Gentlemen,
When Pat started this thread his intent was to start a refence thread for uniforms in wear by the BGS, when they changed and probably the dates of the insignia as well. Since no one else has been able to post any information related to these tunics I am going to start by posting the oldest uniform I have with me that is not in storage. I acquired this tunic in the spring of 2004. In June of 2004 I pictures of the tunic to the "Bekleidungswirtschaft im BGS". Their response confirmed that the tunic was that of the rank of "Präsident" in the BGS. They also said that this type of tunic was worn from 1952 until 1971. They were a bit off here as my tunic is dated 1976 and photos in Reinhard Scholzen's book "Der BGS Geschichte der Bundespolizei" indicate they were worn as late as 1980. At the time I contacted the BGS there were only 5 men who held the position of "Präsident" in the BGS. I do not know how many men held this position in the 1970s (possibly 4) but I do know that when Germany was reunited the BGS created a new "Grenschutzpräsidium Ost" which encompassed most of the old East Gemrnay.
I suspect that this tunic was aquired as "stripped" tunic by some former collector who attempted to replace all of the insignia. The shoulderboards are correct althought the BGS clothing office says they never had eagles on their boards. The eagles resemble those worn on the enlisted men's hats of that period. I have left them as they were when I acquired the tunic since the BGS clothing people were incoreect in some of the things they said they may be incoreect here as well. The collar tabs are correct and sewn on correctly. The left breast button and the two shoulderboard buttons are possibly replacements as they are the colour of the buttons used on the later BGS general officer's uniforms. The rest of the buttons are original to the tunic and of the dark gold worn by West German general officers in this time period. Now, on with the pictures.
Regards,
Gordon
When Pat started this thread his intent was to start a refence thread for uniforms in wear by the BGS, when they changed and probably the dates of the insignia as well. Since no one else has been able to post any information related to these tunics I am going to start by posting the oldest uniform I have with me that is not in storage. I acquired this tunic in the spring of 2004. In June of 2004 I pictures of the tunic to the "Bekleidungswirtschaft im BGS". Their response confirmed that the tunic was that of the rank of "Präsident" in the BGS. They also said that this type of tunic was worn from 1952 until 1971. They were a bit off here as my tunic is dated 1976 and photos in Reinhard Scholzen's book "Der BGS Geschichte der Bundespolizei" indicate they were worn as late as 1980. At the time I contacted the BGS there were only 5 men who held the position of "Präsident" in the BGS. I do not know how many men held this position in the 1970s (possibly 4) but I do know that when Germany was reunited the BGS created a new "Grenschutzpräsidium Ost" which encompassed most of the old East Gemrnay.
I suspect that this tunic was aquired as "stripped" tunic by some former collector who attempted to replace all of the insignia. The shoulderboards are correct althought the BGS clothing office says they never had eagles on their boards. The eagles resemble those worn on the enlisted men's hats of that period. I have left them as they were when I acquired the tunic since the BGS clothing people were incoreect in some of the things they said they may be incoreect here as well. The collar tabs are correct and sewn on correctly. The left breast button and the two shoulderboard buttons are possibly replacements as they are the colour of the buttons used on the later BGS general officer's uniforms. The rest of the buttons are original to the tunic and of the dark gold worn by West German general officers in this time period. Now, on with the pictures.
Regards,
Gordon
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