Some more words about about the orange and black stripes of the imperial russian cockade...:
These are the so-called "Saint Georg colors", they symbolize the holy Saint George, the patron saint of Russia. The colors were under Tsarism as common as during the Soviet period and even today.
In tsarist times there were, for example, the "Cross of St. George", a bravery order with orange-black ribbon ...:
The Soviets were careful not to change this color symbolism, as they also introduced a bravery medal in WW2. Although they changed the (christian) cross in a star but left the ribbon unchanged - and called the Order "Glory Order".
On the next photo - taken in Leningrad 1945 - we have the very rare example of a veteran who carries together the tsarist Version (far right) and far left the Soviet version of the Order...:
The St. George color experience in Russia since the annexation of the Crimea today a renaissance!
They are the badge of the nationalists ...
... and the sign of recognition of the separatist Ukrainians and Cossacks in the Donbass region of Eastern Uukraine ...:
On the 70th anniversary of victory over Germany on May 9, 2015, the Saint George colors were for the first time since World War 2 painted as parade-colors to the new T-14 ("Armata") tanks...:
