Oberfeldwebel MfS, dark collar service tunic (1972)

[Capt. R]

I like it. All my non-1950's MfS marked dark collars are either X or B date codes.

[Drugo]

Drugo, That is a nice MfS stamped tunic, but I do have a couple of questions as somethings are difficult to tell from the pictures:
Does this tunic display any signs of actual wear?
Also are there any signs of badges being attached to the tunic be it a
service chevron, qualification bar, bester badge, sports badge, medal bar or anything at all?

Hi Dave,
sorry for my late answer.

I have some problems myself to understand if this tunic was actually used or not. I searched thoroughly for any signs of badges previously attached, but I couldn't find any, nor there are signs of a service chevron. There are a few small holes on the lining beneath the collar, but I don't find them to be anyhow meaningful.

I even asked the seller for some more informations about the jacket, here's his answer:

The jacket was in a stock for years – I have got it in the condition you have seen on Ebay. The black collar was abolished in 1975. In the years before was no difference between the tunics for professionals and members “auf zeit” – all did weare high-necked tunics with a dark collar and 5 buttons. The collar tabs you find on your jacket are right for soldiers up to “Stabsfeldwebel” (unchanged from 1965 to 1989 – they are mechanical woven). I couldn't find marks of use on it and so I think the jacket is unused.

What I found interesting at my second check were the laces used to tie the shoulderboards, they don't seem to be the usual greenish, flat ones:

Now, I don't know if that means anything at all.

If the tunic is indeed a mint, never worn piece, it is difficult to understand those professionaly hand sewn collar tabs: they weren't added by the seller (I know he would had told me otherwise), and if the jacket itself comes out from an "old stock", it can only be a job done in the early '70s, maybe in that transitional period, when they thought this jacket was about to be used but than turned to open collars (I'm sure the Stasi and its wachregiment did it right away in 1974) - who knows.

Finally, I couple of pictures of me wearing it:

Regards,

[iannima]

Finally, I couple of pictures of me wearing it:

Regards,

Genosse!
sometimes you frighten me...

[David H]

Thanks for the extra pictures. To be honest I wouldn't call the sewing of the tresse or the collar patches professional, both look home done to me, but that really isn't a problem as it was done that way on numerous occasions. I don't have a problem with the laces at all, actually it is nice to see that type, neither do I have a problem with the little holes inside the collar area I've seen that alot on issued and unissued tunics and believe it to be where some wee beastie has had a nibble.
I do have my concerns about the lack of any badge marks on such a senior nco tunic and the fact it appears unissued but has non professionally applied insignia. With all that said it is still a nice tunic to have..

However.......

Your stance in the pictures worries me more than the tunic!!!!

[U-Boot Kapitan]

MfS stamped tunic

Here is a similar MfS stamped, unissued tunic for sale from the same period. Again with hand sewn applied collar tabs, but not Stasi red.

Why white EM tabs only, and why hand sewn applied?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...#ht_500wt_1156

[iannima]

Why white tabs and why hand sewn applied?

why hand-applied is relatively easy... often these tunics were supplied with nothing on them. I have had one with the warehouse label still attached and NO insignia whatsoever. I think the insignia was then added either by the regimental tailor, or by the individual's own skills or those of his mother's/wife's/ girlfriend's... I think this was much more the norm than in the later years of the open collar tunic.
Why the white Waffenfarbe is much more the question ... It would have been normal in later years, as members of the Wachregiment Felixe were the only ones to retain the maroon Kragenspiegel whilst adiministrative members of the Stasi switched to white ones with maroon piped shoulder boards being the only Stasi distinction. But a dark collar tunic PRE-dates such things...
I have read of Stasi units that were masquerading as NVA, with their insignia, whilst guarding sensitive places like bunkers for the party leadership in case of nuclear war. But it seems far-fetched to imagine this one to be such a case, as it is Gabardine and that would be unusual for a simple Soldat or Gefreiter in the ordinary (non Wachregiment) NVA.
I would be inclined to think that the Kragenspiegel are an incorrect post-DDR addition... but with the Stasi there is NO way of knowing...

P.S.
I am personally in a state of war with this seller, whose name I refuse to mention... . I am NOT willing to give him the benefit of the doubt... You may wish to discount my opinion as a result...

[Drugo]

Thanks, Dave.

You're right, professional is probably not the correct word, I meant that even if hand sewn it is a fair work, quite well done, which took either some time or some tailoring skills.

I will add a double chevron soon, for sure!

Thanks for the extra pictures. To be honest I wouldn't call the sewing of the tresse or the collar patches professional, both look home done to me, but that really isn't a problem as it was done that way on numerous occasions. I don't have a problem with the laces at all, actually it is nice to see that type, neither do I have a problem with the little holes inside the collar area I've seen that alot on issued and unissued tunics and believe it to be where some wee beastie has had a nibble.
I do have my concerns about the lack of any badge marks on such a senior nco tunic and the fact it appears unissued but has non professionally applied insignia. With all that said it is still a nice tunic to have..

However.......

Your stance in the pictures worries me more than the tunic!!!!

[U-Boot Kapitan]

Post DDR applied insignia?

With regards to the tunic at the start of this thread...

I like the tunic itself , but I suspect that the insignia may be post DDR applied

I am not comfortable with hand applied insignia on a tunic that is purported to be unissued.

[olivyaya]

Very nice pictures Drugo !!!!!!!!!!!!