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Johan's Collection - DDR

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    Johan's Collection - DDR

    Hi All

    For my DDR mannequins (only a few so far), I created a new thread, so I do not have to mix them with the WW1 mannequins which you can find here : http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=603972

    The early DDR is quite fascinating and offers a wide range of uniforms/uniform regulations and gear. Many items (for example closed piped caps and tunics) are much more difficult to find than Wehrmacht items. I find it always interesting to see how close the NVA uniforms resemble the earlier Wehrmacht uniforms.

    Mannequin #1: NVA Panzer Officer, Dienstuniform, Early 1960'ties

    The NVA (National People’s Army - Nationale Volksarmee) was established in 1956 as a professional volunteer army. Conscription was introduced in 1962. During the first years of its existence, almost 27% of the officer corps had formerly served in the Wehrmacht. These veterans brought a lot of military knowledge and combat experience with them to shape the new army. The motto of the Nationale Volksarmee was "For the Protection of the Workers' and Farmers' Power."

    The early 60'ties was a difficult time and the DDR armed forces went into a state of heightened combat readiness during several occasions, including the construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961, the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 and in 1968 the Warsaw Pact intervention in Czechoslovakia.

    The uniform is a private purchased tunic for a Lieutenant in a Dienstuniform (service uniform) configuration from the early sixties.

    The collar tabs (Litzen) of the tunic have pink middle stripes (in Dienstausführung) and are in the version used between 1956 and 1965, although they could have been worn thereafter. Pink was the Waffenfarbe (color of arms) of the Panzer troops - same as in the Wehrmacht. Between 1966 - 75, a new design appeared - also with pink middle stripes. Finally, these colored stripes changed to white for all Land forces as from 1975. The 1956-1965 Litzen as seen on the photo are a little bit wider that the 1966 ones and more close to the edges on the base.



    Note that caps and parade tunics with colored piping could be worn after 1961 for a period of three years. However, the sleeve patches of the parade tunics with colored piping were removed and the jacket worn as a service tunic instead.



    Two Panzer brothers side by side :


    On the left a Panzer Schirmmütze with pink piping, dated 1961. The cockade has already been changed to the new model (August 1961). Between 1956 - 61, a black-red-golden cockade decorated the embroided cap insignia. Existing caps were changed as from 1961 and the black-red-golden cockade was replaced with the DDR cockade in metal. The embroided insignia were replaced in 1966/67 with metal versions. At the right an early II/1956 dated cap with 1961 issued embroided cap insignia. The existing pre-1961 insignia were replaced to make the cap conform the new regulations.


    Liner of the 1961 dated cap


    Liner of the II/1956 dated cap



    As a side note, here an example of a Panzer side cap, again with pink piping, dated I. Quartal 1958 with officer cockade.


    Wearing the same tunic, the Panzer officer switched to a new peaked cap. Still with an embroided cap insignia and DDR cockade as prescribed in August 1961, but now with white piping. In 1961/1962, white replaced all colored pipings on caps (and tunics) for all land forces, removing the existing colorful distinction between the arms of service in 1961/62.



    Close up of the August 1961 modification


    Example of an early brown leather officer belt:




    I hope you liked this first NVA post.


    JS1

    __________________________________________________ ______________
    Auferstanden aus Ruinen
    Und der Zukunft zugewandt,
    Lass uns dir zum Guten dienen,
    ...................
    http://www.germanuniformsandequipment.co.nr

    WW1 Collection: http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=603972

    DDR Collection: http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=610344

    #2
    Any splotch pattern camo??

    very nice early DDR.....

    Comment


      #3
      hi Spanische Freiwillige

      yes, I have a few and will post them here too.

      kind regards

      JS1

      __________________________________________________ ______________
      Auferstanden aus Ruinen
      Und der Zukunft zugewandt,
      Lass uns dir zum Guten dienen,
      ...................
      http://www.germanuniformsandequipment.co.nr

      WW1 Collection: http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=603972

      DDR Collection: http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=610344

      Comment


        #4
        I always wanted to get an early DDR splotch camo parka. yet when I saw the prices I would always turn away and invest in WWI and WWII

        just manged to get a helmet cover in splotch camo...

        You have a great collection

        Comment


          #5
          JS1
          you have some really rare early panzer items. i noticed over the years that when a panzer visor hat turns up they are dated 1956 to 58/59. to find one 1960/61 is rare. i know of only 4 of the M-43 skimutze piped in pink since the fall of the wall. great to see your display. by the way the belt with the cross stiching is also very hard to find. as far as the pink piped tunics go i know of only 7 that have turned up.
          Last edited by tony james; 04-07-2013, 08:21 AM.

          Comment


            #6
            Very nice collection.

            Comment


              #7
              A couple of questions about the NVA uniform.
              firstly, were dark collars around in 1975 manufactured uniforms
              and secondly, did officers ever have a woolen service tunic as opposed to gabardine?

              I purchased an Infantry "Officer" tunic from Ebay, mostly because it was the right size for me, but also because I like the dark collar design. I can't help but think the whole thing looks fake as far as it's setup though, as it is made from the standard-issue wool and I am sure the Dark collar was phased out before '75 as well.

              Either way, I'm not too worried because I have an NVA tunic so that's all I really cared about. authenticity of it's attachments would be even better though.

              Comment


                #8
                Nice looking! I'm still amazed the Soviets allowed the DDR to continue to wear these very pre 45 looking uniforms, maybe they thought it would continue a spirit of elan in their military? Puzzling for me considering the millions of men they lost defeating Germany.

                Comment

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