The East German Army Combat Pack Review and Mods
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 ก.พ. 2019
- Taking a look today at the East German Army combat pack. Also I share some mod ideas.
Here is site I mentioned that provided the information about the Strictarn and Blumentarn camo:
camopedia.org/index.php?title=DDR - กีฬา
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This is just my opinion but I've noticed that more and more people are staring to collect East German memorabilia
Probably because its cheap and can be used outside of larp and collecting.
I buy a lot NVA equipment. And I'm always impressed how well made it is. And this stuff is always in very good condition. I think there is still a lot of it out there and here in Germany it's dirt cheap. I use the bags for many purposes. The bag with the watertight inlay is very useful for hunting and fishing or just hiking. If you want to buy gear in similar quality that is made new, it would be very expensive. Most of the times bags and other east German gear comes with a lot of useful straps...and I like the "Ein Strich kein Strich" pattern... Great review. I hope the NVA stuff isn't too expensive in the US.
Cool rig John, and thanks for the review...and the shout out! Keep up the great work and God bless!
Miles D Thank you for the suggestion and for watching!
Good stuff! Those little bags also make a wicked haversack, Ive also known people to use them as school bags.
TurtleWolf Pack Yes. My friend Shawn carried his like a haversack sometimes. The bag is so simple but still is great. Thanks for watching another one!
I got two to use as bicycle panniers, also got one to use as a shoulder bag. Got the grenade bag to use for my fire lighting kit and the magazine bag for my bushcraft knives, hook knives, awls etc. I love them, really well made, waterproof and a very iconic camo pattern!😁
They had "splinter pattern" and "water pattern" in World War 2. I used to engage in re-enactments as a German Mountain Trooper and I liked the gear the Germans had. It was well made as was the American and British gear and it's all still useful today. I also have some British and Vietnam era stuff as well.
I like how you used the carabiners to adapt and attach the various bags. I recall a video where the person added some canvas straps to attach a small bag to a larger one and it looked like it came that way from the factory. A few creative mods (Canvas webbing, Velcro, etc) can make the older gear more versatile and useful.
MasterK9Trainer thank you very much. My thought process with my mods was I wanted to be able to return the bag(s) back to original one day if I wanted. And you can’t get any easier than using carabiners. Thanks for watching and for your comment!
John, that's one hell of an amazing collection of East German surplus you have my friend!! I absolutely love the surplus gear, German especially being of German decent myself...half actually, from Hamburg. Keep the outstanding content coming brother!!!
This was actually a well made overview. Good job showing these items in more detail.
Also, good modifications you have there. I'll need to do that with mine.
I recently bought a strichtarn backpack and wanted more information about how it was used. That is how I found your video. I really enjoyed this video and thougt it was very clever how you changed te suspenders across. Keep up the good work.
For five dollars at the Goodwill, I picked up a Yugoslavian army rucksack-bag for five dollars, it’s a 1985 model. Galenteks Pirot is stampeded on the inside. I thought about buying one of those bags that you are showing, they seem to be pretty sturdy.
John I just want to let you know you've inspired me. Because of your videos like this I've done tons of research that let me find equipment just like this for cheap which was my main reason that I never got into hiking or camping because i thought it was too expensive for me. All in all your bag system with a bread bag and grenade pouch probably only cost me about 30 to 35 bucks. And yes I'm totally stealing that idea. Thanks again for the inspiration John.
Great review ! I watched one of your videos last year when I got an NVA AK mag pouch, and now I just bought an assault pack !
Awesome. I believe you will love it. They also make great emergency packs for your vehicle. Thanks for your comment and for watching my videos!
Brilliantly thorough as always, thank you
TheEnglishRedneck45 Thank you and thanks for watching!
hey john long time no see lol! , but seriously nice work on the review, from the photo's I have, the bread bag generally was hung more or less on the belt directly under the pack, the canteen being to ether side of it. then the AK pouch. (however from my photo's generally the only troops that used the grenade pouch were infantry and the engineers) many of the infantry can be seen with two of the AK pouches. gotta admit I like those mods you made.
