East Germany - Revision history

Admin1 at 21:58, 30 August 2026

2026-08-30T21:58:22Z

Admin1 at 21:43, 30 August 2026

2026-08-30T21:43:25Z

Admin1: /* East Germany */

2026-05-24T01:39:48Z

East Germany

Admin1: /* East German Camouflage Patterns */

2025-11-05T01:35:12Z

East German Camouflage Patterns

Admin1: /* East German Camouflage Patterns */

2025-11-05T01:34:38Z

East German Camouflage Patterns

Admin1: /* Experimental East German Camouflage */

2025-04-03T01:09:35Z

Experimental East German Camouflage

Admin1: /* Experimental East German Camouflage */

2025-04-03T01:08:47Z

Experimental East German Camouflage

Admin1: /* Experimental East German Camouflage */

2025-04-03T01:08:29Z

Experimental East German Camouflage

Admin1: /* Experimental East German Camouflage */

2025-04-03T01:06:20Z

Experimental East German Camouflage

Admin1: /* Experimental East German Camouflage */

2025-04-03T01:05:51Z

Experimental East German Camouflage

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 == Experimental East German Camouflage ==
-Circa 2010, it came to light that the East German ''Ministerium für Nationale Verteidigung'' (MFnV), or Ministry for National Defense, had at one time developed several alternative camouflage designs for consideration, either for use by the NVA or perhaps for distribution to friendly Marxist "liberation movements" around the third world. Official documents and surviving examples of the test fabrics suggest that the trial itself was conducted around 1975, and the fabric samples produced by the Research Institute for Textile Technology in Karl-Marx Stadt, under the direction of the MFnV. A detailed explaination of the test project, including examples of the camouflage designs, has been published by author Michael Krauß and can be found it its entirety here: [https://flaechentarn-kraus.hpage.com/]. Although there is no surviving evidence to suggest any of these experimental designs were adopted by the East German government, we know that the last of the designs (identified as ''Versuchstarnmuster 1975 "Fläche" mit amöbentarnähnlicher Musterung auf Ripp-Uniformstoff") was worn by military personnel of the Sandinista government of Nicaragua, and probably supplied to them by the East German government.
+Circa 2010, it came to light that the East German ''Ministerium für Nationale Verteidigung'' (MFnV), or Ministry for National Defense, had at one time developed several alternative camouflage designs for consideration, either for use by the NVA or perhaps for distribution to friendly Marxist "liberation movements" around the third world. Official documents and surviving examples of the test fabrics suggest that the trial itself was conducted around 1975, and the fabric samples produced by the Research Institute for Textile Technology in Karl-Marx Stadt, under the direction of the MFnV. A detailed explaination of the test project, including examples of the camouflage designs, has been published by author Michael Krauß and can be found it its entirety here: [https://flaechentarn-kraus.hpage.com/]. Although there is no surviving evidence to suggest any of these experimental designs were adopted by the East German government, we know that the last of the designs (identified as "
 [[File:nicaragua2.jpg|200px]]

