re-enacting a Fahnenkommando

[iannima]

Going to the Neue Wache and watching the "Changing of the Guard" was always one of the highlights for me when visiting East Berlin.

Michael, presumably you have come across that 1982 edition of the National Geographic dedicated to Berlin. The cover photograph and another one inside show the changing of the guard ceremony being witnessed by a group of GIs. I showed it to a friend of mine, ex Captain US Navy, currently teaching at Quantico, and he was rather embarassed by the slovenly appearance of the GIs compared to the pristine uniforms of the Wachregiment... Admittedly it is a rather unfair comparison as the GIs were on leave and not from a showpiece unit like the Wachregiment.
In any case I remember receiving, aged 14, that edition of the National Geographic so many years ago (23 to be precise) and of having remarked how nice the East German uniforms looked... A sign of things to come presumably... as I now collect and wear those uniforms...

[Thälmannpionier]

very nice pictures...good work

[Mike G.]

Michael, presumably you have come across that 1982 edition of the National Geographic dedicated to Berlin. The cover photograph and another one inside show the changing of the guard ceremony being witnessed by a group of GIs. I showed it to a friend of mine, ex Captain US Navy, currently teaching at Quantico, and he was rather embarassed by the slovenly appearance of the GIs compared to the pristine uniforms of the Wachregiment... Admittedly it is a rather unfair comparison as the GIs were on leave and not from a showpiece unit like the Wachregiment.
In any case I remember receiving, aged 14, that edition of the National Geographic so many years ago (23 to be precise) and of having remarked how nice the East German uniforms looked... A sign of things to come presumably... as I now collect and wear those uniforms...

I have the magazine. I am indebted to a Canadian Chap who provided it to me. To make a fair comparison of a US Army uniform against that worn by the Wachregiment Friedrich Engels, one would have to use the Dress Blue Parade uniform worn for example, by US Soldiers guarding the "Tomb of the Unknown Soldier". I'll put one of those up against any Parade Uniform from any "Cold War era" similar uniform of any other country. But I also understand it is a subjective subject, and different people will have different views and preferences.

Before leaving Berlin the second time around - 1991 to 1994, I was able to acquire one of the uniforms worn at the Neue Wache. It is however, late 80s era, so it does not have the Cuff Bars of its earlier predecessors. Wish it did. But I like it just the same. It came of course with the special "Resin" helmet. It too is of the later production type with the more modern liner inside.

[Roy Queen]

If there is a group that is dedicated to reenacting the Kampfgruppen, then I should fit in nicely as I could easily pass for an authentic KG member!

What I find interesting about watching the NVA parades is how the troops at a given moment step into the parade march. Now given my past problems trying to keep in step in basic training, I can imagine just how much training went into the march for it to be as impressive as it was.

very nice...and I am still amazed to see that there is already a group re-enacting the NVA....I really would not have expected that...and i think that the flag looks really good.. Cheers, Torsten.

PS: Now, is there also a group re-enacting the Kampfgruppen and do they have the necessary abdominal gearth???...

[torstenbel]

What I find interesting about watching the NVA parades is how the troops at a given moment step into the parade march. Now given my past problems trying to keep in step in basic training, I can imagine just how much training went into the march for it to be as impressive as it was.

Roy, see my post a bit further down...we had to do a total of six weeks (on and off) training for the parade and it really was quite tough...because I was in the first row of my marching block, I got extra special training when everyone else was having a rest... we went into Stechschritt (goose step) about 100m before the Tribune (the stand, where all the important...and now mostly dead people were eagerly awaiting us) and of course this was all on command...you might notice NVA guards standing beside the road??...they were actually markers for us to know what was about to come in terms of the commands....apart from the video I have no other private photos of the parade or the training... as it was very strongly forbidden to have camera equipment in the army...I still had a camera at the Military Academy barracks (secretly and hidden away)...but we only really used it to take silly photos of ourselves and nothing that would be of interest to anyone here... but maybe I'll post a couple of those pics in the future?? Since starting this thread, I have managed to make contact with another guy who was in the parade and I just asked him if he has any photos...in the pic below, he is the one on the far left (2 away from me)...and btw, he was our friendly Stasi informant in our unit... we did not know this at the time, but to be fair to him, he did come clean after the Wende...he is now some welding expert at a research institute in Rostock...Cheers, Torsten.

[torstenbel]

Well... it is our hobby!! What for you would only have been trivial matters, now are the subject of ontological discussions and disagreements for us...

Totally true...these things were only trivial matters...it was part of everyday life and to be honest...during my time in the Army I was between 18 and 20 1/2 years old and I was much more concerned with where to go for a pint in the evening and what girls to see later on that evening... than thinking about the history of our uniforms and how to wear medals, etc... of course, now I think about it slightly differently, but it is too late to go back and change what I did or did not do then.. Cheers, Torsten.

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Guys, great thread!


I recall seing you at Beltring. I was just down the road from you on the T 34

I will add a link to this thread into the Living History Forum so that more people can see your efforts.

Cheers, Ade.

[Viktor]

Matteo, you tease , you just love giving large with your sword, good pictures, a fine 5 days last year was had by all in the DBO der DDR and the WPFG .

[oldflagswanted]

about your Italian flag pole top...

...The finial is actually Italian but I have some hopes of finding an original one...

Nice display! If you like I will trade you an original DDR truppenfahnen pole top for your Italian pole top? If you are interested in doing the swap just email me for more details at ---> oldflagswanted(at)att.net<br><center>OldFlagsWante d.com</center><center><img src=http://members.tripod.com/~oldflagswanted/ddrflgm1.gif></center>

[iannima]

Matteo, you tease , you just love giving large with your sword, good pictures, a fine 5 days last year was had by all in the DBO der DDR and the WPFG .

I did not know you were on this forum too, Dave. Am I ever going to escape the control of the Stasi?

[Viktor]

I did not know you were on this forum too, Dave. Am I ever going to escape the control of the Stasi?

I know not of what you write of ....of course , someone has to keep your Employment record up to date I have contacts everywhere to assist your Cultural development .

Viktor , Hartley Rezident , WPFG Centre.

[81REDSTAR]

Great pictures!Really good!

Wish too see the parade in real time.

[olivyaya]

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Congratulations for your beautiful pictures Matteo !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Frank K]

Hmm, must admit I have some mixed feelings when I look at the pictures.

Very nice display but they also bring back some memories. Travelled to the DDR several times in the 80's and that was a very depressive experience.

The fake wood panels, the smell of cheap plastic and the strangeling fumes from Trabants and Wartburgs, well ok but the paranoia and watching over was hard to get used to. The guntowers in ports, the stripdowns and no fraternising, because Stasi could be around, just added to that.

On the other hand you guys lived there, so who am I to judge?

[iannima]

Hmm, must admit I have some mixed feelings when I look at the pictures.

Very nice display but they also bring back some memories. Travelled to the DDR several times in the 80's and that was a very depressive experience.

On the other hand you guys lived there, so who am I to judge?

Well no I am afraid I didn't: I'm Italian and never travelled to the Eastern Block before the fall of the wall. I can understand that there would be mixed feelings particularly from Germans about our display. Indeed when we go around dressed like that, we get VERY stern looks from the (West) Germans at the show. The point to remember -which I admit- is somewhat difficult to express, is that liking the uniforms of the NVA -as I do- does not imply support or nostalgia for the dictatorship of the SED for which I have no sympathy whatsoever...
I can have a lot sympathy for the people who were lied to for 40 years, but I have no doubt that the regime was built on a pack of lies...