Feldienstuniform Übergangsperiode N. 2

[torstenbel]

The bottom half is also essential as I don't know about you, but but for that I couldnt wear my FDA trousers outside my boots!

It seems a little strange (particularly in the height of our summers) but its alright after a while and I don't don NVA gear without it now!

Hi Andy, I guess that you are talking about the longjohns?? I think during my 2 1/2 years in the army I only ever wore them two or three times during winter guard duty, but that is it....others wore them much more regularly, but I did not like them at all...as for wearing FDA trouser over the boots without longjohns...I never found that to be a problem, but most of the time I wore long socks with that...

The underwear army issue t-shirt was a different story...that was quite comfy and I wore them lots...below is a photo where I am wearing one during my time in the army...I am the one in the middle at christmas in 1988 in my room with army issue regulation beer bottles on the table... Cheers, Torsten.

[Viktor]

Yes I do have one. Although I do not quite know whether it is NVA or Bundeswehr as in colour they are absolutely identical... (see my earlier post...). I have not seen it for some time actually as it does not exactly count as an everyday item of dress (unlike the boots and the overcoats... )
Funny to learn how the letter of the rule could be met...in many ways

It better not be Bund Genosse, these things will be viewed very poorly... as does your Employment Record, the Charge sheet appendix however is very healthy .

[iannima]

Hi Andy, I guess that you are talking about the longjohns?? I think during my 2 1/2 years in the army I only ever wore them two or three times during winter guard duty, but that is it....others wore them much more regularly, but I did not like them at all...as for wearing FDA trouser over the boots without longjohns...I never found that to be a problem, but most of the time I wore long socks with that... Torsten.

Torsten,
I think you have hit the nail right on the head as the saying goes...
You and I being both from the Continent (bl**dy foreigners in UK speak) would be accustomed to wearing long socks, that is socks that cover fully the calf and stop just below the knee. The indigenous tribes of these Islands are instead accustomed to wearing socks that barely cover their ankles. I am sure you too must have noticed in a department store how much more limited the choice is for long socks as opposed to the short ones. Obviously Andy is right: wearing boots with those short socks must be a pain, but the answer is not to be found in wearing longjohns... just in wearing more sensible socks

[iannima]

It better not be Bund Genosse,

As I said before, I have not seen it for a while but one thing I do remember: there were no markings whatsoever. And as I said the Bundeswehr ones look exactly identical...
How are you going to bring charges then if you cannot substantiate any discriminating evidence...?
I just think that you are annoyed that I am encroaching on your territory of field dress , whilst until now I had kept to the parade order of dress...

Today I went scouting for antiques in a market town at the foothill of the Pennines and miraculously found a Strichtarn summer jacket with covered buttons on the sleeeve in a slightly bigger size (SG48). Now I shall not look any more as if I have visited the dessert tray a bit too often, when I next wear the Übergangsperiode Feldienstuniform N. 2. Incidentally do we have any rough idea when the later Strichtarn FDA would have been introduced? Is it 1974 again?

[Viktor]

As I said before, I have not seen it for a while but one thing I do remember: there were no markings whatsoever. And as I said the Bundeswehr ones look exactly identical...
How are you going to bring charges then if you cannot substantiate any discriminating evidence...?
I just think that you are annoyed that I am encroaching on your territory of field dress , whilst until now I had kept to the parade order of dress...

Genosse, We are both part of a Progressive system....

"How are you going to bring charges then if you cannot substantiate any discriminating evidence...? "...

..this will not be a problem..... .....

[KevinH]

Interesting topic.
Question: For the fall transitional uniform was the wool tunic tucked in to the pants? (that would account for the larger waist) I tried this combo not tucked in and I could see the grey hanging down below the strichtarn.

[torstenbel]

Interesting topic.
Question: For the fall transitional uniform was the wool tunic tucked in to the pants? (that would account for the larger waist) I tried this combo not tucked in and I could see the grey hanging down below the strichtarn.

yes, the Dienstuniform jacket was tucked into the pants. Cheers, Torsten.

[torstenbel]

Interesting topic.
Question: For the fall transitional uniform was the wool tunic tucked in to the pants? (that would account for the larger waist) .

the winter felddienst pants were always worn with braces...they did have a larger waist exactly to allow for this uniform combination...NVA army braces shown below. Cheers, Torsten.

PS: A question re the braces...were they the same for all ranks in the army? I certainly had these as part of my officer kit, but did lower ranks also have the same? I assume yes, but I do not know??

[AR-11]

the winter felddienst pants were always worn with braces...they did have a larger waist exactly to allow for this uniform combination...NVA army braces shown below. Cheers, Torsten.

PS: A question re the braces...were they the same for all ranks in the army? I certainly had these as part of my officer kit, but that lower ranks also have the same? I assume yes, but I do not know??

Torsten,

I know it for sure: yes. All rank wor ethe same braces. Inclusive the Generals...
(no golden buttons on or "silkrubber" made... )

AR-11, Dirk

[iannima]

A question re the braces...were they the same for all ranks in the army? I certainly had these as part of my officer kit, but that lower ranks also have the same? I assume yes, but I do not know??

The photographic evidence I have seen would indicate that they were all the same regardless of rank. I have also purchased several of these and never found any significant difference that would indicate one version to be for officers and another for the Manschaften. The usual odd variation in colour but that is another matter.
There obviously was an earlier pattern that was buttoned onto the trousers rather than using the D rings, but I believe that too was the same regardless of rank.
Obviously not having served in the NVA I am not in a position to rule things out categorically (who is?), but I would VERY surprised to find evidence contrary to what I have just said...

[KevinH]

Here's a website with some pics of guys in the winter NR.5.
http://www.kai-koeker.de/reisen_eu_d..._20_sperre.htm

[torstenbel]

Torsten,

I know it for sure: yes. All rank wor ethe same braces. Inclusive the Generals...
(no golden buttons on or "silkrubber" made... )

AR-11, Dirk

what?? no golden buttons on General's braces... I don't know...why of why did I ever want to be a General... Cheers, Torsten.

[iannima]

Here's a website with some pics of guys in the winter NR.5.

Very nice example, thank you, Kevin. Interesting to note how in the first photograph the soldier wears a later FDA whilst the officer an earlier one like the one I wear in this thread with no breast pockets and ribbed cuffs.
One warning though: these are Grenztruppen. They had different regulations. Have alook at this photograph taken in November 1989, and I stress November. Some of the officers seem already to be wearing some version of the N.5 with shirt and tie underneath but no fur collar. Early November is way too early for a N.5 according to the NVA Grundwissen. And they are also wearing the brown belt over the Strichtarn. I think Dirk had commented before how often GT order of dress would be outside the norm of NVA regulations.

[torstenbel]

Matteo, in November 1989 things were still pretty much as they should have been....but as you see GT uniform regulation were sometimes different from the rest of the NVA and they wore some strange things...;-)...the other pics in the website link are definitely from post January 1990, as the guys are starting to sport a moustache and that permission was only given late January 1990. Cheers, Torsten.

[Viktor]

Torsten,

I know it for sure: yes. All rank wor ethe same braces. Inclusive the Generals...
(no golden buttons on or "silkrubber" made... )

AR-11, Dirk

Genossen,
I have a pair of Braces that came with VM Buttons on it, likely they didn't use LaSK buttons.