I have seen some great detailed displays here recently. I was chatting with a fellow collector about the stuff Bw soldiers were carrying in their uniform pockets during cold war times. So maybe I can add some more minor important details for those who are interested in.
Many things have changed since then so I will focus on the mid 1980's when I was drafted.
Sources: ZDv 37/10 Anlage 1. states which pieces of equipment have to be carried in which pockets in general. Some equipment has to be worn by every soldier at the same place/pocket, e.g. Verbandpäckchen (first-aid-packs, always worn by any soldier inside the left leg pocket) for obvious reasons.
Beside that each unit has specific rules how to wear and where to carry certain things. Usually ruled in the Verpackungsplan (packaging plan) which is part of the so called "Stubenmappe". A collection of most important unit orders that can be found in every barrack room.
So this was most of the stuff we carried with us when on field exercises in the 1980's. To come straight to the point: two pieces are missing that I can't find at the moment:
- Faltbrille (folded glasses)
- Atropine auto injector dummy
To start with the breast pockets of the Feldjacke:
- Truppenausweis (ID card)
- Impfbuch (vaccination record)
- Bw-Führerschein (Bw driving license)
- Ausweis Helfer im Sanitätsdienst (medical assistant ID)
- Taschenkarte Sowjetische Militarmission (quick reference card Soviet Military Mission)
In addition the mentioned Schutz- und Sonnenbrille and writing utensils including a 6B!!! pencil,
a compass and in some units a whistle.
Pants pocket: handkerchief, ear protection (in the 80's a set of SelecTone for firing small arms and Comfit for firing gun, Panzerfaust etc.). Mückenschleier (mosquito veil).
Leg pockets:
Left side: Both Verbandpäckchen (first aid-packs), Atropine auto injector, triangle cloth,
Right side: Taschenmesser, always tied with a piece of cord. Taschenkarten (quick reference cards, carried in a used first-aid-pack cover). Schießbuch (shooting log).
Finally the famous "Pi-Päckchen" (Pi = Pionier). These were bags the soldiers had to buy themselves and "equip" with stuff ordered by the squad leaders. Contents vary from unit to unit. We used to carry the following stuff:
- storm matches
- candle
- cork (to camo our faces)
- cord
- nails
- chocolate
- loose change (to make an emergency call from a phone booth, nix smartphones, lol)
- mirror
- etc. etc....
Of course we also carried our purse and personal things but I'm sure the things listed above will be recognized by most of the "cold war warriors" of that time.
Note: Please feel free to add the correct Englisch terms of the equipment I listed. I'm sure I used rather obscure translations for some of the stuff, thanks.
Many things have changed since then so I will focus on the mid 1980's when I was drafted.
Sources: ZDv 37/10 Anlage 1. states which pieces of equipment have to be carried in which pockets in general. Some equipment has to be worn by every soldier at the same place/pocket, e.g. Verbandpäckchen (first-aid-packs, always worn by any soldier inside the left leg pocket) for obvious reasons.
Beside that each unit has specific rules how to wear and where to carry certain things. Usually ruled in the Verpackungsplan (packaging plan) which is part of the so called "Stubenmappe". A collection of most important unit orders that can be found in every barrack room.
So this was most of the stuff we carried with us when on field exercises in the 1980's. To come straight to the point: two pieces are missing that I can't find at the moment:
- Faltbrille (folded glasses)
- Atropine auto injector dummy
To start with the breast pockets of the Feldjacke:
- Truppenausweis (ID card)
- Impfbuch (vaccination record)
- Bw-Führerschein (Bw driving license)
- Ausweis Helfer im Sanitätsdienst (medical assistant ID)
- Taschenkarte Sowjetische Militarmission (quick reference card Soviet Military Mission)
In addition the mentioned Schutz- und Sonnenbrille and writing utensils including a 6B!!! pencil,
a compass and in some units a whistle.
Pants pocket: handkerchief, ear protection (in the 80's a set of SelecTone for firing small arms and Comfit for firing gun, Panzerfaust etc.). Mückenschleier (mosquito veil).
Leg pockets:
Left side: Both Verbandpäckchen (first aid-packs), Atropine auto injector, triangle cloth,
Right side: Taschenmesser, always tied with a piece of cord. Taschenkarten (quick reference cards, carried in a used first-aid-pack cover). Schießbuch (shooting log).
Finally the famous "Pi-Päckchen" (Pi = Pionier). These were bags the soldiers had to buy themselves and "equip" with stuff ordered by the squad leaders. Contents vary from unit to unit. We used to carry the following stuff:
- storm matches
- candle
- cork (to camo our faces)
- cord
- nails
- chocolate
- loose change (to make an emergency call from a phone booth, nix smartphones, lol)
- mirror
- etc. etc....
Of course we also carried our purse and personal things but I'm sure the things listed above will be recognized by most of the "cold war warriors" of that time.
Note: Please feel free to add the correct Englisch terms of the equipment I listed. I'm sure I used rather obscure translations for some of the stuff, thanks.
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