para tunic 1970

[Garulfo]

It's possible that when the para adopted the open collar tunics, these were also tested in other units.

[Mike G.]

Your summary is correct !
When we discussed this tunic on our forum, we came to the conclusion there was great chance it was an airforce tunic with the "wrong insignia". The green piping is that of the GT, not of the rear services !!
I have an open collar GT tunic dated 1969 (Z) with the GT green piping on the colar + sleeves and without the cuff title... which prooves this type of open collar tunics existed for the GT in late 60s?...
I am also much confused !

Hi Olivier,

I don't see any piping on the collar or the sleeves on the Tunic posted in pic #11. Consequently, without providence, (a period photo of the owner wearing if for example) I would be skeptical of this particular Tunic - as it could be an altered one.

I would however very much like to see examples of the 1969 Open Collar Grenztruppen Tunic you have in your collection. When time permits, can you post some pictures of it? I know this is new for me, and presume it is new information for many other Forum members that collect NVA clothing. Certainly, it is possible that this type uniform was tested in other units before it was actually issued and authorized for official wear. But 1969 seems very early for this to have occurred, given that the official wear date in all NVA Ground Units was 1975.

I have to say, your uniform is a rare bird, and you need to take very good care of it.

Do members of the Forum know if there are other collectors out there who also have examples of this? If so, please respond.

[olivyaya]

You are right Mike, no piping at all on this other tunic which is not mine, but one of our French members.
As for my GT tunic, I have already posted it here, long ago... will see if I can find the thread again or see if I can post the pics again because it is packed in my basement. I got it 10 yrs ago in a local surplus store ; at that time I was surprised it did not have the cuff title, but since I did not know much about it all and the markings I had not realised... I bought it because I felt it was older than the other tunics in the shop : the fabric was thicker, the colour shade slightly different...

Hi Olivier,

I don't see any piping on the collar or the sleeves on the Tunic posted in pic #11. Consequently, without providence, (a period photo of the owner wearing if for example) I would be skeptical of this particular Tunic - as it could be an altered one.

I would however very much like to see examples of the 1969 Open Collar Grenztruppen Tunic you have in your collection. When time permits, can you post some pictures of it? I know this is new for me, and presume it is new information for many other Forum members that collect NVA clothing. Certainly, it is possible that this type uniform was tested in other units before it was actually issued and authorized for official wear. But 1969 seems very early for this to have occurred, given that the official wear date in all NVA Ground Units was 1975.

I have to say, your uniform is a rare bird, and you need to take very good care of it.

Do members of the Forum know if there are other collectors out there who also have examples of this? If so, please respond.

[olivyaya]

Here we go...
The colar tabs are not original to the tunic !

[Mike G.]

Hi Olivier,

Thanks for taking the time and making the effort to again post pictures of this exceptionally unique Tunic.


I'm quite astonished and really don't know what to say. I've not ever seen an example such as this before.

For sure, you need to take very good care of this one.

[olivyaya]

One more question : I had not realised the para tunic has no dagger strap and ring inside ! it has not been removed... it just has nver had any !!
One more mystery...

[PaulR]

Does this one count? How can one tell the date of manufactor on the tunics?

[Mike G.]

Inside the Tunic, there should be either a year or a date code identifying when the Tunic was produced. Sometimes it is on the liner, and sometimes you have to turn an inside pocket, inside out.

DATE CODE:

Note: 1968 and 1969 used both years and letters - there was an overlap. Also, 1973 and 1987 share the same letter - " L " due to a mistake.

K 1968

Z 1969

M 1970

X 1971

B 1972

L 1973 (1987)

O 1974

S 1975

R 1976

A 1977

U 1978

F 1979

E 1980

G 1981

I 1982

C 1983

H 1984

T 1985

P 1986

L 1987 (1973)

Y 1988

N 1989

D 1990

[PaulR]

Thanks Michael.

I will have a look. So, if I do have one of these tunics mentioned in the topic line, what does that mean? I am still puzzled over the whole topic.

Please forgive me as I can be a bit slow sometimes.

Regards
Paul

[Mike G.]

Hi Paul,

No problem. We too are puzzled. That is what this particular thread is about. With the exception of the DDR NVA Navy, Air Force and Air Borne, the rest of the units in the NVA switched from wearing Dark Collar Tunics to Open Collar Tunics in 1975. There of course was a two or three year transition period, and consequently Dark Collar Tunics were still seen, though rarely.

What we are trying to figure out and understand, is how a Grenztruppen Tunic dated 1969 could be "Open Collar" ?

The one Olivier has that is the topic of the Thread is dated 4th Quarter, 1969 (IV/Z). Normally, this Tunic by all that is known, should have a Dark Collar. But it doesn't. It instead has an Open (Gray) Collar. So that is the issue.

Hope that helps.

[paul heath]

Members,

Is it possible to have a closed collar gaberdine NCO tunic w/ the small label tag? And there is no white piping on the collar. There is white piping on the cuffs??

Reason why I ask is that on the show your collection post number 267 I show a NCO para tunic with the closed collar and small tag. This is in direct conflict with post 7 on the same thread.

Any comments are always welcome.

Paul Heath

[olivyaya]

The only tunics without the dagger strap and ring I have seen are the WachRgt ones, made of officer quality fabric and NO piping arount the collar... but here the tunic appears to be an officer one with white collar piping... but no strap, and no ring... strange ...

[Mike G.]

Maybe it is an other ranks Wachregiment Tunic that has been converted post unification by someone to a Fallschirmjager Tunic, to make it worth more?

I really dunno

[olivyaya]

Maybe it is an other ranks Wachregiment Tunic that has been converted post unification by someone to a Fallschirmjager Tunic, to make it worth more?

I really dunno

It has no marks of a removed cufftitle... although the 1st cuff titles appeared in 71 if I remember well... ???

[Mike G.]

Olivier,

I'm thinking it might never have seen service as a Wachregiment Tunic. Post Unification it turns up and someone adds Fallschirmjager collar insignia to it.