East German Armbands (DDR Armbinden)

[Mark Ready]

In the next few weeks I 'll post an assortment of 30 armbands.
Photo 1
Top: OVD - Offizier vom Dienst ( NVA officer on duty watch)
Bottom: Deichwache (dike watchguard - Ministry for Environment and Waterworks)
Photo 2
Top: FDJ Ordnungsgruppe (FDJ security squad )
Bottom: Freiwilliger Helfer der Grenztruppen der DDR (Volunteer helper for the GT)
Photo 3
Top: DdL - Diensthabender des Lehrganges (Official on duty for course instruction)
Bottom: East German Red Cross
Photo: 4
Top: Zivil Verteidigung (Civil Defense)
Bottom: Wache (NVA guard watch)
Photo 5
ODH - Operativ Diensthabender (NVA operative official)

[Mark Ready]

Photo 4

a

[Mark Ready]

Armbands

Sorry... these are not in the correct order as listed in the thread, but at least we got them posted!

[torstenbel]

nice collection and good to see that you also know what the armbands were used for Cheers, Torsten.

[Viktor]

Genossen, A Duty Armband on a Uniform is a good gag to play at Gigs.

The one's that can be worn with FDA and a White Belt and Cross strap are my favs ...

[iannima]

Genossen, A Duty Armband on a Uniform is a good gag to play at Gigs.

The one's that can be worn with FDA and a White Belt and Cross strap are my favs ...

I agree wholeheartedly with my esteemed Genosse . At a recent Militaria fair I wore this, copying a well known illustration in the K.u.K book ...

I only added a Regulierer armband.
It was so amusing to see the assorted other attendants look in disbelief/disapprobation at me, in the obvious misconception that I was wearing a Gitlerite uniform with a Nazi armband... but then... the white belt and white hat band made them waver and think... and their doubts reached a maximum as they saw that the armband did not bear the unmentionable symbol but a black "R" in a yellow circle
At that stage the confusion in their little minds reached its Zenith and so did my amusement
Curiosity often overcame their shyness, and many of them asked what uniform I was wearing, which prompted me to explain to them of the existence of the "other" Germany and of the peace-loving NVA ....
Educating the be-nighted masses is our goal

[Viktor]

I agree wholeheartedly with my esteemed Genosse . At a recent Militaria fair I wore this, copying a well known illustration in the K.u.K book ...

I only added a Regulierer armband.
It was so amusing to see the assorted other attendants look in disbelief/disapprobation at me, in the obvious misconception that I was wearing a Gitlerite uniform with a Nazi armband... but then... the white belt and white hat band made them waver and think... and their doubts reached a maximum as they saw that the armband did not bear the unmentionable symbol but a black "R" in a yellow circle
At that stage the confusion in their little minds reached its Zenith and so did my amusement
Curiosity often overcame their shyness, and many of them asked what uniform I was wearing, which prompted me to explain to them of the existence of the "other" Germany and of the peace-loving NVA ....
Educating the be-nighted masses is our goal

Genosse iannima,
We are all Activists and Agitators, it is our Norm, its a good look.

[marcos cidade]

Last week I got an "Dh" armband (red cloth, white letters).

Can someone "translate" this ? My guess : Dienst h....

Thanks in advance

[ehrentitle]

Last week I got an "Dh" armband (red cloth, white letters).

Can someone "translate" this ? My guess : Dienst h....

Thanks in advance

Dh. = Diensthabender

[marcos cidade]

Thank you Ehrentitle

Regards

[torstenbel]

Hi Marcos, the position of Diensthabender could have been in relation to anything ... impossible to pinpoint exactly who would have worn your Armband. Cheers, Torsten.

[ehrentitle]

Hi Marcos, the position of Diensthabender could have been in relation to anything ... impossible to pinpoint exactly who would have worn your Armband. Cheers, Torsten.

Translated into English it literally means "On Duty".

[Gordon Craig]

Mark Ready,

Interesting group of armbands. Especially the FDJ Ordnungsgruppe (FDJ security squad). The FDJ members who wore this armband also wore an orange beret with the same badge as is shown on the armband you posted a picture of. They were used more in the line of keeping order rather than in providing security.

Regards,

Gordon

[torstenbel]

Translated into English it literally means "On Duty".

Person on Duty would be more accurate. On duty = diensthaben, but Diensthabender = Somebody who is on duty, i.e. the Person on Duty. Cheers, Torsten.

[torstenbel]

Mark Ready,

Interesting group of armbands. Especially the FDJ Ordnungsgruppe (FDJ security squad). The FDJ members who wore this armband also wore an orange beret with the same badge as is shown on the armband you posted a picture of. They were used more in the line of keeping order rather than in providing security.

Regards,

Gordon

Hi Gordon, not everyone who was a member of an Ordnungsgruppe at one point or another got to wear that Beret. The berets were only really available for those people at special events that might have been likely to get into the public eye somehow and especially so in Berlin. I was Ordnungsgruppe once and I did not have any special Beret, but did have the armband and a badge to wear. This was for an event in Magdeburg. Cheers, Torsten.