Amoeba camo e Soviet helmets

[iannima]

EXCEPTIONALLY rare photographs... probably dated '56 or '57 (at most) with the Amoeba camouflage smocks AND gasp , in two cases, Soviet helmets with the tricolour decals...

[Geoff]

WOW! Phenomenal photos! Thanks for posting these. One has to wonder how many East German citizens who survived the end of the war in 1945 cringed upon seeing their sons/soldiers dressed in Soviet uniforms? They had a decade to accept Soviet occupation, but still, it's a real stretch of the imagination to believe that everyone who survived the nastiness of 1945 welcomed the continued Soviet presence and influence. From everything I've read, the Soviet uniforms were unpopular with the people and led to the reintroduction of the traditional German-looking uniform for the new NVA.
(And I'm sure the same could be said of German attitudes in the western zones towards the American, British, and French. I imagine that there were many who wished that the Allies would just go home and let the Germans get on with their lives without outside pressure or influence).

[comune1aclasse]

From everything I've read, the Soviet uniforms were unpopular with the people and led to the reintroduction of the traditional German-looking uniform for the new NVA.

Hi Geoff!

I know from a documentary in which General Horst Stechbarth is interviewed, where he states that no later than the time when KVP became NVA even the Russian Military suggested the Germans to turn back to their traditional uniform style....

Cheers,

Alex

[iannima]

It seems that a substantial number of very early NVA photographs are now coming on to the market from the same seller. I shall post the interesting ones here even though they are no longer in Amoeba.

[iannima]

I have always maintained that the theory of a piped tunic for parade/going out only and an unpiped (or split-cuff) one for service/field was UNLIKELY to have been adhered to in practice. I had plenty of evidence in that respect for officers, but these photographs show it soldiers too...

Dated July 1957
Here the piping at the sleeve is visible and also the traces of the cuff bars for the one on the right


In this detail one it is unmistakeable: this tunic once had Ärmelpatten, and they have been removed. The Kragenspiegel look like the full colour (bright) ones too. The setting is obviously service/training. Besides the removal of the Ärmelpatten means that this was a permanent condition


Being obviously from the same batch this one was worth including. To note are the PPsh41 and the officer at the back under the camouflage net


Again Ärmelpatten removed

[iannima]

Two more that interest me :smoking:

This must have been a very posed shot with a full parade/going out tunic (Ärmelpatten) used for training with a Ppsh41


The gun is a Flak 52-K 85 mm Modell 39 (probably Soviet production). Interesting again to note the dark collar tunics used for service/training with Ppsh41

[iannima]

[iannima]

Clear case of KVP uniform worn with NVA insignia:

[iannima]

A nice parade...

[iannima]

to note the pistol holster of the seated chap in the foreground:

[tony james]

Note the p38/ luger WWII hardshell holster being worn by the nco in the above foto.