In the immediate aftermath of the October Socialist Revolution of 1917, the rank and file of the Red Army wore military uniforms left over from the Tsarist army, with the shoulder straps removed. Red Army soldiers were also permitted to wear civilian clothing and captured uniforms.

However, by 1918, the leadership of the RSFSR recognized the need to create its own military uniform, one that would visually distinguish itself from the uniforms of the Imperial Army. On May 7, 1918, the People's Commissariat for Military Affairs of the RSFSR announced a competition to design new uniforms for military personnel. Viktor Mikhailovich Vasnetsov, Boris Mikhailovich Kustodiev, Mikhail Dmitrievich Ezuchevsky, Sergei Germanovich Arkadyevsky, and other renowned Russian artists participated in the competition.

On December 18, 1918, based on the designs submitted to the competition, the Revolutionary Military Council of the Republic approved a new type of winter headgear – a cloth helmet, shaped like a medieval "yerikhonka" or a helmet with an aventail, for which it was initially nicknamed the "bogatyrka." The order introducing it was published on January 16, 1919.

The first unit of the Red Army to wear the new uniform was the Ivanovo-Voznesensk Red Guard Detachment. It was sent to the troops under the command of Mikhail Vasilyevich Frunze. This is why the headgear initially received its nickname: "Frunzevka."

In 1920, the helmet, issued to the First Cavalry Army, became known as the "budenovka" – after the army commander, Semyon Mikhailovich Budyonny.

The color of the star on the Budyonovka varied depending on the branch of service: infantry wore a crimson star, cavalry wore a blue star, artillery wore an orange star (the order called it "orange"), engineers and sappers wore a black star, pilots wore a light blue star, and border guards wore a green star.

The pointed helmet was firmly associated with the appearance of Red Army soldiers, but in reality, it was widely criticized by the military. In winter, it let in cold air, and in summer, it constricted the head, causing headaches. The Budyonovka often slipped over the eyes, making it uncomfortable to wear constantly.

In the early 1940s, helmets were gradually replaced by ear-flapped hats, and in 1943, the Budyonovka disappeared from the Red Army's inventory of military uniforms.

The romantic image of the Budyonovka only emerged in the 1950s. Since then, it has been widely depicted on posters and postcards due to its recognizability. Incidentally, thanks to the efforts of these people, the Budyonovka remains a firm symbol of Russia for foreigners to this day.