Stamps are a source of information

 

A stamp in your uniform (jacket and trousers) provides you with a lot of information. It reveals the gouvernmental organ that it was produced for (1.) , its size (2.), the factory that it was produced in (3.) and in what semester (1 or 2) and year it was produced (4.) The size also gives away if it's a male of female uniform. Uniforms of generals and admirals were tailor made so they don't have any stamps to identify its size and production year.

 

Organs of uniformed forces (MdI, Zoll or NVA)

 

A uniform part can be stamped with  (MdI) which means Ministerium des Innern/Ministery of Internal affaires. Uniforms of the police (as well as the water police, riot police, transportation police and the penal system) are marked with MdI. Uniforms of the civil defense were marked MdI till 1977. Uniforms stamped with "Zoll" were used by the GDR customs. Uniforms marked with NVA (Nationale Volksarmee/National People's Army) were used by the army, navy and airforce, civil defense (Zivilverteidigung) from 1977 onwards),  

Production years:

K 1968
Z 1969
M 1970
X 1971
B 1972
L 1973 (or 1987)
O 1974
S 1975
R 1976
A 1977
U 1978
F 1979
E 1980
G 1981
I 1982
C 1983
H 1984
T 1985
P 1986
L 1987 (or 1973)
Y 1988
N 1989
D 1990

     

    Male sizes:

    44 (European size 46)

    48 (European size 50)

    52 (European size 54)

    56 (European size 58)

    60 (European size 62)

     

    Female sizes (converted to EU sizes):

    76 = 34 (XS)

    82 = 36 (S)

    88 = 38 (M)

    94 = 40 (L)
    50 = 42 (XL)

    53 = 44 (XXL)
    56 = 46 (3XL)

     

    Male sizes in lenght:
    BK = Besonderes Kurz / Midget*
    SK = Sehr Kurz / Very short*
    K = Kurz / Short
    M = Mittel / Everage
    G = Gross / Tall
    SG = Sehr Gross / Extra Tall*
    ÜG = Übergross / Very Tall*
    BG = Besonderes Gross / Giant*

    * not available in female sizes

    NVA Sizes >mid 60's
    24 = SK48
    48 = M48
    96 = SG48
    26 = K52
    52 = M52
    104 = G/SG52

     

    Visor sizes:

    52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62 and 63 (centimeters circumference)

    Factory numbers / Herstellernummer NVA

    Number Factory code Factory Produced items
    1 C VEB Burgerbekleidungswerke Flächentarn uniformen
    2 303 VEB Burger Bekleidungswerke Uniforms NVA/MdI
    3 309 VEB Burgerbekleidungswerke Uniforms NVA/MdI
    Number Factory code Factory Produced items
    1 1438 VEB Obererzgebirische Posamenten- und Effekten- Werke / Annaberg-Buchholz Shooting cords Shoulder boards Lanyards
    2 1408/ 1678 VEB Lederfabrik Zug
    3 1802 VEB Burger Bekleidungswerke Burg / Magdeburg Volksmarine uniformen Felddienstuniformen
    4 1806 1806 VEB Bekleidungswerke Leipzig "Vestis" Uniformmantel NVA
    5 1810 ?? Drillichuniform 1978
    6 1812 VEB Sächsische Sportboot-u. Wetterschutzbekleidungsfabrik Großschönau Rain capes
    7 1815 VEB Schutzbekleidung Berlin
    8 1817 VEB Bekleidungswerke Seifhennersdorf Parachutes / ZV FDU uniforms / VM Kielerhemd Weiss
    9 1829 ?? Holster MdI
    10 1850 VEB Spezialbekleidung Halle NVA/Zoll/MdI Uniforms
    11 1855 VEB Roland Mützen Calbe / Saale mit Betriebsteil in Staßfurt
    12 1856 15/2418 90010310 VEB Perfekt Berlin / Emhage Visors / Side caps / Winter hats
    13 1858 VEB Elstermode Elsterwerda
    14 1879 VEB BWS / Bewes Bekleidungswerke, Seifhennersdorf Drillichuniformen
    15 1908 VEB OPERMA Demitz-Thumitz Kielerhemd Blau Volksmarine
    16 1925 ?? Visors MdI / Luftverteidigung
    17 1931 VEB Gummiband- und Gurtweberei Pulsnitz Belt FDU
    18 1933 ?? MfS
    19 1940 VEB Eichsfelder Bekleidungswerke Heiligenstadt Shirts (Blusen and Hemdblusen)
    20 1945 ?? Side cap (seventies)
    21 1947 ?? Überzieher / Peacoat Volksmarine <1975
    22 1962 VEB Bekleidungswerk Zwickau-werk oberhohndorf / VEB Bekleidungswerk Eldamo Zwickau Female uniforms (skirts/jackets and vests)
    23 1958 1958 VEB Specialbekleidung Leipzig Überzieher VM >1982 / Strichtarn FDU
    24 2002 Female dresses
    24 09/2215 VEB Elastik Gotha Shoes
    25 (0)3203 ?? Geselschaftsuniform SVZ and LaSK / Zweireiher Zoll
    26 13/4005 VEB Schmöllner Schuhfabrik
    27 08/4031 VEB Zeitzer Lederwaren Kartentaschen
    28 5700 VEB Mülana Obertrikotagen Mülhausen
    29 8422 VEB Emhage
    30 9205 VEB PGH Modernie Linie Magdeburg
    31 9293 VEB Hutwerken Guben Mützenwerk Lunzenau
    32 08/9658 “Weka Schuh” W. Kretzschmar KG, Weißenfels
    33 00506006 VEB Kleiderwerke Greifswald, BT Grimmen
    34 07237005 VEB Favorit Taucha, Werk 2 Pouch
    35 90010310 VEB Perfekt Berlin
    36 90018793 VEB Müfa Berlin
    37 64/323/4000 Roland Mütze aus Calbe
    38 64/974/1102 VEB Elegant Berlin
    39 20/164 VEB Auer Besteck- und Silberware

    Click on image to enlarge

    Sizes in width (not availabe for female uniforms):
    no number = everage
    -0 = extra slimm
    -1 = Little tummy
    -2 = Go on a diet 

     

    Female sizes in lenght:
    K = Kurz / Short
    M = Mittel / Everage
    G = Gross / Tall

     

    Examples of Sizes:
    SG52-1
    BG60-2
    SK44

    G52-0
    G76

    Click to enlarge

    Bekleidungswerke Leipzig "vestis"