@@ Line 57: / Line 57: @@
 == Experimental East German Camouflage ==
-Circa 2010, it came to light that the East German ''Ministerium für Nationale Verteidigung'' (MFnV), or Ministry for National Defense, had at one time developed several alternative camouflage designs for consideration, either for use by the NVA or perhaps for distribution to friendly Marxist "liberation movements" around the third world. Official documents and surviving examples of the test fabrics suggest that the trial itself was conducted around 1975, and the fabric samples produced by the Research Institute for Textile Technology in Karl-Marx Stadt, under the direction of the MFnV. A detailed explaination of the test project, including examples of the camouflage designs, has been published by author Michael Krauß and can be found it its entirety here: [https://flaechentarn-kraus.hpage.com/]. Although there is no surviving evidence to suggest any of these experimental designs were adopted by the East German government, we know that the last of the designs (identified on placard only as "example No. 6") was worn by military personnel of the Sandinista government of Nicaragua, and probably supplied to them by the East German government.
+Circa 2010, it came to light that the East German ''Ministerium für Nationale Verteidigung'' (MFnV), or Ministry for National Defense, had at one time developed several alternative camouflage designs for consideration, either for use by the NVA or perhaps for distribution to friendly Marxist "liberation movements" around the third world. Official documents and surviving examples of the test fabrics suggest that the trial itself was conducted around 1975, and the fabric samples produced by the Research Institute for Textile Technology in Karl-Marx Stadt, under the direction of the MFnV. A detailed explaination of the test project, including examples of the camouflage designs, has been published by author Michael Krauß and can be found it its entirety here: [https://flaechentarn-kraus.hpage.com/]. Although there is no surviving evidence to suggest any of these experimental designs were adopted by the East German government, we know that the last of the designs (identified as ''Versuchstarnmuster 1975 "Fläche" mit amöbentarnähnlicher Musterung auf Ripp-Uniformstoff") was worn by military personnel of the Sandinista government of Nicaragua, and probably supplied to them by the East German government.
 [[File:nicaragua2.jpg|200px]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:39, 24 May 2026
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	== East Germany ==		== East Germany ==
		+
		+	Officially the German Democratic Republic ''(Deutsche Demokratische Republik)'' the country came into existence in 1949 from the Soviet portion of the postwar division of Germany. Issues such as the status of Berlin and construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961 contributed to deepening the tensions of the Cold War. Both East and West Germany claimed they were the only legitimate government of the German state, although the claims were ultimately relinquished by a series of treaties signed in the early 1970s. The DDR had its own armed forces, but nevertheless Soviet troops occupied the country for its entire existence.
		+
		+	In 1989, public outcry over contentious election results brought about a mass exodus of East German citizens crossing the borders into Czechoslovakia and then into the west. Following this, a series of demonstrations against the government resulted in the opening of several sections of the Berlin Wall, new elections in 1990 and, eventually, reunification with West Germany. Although the full process took a number of years, East Germany officially ceased to exist on 3 October 1990.
		+
		+	The National People’s Army, or ''Nationale Volksarmee'' (NVA), was the armed forces of the DDR from 1956 to 1990. It consisted of the Land Forces ''(Landstreitkräfte)'', Naval Forces ''(Volksmarine)'', Air Forces ''(Luftstreitkräfte)'' and the Border Troops ''(Grenztruppen)''. Additionally, state security was supplemented by the ''Volkspolizei-Bereitschaften'' (VPB) of the Ministry of the Interior, the ''Staatssicherheitsdienst'' (State Security Service) or Stasi, and the auxiliary ''Kampfgruppen der Arbeiterklasse'' (Workers Party Combat Groups). In addition to its membership in the Warsaw Pact, East Germany deployed military advisors to a number of sympathetic regimes, particularly in Africa, and also provided war materiel to Marxist-Leninist insurgent movements in places like Southwest Africa. Early East German camouflage was heavily influenced by Soviet war-era designs, but later followed in the footsteps of other East Bloc nations and became quite drab.

	Like many nations of the Warsaw Pact, the German Democratic Republic ''(Deutsche Democratishe Republik - DDR)'' or East Germany was heavily influenced by [[USSR\|Soviet]] models in their development of military uniforms and equipment. The earliest camouflage patterns used by the DDR were essentially Soviet in design, whilst later "[[rain]]" patterns were more likely influenced by [[Germany (Third Reich)\|WW2 German]] models. A popular uprising in 1989 led to the downfall of the Communist regime and reunification of East and West [[Germany]]. This led to the integration of East Germany's military forces into those of West Germany, and the dissolution of the ''Nationale Volks Armee (NVA),'' or East German Army.		Like many nations of the Warsaw Pact, the German Democratic Republic ''(Deutsche Democratishe Republik - DDR)'' or East Germany was heavily influenced by [[USSR\|Soviet]] models in their development of military uniforms and equipment. The earliest camouflage patterns used by the DDR were essentially Soviet in design, whilst later "[[rain]]" patterns were more likely influenced by [[Germany (Third Reich)\|WW2 German]] models. A popular uprising in 1989 led to the downfall of the Communist regime and reunification of East and West [[Germany]]. This led to the integration of East Germany's military forces into those of West Germany, and the dissolution of the ''Nationale Volks Armee (NVA),'' or East German Army.

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 [[File:DDR5.jpg|200px]]
-* A second type ''Strichmuster'' design was introduced in 1968. This version differed from the original in having thicker brown rain straits on a greyish-green background. In production until the collapse of the DDR in 1990, numerous types of uniform, shelter half, helmet cover, field cap, field equipment and even a special airborne trooper fighting vest were produced in this pattern. This camouflage was also worn in Africa by Communist-inspired guerilla groups, particularly in [[Angola]] and [[South West Africa]], where the pattern was referred to as "rice fleck" in common parlance. In addition to uniforms, the ''strichmuster'' pattern can be found on a full series of combat load-carrying equipment, shelter halves, and some articles of individual equipment such as pistol holsters and cleaning kit pouches.
+* A second type ''Strichmuster'' design was introduced in 1968. This version differed from the original in having thicker brown rain straits on a greyish-green background. In production until the collapse of the DDR in 1990, numerous types of uniform, shelter half, helmet cover, field cap, field equipment and even a special airborne trooper fighting vest were produced in this pattern. This camouflage was also worn in Africa by Communist-inspired guerilla groups, particularly in [[Angola]] and [[South West Africa]], where the pattern was referred to as "rice fleck" in common parlance.
 [[File:DDR2.jpg|200px]]

