Stuff in The Pockets

[Rev462]

Next is a testimony that interesting things can still be found at surplus stores.

Just picked this up recently. It's a lightweight, cotton Drillich tunic. It's marked NVA and dated 1978. What's interesting is the tag.

OK, technically it wasn't in the pocket. It's attached by a string to one of the pressed paper buttons that attaches the collar bind.

It's an original manufacturer's tag with a description of the item: "Sommerdienstuniform Ohne Kragenspiegel".

[Rev462]

Here's a close up of the tag.

Apparently these tunics were supplied bundled on groups of 5. The size is hand written: M48-1.

[Rev462]

This next one is really a treat. Here is a Bergbau tunic. It's an early one made of heavy wool with pinstripe sleeve linings. Very high quality.

Inside the inner chest pocket of the tunic was a rolled up newspaper. I think it's the "Berliner Zeitung am Abend", dated April 25, 1962.

[Rev462]

Here's the full front page.

In addition to the major headline about Bonn screwing up the UN charter, in the lower right corner is an interesting little blurb, "Patioten sind aktiv" out of Saigon.

The Patriots are the "self defense forces" of the South Vietnamese people. They have been active against the "dictator" Diem and his American henchmen by shooting down or damaging 13 planes and confounding their pursuers.

[Rev462]

As my memory card is getting full, I'll just post a couple of the more interesting bits from inside.

First, is a cute little cartoon called, "Die moderne Epoch".

[Rev462]

Here is a photo of a Vopo officer apparently giving some kind of traffic safety seminar.

He is wearing the dark collar tunic with bullion, "single bar" collar tabs. His rank is Hauptmann.

[Capt. R]

bergbau

Rev
I remember that newspaper in the pocket but had forgotten about it until now!!! If you will recall - That is the tunic you got for me and then I sold it back to you several years later when I was on my dark collar purge! I left the newspaper in there but had made note of the photo of the officer wearing the dark collar.

Thanks for resurrecting an old memory for me!

I do love this "stuff in the pockets" idea for a thread.

[Rev462]

Don:

Your memory is much better than mine. I have no recollection of selling and re-buying that tunic!

The personal effects left behind in these uniforms really bring some life into an old relic. I'll keep digging and see if I can find more goodies.

[joseramon]

Unknown object found in the washing machine



Hello:
I cleaned some new (recently adquired) and old strichtarn jacket, trousers and magazine bags. When I extracted it of the washingmachine, I found this. I suppose it was unnoticed when I looked in the pockets.
What is it?
Thanks in advance.
JR

[speedytop]

Hi JR,

I think, it is a key for a savings box (Spardose).

Regards
Uwe

[NKOMO]

I have found candy wrappers, pistachio shells, handkerchiefs (used), cough drops, and East German pfennigs. Nothing spectacular.

I did buy an EG rain pattern uniform off of a guy in South Africa. Uniform was one made specefically for Angola or the SWAPO of Namibia and the pockets were full of sand. I emptied it all out and now have it in a little baggie.

[joseramon]

Hi JR,

I think, it is a key for a savings box (Spardose).

Regards
Uwe

Jejeje, A saving box in a Swiss Bank?
Gruße.
JR

[Capt. R]

Key

Looks like those keys that turn lights on and off in gymnasiums and other public places like schools and government buildings in the USA. Did the DDR have any "government owned" buildings??

[Knuckles930]

Got in a stichtarn tunic today, as usual I checked the pockets and found this little gem
which seemed "very" attached to its pocket.

[Viktor]

Looks like those keys that turn lights on and off in gymnasiums and other public places like schools and government buildings in the USA. Did the DDR have any "government owned" buildings??

Da!, It looks like an MK "fish key" which is used in he UK SSR, only of a more Progressive nature.