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Apodvorotnichok (Russian:подворотничок,lit. 'undercollar';[pədvərətʲnʲɪˈt͡ɕɵk]) is a type ofsewndetachable collar used on the inside ofcollars ofmilitary uniforms that originated inRussia. It is a soft whitefabric sewn into the inside of a collar to alleviatechafing andrashes, and to reducewear and tear on the collar.Podvorotnichoks were widely used by theSoviet Armed Forces, theRussian Armed Forces and the militaries of some otherPost-Soviet states, and have been introduced into somecivilian clothing.
Podvorotnichoks were introduced in Russia in the early 20th century, but were based on similar white "undercollars" used in other military uniforms in Europe since theEarly Modern period. They were particularly worn for comfort with high-collaredgreatcoats andtunics, made from coarse durable materials, to prevent the collar from rubbing on the wearer's neck. Undercollars were utilised forsanitary purposes due to advances inmilitary medicine and the understanding ofinfection, in order to prevent soldiers from contracting diseases via chafed skin from the filth on the battlefield.Podvorotnichoks were usually made from bleachedcalico and they were changed daily, typically in the evening before lights out, and checked during morning inspection. If a soldier'spodvorotnichok was not perfectly white or sewn correctly, he could be punished and made to resew it, as stains or incorrect sewing were seen as a potentialhygiene issue.
The modernpodvorotnichok was first made mandatory on uniforms of theSoviet Armed Forces on 13 February 1935. Their use was highly regulated by military authorities, but it was relatively common for soldiers to violate these regulations at risk of punishment, and a number of rituals emerged. More experienced soldiers would make visible alterations to theirpodvorotnichok as astatus symbol. During theBrezhnev Stagnation, a practice developed among second-yearSoviet Army soldiers to line theirpodvorotnichok withpolyvinyl chloride insulation fromelectrical wires, making them appear larger than those of new recruits. Soldiers granted adischarge would openly use non-regulationthread and fabric, or sew in the number of days until theirdemobilisation.
Following thedissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, thepodvorotnichok continued to be used by the militaries of somePost-Soviet states, while others have discontinued them.
In the 2010s, theRussian Armed Forces has phased out the use ofpodvorotnichoks andfootwraps with the introduction ofVKPO uniform.[1] Thepodvorotnichok has not been mentioned in the Russian Armed Forces uniform list since the signing of Decree 300 byDefense MinisterSergei Shoigu on 22 June 2015.[2]
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