Photographs of leather Y straps in use

[iannima]

Ten days ago or so I travelled some some 200 miles to a militaria fair that proved an enormous disappointment. One of the few good things about it was that Forum member David_H was also there and we managed to have a bit of a chat.
I happened to spot a pair of MdI marked leather Y straps on his stall. He remarked to me that photographic evidence of their actual usage even in the early NVA was rather scarse. Now it is true that they were probably used more extensively in the Kampfgruppen (hence the MdI markings) but it is nonetheless true that they were also used by the NVA. I even had in my hands a pair marked NVA. So the quest is to find photographs of these in NVA usage (Grenztruppen or Deutsche Grenzpolizei would count too).

I know of a sequence of photographs about a pair of Grenzer wearing Blumentarn and leather Y-straps in the book "Unsere Nationale Volksarmee" (pages 218 -226). Not having a scanner I cannot post those, but I thought to start a search on my other material. Here are my first findings. See if you have anything you can add. For some reason it seems more commonly to be found with Grenztruppen.
Here is the first:

Of note is the fact that the straps go through the shoulder boards unlike what was the rule with webbing grey straps in later years

[iannima]

This is Armeerundschau 1962. I am not so sure about the colour of this uniform as it looks brown. It could be because the DDR printing process had not developed that well, or alternatively, it is an old KVP uniform being used as the shape of the breast pockets might suggest. Howevder the photograph cannot be that old as he appears to be carrying an AK47

[Garulfo]

Nice pictures ! IMHO the sidecap badge is a KVP one.

[olivyaya]

Matteo, it is a DGP uniform in the brown shades as you notices !!
I have the tunic in my collection as well as the sidecap

This is Armeerundschau 1962. I am not so sure about the colour of this uniform as it looks brown. It could be because the DDR printing process had not developed that well, or alternatively, it is an old KVP uniform being used as the shape of the breast pockets might suggest. Howevder the photograph cannot be that old as he appears to be carrying an AK47

[Kozlov]

Matteo, you need to talk to Dave about this... I am sure he has answers, photos and almost certainly 600 (at least!) different types of leather y-straps to show you 8)

I'm sure he's always said to me that the Kampfgruppen used the leather stuff although I think he also mentioned G/T as well.

If you ever want to find DDR leather field gear, always check out anyone selling stuff for WW2 German reenactment, most of the stuff knocking around is DDR. You'll be surprised what you find!

[iannima]

Thank you Andy,
Of course I need to speak with Dave (Viktor)!! I look forward to doing that at Beltring in four weeks' time!
But I am not actually looking to buy these Y Straps as I already have one pair and their being used by the Kampfgruppen was already known. My point is instead to find photohraphic evidence of their being in use by the NVA and GT, which is what David_H considered as rather scarse.
And the DGP counts too!! even though their uniforms were a nasty brown instead of a nice Steingrau..

[Viktor]

I like the mid sixties GT look with the Black Equipment and MPi K weapon system... nice.... 4 weeks... ,... but I have nothing to wear....