East German Construction Troops...Bausoldat

[PaulR]

Does anyone have a photo of an actual uniform? I have tons of the shoulder boards, but did they have their own collar tabs? Did they wear the same uniform as the regular army or did they wear a Civil Defence type uniform? Does anyone know where I can find one of these tunics complete? I cannot imagine the actual vet wanting to keep their uniform after their service time after all, it was a consciencous objector reg...right? This is one of the few tunics I am missing!!!

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

Thanks
Paul

[John F.]

Gowen Militaria

Paul:

Have you tried German eBay or Bob Gowen at http://www.gowenmilitaria.com/main.html. You'll pay a little more going through Bob but if he doesn't have it in stock he can probably can get it.

John

[Rev462]

Hello Paul.

The Bausoldaten wore typical Army-style (wooly) EM tunics and collar tabs. The waffenfarbe on the collar tabs was olive, and this was maintained even after the other branches changed to white waffenfarbe in 1979/80. Supposedly the only available rank was Soldat.

According to the Walther book, the Bausoldat insignia first appeared in 1966. Whether the Bausoldaten existed prior to 1966 and wore white (or some other) waffenfarbe I don't know - but they got their own olive waffenfarbe in 1966.

Since the insignia appeared in 1966, dark collar Bausoldat tunics did exist (I had the good luck to get one - and paid a handsome price!). Tunics with parade cuff bars also existed, but I have never seen one anywhere. After 1979, they switched to plain collar tunics but as mentioned above they kept the olive waffenfarbe until the end in 1990.

Bausoldat tunics - both plain collar and especially dark collar - a very difficult to find. They must have beat the hell out of those tunics. I have one of each and they've both around the block a few times.

Try Gowen Militaria. He may have some plain collar tunics, but don't hold your breath for a dark collar one - although you never know!