DDR Parade

[jon m.]

During the DDR Anniversary Parades were the AK's functioning rifles or were they "dummy" guns? If "live" were the firing pins removed for the parade?

I ask because it seems that it would not be too hard for someone to "steal" (not in a socialist country !!!!) a cartridge or two and decide to shoot a member of the DDR or NVA leadership.

Of course I have never served in the military so I do not know such things.

Jon.

[81REDSTAR]

I do not know much about the arms used in the parade whether they are dummys or without ammo.But i think there will be strict checking before the arms are supplied and before the parade.

[Mike G.]

In an email conversation I one time had with Paul of Friedrich Engels Wachregiment fame, I know the K-98 they used was the real deal, and not a dummy rifle.

So I would imagine the same would apply with respect to the rifles carried in the parades.

[torstenbel]

During the DDR Anniversary Parades were the AK's functioning rifles or were they "dummy" guns? If "live" were the firing pins removed for the parade?

I ask because it seems that it would not be too hard for someone to "steal" (not in a socialist country !!!!) a cartridge or two and decide to shoot a member of the DDR or NVA leadership.

Of course I have never served in the military so I do not know such things.

Jon.

Jon, that one can be answered for definite...the guns were real and not dummy. The one I carry is one of my own personal guns, but of course we did not have any ammunition for it and firing pins were removed from all guns...you can see me carry my gun at the parade in the photo below... just in case, you have not seen this photo before.... Cheers, Torsten.

[iannima]

In an email conversation I one time had with Paul of Friedrich Engels Wachregiment fame, I know the K-98 they used was the real deal, and not a dummy rifle.

Michael, I think you mean the SKS Simonov. The Wachregiment once used the K44 Mosin Nagant Carabine but to the best of my knowledge never the Mauser K98.

[iannima]

J and firing pins were removed from all guns...

Firing pines were removed? Gosh that must have taken some time... But I suppose who cares as long as uncle Erich is unlikely to get shot...

[jon m.]

firing pins were removed from all guns.... Cheers, Torsten.

Who removed them the armorer?



When I mentioned stealing a few bullets, I meant someone taking them while at the firing range. I knew that they would not issue them for the parade.


Were there any functioning firearms, with firing pins and ammo, at the parade other than those in the hands of the Stasi?

Jon.

[iannima]

And given that we are on the subject of the October parade Here are a couple of photographs of the gruelling training that our dear Torsten remembers all too well...

Notice that the officer in front is wearing a Dienstuniform with brown belt and not the full Paradeuniform.
This is presumably at Sch******246;nefeld airport, and I fear that the tents in the background were the accommodation for the assembled jolly party...

[iannima]

One more...

Odd combination, presumably against standard regulations and authorised on the spot by the commanding officer, of the jacket of the Winterkampanzug worn without the trousers over the Reithosen and the brown belt instead of the grey webbing one.
Presumably the officer at the front cannot wear that, because the scabbard is hooked through the side pocket of the tunic, and wearing the Winterkampanzug on top would not work ...

[jon m.]

Nice pictures. Who is in the circle in the first picture? Torsten?

Jon.

[iannima]

Nice pictures. Who is in the circle in the first picture? Torsten?

Jon.

No I regularly scout this German speaking forum for photographs:
http://www.nva-forum.de/nva-board/in...38&t=5553&st=0
Apparently it is the Marschblock of the Grenztruppen and the author of the post is lost in the last row where the circle is...
Our dear Torsten had pride of place in the first row of the Lanstreikräfte School not the Grenztruppen one.

[Mike G.]

Michael, I think you mean the SKS Simonov. The Wachregiment once used the K44 Mosin Nagant Carabine but to the best of my knowledge never the Mauser K98.

Matteo,

Thanks for correcting my slip-up. Headspace and Timing - one of those Desert Storm Syndrome things - short term memory loss.

Yes, of course I meant the SKS.

Thanks.

[ritterkreuz1945]

Matteo,

Thanks for correcting my slip-up. Headspace and Timing - one of those Desert Storm Syndrome things - short term memory loss.

Yes, of course I meant the SKS.

Thanks.

Hey Mike, funny! I was with the 1st Marine Division in Desert Storm.
Who were you with?
Mike Gray

[olivyaya]

Jon, that one can be answered for definite...the guns were real and not dummy.

Same in French Army, not only for the National Day on July 14th but also for any small local parades ...

[jon m.]

Same in French Army, not only for the National Day on July 14th but also for any small local parades ...

Were your firing pins also removed?

Jon.