Why unsightly "boots" became the most popular shoes in the USSR

For today's youth canvas boots — this is ridiculous and archaic shoes, which can be seen at the army photo. But for the older generation "boots" — is part of an entire era, in which the people looked a little design at the expense of reliability and practicality.

In some places this Shoe is used now, and refuse it not even going in favor of the most high-quality American shoes. What is the secret of boots, which has recently celebrated its centenary?

Before the First world war, consensus on what is best for the army — boots or shoes, did not exist. But the first year of active hostilities have shown that the best boots in the field, there can be nothing. Russian Empire — one of the few participants of the war who were able to provide their soldiers with quality boots. But the British had to simulate the tops of the boots with a cloth winding — leather boots in sufficient quantity in the UK not found.

But back to the tarpaulin boots. Often the origin of their name wrongly explained, tying with "Kirov plant" on which they were manufactured before the Second world war. Actually, the word "felt" comes from the name of an English Kersey wool fabric, which once upon a time used in the production of this Shoe.

As for the identity of the inventor of tarpaulin boots, then options are countless. But they are all untenable, as the real inventor of this popular product is officially known. It is the inventor Mikhail Pomortsev, major General of the Russian army.

In 1904, Pomortsev introduced a new, waterproof material, which has received the name "karsa" (so it was called initially). At the heart of it lay karasea — technical rough cloth that was soaked with a mixture of paraffin, egg yolk and rosin.

Made of innovative material produced an experimental batch of boots and sent to the military. Those praised the material properties, as guests of several international trade shows, where he presented the invention of a Russian General.

But then the "pilot" party was a no-go. Manufacture boots cheap product would undermine the power of the Russian leather industry and lobbyists in the military, funded by the owners of manufactories, prevented the implementation of development. Kerzu put on the shelf to the best of times and forgot about it. In 1916, died inventor Pomortsev, and then the revolution broke out and everyone forgot about Shoe production.

Remembered about the invention pomortseva only in the 1930‑ies, after the Soviet chemists Boris Byzov and Sergey Lebedev learned to synthesize styrene-sodium rubber can replace natural. This rubber impregnated canvas fabric, making it acquired the properties of the skin.

Industrial production table, and it was renamed slightly modified material, established chemist Ivan Plotnikov. The first "baptism of fire" canvas boots received during the Soviet-Finnish war and completely lived up to their expectations.

However Plotnikova called "on the carpet" one of the major departments and wondered why his canvas boots are not as warm as natural and worse leak air. This chemist boldly replied: "the bull and the cow had not yet shared with us all their secrets."

But the deficiency was insignificant compared to the benefit of the red army. In the first days of the war Plotnikov was summoned to the boss and asked to improve the technology of production table to become cheaper and more durable. On the control question kept Kosygin himself, so to sum up it was impossible.

In the city of Kirov was mass production of excellent tarpaulin boots, for that in the spring of 1942 Plotnikov was awarded the Stalin prize. In 1945, tarpaulin boots were the most common in the armed forces of shoes — wore them 10 million Soviet soldiers.

Canvas boots were almost perfect for military routine. Light, comfortable, good moisture retention, easy care and maintenance, they helped the soldiers to make many marches despite the vagaries of the weather. No military shoes of the world could not compete with our "boots".

For example, you can compare our boots with the us military boots. General O. Bradley, in his documentary book "the Story of a soldier" was written about the fact that in just one month, the army lost 12 soldiers due to wet feet. Some of the sick and couldn't get back in because that opens chronic diseases.

Clearly, the us army lacked high canvas boots and foot wraps, especially in autumn and winter. About footcloths is worth mentioning separately — this soldier accessory is inseparable from tarpaulin boots. The one who tried to wear high boots with socks, understand what it was. Sooner or later, the toe will curl on the heel and if that happens on the March, the legs will be broken in the blood.

Good footcloths the fact that if one side gets wet, it is enough to rewind it by the other party. Thus, the foot remains dry and the wet part of the cloth will gradually dry. Canvas boots were equipped with a spacious boot which allows you to wrap portyanki two on each leg, and also to fill in the boots of Newspapers to keep warm.

After the war, tarpaulin boots were not forgotten, and became truly popular shoes. It is estimated that currently has issued 150 million pairs of those boots. Although the production of "boots" is not of such magnitude as before, but in the civilian sector to carry them almost ceased in the Russian army they are still used, along with ankle boots and other shoes.

Muster traditionally try to get a pair of "boots" more free, to augment your festive outfit. Boots rolled into an accordion, making them "screws," and it's like 50 years ago is considered the highest discharge chic.