Some Pictures from the Early NVA

[Thälmannpionier]

here are some more Hans-Beimler Regiment Photos

[Thälmannpionier]

Training

[Thälmannpionier]

ABC Alarm!!!

[Thälmannpionier]

[Thälmannpionier]

here are some nice Studio Portraits for the KVP/DVP Lovers

[Thälmannpionier]

2

[Thälmannpionier]

Is this Strafvollzug or Trapo??
dated 1950

[Thälmannpionier]

KVP!!

interesting about this one is the Button from the Tunic. looks like the later NVA Buttons to me

the Visor Hat is just lovely

[iannima]

What is also interesting about the oath photograph is that there is at least two oath presentations ongoing. The other oath ceremony is in the background. I did not know that more then one would occur at the same time. I wonder if it was a large graduating class...

Thanks Andreas for posting your photos...

That I had already noticed on other photographs. Each regiment would have had more than one flag. One of these would have had the name of the Regiment embroidered on the black and this is the proper Truppenfahne which had the "sacred" charisma attached to it. But there were other flags without the embroidery. As you all know, forum member David_H has got two flags. I understand from him that both of these are of the plain (i.e. not embroidered) variety. My guess is that there would have been another Fahnenkommando outside of this picture

[iannima]

More examples of open collar tunics for officers and dark collar ones for soldiers whilst on parade. These photographs are more difficult to date but the general guess of the 1970s is as good as it gets.

Unusual is the carrying of MPiK by the soldiers which is not normally seen at swearing ceremonies.

For those who have the book, Wilfried Kopenhagen "Die Landsteikräfte der NVA"on page 167 shows the Fahneneid of the Mot Schützen Regiment Rudolf Rennen in 1979 with again this mixture of open and dark collar.

[Ralph P]

Oath - Post 295

Matteo - Your photo is interesting in that the photographs also shows the soldiers in the formations speaking something while the oath is being said.

[iannima]

Well Ralph, that was well known from the very beginning: they repeat step by step the oath once it is read out by the commander or whoever. They all do, not just the four at the flag.

[oldflagswanted]

DDR Soldiers Flag Oath ???

Matteo - Your photo is interesting in that the photographs also shows the soldiers in the formations speaking something while the oath is being said.

<center>Hello:
Anyone have the German text of the DDR NVA unit flag oath? Was it also
the same for the KG unit flags too? </center>
<br><center><a href=http://www.thecolours.info>
<img src=http://home.att.net/~gullcottage/RZMeistr.JPG></a>
</center>

[iannima]

It was shorter between 1956 and 1962. This is the one adopted with the beginning of conscription and carried on until the end. Wikipedia says that the Grenztruppen would have had a shortened version. I have no idea about the Kampfgruppen.

Ich schwöre

Der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik,
meinem Vaterland, allzeit treu zu dienen
und sie auf Befehl der Arbeiter-und-Bauern-Regierung
gegen jeden Feind zu schützen.

Ich schwöre

An der Seite der Sowjetarmee und der Armeen
der mit uns verbündeten sozialistischen Länder
als Soldat der Nationalen Volksarmee
jederzeit bereit zu sein,
den Sozialismus gegen alle Feinde zu verteidigen
und mein Leben zur Erringung des Sieges einzusetzen.

Ich schwöre

Ein ehrlicher, tapferer, disziplinierter
und wachsamer Soldat zu sein,
den militärischen Vorgesetzten
unbedingten Gehorsam zu leisten,
die Befehle mit aller Entschlossenheit zu erfüllen
und die militärischen und staatlichen Geheimnisse
immer streng zu wahren.

Ich schwöre

Die militärischen Kenntnisse gewissenhaft zu erwerben,
die militärischen Vorschriften zu erfüllen
und immer und überall die Ehre unserer Republik
und ihrer Nationalen Volksarmee zu wahren.

Sollte ich jemals diesen meinen feierlichen Fahneneid verletzen,
so möge mich die harte Strafe des Gesetzes unserer Republik
und die Verachtung des werktätigen Volkes treffen.

[Mike G.]

Question:

I was made to understand there were two different oaths - one for officers and one for other ranks. Is this true?

Reportedly, after unification, that was one of the reasons virtually no officers were permitted in the Bundeswehr.