STASI Dark collar NCO parade tunic

[David H]

As we seem to be doing a few Stasi uniforms at the moment, here is another!
A 1960 dated (NVA stamped) wool Oberfeldwebel tunic, with belt support hook holes, this is a nice unmessed with tunic. The pictures have come out a little light, but the colour is Stasi red, although it does illustrate the problem you get with early insignia where you can't always be sure which branch of service colour you've got , It wasn't unheard of for the East Germans to mess it up themselves!!!!

[David H]

Insignia

[Mike G.]

Hello David,

As you know, I'm not keen on Wool Tunics. However, this example has changed my view on this. That is an exceptionally nice quality early example of an NCO Wool Parade Tunic.

Your comment about the variance in color piping relevant to the early Tunics, particularly Stasi vs. Artillery is well noted. That comment has opened the door for my posting the only Stasi Dark Collar I at present possess. And this Tunic has given me sleepless nights and much consternation, due to the obvious color variance in the cuff bars, to that of the collar insignia and shoulder boards. I've toyed with the idea of changing out the cuff bars with a set that have deeper Merlot wine color to the thread, but I'm convinced the Tunic is original, and that it actually was issued in its present condition. So there is the delimma. What to do? Any suggestions from you and other knowledgeable forum members is greatly appreciated and encouraged.

It is a 2nd Quarter, 1971 Dark Collar Stasi Tunic for a 1st Lieutenant.

It is MfS marked and has an inside holder for an Honor Dagger, so there is no question about it being Stasi, or the Cuff Bars being present on the Tunic. It's just a question of the color being so very much off.

Photos attached:

[Mike G.]

Stamping inside of liner verifying the Tunic to be Stasi.

[Mike G.]

Presence of Honor Dagger holder inside of Tunic, verifying that it is Parade and the presence of Cuff Bars on the Tunic is correct.

[Mike G.]

Closeup of Collar Insignia and Shoulder Boards, clearly showing the thread color to be Merlot Wine (Stasi).

[Mike G.]

Closeup of the Cuff Bars. Indoors, they appear more maroon in color. However, in natural daylight, they are outright scarlet in color - the color of the dad blamed (Texan profanity) Artillery. Any thoughts? Remove and replace? Leave as is?

[David H]

I see your point Mike, they do look rather bright, I think you've got too use your gut instinct, but personally as they are of the metal variety and a fair bit later, I'd be inclined to change them, if they'd been machine stitched to the cuffs I'd consider leaving them alone, but in this case I think they are artillery.

[Ralph P]

Mike...I am posting an image of cuff bars from a gray collar Wach Regiment tunic...this may not be helping the cause, but yours do appear to be brighter then the image posted. I hope this helps...

[Mike G.]

Hi Ralph,

Actually, I've got an Open Collar Stasi Parade Dierzinsky Tunic similar to the one you posted. The thing about the later Open Collar Tunics is that the Stasi Color was much darker on the threads by then, so there was not much difficulty in differentiating them from Artillery. It is with the Dark Collar Tunics that sometimes there is a problem.

I believe I'm gonna do as David suggested, and switch the Cuff Bars out with a darker set.

Thanks for the help though Ralph.

[Rev462]

[QUOTE=Panzer Fuehrer],

As you know, I'm not keen on Wool Tunics. However, this example has changed my view on this. That is an exceptionally nice quality early example of an NCO Wool Parade Tunic.

QUOTE]

Hi Mike.

AHA!! I knew it!!! I knew that someday you'd get hooked on "woolies". Told ya so, nya nya!!

Just kidding - hope you don't my having a little fun.

I am 100% convinced that Stasi and Artillery insignia were mixed up, especially in the early days. Think about it - if we, as anal retentive collectors, have a hard time telling the difference sometimes, there's no way some overworked, underpaid seamstress on the assembly line is going to give it a second thought. She'll grab whatever is in the box and slap it on - then it's on to the next tunic.

One example from my collection - I have a 1964 dated officer parade tunic with bullion insignia. The cuff bars are definitely Stasi, but I believe the collar tabs are Artillery. The shoulderbaords are definitely Artillery.

[Mike G.]

[QUOTE=Rev462]

,

As you know, I'm not keen on Wool Tunics. However, this example has changed my view on this. That is an exceptionally nice quality early example of an NCO Wool Parade Tunic.

QUOTE]

Hi Mike.

AHA!! I knew it!!! I knew that someday you'd get hooked on "woolies". Told ya so, nya nya!!

Just kidding - hope you don't my having a little fun.

I am 100% convinced that Stasi and Artillery insignia were mixed up, especially in the early days. Think about it - if we, as anal retentive collectors, have a hard time telling the difference sometimes, there's no way some overworked, underpaid seamstress on the assembly line is going to give it a second thought. She'll grab whatever is in the box and slap it on - then it's on to the next tunic.

One example from my collection - I have a 1964 dated officer parade tunic with bullion insignia. The cuff bars are definitely Stasi, but I believe the collar tabs are Artillery. The shoulderbaords are definitely Artillery.

Okay, okay Rick. Touche.

Yea, David won me over to admittedly now having an interest in Woolie Tunics. But, only Dark Collar Woolie Tunics. I still detest Open Collar examples, and think they suck big time.

I totally agree with you about mistakes being made during the production process, regarding stasi and artillery Dark Collar Tunics. I am sure the one I have is straight from the assembly line. But that doesn't change the fact it is incorrect. So, when opportunity permits, I'm gonna change out the cuff bars. This has been a long, ongoing source of aggravation for me. It needs to be put to bed.

Oh, and good to see things have slowed down enough so in your overworked life, that you are now able to find time to visit the board and respond to some posts. Your absence was duely noted and you were sorely missed.