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 [[File:DDR8.jpg|200px]]
-* Produced between 1965 and 1968, and in use for several years thereafter, the first type ''Strichmuster'' (line pattern) is a very simple pattern incorporating long, slender brown rain straits on a light greyish-green background. The "[[rain]]" theme was common with many Warsaw Pact nations ([[Poland]], [[Czechoslovakia]], [[Bulgaria]]) and was probably influenced by WW2 German designs such as ''Splittermuster'' and ''Sumpftarn.'' This is generally referred to as 1st Type East German ''strichtarn.''
+* Produced between 1965 and 1968 for use on the ''Kampfanzug 64'' combat uniform, and in use for several years thereafter, the first type ''Strichmuster'' (line pattern) or ''strichtarn'' (line camouflage) was a very simple pattern incorporating long, slender brown rain straits on a light greyish-green background. The "[[rain]]" theme was common with many Warsaw Pact nations ([[Poland]], [[Czechoslovakia]], [[Bulgaria]]) and was probably influenced by WW2 German designs such as ''Splittermuster'' and ''Sumpftarn.''
 [[File:DDR5.jpg|200px]]
-* A second type ''Strichmuster'' design was introduced in 1968. This version differed from the original in having thicker brown rain straits on a greyish-green background. In production until the collapse of the DDR in 1990, numerous types of uniform, shelter half, helmet cover, field cap, field equipment and even a special airborne trooper fighting vest were produced in this pattern. This camouflage was also worn in Africa by insurgent groups, particularly in [[Angola]] and [[South West Africa]].
+* A second type ''Strichmuster'' design was introduced in 1968. This version differed from the original in having thicker brown rain straits on a greyish-green background. In production until the collapse of the DDR in 1990, numerous types of uniform, shelter half, helmet cover, field cap, field equipment and even a special airborne trooper fighting vest were produced in this pattern. This camouflage was also worn in Africa by Communist-inspired guerilla groups, particularly in [[Angola]] and [[South West Africa]], where the pattern was referred to as "rice fleck" in common parlance. In addition to uniforms, the ''strichmuster'' pattern can be found on a full series of combat load-carrying equipment, shelter halves, and some articles of individual equipment such as pistol holsters and cleaning kit pouches.
 [[File:DDR2.jpg|200px]]

@@ Line 51: / Line 51: @@
 == Experimental East German Camouflage ==
-Circa 2010, it came to light that the East German ''Ministerium für Nationale Verteidigung'' (MFnV), or Ministry for National Defense, had at one time developed several alternative camouflage designs for consideration, either for use by the NVA or perhaps for distribution to friendly Marxist "liberation movements" around the third world. Official documents and surviving examples of the test fabrics suggest that the trial itself was conducted around 1975, and the fabric samples produced by the Research Institute for Textile Technology in Karl-Marx Stadt, under the direction of the MFnV. A detailed explaination of the test project, including examples of the camouflage designs, has been published by author Michael Krauß and can be found it its entirety [[https://flaechentarn-kraus.hpage.com/|here]]. Although there is no surviving evidence to suggest any of these experimental designs were adopted by the East German government, we know that the last of the designs (identified on placard only as "example No. 6") was worn by military personnel of the Sandinista government of Nicaragua, and probably supplied to them by the East German government.
+Circa 2010, it came to light that the East German ''Ministerium für Nationale Verteidigung'' (MFnV), or Ministry for National Defense, had at one time developed several alternative camouflage designs for consideration, either for use by the NVA or perhaps for distribution to friendly Marxist "liberation movements" around the third world. Official documents and surviving examples of the test fabrics suggest that the trial itself was conducted around 1975, and the fabric samples produced by the Research Institute for Textile Technology in Karl-Marx Stadt, under the direction of the MFnV. A detailed explaination of the test project, including examples of the camouflage designs, has been published by author Michael Krauß and can be found it its entirety [https://flaechentarn-kraus.hpage.com/]. Although there is no surviving evidence to suggest any of these experimental designs were adopted by the East German government, we know that the last of the designs (identified on placard only as "example No. 6") was worn by military personnel of the Sandinista government of Nicaragua, and probably supplied to them by the East German government.
 [[File:nicaragua2.jpg|200px]]