Whilst the West German Bundeswehr dispensed with most of the forms of dress and traditions associated with former Reichsheer and Wehrmacht, the armed forces of the Soviet-backed East German regime paradoxically embraced much of what had been ideologically defeated. Perpetuating the old Prussian goose step march and numerous customs, the design of uniforms and accoutrements often echoed the past. Whilst plastic helmets has been used by some senior officers for parade purposes during the period of the Third Reich, lightweight plastic variants of the East German M1956 helmet were used by the various Guard regiments of the NVA that bore 'Wachregiment' status, including the one manned by uniformed Stasi personnel (Wachregiment Feliks Dzierzynski). Tasked with being the public face of the regime in Berlin as Guards of Honour and a variety of ceromonial and State occaisions, all ranks wore officer-style uniforms with distinctive cuff bands.
Physical description
Plastic domed-shaped helmet with extended ear protection, painted grey/green, and fitted with a 'Y' shaped leather chinstrap arrangement and fine quuality leather eight-tongued perforated liner.
Jacket, M1986 Parade Dress: Stabsgefreiter, DDR (Wachregiment F. Dzierzynski)
History note:
Jacket of the type worn by a member of the East German (DDR) State Security (Stasi) official guard regiment, 'Wachregiment Feliks Dzierzynski' - named after the first chief of the Soviet secret police. Whilst the West-German Bundeswehr dispensed with most of the forms of dress and traditions associated with former Reichsheer and Wehrmacht, the armed forces of the Soviet backed East German regime somewhat surprisingly embraced a series of anachronistic and tarnished military protocols. Thus the East German Army perpetuated the old Prussian goose step march, the torchlight tattoo and other numerous customs. As regards military dress, officers' brocade belts, dress daggers and the cut of uniform remained as obvious reminders of their original inspiration. Purchased by L Milner from a Berlin trader.
Physical description:
jacket grey lightweight single-breasted four-pocket jacket with open collar. There are four white metal stipple pattern buttons to the front of the jacket with a further six, one to each of the pleated pockets, and one to each of the detachable epaulettes. There are matching double-litzen Prussian collar bars, constructed of bright metallic thread worked on dark grey backing. Cuff decoration in the form of vertical pairs of double litzen are sewn to each cuff, the cuffs both piped with a single horizontal ring in white. Above the left cuff, machined in white capital lettering on grey is the cuff-title, 'Wach-Rgt. F.Dzierzynski'. Both matching epaulettes are edged in maroon material and feature double bar metallic thread decoration.
Embroidered (on cuff band) Wach-Rgt. F. Dzierzynski
History note:
The old German system of wearing marksman's decorative cord lanyards persisted as did officer's aiguilletes, however special parade dress aiguilletes were worn by formal Guard regiments by all ranks.
Boots, Halbschaftstiefel: DDR NVA O/Rs
History note:
Non-commissioned ranks wore half-length boots for service dress, field dress and parade dress, whilst officers wore knee-length for parade occasions.
Physical description:
boots black leather calf-length boots with black rubber moulded soles. http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30090644
