ready to display!