DDR Markings Question

[SCHUPO]

I have a question about "DDR" markings found on clothing and equipment. We are generally familiar with the normal rubber stamp or die stamped markings that we find in East German clothing. "NVA" stamps will normally be found in military clothing, "MdI" markings will be found in police clothing, "Zoll" stampings in Customs clothing, "DRK" marks in clothing of the German Red Cross, etc. Sometimes "DDR" markings will be found on some clothing and equipment.

My question is are these "DDR" markings simply generic in nature and/or are they only found on private purchase clothing rather than items of issue?

[AR-11]

These marks were in general in such a way.
Remember: You could not buy uniforms in the DDR!

AR-11

[SCHUPO]

AR-11,

Thank you for the response. By "private purchase" I meant that the items did not necessarily come through the quartermaster issue system as did most items utilized by the NVA and MdI. Some DDR uniforms were produced by various VEB enterprises and do not have these (NVA, MdI, etc.) issue/property markings. Many uniforms for the Freiwilligen Feuerwehr were not "MdI" marked for instance and only have VEB labels. Uniforms used by the Berufsfeuerwehr on the other hand typically do have MdI markings. All of these Brandschutz units were under the control of the Ministry of the Interior, but the insignia was different. I am afraid I am a retired policeman and I am more familiar with the police systems of the MdI, whereas you are more familiar with the military systems of the NVA by your experience. But, could you not also buy better than issue military clothing from the tailor if you were authorized to do so?

[AR-11]

Hello Schupo,
sorry for my missunderstanding of your topic. It´s my bad english...

I´m not a really uniform-specialist. But I know, that all of my uniforms were maked with "NVA... ".
I remember also, that a army member who did not have the norm size received really a tailor-made uniform! But that was not very often.
In every bigger garrison town there was a "VEB Maßkonfektion", where the uniforms were tailored.
On the other hand, it was possible to let make uniform trousers with the tailor. Then, nevertheless, this did not correspond to the official regulation. Some did that, and let them make a modern-fashioned trouser. Tailors could buy the uniform material. But those trousers was very expensive.

Follow: I do not speak of generals or higher officers.

AR-11

[SCHUPO]

AR-11,

Thank you for the clarification. Your English is excellent. Much better than my German.

Danke!

[Ralph P]

Hello all...

SCHUPO...thanks for starting this thread, because for me it is very educational and informative...

Dirk...Very interesting tailoring information you have provided. Also interesting that a soldier could get trousers made from scratch (((I guess if you could afford to there was no problems))). Do you know if the tailor when he finished making the trousers would place any type of maker marks in the trousers???

I think my questioned is already answered in the overall thread, but I thought I would ask to make sure ((VEB))...

[SCHUPO]

Ralph,

You are certainly welcome, I hope we can all learn something from this thread. I will let AR-11 respond to his experience with NVA tailor markings. I would be interested to know how the tailor marking and process for the military worked as well.

As to police uniforms, perhaps an example is best. Probably the most prolific maker of Feuerwehr caps was VEB Mütze in Zwickau Saxony. This label will be found in many Fire Department peaked caps. The cap markings are typically "VEB Mütze" within a shield with the VEB number and address below the shield. "9503 Zwickau (Sachs.) 11 / Lengenfelder Strasse 55" is generally printed in two lines below the shield logo on the plastic sweat shield in the crown of the Schirmmütze. There are other DDR cap makers (and labels) of course but these are the most often seen caps that I am aware of. You will also often see these VEB labels on female clothing such as skirts and shirts.

[AR-11]

@Ralph

I know it about officer's pupils who let themselves tailor trousers. I did not have such. But a few my "colleagues" at this time.
I´m sure, that a "normal" private never let tailor a uniform-trousers and payed it with his own money ...

I don´t know, if a tailor put his own marke in those trousers. But I´m sure, that a private tailor never put a NVA-mark in it!

AR-11

[Ralph P]

Hey Dirk...that is some very good information about the tailor and maker marks. Thanks for adding from your personal experience...