Stricktarn Berets, only for recon troops?

[Pauly]

Hi guys I have always wondered if only the recon troops wore the stricktarn beret. I know there is very little information out there about them. I have only seen one article with soldiers wearing them, see first couple of pages below. The soldiers are not fallschirmjäger, but recon troops. So what's the deal with them? Are they the only unit that wore them? Anyone have an original?

Also from the picture you can see both metal and cloth insignia.





A good Sunday morning question...

[ehrentitle]

Interesting topic. Technically the Spezial- Aufklärungskompanie (SAK) or Special Reconnaissance Companies were airborne units. I believe this topic been discussed here before and I think there may be a couple of articles on these berets in old issues of Die Nationale Volksarmee.

[Pauly]

Kevin yeah I looked but couldn't find any old posts. I may not have looked hard enough, or used the right search words.

I have looked through all my old copies of the SEGMC and found a couple things about them. Just wanted to know if there is any new information.

[ehrentitle]

I was just going out the door to church when I saw your post so didn't have the time to do a forum search. But I was sure this was talked about a few years back. I just searched on beret and didn't come up with anything.

[ehrentitle]

I could have sworn that there was a thread here on this top. But I searched the forum for over a half hour and found nothing. As for issues of Die Nationale Volksarmee, there are three that I found that mention this beret. They are #19, 27 and 28. Issue #19 has some photos of SAK soldiers wearing this beret in an article on Pg 41 titled I'd be a Wimp If I Couldn't Do It. Issues 27 and 28 discuss faked rain pattern berets with edge bands and liners salvaged from NVA Woman's berets with repo Sturm insignia on the outside. Some of which have a stamp which says "Luftstrum Regiment 40".

[Pauly]

Cool Kevin, I'll have to go back through my copies and take a look. Thanks.

[Stefas]

Hi guys I have always wondered if only the recon troops wore the stricktarn beret. I know there is very little information out there about them. I have only seen one article with soldiers wearing them, see first couple of pages below. The soldiers are not fallschirmjäger, but recon troops. So what's the deal with them? Are they the only unit that wore them? Anyone have an original?

Also from the picture you can see both metal and cloth insignia.





A good Sunday morning question...

Hello,I would say that these are para troopers.With the boards sewn on the jacket. Sometimes I saw the barets on Ebay.I always thought that they where fantasy items.

[Stefas]

Hello,I would say that these are para troopers (the 3 small pics) .With the boards sewn on the jacket. Sometimes I saw the barets on Ebay.I always thought that they where fantasy items.

[ehrentitle]

There are period photos that document that this beret was worn. I've seen lots of copies over the years but have yet to hold an original example in my hands.

[NKOMO]

Just as a caveat to people who may be looking to buy one of these berets, the South Africans also made made a version of the Strichtarn beret for use by it's Recce troops. Also, several of the Marxist liberation organizations in Africa would occasionally be found wearing Strichtarn berets.

The South African copies should have a white tag with a red number or letter on it. The terr version should be of sub-standard quality and heavily used. Hope this helps.
Arch

[delta576]

Hello,I would say that these are para troopers (the 3 small pics) .With the boards sewn on the jacket. Sometimes I saw the barets on Ebay.I always thought that they where fantasy items.

Never, these guy´s were member of a recon unit!!!! Look a the boots......they wore Knobelbecher!!! In the first sentence of Article they spoke about "our recon group......"


@Pauli,

these kind of beret were homemade and was worn unofficially!!! Official it was forbidden!!!

Combat diver of the ksk 18 also wore this beret.

Greeting René

[Mike G.]

René,

Thanks for the response and insightful information you have provided to this thread.

You have really shed some light on a subject that has for a very long time been unclear. There have been many different conjectures on the origin of the the rain pattern beret and on just what unit or units they were worn by and how they came to be able to wear this beret.

You have really closed the door on this one ...... finally.

Just one of the many reasons it is so important to our membership on the WAF DDR Sub-forum that we retain members who formerly served in one fashion or another in the East German Military. Your personal first hand knowledge about these matters and sharing of it with the DDR membership is indispensable. You and your colleagues have through your unselfish contributions and sharing of unique knowledge, continuously cleared up what otherwise would be "Murky Waters" left to our own imaginations and assumptions - oft times with very wrong conclusions.

I would like to take this moment to express on behalf of all of us, our sincere thanks and appreciation for being a member, and having the willingness to share your personal experiences and knowledge.

[Stefas]

Never, these guy´s were member of a recon unit!!!! Look a the boots......they wore Knobelbecher!!! In the first sentence of Article they spoke about "our recon group......"


@Pauli,

these kind of beret were homemade and was worn unofficially!!! Official it was forbidden!!!

Combat diver of the ksk 18 also wore this beret.

Greeting René

Thanks Pauli,I mean the 3 small pics with only the head.It seems that the shoulderboards are sewn on the jacket.I thought that the aufklarer had the "normal" shoulderboards??

[Pauly]

Thanks everyone for the replys. It's always interesting to see what type of responses questions get. I have a couple of the fake berets, maybe I'll do a recon display...it would be different.

[delta576]

René,

Thanks for the response and insightful information you have provided to this thread.
..................

Michael,

it's a pleasure, but i neve served in the NVA.

....It seems that the shoulderboards are sewn on the jacket.I thought that the aufklarer had the "normal" shoulderboards??

Stefas,

the Fernaufklärer and Spezialaufklärer wore the east german paratrooper uniform with sewn shoulderboards because of parachuting. "Normal" Shoulderboard would torn off.

Greeting