Great video John! Thank you! I have the Blumentarn version pack
Good video. I didn't know about the belt that goes with it. Appreciate it.
This is a great review. I just bought some of these on sportsmans guide. Now I know how to set it up.
shannon Rice thanks very much. Make sure you read the comments below if you are into reenactment because some of the items like the grenade pouch and gas mask bag are from a newer East German equipment set that was never actually issued to the army before they were disbanded. My viewers pointed that out and they are correct. Thanks for watching my videos and for your comment!
Thanks for the loadout im making one myself!
ToiletNoob64 cool! Thanks for watching my video!
Thanks for the ideas on the modifications on the pack. I have currently a complete East German combat LBE that I got real cheap some years back. I do take my gear on road trips. I find that the East German Army from my time in the US Army in the late 1980s to be better equipped than their Soviet counterparts. The East Germans have adapted their old equipment designed for the original Imperial German Army from the 1870s through WWII utilizing improvements and cheaper modern materials to be better than the Soviet's infantry combat equipment which is much more bare bones. Soviet Army gear is garbage along with other Warsaw Pact stuff especially Romanian and Bulgarian equipment. The Polish stuff is very durable and tough but hard to find.
Great collection, John. It would make a nice bushcraft pack.
Rich Houle Thank you very much and thanks for watching!
Very cool modifications
Just got mind today. Simple but very good quality and functionality!
Great video. I have just ditched my Mil-Spec civy ALCIE harness knock-offs and used my NVA harness to suspend my web belt. Actually two LC2 belts due to my no-longer soldierly physique! It works far better, I can sling the assault pack off the harness and it has more than enough combined carrying capacity for 'Florida' weather camping. I use the grenade pouch for my toiletries bag. My cousin was in the NVA while I was serving in the Australian Army. He said the straps are fine but then they never wore them while wearing just a t-shirt. I plan to pad mine a little. I love the rugged simplicity and practicality of this gear. I mix it with British, Australian, US and civilian molle pouches to get the loadout I want.
Another great video John.
I picked up a 3 pack of the back packs from the sportsmansguide a number of years ago for under $20. My youngest boy wants everything I get so I try to get doubles.
Id love to find a good supply of the blumentarn. All the best, John.
That's awesome man that you youngest boy wants to bond with you like that!!!!
@@peterott9162 yes it is. Thanks
@@OKBushcraft your welcome.
Not always the mist functional equipment but it does look nice. I have the pack without the waterproof bag inside and a grey bread bag
Excellent over view. Thanks.
Tramontane Thank you very much and thanks for watching my video!
The combat belt for this system is a lot like a US pistol belt except for one major difference. In the East German belt there are little holes cut in on the top and bottom of the belt. The green hooks on the back of those pouches actually slide into those holes to keep the pouches from moving side to side. The pistol belt also has a nice H-harness that integrates with the pistol belt using those holes in the belt. It's a cool system.
very informative. thanks comrade!
Well done to you John! I really respect people who give presentations a try. Sharing ideas and enthusiasm really is the key to our military equipment interest.
I hear you say that you are in Florida? Are you anywhere new Lake Mary? That’s where my brother lives.
Anyhow, thanks again John and a handshake from across the ocean here in England! 🇬🇧
SMR - Surplus Military Reviews I’m glad you enjoyed my video. I try to do a good presentation. I live near Lakeland which is between Orlando and Tampa. Thanks for watching and for your comment!
John Sherwood
Yes indeed. I think Lake Mary where my brother is maybe either north or south of Orlando.
Anyhow, I may pick up an unlined version too. I guess one is for summer and one is for winter.
Seems like you have a good surplus store, it’s hard to get some of the items here. Chat soon my friend.
