siampete

Thanks Eddie,

I have this posted on all three big DDR boards (where English is spoken) as I regrettably speak no German. So far no one has replied that have seen a tunic exactly like this one. The cufftitle is sewn on correctly (no stitching through the sleeve), as well as the collar tabs. It is apparently a private purchase tunic since there are no NVA markings, and the tailor label in the inside pocket. Strange enough that an EM/Non Career type would invest in a privately made tunic, and even if he did, one would think that it would have to conform to exact specs.

Best Regards,

Robert

Hello Robert,

Take a look here, maybe its among the collection.

http://www.permutti.com/sandro/uniformi/DDR.html

Regards Eddie

Thanks Eddie,

That is in fact the site where I got the comparative photo from. Can find nothing there. Again, all the career/Wach Rgmt/etc. open collar tunics on the page have the same collar shape and size as mine as well as the same button placement, they are made from Gaberdine. Mine is wool. As someone on another forum stated "what I have is practically a career/officer, etc. tunic made of wool".

BTW, the link above does not allow me to enlarge the photos, but this link to the same page does:

http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Quarters/5565/DDR.html

Best Regards,

Robert

Greetings,

I recently aquired this GT tunic. I am unable to find an illustration anywhere of one like it. I realize that it has the wrong shoulder boards.

1) The tunic is of wool, indicating an EM or non career tunic.

2) The tunic has no NVA markings, only a VEB label in the inside pocket that reads "VEB (B) Kleiderwerk Wernigerode.

3) The collar is short, like on an officer tunic.

4) The placement of the button holes is like an officer tunic or a gaberdine tunic with the fourth button from the bottom being inline, or slightly lower than the breast pockets.However, it does have a fifth button at the collar and clasps.

5) The tunic is stone grey without a hint of green.

Here is a link to a photo of this tunic.

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q160/wo...nEMTunic002.jpg

Here is what I am comparing it to when I mention collar length and button position.

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q160/woozelwoo/35.jpg

Thank you in advance for your help,

Best Regards,

Robert

Forgive me if this info has all been posted before, but I cannot find answers on the board to a few questions.

1) How shall I properly refer to the strichtarn pattern camouflage uniform, as I realize that Strichtarn actually refers to the particular camouflage pattern. I have seen the acronym "UTV" used. If this is correct, what does it stand for?

2) Particularly in the last issue without shoulderboards, but with the rectangular rank patch on the left sleeve: Was the camouflage only worn over the service uniform or was it used as the US and others wear BDUs with only undergarments beneath?

3) Was the last version of (again I must use the US term) LBE with the more traditional web belt, not the nylon one, ever fielded?

Best Regards,

Robert

Thank you again for trying to help. Do you happen to have a copy of "Uniformen der DDR"? Someone told me that they saw a tunic like mine on page 84.

Thanks,

Robert

I actually think you have ! The tunic is an early 1980s GT one for non profesional soldier ; the collar size is not a problem, must correspond to the era when the tunic was tailored... what we would need to check is whether all earlier type wolly tunics have the same type of collar, and later ones a larger collar... The buttons position clearly shows the tunic is not of later production !!

As for the officer tunics are concerned, I have found this one in my collection ; it has the same buttons positionning as your woly type tunic... but this one is a bit special since it is a former black collar tunic that has been converted to an open collar tunic after 1974.

Thank you for continuing to help. The button positioning is not the same though.

So, I am still unable to identify this tunic.

To restate my quandry:

1) The tunic has no NVA markings, only a VEB label in the inside pocket that reads "VEB (B) Kleiderwerk Wernigerode.

2) The collar is short, like on an officer tunic.

3) The placement of the button holes is like an officer tunic, except that it does have a fifth button at the collar and clasps.

You do know that the wrong shoulder boards are on the Border Guard tunic.

Yes, I am aware that it has infantry boards on it. I had not yet changed them when I took the photo. Thank you for looking.

Thank you for your help. I am at a loss to identify this thing.

True, a picture speaks a thousand words. Any ideas about the collar? Does it not look to be cut just like an officers tunic, but of wool? With the exception of the collar clasps of course.

This illustrates the difference in collar length and button placement to which I am referring.

Looks like to be a non professional EM tunic of the GT ; wrong shoulder boards...

those "VEB" tagged ones are seldom seen I would say...

The cuff title denotes the tunic was tailored after 1976 ; af far as I remember, the switch to open collar tunics occured end 1970s/early 1980s for the non officers ; officers gradually switched to the open collar tunics from 1974 on.

But what of the collar and button placement? I am unable to find an image anywhere of an EM tunic such as this one. It still has the collar clasps, but they are useless with the button placement. It is difficult to see without seeing them side by side, but as I am sure you know, EM tunic buttons were higher and the top of the collar was "longer".

You are very welcome...

I cannot see the pictures... aren't they protected inside your account pages ?

I don't know what was happening. The one link is modified and now visible. You may need to refresh your browser window.

Thanks Again,

Robert

Perhaps you can help me ID this very strange tunic. It is a recently aquired wool EM Grenztruppen tunic. It has the clasps, top button, and button hole to be worn closed collar, but the collar/lapel is cut like an officers tunic, as is the button placement. There are no NVA markings at all. Only a "tailors tag" in the inside pocket that reads "VEB (B) Kleiderwerk Wernigerode".

I haven't bothered to replace the infantry shoulder boards with the correct ones yet. Here is a link to a picture.

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q160/wo...nEMTunic002.jpg

Thanks,

Robert

Gabardine tunics were worn by officers AND professional NCO or EM !! Non professional NCO and EM wore the wooly type ones !!

The tunic posted in post #1 is definetly a professional EM since the colar tabs are machine sown... the officer shoulder boards are not correct...

If you keep them you would have to replace the collar tabs !

Very astute observation. I thank you for adding to my information database.

Gabardine tunics were worn by officers AND professional NCO or EM !! Non professional NCO and EM wore the wooly type ones !!

The tunic posted in post #1 is definetly a professional EM since the colar tabs are machine sown... the officer shoulder boards are not correct...

If you keep them you would have to replace the collar tabs !

I am confused. The original question about the tunic being EM or officer. The tunic appears to be gaberdine and not wool and to be a 4 button open collar tunic. I thought this indicated officer, not EM as was answered. Am I missing something?

Regards,

Robert