I think that Russian Line infantry during the Seven Years War typically wore green jackets. That is probably the reason.

BTW, I think they often took the jackets off to fight, exposing red vests.

This is the case in the Napoleonic period as well, where Russia is often assigned the colour green (cf. The Napoleonic Wars, etc.)

As a (50%) Dutch person, the reason is actually a bit less clear than that: back in the day, orange dyes were much redder than the orange used today on, say, the NYC flag, and moreover faded to look a lot like a red too, so there was always a bit of confusion about the flag. (Insert bit about the sea here, if you like.)

Then, during the Napoleonic period the Batavian Republic, and later the kingdom as ruled by Louis Bonaparte very deliberately chose red as the colour of that stripe to avoid annoying the French. When the house of Oranje was restored, the orange stripes came back, and until 1937 were co-equal with red ones, when the Queen stepped in and specified colours for the flag to head off the fascists.

As a 100% Dutchie, I did not know all that. Thanks for the info!

I know that the colour of their uniform was white but I'm not sure if this is a chick before the egg thing.

Dunno, but they are white in Empires in Arms and (as Austria-Hungary) The Great War In Europe: Deluxe Edition too, to name just a couple...

Just as the British were nicknamed "the Redcoats" in believe the Austrians were nicknamed "the Whitecoats" because of the uniforms.

In games covering the 18th century or the napoleonics, Austria is usually white because of their uniforms, indeed.

Similarly, the napoleonic French (but not the French before Napoleon!!) are blue, the Prussians are blue, the british are red, and the Russians are green ...

In Diplomacy they are Austria-Hungary but they are red and Russia is white.

Or Grey, probably because that was the color of German uniforms.

It's probably too much of a stretch to link this to the Brunswickers rather snazzy black uniforms in the Napoleonic wars isn't it?

Surely it's Britain plays with red? And I imagine we play with red due to the army wearing red since the 17th century.

Now no one knows exactly why red but it's thought that red dye was cheaper, romantic I know.

Edit: We also have a claim to British Racing Green

Yup, Britain are red because of the jackets worn when at war.

The official colour of British cars is British Racing Green.
France is blue.
Italy is red.
Japan is white.
Germany is silver.

Is wasn't always that way but that's how it is now.

Not a 100% hard-and-fast rule of course, particulary it would seem as you move into the 20th century. In World in Flames the British Empire (Commonwealth) are dark blue, which makes reading the names (black text on dark blue) of their naval units a pure joy. And in Rise and Decline of the Third Reich, Britain was tan. As they are in The Great War In Europe: Deluxe Edition and Guns of August too, come to think of it.

England's uniforms have been Red and Blue, variations by unit, since the mid 1700's. Red with blue cuffs for line units, Blue with Red for certain elite units.

In the mid to late 1800's, colonial wear Khaki (tan) uniforms were in use.

In WW I & II, both green and tan uniforms were common field uniform colors by location.

I may be wrong, but the french royalty, beginning at least with the capetian dinasty, choose an azure (light blue?) coat of arms.

According to some historians (the great Le Goff to name one) the color was possibly chosen due to its association with the Marian cult (Mary, Mother of Jesus, Madonna) thanks to the strict pact forged between french kings (the "most christians") and the papacy.

Carlo

It's also their traditional international racing color, although this may be a coincidence, since none of the other colors above match the racing colors.

White would also work while under the French crown in the early modern period and after the restoration. White being the color of the royal family along with the fleur-de-lis atop, although I'm unsure why it seemed to exist side by side with the blue.

From what I understand, the modern colors of the French flag are the combination of the white of the Bourbons with the red and blue flag of Paris. Funny how the flag came to take on anti-monarchical meanings and is always associated with the republic.

If anyone tries to make a "French surrender" joke, you're not funny. It's a stupid and tired joke.

This rule of thumb seems to hold up pretty well. As does the black or gray for Germany/Prussia.

Heraldric "Azure" is a dark blue.

Light blue is "Skye"...

The standard anglo-french heraldric colors:
Sable
Gules
Vert
Azure

And metals (on sable for clarity):
Ar/Argent/Ar/Argent
Or


And tinctures (odd colors):
Skye
Mulberry/Mur
Sang/Sanguine
Tenne

Furs combine two of the above, usually a metal and a color, rarely a metal and a tincture.
In certain eastern european heraldry, sky is a third metal.

Silver, light Grey, and white are all used for Argent.
Gold and Yellow are both used for Or.
Tenne is rarely used, but can be shown in reddish-brass, orange, or even tan... it was not consistent in exact tone...
Sanguine is usually dark red, but is sometimes red-brown. (dried blood color...)