Laurie
I use these rucksacks on all my e-bikes to hold tools, parts, air pumps, and tire patches because they really do keep all the weather out. Recently picked up an ak style shotgun and found the 5 round mags for it fit in the AK mag pouches, though because of their thickness I've only managed to fit three in each pouch. I'm a chubby sob too, so I got two belts, cut them both down a bit and glued/button riveted them together in the back to make one sizeable enough for me. So now I can use the webbing and gear in strichtarn to go with the shotgun. I really like the camo pattern, basic but effective and darn handsome looking
Nice Video. The gasmask bag and grenade pouch are from a different belt system by the way. That system was in test during the collapse of East Germany and is known as UTV (Uniformtrageversuch). Thats why it differs in colour and in the way it is attached to the belt. The UTV belt has holes to put the metal pins in to fix them into position.
The camo pattern where informally called "Einstrich-Keinstrich" amongst soldiers, which translates to "line, no line". As for the Koppel (belt), you had the arrangement almost right. The mess kit was missing, but otherwise the layout was correct.
Great video I just bought a couple of those combat packs use them for the car
Hi John when you get a spare 5 mins could you have a look at the mods i did to my east german pack. I really enjoy watching your mess kit reviews. All the best - Jim
11:35 I think that grenade pouch is UTV meaning that it was meant to be issued to the military but the DDR collapsed before it could be rolled out. So I don't think that it would fit with the rest of the kit there which seems to be earlier. I am not an expert on NVA uniforms but this is just what I have read on facebook and other websites.
AxSirlotl you are correct. This is what I have learned too since this video. I think the gas mask bag is in the same category. It has the green webbing and the same style attachment. Thanks for pointing that out and for watching my video!
Im NVA Sturmgepäck Teil 1 (mit aufgelegter Zeltbahn) gehörten:
1 Garnitur Unterwäsche sowie Wasch und Rasierzeug
Handtuch
Eßbesteck
Taschentücher
Kochgeschirr mit Verpflegungssatz
Zeltbahnzubehör
Schuhputzzeug
Nähzeug
4 Kragenbinden
2 Paar Socken
Kopfschützer (Oma)
Zeltbahn
NVA Sturmgepäck Teil 2 ( mit aufgelegter Decke) gehörten:
Pullover
Einsatzgarnitur
Dienstjacke und Hose ( nur im Sommer)
Felddienstanzug ( nur im Winter)
The Gasmaskbag and the grenadebag are from the newer UTV System, which was never really implemented. Gas Mask bag for your system, was just a green fabric bag with a shoulder strap.
The UTV System is like the Brittish Webbing 58 System, where you can fix the brackets to the belt
Rugged bags for the price!!! I picked up a bunch of them. I use mine for the car kit as well.
Thereal111t They have been very handy in both of my vehicles and also on my kayak camping trips. Thanks for watching another of my videos and for commenting!
The hooks or brackets on the granate pouch and other pouches were used for the last webbing kits (UTV / Universaltrageversuch) which was not introduced into service, it was only a trial before the NVA was dismantled. When looking at the history of East German NVA equipment, there was literally no standard in making it. That is why there are different versions of the same kit, for example the Sturmgepäck was made in different versions, some with waterproof inlay, others padded and others without anything else inside. But good video by the way. :)
Good review. I liked the mod suggestions. Just an FYI, the gas mask bag and grenade pouch are parts of the NVA's newer UTV webbing system. Those can easily be identified by the green straps. I imagine there was some degree of backward compatability with the old system kept in mind, but they are separate systems.
Leen Visser Thank you so much for the information about separate systems. I have seen the green waist belt for sale before but didn’t realize it was part of a separate system. I have also seen the older vinyl looking gas mask bags with the shoulder strap. Maybe if I run across those for a good price I will add the, to the collection. Thanks for watching my video and for your comment!
@@John-Sherwood-W4JFS You're welcome! Yeah, I would buy one if you run across it. It's taken 30 years, but it seems like the DDR's old surplus inventory has finally started to dry up.
nice mods man
This helps alot
The comment about the straps i made right before you showed all about the straps, lol, sorry, great video, i have my pack loaded a little to much as well
I saw these on cheaper than dirt about 10 Years ago for $4. I cleaned them out and bought 20. They are awesome!
