DDR Y-Strap question

[Veritas4514]

Good afternoon gents. I have finally found an unissued set of unmodified DDR Y-straps. It is darn close to minty. The question I have is the markings. MFS. I believe this is a STASI marking. Being these are combat straps, does that mean these belong to the Felix Dzerzhinsky Guards Regiment? Thanks, Martin

[Veritas4514]

Markings

[Veritas4514]

My stuff!

[comune1aclasse]

Hi,

nice stuff!
you should decide though.... either the 2 Magazine pouch or the 3 Magazine pouch.
2 Magazine pouch was more common for Grenztruppen when on patrol.
In any case they would have had only one pouch.
Also the breadbag is not original to NVA use. NVA never used a breadbag.
Breadbags were more likely to find in use in organisations like the Kampfgruppen or the Red Cross....
Cheers,

Alex

[Veritas4514]

Thank you,

Yes, I had just recently read that two pouches did not happen. Also, one of the bread bags is marked, "VA IV/61". Any idea what the "VA" means? The other is MDI marked and 1957 dated.

[HAF]

VA can mean verwaltungsamt
nice straps by the way

[tony james]

Congratulations on having a set of MFS marked Y straps. they are rare and very hard to find . as far as the nva not using breadbags i wouldn't bet on it. I've seen two NVA marked breadbags. that were dated 1961 and 1965 . the 1965 dated one using less leather and a cheaper material than the earlier ones.

[iannima]

I don't think I have ever seen a DDR Y Strap in such mint conditions Congratulations!
Your guess that the MfS markings would point to the Felixe is as good as it can be. Unfortunately it cannot be confirmed You are also quite fortunate that the markings are so clear: they are mostly illegible in the bulk of existing DDR leather material.

On the subject of assembling the rig, I agree that having both pouches is rare. (Indeed anything involving the double pouch, as opposed to the triple one, is relatively rare) However it IS documented... I'll have to dig in my archives but I have seen both pouches being worn. An artillery photograph if I remember rightly

The bread bag is a matter of extensive debate: it was used in the very early stages of the NVA so it can be associated with the pouches etc. for a PPsh41 or a Karabiner44, but I would certainly not associate it with a '59 pattern Kalashnikov bayonet. The earlier AK47 bayonet is possible but again it would be a matter of some debate.
What I would consider definitely to be taken off is that hand grenade pouch.

Bu all in all it looks fabulous

[Veritas4514]

What would the correct pouches for the Mosin 44? How about the sks?

[iannima]

Chap in the centre :smoking:



But I agree: it is a rarity and that it is more usual to see only one pouch being worn (the triple one being more common than the double).

[iannima]

How about the sks?

Here:




But bear in mind that the SKS in actual usage by the NVA (as opposed to the KdA; Grepo; MdI etc.) is an absolute rarity...

[Veritas4514]

Great photo and wow!!!!
I did not know an sks pouch existed in blumentarn!

[comune1aclasse]

Also, one of the bread bags is marked, "VA IV/61". Any idea what the "VA" means?

All right...that is quite interesting....

In the year 1961 the Flächentarn combat uniforms had already been issued for quite a time and the equipment the goes with it usually does not include a breadbag....
As Iannima already said, the breadbag was used in early years and that would be a period in which the "Armed Forces" were still called Kasernierte Volkspolizei...and even then it might be matter of debate whether it was or not...

....It would be interesting to see the stamp on your bag....can you post it?

Alex

[Viktor]

Genosse, When setting up DDR equipment, they followed the soviet style of entrenching tool worn on the right side, when Blumentarn was issued the Bread bag was obsoleted for the Assault pack Nr.
The Grenzers used the Bread bag till at least 65 as they were lower down the list for the new scales of norms.

In fact blumentarn kampfanzug with black leather equipment is a good look for the early mid sixties Grenzer.

The 3 cell Grenade pouch is not seen in the photos of the era or later in fact as part of personal equipment, they were used to store grenades in vehicles it seems again to the Red Army/Soviet pattern.

[Spukmeyer]

Excellent acquisition, congratulations.
Regarding the magazine pouch ... I have taken this photo of an army film shows the use of the two.