Description
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 pressed metal but with light green cloth decoration. The collar is edged in light green piping and both cuffs are piped with a single horizontal ring in light green. Above the left cuff, machined in white capital lettering on light green is the cuff-title, 'GRENZTRUPPEN DER DDR'. Both matching detachable epaulettes are of plaited russia braid, decorated with pairs of gilt metal rank stars, on a light green cloth backing.
History note
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.
Following a reassessment of uniforms, in 1962 the Frontier Troops of the East German regime (Grenztruppen der DDR) adopted light green as their branch of service insignia colouring. A fourth force of the NVA (National Volksarmee) they were formally detached from the mainstream NVA in September 1974, being subordinate to the Ministry of National Defence. Responsible for the 1,900km of frontier around the inner German border, the Baltic coast, the boundary around Berlin and the actual Berlin Wall (known as the 'Anti-Fascist Rampart'), the Grenztruppen were highly indoctrinated and regarded as politically reliable. As well as fulfilling an internal security role, in time of war the Grenztruppen were organized to act as conventional motorised infantry to defend the border. There were 50,000 officers and men (of which half were conscripts) serving with the Grenztruppen when the Wall came down in November 1989.