The d rings are to attach another of this packs to it. The nva called it "teil1" and "teil2" - part one and part two. The first and main part was for underwear and stuff you need all day. Part two was at the tross...an their was winterclothing in it...
you're awesome!
I just added ALICE straps to my assault bag. ALICE straps are nicely universal and quiet. I have put them on a Swiss Army Rucksack. As well as anything else of the sort.
I slipped my ALICE straps through the oval ring at the base of those clips at the top of the backpack.
My AK47 magazine pouches are attached to a West German belt rig with suspenders.
The magazine pouches are great for carrying traps and such. I have kitted out my web rig for ranging.
NVA III/F is for North Vietnamese Army
Probably donated to Ho Chi Minh.
The Deuche Democratische Republik would have DDR stamped on it.
The AK ammo pouch makes a great butt pack for the little ones that want to tag along.
gijr2003 Yes! I agree. And it’s stylish for the woods too! ;) Thanks for watching and for your comment!
Exactly what I was looking for those straps are hell can’t wait to modify my bag 💼
Teil 1 und Teil 2 kenne ich auch noch . Es war gut verarbeitet .
Listen here American! The breadbag was only used in the late 40s to mid 50s, after that it was ditched and given to the Kampfgruppen der Arbeiterklasse (Combatgroups of the workinclass). The gasmask bag and Handgranadepouch u got there are UTV, Uniformtrageversuch (Uniformwearingtest) this gear was invented in 1986 and tested, after some years it should be issiud to the NVA Nationale Volksarmee (National peoples army) in 1990, but as we all know the gdr fell by the end of 1989, the NVA stopped existing, so nothing of this gear was ever issiued. Inside of the tent needs to be tentgear. Also you are missing alot of stuff, like the bajonett, gasmask bag, uniform and other parts.
Nice Video, in german this Camo ist also known as "ein Strich - kein Strich". You could translate it to "one Stripe - no Stripe", i think.
Regards from Germany, Bernd
Representing Royal Rangers, I like it!
Casey Beck Thanks! I have been a Ranger for a long time. Thanks for watching and for your comment!
I also have the coat and pants with suspenders, warmest coat ive ever owned
The grenade pouch and mask pouch are later versions about end 80s. It where called "utv" uniformtrageversuch....uniformcarryingattempt
Thanks for the video. It looks to me that the part of the shoulder strap that goes under your arms seems to look some what tight, to the point of being uncomfortable. Is it?
Thanks for the video, I cant find them for anywhere near the same price now, I find them for about 15 bucks, but then they want the same in shipping. So I will stick with my Alice Gear and molle gear.
Are you in texas? Seen the name pflugerville when visiting my brother in Georgetown
I started the channel when I lived in Pflugerville, Texas, I still live in central texas but am not in Pflugerville anymore. We have a group that meets up and chats ever so often, check us out at www.forum.txbushcraft.com@@andrewjohnston4127
Pflugerville Bushcraft I agree with you. That price is too high for the pack you actually get. I guess the supply is getting dried up. Thanks for watching and for your comment!
Really enjoyed. I have the combat bag with insert & the gloves. All unissued. Next I want the grenade pouches, but I’m thinking of using E6000 ( industrial shoe goo) to attach one or two on each side of pack. I also cut the suspenders straps off. FYI; the Velcro pads for seatbelt straps works well for extra padding on the straps. I really like the East German rain pattern stuff. Have you shown the tarp/shelter & I missed it? Thanks John
Lee Stephenson I have never used that E6000 glue. Must be great stuff! The Velcro pads are a great idea. I could use those on a couple of my haversacks for extra comfort. I have done a video on the E. German poncho tarp but it also had a Russian Plash Palatka where I button them together as a shelter. th-cam.com/video/6AxtmjsXUWw/w-d-xo.html
Maybe I should do stand alone videos for both tarps some day. Thanks for watching and for your comment!
