"Spati"

[S.ChrisKelly]

Read about the "construction soldiers" (Bausoldaten).  The DDR's pseudo - military "alternative service".

 

Source:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Construction_soldier

 

[S.ChrisKelly]

These are great websites...  

 

Warning: They are in the German lanuage.

 

https://www.ndr.de/geschichte/chronologie/Bausoldaten-Mit-dem-Spaten-bei-der-Nationalen-Volksarmee,bausoldaten100.html

 

https://www.saechsische.de/hoyerswerda/lokales/wie-es-einem-bausoldaten-der-ddr-erging-hoyerswerda-5297607-plus.html

 

https://www.wagner-b.de/Spati/spati.html

 

https://www.mdr.de/geschichte/ddr/politik-gesellschaft/nva/bausoldat-dienst-an-der-waffe-kriegsdienstverweigerung100~amp.html

 

[Marshallj]

The RAD reconstituted by the Commies. 

[Proud Kraut]

After the reunification when I collected NVA insignia I had several pairs of these shoulder boards with embroidered and metal spades. But I never found a pair of these rare collar insignia with OD center. Great grouping!

[S.ChrisKelly]

Post #4...

 

I purchased everything in the image shown in Post #4.  I heard rumors that the "Spati" collar patches were scarce/borderline rare, and subsequently expensive.  I got mine from a militaria dealer, long since out of business and now deceased, who specialized in "Warsaw Pact militaria".  Very inexpensive.  The "90" on the reverse indicates a 1990 manufacture date, and that may be why.  They're out there.  Loads of unused DDR stock made its way west once the "Wall" fell.  I myself was able to get some much ~ desired DDR material for little, and sometimes nothing.

 

 

[S.ChrisKelly]

 

 

Post #4:

 

I found a potential source.  During my search, I was stunned to discover how scarce a lot of DDR militaria is becoming, especially Bausoldat related material.

 

https://www.germandotmilitaria.com/sbbs104-12-bausoldat-bautruppen-service-without-weapon-pair-of-colour-coded-collar-tabs/

 

 

Post #3:

 

This comes to mind...

 

 

Another image of the shoulderboards, from cyberspace: