Kampfgruppen tunic

[Soviet]

Hello,

I have bought a second Kampfgruppen tunic recently and I have noticed some small differences between my 2 Kampfgruppen tunics. One is dated from 1968 and the second one from 1981. Both are size 52.

I only have 2 of them in my collection so I can only compare those 2. Please, if there are other models that I'm not aware of, share it with us.

Ok so here are the pictures and my small observations. I do not have very good pictures, because I took them with my digital camcorder. I do not have my digital camera with me. This is so bad that we have to resize every pictures for our attachments.

First picture : Overview of both models

[Soviet]

I can't resize them to see something. So I hosted the pictures somewhere else.

2nd picture : I don't know how to call that in english, but the 1981 doesn't have any of these.



3rd picture: The 1981 model has an elastic on the bottom of the coat. The 1968 model doesn't have any.



4th picture: The cuff buttons are different on both models and the 1968 model has additional patches on the elbow.



5th picture: The holes under the arms are punch on the 68 model and the ones on the 81 model are burned!

[IMG]http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d116/Berlin89/KGcomparaison05.jpg[/IMG

6th pictures : Close-up on cuff buttons and on the elbow patch. Buttons on the 68 model are the same found on the 2 front pockets. They are not the same on the 81 model.



A last observation, would be that the tissues used on both model are not the same color.

Have you noticed other differences?

[Tribley]

I have a first quarter "P" (1986) dated Kampfgruppen tunic, size SG48, which has some other differences from your earlier tunics:

-Hidden flat plastic buttons on the pockets
-No holes under the armpits
-No reinforcements on the arms
-Same cuff closure as your 1981 tunic
-No loops on the front
-No elastic in the bottom of the tunic
-There is a strip of fabric in the waist of the tunic for adjustment
-Kampfgruppen patch is a darker color than the tunic, I have a later patch that is identical to the tunic fabric

Here are some photos -- first, front of the tunic:

[Tribley]

Inside of 1986 tunic:

[Tribley]

Back side of 1986 tunic:

[Soviet]

Nice tunic Tribley. I like the evolution.

Which rank is it with 3 stripes like this?

[Tribley]

Rank is: Stellvertreter des Bataillonskommandeurs, Parteisekretaer. How does this translate into a typical military rank system? Lieutenant Colonel?

Kampfgruppen ranks: http://kampfgruppen.de/rangabzeichen.htm

Here is a close-up of the patch:

[Viktor]

You are viewing the simplification of the Form fitting uniform ( FDA) in line with the simplification which occures with a lot of things DDR, they were always looking out to save money, I have examples of the second type, and in summer weight and the 3rd type in winter weight.
Thanks for the photo's...

[Ralph P]

Bryan, well done in explaining and showing the versions of the kampfgruppen tunics. Thanks...

[Soviet]

Thanks guys. That's just a start.

I know that this occures with a lot of things DDR items, but because I'm mostly interested in the Kampfgruppen I wanted to compare the 2 variations I have. Which I could get a hold on the early types of KG unforms.

[Kozlov]

Kamfgruppen is my thing too

I have id'ed at least 3 variations in the summer uniform - the two like you have there (which I have too) and the VERY early one which was what they were wearing in the photos of the anti fascist protection barrier being erected.

On the "other place" one of the guys has one of these early uniforms. I posted some photos of him wearing it to try to blackmail him into selling it to me Its my size and everything!

[Soviet]

Well, I'm aware of the early model as I said before, but I have only seen it on period pictures. Do you have any modern pictures of that uniform Koszlov?

[Kozlov]

Have a look "in the other place"....

"The wall may be gone..."