Galliffet or gallifet (Russian: галифе, romanizedgalife) were a style of trousers worn as part of the military uniform of (for example) the Soviet Army. They were similar to riding breeches, but adapted to fit in jackboots. Russian dictionaries define "galife" as pants fitting the knees and below, to easily fit the sapogi (сапоги, Russian jackboots), and expanding from above the knees.[1]

They were named after French general Gaston Alexandre Auguste, Marquis de Galliffet[2] (1830-1909).

High ranking NKVD officers, 1935, with Genrikh Yagoda, center. Nikita Khrushchev right behind him
A depiction of Soviet uniforms from the German Army pocketbook
General Gaston Galliffet, 1893

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Галифе", Большой универсальный словарь русского языка
  2. ^ "Из истории российского мундира" ("From the History of Russian Uniforms")