one of my favourite pictures...

[iannima]

This must surely count as one of my all time favourite pictures from the NVA...
I rescanned from the original book Soldaten des Volkes the 1960s edition not to be confused with the 1980s book by the same title...

[iannima]

I guess what I really like is that perfect coordination with the angle of the forward leg matching across the whole of the front line including the commanding officer leading them.

These soldiers are caught at the highest point of the Exerzierschritt and it shows to full effect what an elegant step it can be.
I must admit that spectacular as it might be, the Extreme Paradeschritt of the Wachregiment, I find a bit on the silly side. It certainly is not as elegant as this normal one... At least I think so...

The shoulder boards are hardly discernible but they appear to have some device in the middle. Could these be Offiziershochschueler? In Manschaften uniform? Was there an Unteroffizierschule? Did they wear a special device on their shoulder board, like a stylised U? That would explain it.

I believe this is in the Marx Engels Platz in Berlin. In the background you can see the surviving balcony of the old Schloss from which Karl Liebnecht had proclaimed the ill fated socialist republic in 1919. Walter Ulbricht ordered the complete destruction of the Schloss despite its not being any worse damaged than many other historical buildings which were later restored during the DDR, but that balcony alone had to be preserved... He really was a nice guy... wasn't he?

[iannima]

And given that I have shown the finished perfection...
it seems appropriate that I would show the hiard labour that has gone into that beforehand...

[iannima]

And more exercises... (admittedly with a genuine parade at the bottom)



The two photographs at the top are the only ones Ii know showing the wachregiment exercising rather than actually parading

The one on the right is an obvious example of the Extreme Paradeschritt. Notice how they hold a rolled up flag to keep strictly together...
I just hope that this flag was not one of those very valuable ones that somehow inevitably end up either in the Museum in Dresden or in David_H's house...

[Soviet]

And here is one of my favorite.

[Mike G.]

Hi Matteo,

Great thread, great photos and as always, astute observations. I cannot discern very much as to the shoulder boards in the first photo, so cannot comment as to whether they are indeed different or not. I am not aware of an NCO Academy until the late 80s. But perhaps one of our former NVA Cadre can further comment.

[torstenbel]

And given that I have shown the finished perfection...
it seems appropriate that I would show the hiard labour that has gone into that beforehand...
]

yes, but none of those pics were taken during parade training. they are taken during basic training (Grundausbildung)...Cheers, Torsten.

[Mike G.]

Hi Torsten,

Is there a specific reason Basic Trainees would be required to practice the Extreme Paradeschritt? Sic: Photo example Matteo posted where the three soldaten are marching using a flag staff to keep them grouped together. This seems like something that is more along the lines of advanced training - maybe for a Wachregiment?

[iannima]

I personally have no doubt that those two top photographs are of the Wachregiment. In the one on the left you can tell that they are not on official parade before they are wearing a Dienstuniform without cuff bars (possibly unpiped too but it is hard to tell). The usage of the SKS Simonov is the give away. It is hard to tell whether they have a cuff title or not. Has anybody ever seen an unpiped Dienst dark collar tunic with a Wachregiment cuff title?
In the photograph on the right, it is quite obviously the relief guard at the Neue Wache with the commanding NCO in the middle (Tresse on the collar). It looks too close to be anything else.
I would also point out that the Extreme Paradeschritt is not described AT ALL in any of the handbooks given to the "ordinary" NVA. I own both a copy of an ordinary Grundwissen and Dienstvorschrift 010/0/001 Exerzieren (dated 1973). In both the maximum height of the forward foot is prescribed to be 30 cm. above ground. In the Extreme this measure would obviously be a lot higher. I do not think anyone other than the Wachregiment was ever required to do the Extreme Exerzierschritt.
Which is just as well... Have you ever tried? I have and I can tell you that it is not for everybody...

[torstenbel]

Hi Torsten,

Is there a specific reason Basic Trainees would be required to practice the Extreme Paradeschritt? Sic: Photo example Matteo posted where the three soldaten are marching using a flag staff to keep them grouped together. This seems like something that is more along the lines of advanced training - maybe for a Wachregiment?

Michael, my response was in relation to the pics in post 3 only and not any of the others...sorry if this was not clear... Cheers, Torsten.

[Mike G.]

Michael, my response was in relation to the pics in post 3 only and not any of the others...sorry if this was not clear... Cheers, Torsten.

No problem,

I think we are now all on the same sheet of music now.

[MikeW]

And here is one of my favorite.

Looks like an "Worker's Militia" to me.

[Viktor]

Looks like an "Worker's Militia" to me.

Note the foot wear scale of issue..... ... maybe not to the Norm..

[Mike G.]

Note the foot wear scale of issue..... ... maybe not to the Norm..

I don't know of any specified regulation footware for Kampfgruppen. Basically, they were issued the uniform and the weapon. They attended meetings, received some field training and dependent upon their position, production, devotion et' al', they were sometimes awarded medals or other similar presentations. As for other apparrel, such as gloves, mittens, footware and so forth, I think it was pretty much left up to their discretion.

On the bright side, it makes collecting Kampfgruppen kit much easier.

[iannima]

Dave (Viktor) is referring to something he has mentioned before on another photograph of this same line up of KG in August 1961, namely that they seem to be wearing anything between boots and what look suspiciously like flippers or tennis shoes... Were it not for the machine guns that they wield, it would be difficult not to find much cause for merriment in their haphazrd equipment, odd eyewear and abdominal girth as once remarked by Torsten on this forum... Perhaps NVA veterans could comment on this, but I would not be surprised if Kampfgruppen were the butt of the jokes of the entire NVA... They certainly look the part to fulfill that role . That is why I have always found odd Andy's (Kozlov) predilection for their uniforms, and am relieved to see that he has now seen the lilght and promoted himself to the Grenztruppen .