ok, what do I have? I got it at an antique shop for $20. The tag leads me to believe it's West German made in 74.
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Good to see you here. About time
Interesting piece! For sure it isn't the same type that was used in the late 1950s and early 1960s, but that doesn't mean there isn't another type out there. Looks more like a skiing anorak type thing. Strange printing on the label. Never seen anything quite like it before.
Steve -
ZB smok
Yeah, I know. I'm a few years behind. I really never had to post here, most of my questions are usually asked and answered. I have had this for a few months now, and couldn't find anything online. I never thought of skiing anorak. I assumed (I know) ZB because it is the same material used in a gas mask filter pouch I have marked ZB. So I guess a question I have is military or civillian?Comment
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I don't know anything about this smock, but the labels are printed in Hungarian.
I can't read Hungarian, but the previous owner of my house was Hungarian, and I still get some kind of Hungarian newsletter in my mailbox every once a while, so I know what it looks like at least.
Didn't Gordon live in Budapest at some point? He should know what this is.
Gene TComment
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It must be some civil outdoor jacket. Röv stands for rövidárú (Textile goods) Kézműipar means industry of craftsmanship, and fogy ár means consumer price. I've never seen anything similar in use by the hungarian army.
regards:JComment
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(slaps forehead) Hungarian! Well, that teaches me to look at a label when in a hurry. I thought something looked wrong for a German tag and familiar to something else. Hungarian it is
I'll see if I can get someone to identify this for us. I suspect it is civilian. I'd put money on it not being Army at least.
SteveComment
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Steve,
I would say that this is probably an anorak for the Munkasor. The Hungarian equivalent of the East German Kampfgruppen. The writing on the tag reads;
"Munka" (probably for Munkasor) and "Ruha" clothing. They wore grey uniforms. I don't have any reference for this particular piece of clothing but then I only have uniforms charts for the more commonly worn uniform pieces. There wasn't much info available on the Munkasor in the Military Museum in Budapest or in the Police Museum.
Regards,
GordonComment
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ZB smok
Well, I proved one thing. Something about when you assume. This is turning out to be very interesting. I never really thought of Hungary having anything like the Kampfgruppen. Always thought the government was Soviet-style srtict on the people.Comment
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Pretty much all the East European Communist countries had "worker's militia", which is the usual English terminology for Munkasor. Remember that totalitarian states are paranoid, so they create parallel organizations in order to ensure that no one organization gets to be too powerful. They also served a purpose for controlling the local populace at a lower level and, in theory, offered more sources of resistance should a foreign power invade.
SteveComment
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We were close!
Got this information confirmed by two sources. Apparently the warehouses are opening up now and there's piles of the stuff to be had. Theoretically, anyway.Polgári Védelem - Civil Defense, the guys who help when a catastrophe occurs. Munkaruha means: cloth for working.
SteveComment
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Of course. When I'm broke, they always open their stash!Originally posted by Collectinsteve View Post
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Steve,
Thanks for the update.
Regards,
GordonComment
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ZB Smok
Thanks to everyone for the info. I never would have guessed Hungarian. I will have to dig out some of my stuff. I'm sure I have questions.Comment
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grungewehr39,
Looking forward to your questions and future participation. Questions are what keeps the forum alive.
Regards,
GordonComment
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