page_title: National People's Army
section_title: Uniform categories
hierarchical_section_title: National People's Army / Appearance / Uniform categories
caption_attribution_description: Deutsch: Bewaffnete Streitkräfte der DDR bis 1990, Nationale Volksarmee – Uniformen, hier „Felddienstanzug Fallschirmjäger“ (Waffe: AKS-74U mit Schalldämpfer). English: Armed forces of the GDR until 1990, National People’s Army – Uniforms, here “Field service uniform paratrooper” (weapon: AKS-74U with silencer). Русский: Вооружённые силы ГДР до 1990г., Национальная народная армия – формы одежды, здесь «пoлевая форма парашютиста» (оружие: AKС-74У с глушителем).
context_page_description: The National People's Army was the armed forces of the German Democratic Republic from 1956 to 1990.
  The NVA was organized into four branches: the Landstreitkräfte, the Volksmarine, the Luftstreitkräfte, and the Grenztruppen. The NVA belonged to the Ministry of National Defence and commanded by the National Defense Council of East Germany, headquartered in Strausberg 30 kilometers east of East Berlin. From 1962, conscription was mandatory for all GDR males aged between 18 and 60 requiring an 18-month service, and it was the only Warsaw Pact military to offer non-combat roles to conscientious objectors, known as "construction soldiers". The NVA reached 175,300 personnel at its peak in 1987.
  The NVA was formed on 1 March 1956 to succeed the Kasernierte Volkspolizei and under the influence of the Soviet Army became of the Warsaw Pact militaries opposing NATO during the Cold War. The majority of NATO officers rated the NVA the best military in the Warsaw Pact based on discipline, thoroughness of training, and the quality of officer leadership.
context_section_description: Several basic categories of uniforms were worn:
  Parade uniform (Paradeuniform) – The parade uniform for officers was the semi-dress/walking-out tunic with all authorized orders, awards and decorations attached, breeches and riding boots, steel helmet, white shirt, dark-gray necktie, and a ceremonial dagger worn on the left side and fastened to a silver-gray parade belt. Officers in guards of honor carried sabers. In winter, a greatcoat, scarf, and gloves were worn.
  Service uniform (Dienstuniform) – The summer service uniform for officers was a bloused jacket, called a Hemdbluse, worn without a shirt, trousers, and a visored service cap. The winter service uniform featured a tunic with four large buttoned-down patch pockets, a black waist belt, the service cap, breeches, shirt, tie, and pants belt; high boots were reserved for officers and NCOs. A long, heavy, belted greatcoat was also part of the winter uniform.
  Semi-dress/walking-out uniform (Ausgangsuniform) – With a few details, the semi-dress uniform was the same for all ranks and was worn for walking-out purposes (i.e. off-duty and off-post). It consisted of a single-breasted tunic without belt, a silver-gray shirt with dark-gray tie, the service cap, long trousers, and black low-quarter shoes. Officers also wore the tunic with a white shirt. During periods of warm weather, there was the option of omitting the tunic, and furthermore omitting the tie. A double-breasted jacket was optional for officers and warrant officers.
  Field service uniform (Felddienstuniform) – The summer field uniform for both officers and enlisted consisted of a jacket and trousers originally in Flachtarnenmuster and then in Strichtarn, a dark-brown (later a forest green) raindrop camouflage pattern on a stone-gray background; a field cap, service cap, or steel helmet; high black boots; and a gray webbing belt with y-strap suspenders. In winter, a quilted stone gray padded suit without a camouflage pattern was worn over the service uniform. Later winter uniforms were also of the same camouflage pattern as the summer variant. The winter uniform also included a fur pile cap or a steel helmet, boots, knitted gray gloves, belt, and suspenders.
  Work uniform (Arbeitsuniform) – Seasonal considerations and weather governed the kind of work uniforms worn. Generally, reconditioned articles of service uniforms (field, semi-dress, and padded winter uniforms) were dyed black and issued for all types of fatigue and maintenance details. Coveralls are also used by the lower ranks, especially armor and air force personnel. Officers in technical branches supervising fatigue details wore a laboratory-style smock.
  Other uniforms – High-ranking officers occasionally wore white uniforms (or white jackets), and staff officers were issued distinctive staff service uniforms. Women wore uniforms consisting of jackets, skirts or slacks, blouses, caps, boots or pumps, and other appropriate items according to season and occasion. Personnel such as paratroopers, motorcyclists, and tank troops wore additional items with their uniforms identifying them as such.
caption: An NVA Fallschirmjäger uniform.
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