BGS four pocket tunic

[BW-Sammler]

Thanks Klaus and Steve for replies.

I added two images of the other collar.

I also found a producer label in one of the pockets.
I have never seen a producer label in a front pocket before...

[BW-Sammler]

producer label

[PaulR]

I am more concerned about the method of attachment of the shoulder boards. He would have never passed in an inspection like that. I think that they boards were removed and someone tried to re-attach them. Perhaps the son? The method of attachment is extremely amateur/untrained.

[Klaus1989]

The early model has the stamp in the front pockets, all of mine do also, but are different maker. Pfennig & Hoppe is common contractor for BGS uniforms in 50s-early 60s.

Rank could have been added later after it was removed. This could explain difference in rank (Grenzoberjäger-Wachtmeisteranwärter instead of Grenzjäger listed in his papers, unless he returned like you mentioned earlier.

Regards
Klaus

[Collectinsteve]

I have a jacket with a white label on the inside front pocket, so there is that possibility as well as the stamp mark.

About the rank... my father earned a promotion at the end of his enlistment with the US Army. The rank was held as an incentive for him to re-enlist. He decided not to, however he felt he had earned that rank even though it was not official. He even had the rank badges, but was not allowed to put them on his jacket. Perhaps this is a similar situation with this BGS trooper? And either he put his "upgrade" rank on the uniform or perhaps his son did?

Either way, I think it is probable that the BGS required the rank removed and someone (either the original trooper or his son) added it later. It might even have been illegal for him to have a fully badged jacket? Perhaps as a Cold War security measure?

Steve

[Klaus1989]

Steve,
white label first start on later jackets in the 1960s. Not used in 50s, so will not see it on the earlier ones. Only stamp.

As for the shoulderboards, not likely to be a promotion for end of service, then Grenztruppjäger would be more likely than GOJ (and not with stripe for Wachtmeister candidate)... assumed, that such happened in BGS.

Regards
Klaus

[Collectinsteve]

Steve,
white label first start on later jackets in the 1960s. Not used in 50s, so will not see it on the earlier ones. Only stamp.

Yup, mine is 1961. So labels started at least 1961. Good to know.

As for the shoulderboards, not likely to be a promotion for end of service, then Grenztruppjäger would be more likely than GOJ (and not with stripe for Wachtmeister candidate)... assumed, that such happened in BGS.

There is a possibility that the owner left the service suddenly due to health, otherwise I agree.

Steve

[SprogCollector]

Just an observation:
How likely is a former BGS member's (presumably issued) uniform to have the large "A" surplus stamp on it? I have a handful of direct-from-veteran Bundeswehr uniforms and caps and none are marked with a surplus stamp. Conversely, nearly 100% of items I've found at military surplus shops have the large "A".

[Nachrichten]

Just an observation:
How likely is a former BGS member's (presumably issued) uniform to have the large "A" surplus stamp on it? I have a handful of direct-from-veteran Bundeswehr uniforms and caps and none are marked with a surplus stamp. Conversely, nearly 100% of items I've found at military surplus shops have the large "A".

Same point I raised in my post (#9).

Since then I've seen speculation about rank being added post-retirement (to explain the sloppy sewing of the schulterklappen), etc.

The objective evidence simply doesn't support all of the conjecture ........... in my opinion.

N