NVA Blumentarn field uniform

**Watchdog** · 09-26-2019, 09:32 AM

Good morning gents,

here are a couple of pics for reference of my on-going NVA Blumentarn project;

This impression with early leather field gear will be follwed by the later grey webbing pattern and the represented period is generally the '60s.

The West German BGS roughly equivalent impression is posted in #228 here;

BGS Thread

I must be careful as the whole DDR v BRD thing might be getting out of hand!

Any comments / info are most welcome however simple it might seem. Please don't assume that I already know. That is how we miss things

Regards

Mark
PS The left side ammo pouch takes only two AK mags rather than three. It is much harder to find than the right side three mag pouch and I believe it was deleted from the equipment schedule quite early in the time line. I would imagine that it had something to do with the "ready ammunition" scale ie 90 rounds per man with just the right pouch v 120 rounds with the left as well and that the infantry v other arms principle may have affected it too.

**Espenlaub Militaria** · 09-26-2019 09:32 AM

We also buy and trade your items and full collections!

**reneblacky** · 09-26-2019, 09:57 AM

I can't add here other than a question, what is this cap? and I'm a little confused on the written post. Not hard to confuse me as I'm a dumb arse!

Looking forward to the rest Mate.

**Watchdog** · 09-26-2019, 10:23 AM

by reneblacky

I can't add here other than a question, what is this cap? and I'm a little confused on the written post. Not hard to confuse me as I'm a dumb arse!

Looking forward to the rest Mate.

Thanks mate

The cap is the NVA Skimuetze (same as the earlier KVP item but feldgrau rather than dunkelblau in colour) that I posted here;

NVA Skimuetze

(Check out the "likes"

)

Which bit of the post was confusing? I'll re-write it to clarify if I can.

Regards

Mark

**reneblacky** · 09-26-2019, 10:41 AM

Cheers Mark
it was the ps part that threw me, just a little disjointed, all good (I couldn't do better).

Okie cheers for the cap ref, and is a very nice one & the only one I've seen before!
It doesn't do justice to your display in my tiny small opinion.

**Watchdog** · 09-26-2019, 11:27 AM

by reneblacky

Cheers Mark
it was the ps part that threw me, just a little disjointed, all good (I couldn't do better).

Okie cheers for the cap ref, and is a very nice one & the only one I've seen before!
It doesn't do justice to your display in my tiny small opinion.

Yep, I was just musing about the reason behind deletion of the left side ammo pouch.

I agree about the skimuetze (it actually looks better on a real head!) but it kind of had to be there. Subsequent "editions" will include the Feldmuetze ("Schiffchen") and Stahlhelm M56.

Regards

Mark

Regards

Mark

**HARRY THE MOLE** · 09-26-2019, 12:23 PM

Hi Mark,

It's looking good... do you have a tunic underneath the camouflaged top? I also have the L/H two mag pouch and the R/H three mag pouch. I didn't realise that the two mag pouch is so rare... there is one on offer on eBay de for a princely sum 150 euro's! I didn't pay very much for mine at all.

Cheers,
Steve

**Watchdog** · 09-26-2019, 01:06 PM

by HARRY THE MOLE

Hi Mark,

It's looking good... do you have a tunic underneath the camouflaged top? I also have the L/H two mag pouch and the R/H three mag pouch. I didn't realise that the two mag pouch is so rare... there is one on offer on eBay de for a princely sum 150 euro's! I didn't pay very much for mine at all.

Cheers,
Steve

No, there is no tunic underneath but only because it wouldn't be visible beyond the collar even without the neck warmer. Though I admit that I am unsure if the neckwarmer was in service during the '60s or if it is a latter item?

I am working on a Panzertrueppen "Speiss" to display a tunic so stand by for that!

Yes, the left ammo pouch is very scarce compared to other items of Blumentarn which must be due to early deletion. I can't even find a period photograph of it in use. As I said above I can only inagine that the deletion was connected to a change in scale of "ready ammuntion".

As you will recall British ready ammunition scales at the time were for rifle armed troops; 4 x 20rd mags and a 50rd belt for the GPMG with a further 20rd mag in company stores. Therefore, 130rds on the man and 20rds in immediate reserve (150 total). Non infantry troops would not carry (usually) the 50rd belt for GPMG.

So, with both the two and three mag pouches that gives a total of 150rds. Take away the left pouch (60rds), disregard the 50rd belt as outside the NVA ethos because AK47 has selective fire then you end up with similar figures. The Brit infantry soldier having given the belt to the machine gunner has 80rds + 20rds in Coy HQ whilst the NVA soldier without the left pouch has 90rds. Does that make sense?
Anyway I'm waffling again!

Suffice to say that the left Blumentarn pouch does command a disproportionate price now and most that do turn up seem to be in mint condition as if never issued. Somebody is sitting on bundles of these little gems!!!

Regards

Mark

**CBH** · 09-26-2019, 04:55 PM

Great looking set, a pattern I've never been able to obtain.

**HARRY THE MOLE** · 09-26-2019, 08:24 PM

You know much more than me on the subject Mark... now if you were to ask me what Tommy Atkins was carrying when he went 'over the top' on July 1st 1916... I could give you chapter and verse!