The most frightening, unusual and sinister uniforms in history
Uniform serves different purposes. It is often used by the military or members of any organization, to create the impression of order or to give a sense of solemnity. Some kinds of uniforms extracted from the total number of unusual or downright sinister appearance, especially if they are still associated with some terrible circumstances.
Today we will show you samples of the most unusual and frightening uniforms in history.
(13 photos)
The gear of firefighters early XX century
In the early twentieth century to help the firefighters came new technologies, resulting in protective clothing took on a somewhat sinister look. Gas mask, heavy thick fabric — working costume very different from the main entrance.
Women's brigade of the Irish Republican army
Initially the Irish Republican army was pretty intimidating organization. This feeling is exacerbated by the kind of uniform all-female brigades of the IRA, whose black masks and coats, gave them a sinister and menacing appearance. In the photo they captured during the funeral of Francis Hughes in 1981.
Costumes General protection
These suits are created the same bad feeling, like gas masks or fire-fighting equipment. Often, they completely hid the face to protect the wearer from chemical, biological or radioactive contamination. In the minds of the people these costumes have become associated with death and disaster, but belonged to the rescuers.
Gas masks during the First world war
During the First world war soldier's uniform had to be changed to protect against chemical weapons. These old gas masks caused a strong feeling of anxiety. Besides the natural fear that we all experience at the sight of the deformed, or hidden face, a mask awakens a burning horror associated with the destructive use of chemical and biological weapons.
Kaparot
Caperata called high pointed hood. This piece of clothing appeared in medieval Spain, where it was used by many monastic orders. A hood often worn by samouchitel (like the one shown in the figure) or for the sake of public humiliation were worn on the heads of those convicted by the court of the Inquisition.
The original clothing of the ku Klux Klan
Kaparot inspired the creators of the uniforms of the ku Klux Klan and other American supporters of white supremacy. White hood and cloak did his master like a Ghost and served as a tool of intimidation in the lasts few decades a campaign of terror.
Other early forms of the ku Klux Klan
The pointed hat became a standard part of the uniform of the ku Klux Klan just after the revival movements in the twentieth century. Prior to that, the community members used many varieties of costumes with a hood.
Winged hussars
Winged hussars were one of the main types of the cavalry of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries and wore one of the most frightening forms in military history. By their winged armor could seem more spectacular than scary, but imagine the feelings of a soldier who is attacking this guy.
Samurai
For centuries occupying the privileged position of the military caste, the samurai, the Japanese developed armor and uniforms designed to intimidate the army, which consisted mainly of superstitious mobilized peasants. Distinctive masks resembled the faces of demons and has contributed to the myth of the invisibility of the samurai.
Black braunsweig
Black braunsweig — a military unit of the Napoleonic wars — has gained a formidable reputation in the Victorian public consciousness. This was mainly because of the bleakness of their all black uniforms which complement the stripe in the shape of a skull and crossbones on shako.
German helmets "pickelhaube" during the First world war
Looking back to the First world war, it is difficult not to perceive each page of conflict as the terrifying illustration of a hideous human violence. Of all the uniforms of that period the most frightening seems a German uniform with a pointed helmet pickelhaube. Helmets were used in the Prussian army before, but gradually changed, becoming similar to the attribute of the other world. Their festive appearance contrasted with the brutality of trench warfare.
The Waffen-SS
Due to the historical context of any German uniforms of the Third Reich causes a difficult reaction. This is especially true of the uniforms of the Waffen-SS, the most elite of the Nazi soldiers. Black uniforms were often supplemented with a stripe in the shape of a skull and crossbones, depending on the division.
The plague doctor
Any list of frightening forms must include the infamous plague doctor. His clothing consisted of covering all long cloak and mask in the form of a bird beak, filled with strong-smelling herbs. This garb was worn by doctors during the medieval epidemics of bubonic plague. Complemented with a hood or wide-brimmed hat, the suit had to protect the doctor from the portable air infection, but looked horrific, Recalling the mythological grim Reaper. Moreover, he quickly became associated with imminent death.