NVA Volksmarine 6th Coastal Border Brigade (6th GBK) Baltic Sea uniforms. Part 1

[Jack59]

The security of the Baltic coast was within the responsibilities of the Volksmarine,
while administratively part of the Border Troops. It was operationally subordinated to
the naval headquarters at Rostock. The 6th Border Brigade Coast consisted of twelve
marine battalions and several boat battalions and companies to guard the GDR's relatively
small coastline along the Baltic Sea.


Following the erection of the Berlin Wall (13 August 1961) the Grenzbrigade Küste der Grenzpolizei (GBK)
or “Coastal Border Brigade of the Border Police” was also intergraded into the Volksmarine.


This thread will examine the evolution of their field uniforms & equipment from the 60s up to the 80s.
The mix of field service uniform and sailor's clothing is particularly interesting.

EARLY 1960s.
Note that there was no shoulder boards on the early Flachentarn jackets.
From a distance the guards looked like mainland Border guards until
you could could see their blue Volksmarine caps & stripped naval shirts.










THE MID 1960s.
Apparition of the shoulder boards.
The shoulder boards started to be worn on the camouflaged jackets by 1965,
the post 1965 jackets were modified locally like this 1963 jacket.
Unmodified jackets are getting harder to find.








I will end a few post with a relax photo so we can enjoy
fully the Volksmarine clothing more than often buried under the jacket.


See you in part 2.

[Jack59]

INTRODUCTION OF THE COLLARLESS JACKET, 1965.
The jacket without hood began to be tested in 1962
& officially replaced the hooded one by the mid 60s.










The Baltic Coast nights could get cold even in Summer,
the sweater if not worn was always not to far.


Nice example of mobile search light crew.



THE STRICHTARN CAMOUFLAGE PATTERN, ADOPTED IN 1965.
It took many years for the new pattern to replace fully the older one.
Both pattern were issued until the early 70s.















Next: part 3.

[Jack59]

The 1980s, EVOLUTION OF THE STRICHTARN PATTERN.
There was constant small modifications on the uniforms including quality of material, buttons, pockets...
This jacket for example as two lower side pockets.
Starting in the mid 80s a modern cut of the Strichtarn uniform & modernized webbing was tested.
The fall of the Wall killed that project.

For this last presentation our model carries a backpack meaning that he will be patrolling or laying in ambush for many hours.
He must carry food, water & equipment to be autonomous, the Baltic Sea weather could be nasty.












More info: Baltic Border Tower Military surveillance

Hope you enjoyed those posts about a rather small part
of the huge East German Border guard organisation.
Thanks for taking a look.

[baerchen]

Great photos, this is one of the lesser known units ( Grenzbrigade Küste) and their interesting combination of marine and 'normal' uniform parts. I love the striped shirt

[Jack59]

Thanks baerchen,
I must admit that the striped shirt was the inspiration behind this fun project.
Regards
Jack