The following notes are based on various black and white photographs that I have located in various sources. A few color photos actually exist of the Armenian Army in 1920. Some conclusions are based on examinations of common civilian clothing trends for the region and of similar regions during the years prior to the war.

Armenian National Army

During World War One numerous Armenian units were raised for service in Russian, British and French armies. Even one regiment was raised in the United States and Britian for service in the Caucas region. Prior to the British turn over of equipment, Armenian units were frequently equipped with captured Turkish items or outdated Russian equipment. They had aircraft and modern artillery that they received from the British. They also may have had armored cars since several Armenian attackers were reported as having ‘armored wagons’. The report also states that it was along a railroad, so I wonder if the reference to armored wagons could refer to ‘armored cars on a train since these trains were popular in Russia and the Baltic as well.

There are actually color photos of the Armenian National Army. The men wear Khaki/ tan coats and pants with officer pants having a red stripe along the leg’s outside. Most men are wearing a mid to dark brown fur busby. Some British style steel helmets can be seen on the belts of some men.

Azerbaijan

The current National flag was adopted and had three stripes. Top to bottom Blue (Turkic)– red (sacrifice) – Green (Islam).

Dasnaks

Photos show men in a variety of clothing and headdresses. The size and shades of both seem to vary greatly. Both turbans and fur busbys are being worn. Some old Russian smoothbore artillery of apparently pre-Russo-Japanese War era are noted as being given to irregular units.

France

Most of the troops involved in French operations in Anatolia were part of the French Legion d’ Orient. As a result they wore primarily the French Foreign Legion style equipment.

French ‘Armenian Legion’ Volunteers

The Armenian volunteers (and ex-POWs) beginning in 1916 were based at Cyprus. The troops were expected to conduct raids on the Turkish coast and against some occupied islands. Several detachments were assigned to British forces in Palestine. In 1918 four battalions of 1,100 men each were part of the French Occupation Force sent to Anatolia. Many of these men wore the French style steel helmet.

Hunchaks

One photo shows the men all wearing large Cossack or Turcoman style busbys all of the same color. A different photo shows the busbys are of different colors.. In the photos titled Hunchaks, there are bareheaded fighters but not any wearing turbans. The clothing seems to be a loose fitting Central Asian style with long coats and an almost universal fur hat.. The photos are black and white but the varying shades suggest a wide variety of colors in use. I would speculate that based on modern fashions un-dyed fur was common. The equipment shown is mainly Turkish since most of the men are noted as being deserters.

Georgia

The Georgian’s maintained a Regular military called the ‘Worker’s Guard, later it would be called various names such as the ‘Revolutionary Militia’ or the ‘People’s Guard’. These were also similar to the worker’s patriotic names given to the regular Battalion formations. . It was supplemented by a conscripted ‘volunteer’ force that would eventually total 30,000 men. Tactical ‘Companies’ averaged 200 men as each one had attached a political representative who also acted as a commissar. The Battalion was the main deployment unit even though a regular Battalion was often paired with volunteer battalion ‘Divisions’ could be formed as needed from various number of battalions. Military training was secondary to social awareness training. As a result, the Georgian level of military effectiveness was often below average. Their arms, equipment uniforms and organization based on the Russian Red Army model.

Great Britain

Many of the 1918-19 era troops are shown wearing the early war style cap. I have noted any steel helmets though pith helmets were in use in some parts of the various fronts against old Ottoman Empire. Equipment was regarded as much more modern than the equipment used by the Turks and Russian forces. They had aircraft and modern artillery that were turned over to the Armenians. They may have had armored cars since several Armenian attackers were reported as having ‘armored wagons’.

Ottoman Turks

The Ottoman Turks wore the uniform common to all units during the First World War. Most troops wear the pith style helmet but some ‘irregular’ troops are wearing the traditional red fez hats.

Russian

You can divid the Russians troops into three classifications , the during the war Imperial and the post war (Russian Civil War Reds and Whites.

Imperial Russians

During the First World War, the Trans-Caucus Front was a secondary area of operations. As a result offensives were conducted only as supplies could be spared from the other fronts. Many promises of self rule were made to various groups in the region. As a result over 150,000 Armenians enlisted in the Russian Army.

White Russians

A wide variety of uniforms could be found in the ranks of the pro-monarch/democracy forces. Often a white armband was worn on the coat sleeve.

Red Russians

The Communist forces wore a variety of uniforms.

Turmoil of the War That Would Not End Part Two: The Trans-Caucasus 1918-1921

Introduction
Trans-Caucasus Players
Notes on Military Forces and Uniforms
Summary of Events and Significant Battles
Event Chronology 1905-1921
The French–Armenian War-Time Connection