My first Grenzpolizei Visor Hat

[Thälmannpionier]

2

[Thälmannpionier]

3

[Thälmannpionier]

[Mike G.]

Hi Andreas,

You cannot tell in the photograph, because it is black & white. But the Cap Band between the bill and the top of the hat should be dark in color, and not Grenztruppen green. Also, there should be green piping on the bottom and top of the dark band.

See attached:

[Thälmannpionier]

Hi Michael

Thanks alot for your help

I have taken the Cap to the Flea Market today,to ask a local KVP Collector(he owns 3 complete KVP Uniforms See/Luft and Stasi)
and he said the Cap is original Grenpolizei or early Grenztruppen. He only said,that i have bought it for a bit to much Money(100eur)

hmm,I don't really know Has anyone a website or Book with color pictures of early DDR Uniforms (Hats) from each Organisation??

Regards
Andreas

P.S. But Im still quite happy with my purchase so far,even if it turns out to have the wrong corckade it's still an early and nice shaped Visor Cap.

[Mike G.]

Andreas,

The photo I posted is of a Grenzpolizei Hat.

I suspect your hat is early Grenztruppen.

[Stefas]

hello,I would say that's a grenzer cap for mannschaften.How old????
Sometimes you have too take a risk.If it wasn't very expensive??why not.This one would also interest me at first sight.

[Gordon Craig]

Thalmannpionier,

That is a great photo you showed in post #18. I took a close lok at the badges shown to try and put the uniform into a time frame and it turned out very interestingly. The top badge is the Bestenschleife badge awarded to the Kaserierte Einheiten des MdI u. Kompanien der Transportpolizei from 1960-64 and the bottom badge is the Freiwilliger zum Schutz der Socialistischen Heimat 1961 an FDJ badge for the Armee und Polizei.

I am glad the hat worked out for you.

Cheers,

Gordon

[Thälmannpionier]

Hi Gordon,

Unfortunatly,I still don't really know what exactly is wrong on my hat
or what kind of change I need to make,to get the hat correct. Or if they have existed in this kind.
I hope the gentlemens,Michael mentioned will join this Thread and can give their Opinions.

Best Regards
Andreas

[Mike G.]

Andreas,

Your Visor Hat is Grenztruppen. All you need to do is change the hat insignia to the EM / NCO type used by the NVA / Grenz / Stasi. Given that the strap - cord is plastic, one with a Staatswappen from the late 60s or early 70s era will do nicely.

By the way, if the chin strap cord is curled and brittle, it is probably original to the hat. After they quit using leather, they first went to a material that was very thin. As it aged, it became brittle and curled. It is not uncommon to come across enlisted and NCO hats with this on them. If the hat chin strap cord is of the more rigid plastic type seen on 80s era visor hats, then it is wrong for that hat.

Save the KVP insignia of course, as it in and of itself, is relatively rare and valuable.

[David H]

Andreas
I'm a bit late in on this one, but Mike is correct your hat is Grenztruppen, it looks like an early example of a BG hat, so it is still worth keeping, the cap badge went out of service before the Grenztruppen were created, for reference below are a couple of examples Grenzpolizei hats, note the colours of the crown and band.

NB: The old photo you posted is of a police Unterwachtmeister not DGP