DDR Officer's Gesellschaft jacket as worn by musicians

[Gordon Craig]

Gents,

Over the spring/summer months I bought a number of uniforms and they were in Canada had them shipped to my home in Ottawa. When I retruned to Budapest after my summer holidays there I brought some of them with me. Now it is time to post them.

The first one will be the Officer's Gesellschaft jacket as worn by musicians.

First-the shirt worn under the jacket. It is a standard jack shirt and the markings inside indiacte it was made in the second quarter of 1988 (2/Y).

[Gordon Craig]

The shirt is unissued and still has all the packing items around the neck. The tie is the standard NVA style tie with an elastic strap around the neck. It is unmarked.

Edited September 5, 2007 by Gordon Craig

[Gordon Craig]

Method of adjusting the bottom of the shirt for a tight fit.

[Gordon Craig]

The jacket. Complete with the Representationschnur.

[Gordon Craig]

Shoulderboards and collar tabs.

[Gordon Craig]

Button under the lapel for one end of the cord.

[Gordon Craig]

The Representationschnur is attached at the shoulder in an unusual way. Instead of being attached to abutton on the shoulder under the shoulderboard it has been made with a snap fastener whic fastens through the slit in the tab of the shoulderboard. I'll iluustrate this unusual Representationschnur in the next few photos. I'start with it as it is attached to the shoulderboard.

[Gordon Craig]

The cord itself off the jacket.

[Gordon Craig]

A closeup of the two end os the snap fastener.

[Gordon Craig]

A photo from Keubke's book showing this jacket in wear.

[TS Allen]

That has EM rank insignia. Were German musicians EM's with officers as commanders or did the fellow the other nations in having SNCO's/ WO's as band leaders?

~TS

[Gordon Craig]

TS,

You are correct that the musician has EM rank insignia. The members of bands, ensembles etc of the NVA were enlisted men. There were many different musical groups throughout the NVA and the larger ones would have been led by officers. I do not know if any were led by senior NCOs or WOs.

Regards,

Gordon

[order_of_victory]

TS,

You are correct that the musician has EM rank insignia. The members of bands, ensembles etc of the NVA were enlisted men. There were many different musical groups throughout the NVA and the larger ones would have been led by officers. I do not know if any were led by senior NCOs or WOs.

Regards,

Gordon

Do these not wear the swallows nests

Order of Victory

[Gordon Craig]

Order of Vistory,

Swallows nests are not worn with these jackets. Only with the uniform tunic.

Regards,

Gordon