The word "accelerant" comes from the German anhsel and band, meaning "armpit" and "bow." Axelbant is a braided thread cord with metal tips. It began to be used from the middle of the 17th century mainly as a decoration of military uniforms.
According to the charter
Axelbant, as an integral part of the parade uniform, must be worn at the parade, in the guard of honor, as well as musicians of military bands. It is usually mounted on the right shoulder, but sometimes, according to the tradition of the part, it can also be mounted on the left. In the case of a historical reconstruction of any costume, the accelerator is attached in accordance with the images or description.
Also now, participants in the so-called company of drummers are wearing an accelerator. It is attached, like a military one, but it has its own peculiarity: the “female” hussar costume does not have a lapel, therefore the accelerator in this case is simply sewn neatly to the uniform, and if there are several transverse trims with buttons, you can attach the end of the accelerator to one of them on desired height. In the case of drummers, there is no general rule, as with any theatrical costumes.
Origin
There are three versions of how the accelerator came about. This, according to the first version, was first a feed rope, once worn by cavalrymen, and metal tips were used to clean the seeds. It is believed that he was originally a long musket wick.
The second version says that there was an accelerant in France. To hold the horse when the general descends, the adjutant threw a short loop of rope around the animal’s neck, and for convenience he always carried it with him and attached it to the epaulet or epaulet.
And the third, the most romantic version, says that at a time when the Netherlands fought with Spain for independence, one Dutch regiment moved from the army of the Duke of Alb to its fellow countrymen. The enraged duke began to hang everyone from this regiment whom he managed to capture. Contemptuously, soldiers began to carry a rope on their shoulders.
Perhaps all of these versions are right, or maybe the origin of the accelerator is actually different, but now it is widely used to decorate the uniform, and over the course of several hundred years, certain rules have developed for how to wear the accelerator on the uniform. These rules are respected in all countries with rare exceptions that can only be associated with certain local traditions.
How to sew an accelerator
A modern accelerator is not just a rope, but a whole bunch of them, but on any form, whether marine or combined arms, it is attached under the right shoulder strap. First you need to tear off the epaulette by about half, then put the fabric strap at a distance of 0.5 mm from the edge of the epaulet on the side of the sleeve. The first thing to go is a cord with a decoration (brush, metal tip). The second end is fixed under the lapel with the tip. For this, a button is sewn under it in a special way. It is important that the loop holding the tip is not visible from under the lapel. Sometimes instead of a button, only a buttonhole is sewn.
Tradition
In the Russian Empire, accelerants appeared in the first half of the 18th century. They were worn by the grenadier and musketeer regiments. The officers wore a gilded or silver-plated cord, and the soldiers wore a plain cord. By the beginning of the 20th century, it had become an integral part of the form of generals. Adjutants of all military branches and officers of the General Staff wore axelbants.
After the revolution in 1917, the accelerant was abolished, but reintroduced into the USSR in 1971. For officers, it was gold, with two loops and metal tips. Sergeants, foremen, sailors and soldiers began to wear silver, the only tip of which was gold.
In the same 1971, at the parade in honor of the October Revolution, the soldiers' uniforms were decorated with axelbands, after which they entered the tradition of the unregistered, the so-called "demobilic" axelbant. These are homemade white or colored cords that are attached to the form in accordance with all the rules.
In other countries
Interestingly, there are four classes of accelerants in the British Army. The first, or royal: gold wire accelerators. They are worn by people in court positions - court doctors (life doctors), court surgeons, priests, palace cavalry, as well as field marshals, marshals, fleet admirals and air marshals.
The so-called ministerial, or second class: they are worn by officials from the Defense Council. Aiguilettes of this class vary in color according to the type of military force: gold and dark blue for the navy, and raspberry and light blue for the army and air force.
The third, or officer, class of axelbants worn by officers of the army, air force and navy was painted in the same colors.
The simple fourth-graders are corporals and musicians of the Dragoon regiment.
Now an accelerant is a parade uniform belonging to almost any country in the world. Although they vary in appearance and number of colors, they are almost always fixed equally.