John Sherwood thanks for response. I failed to mention that I also found the leather strap portion of removed suspenders system makes a great hand grab handle on other packs if a couple of attachment points are configured to allow. Used mine on the awesome British field pack. Good stuff man. 😁
I would never dream of hurting historical pieces!
I have the combat pack and the mag pouches but I'm struggling to find the other bags like the bread bag. Where do you find these?
The green fastners is a complete diffent yr than the grey I have a set of the green suspenders and belt raindrop set up I think the green is a later mid 70s to 80s
12.99is good price, it's a good video as well.thank you.
Chu McCurry thank you for watching!
Here in Germany we just Pay 2,50€ for one each Lol
Unbekannter Soldat lol
Yes, debated modifying an East German pack but my collector side has problems with this. There's modern copies of British army P37 packs that are a very similar design to the East German ones and I can butcher them guilt free. That's a great East German collection John. Amazing to think this stuff was everywhere a few years ago, now some of it's getting harder to find. British DPM PLCE webbing is next, it's everywhere now but will dry up in the future.
jelkel25 Yep! Get it while you can! Soon it will be gone. I wish some more different mess kits and canteens would come on the market. Seems like that stuff really has dried up too. I’m with you on the modifications. Unless I have a couple of examples, I will not change it for collecting sake. Thanks for watching another one and for commenting!
@@John-Sherwood-W4JFS There's Danish 1.2L canteens with cup and pouch starting to turn up here, not a lot else.
whats the bed roll looing thing on the bag in the middle
hobo roadrunner and princess xena That is the East German poncho/shelter tarp. They could be used by the soldier as a poncho or a personal shelter. They could also be buttoned together with other tarps to form larger shelters.
i believe the canteen and a mess kit go ON the bread bag, German ww2 style
I just bought two of these assault packs off the Sportsman Guide. They're in great shape just a few spots of rust on the D rings but no mold no tears and that slight musty smell from a warehouse. Also a weird thing is when comparing my bags to pictures online and even my grenade pouches my bags look like there a darker green compared to the tan color. One even came with a completely different type of Y straps compared to the gray nylon straps and are more like thicker od green straps with real leather instead of a nylon and rubbery leather y strap. Also while they do have the two inner flaps with a buckle they lack the third one that goes across the top. I don't know if these are just a different variant or just discolored with age.
Any ideas?
Have the gas mask bag, 2 East German canteens and 2 web belts looking to find shoulder web straps ,but have a Polish Y strap that rides small. Looking for this bag to adapt and mag pouches too., a knowing eye for surplus gear!!
Dont feel bad, I'm a bigger guy too and sizing is a challenge but for historic and function of this hard to find gear.
there is also a green plastic combat belt and a combat yoke (Strictarn/green nylon)
(i dont know if these came before or after the grey yoke/belt)
neil castell according to another viewer that commented, the green belt was the newest system and the grey was older. So I have a mixture of new and old in this video. This is one thing I love about making these videos, the things you learn from viewers. I hope to find a green belt and some of the other parts in the future for my collection. Thanks for watching my video and for commenting!
John Sherwood ... I’ve seen them on eBay pretty cheap, I was tempted to buy one to use with another pack ... also I saw a black leather yoke. I like your use of the Alice shoulder straps.
I never had such a "breadbag" on my belt! It can be a part of the 50s, but not for the time of "ein-Strich-kein-Strich" ( one strip, non strip)! I was in the NVA from 1987 to 1990.
You are correct. I learned after I made this video that I had a mix of NVA equipment from different time periods on the belt. Thanks for your comment and thanks for watching my video! I enjoy using the equipment of your army. Most of it is pretty good equipment for my uses. Have a great day sir.
@@John-Sherwood-W4JFS - its a perfect equipment for outdoor or camping. I know this, cause I use some of it during vacation in Bulgaria in 1988.
Hi John, would you know any place online that you would be able to get extra hardware for this bag? I bought a bag that didn't come with the external straps but I have some scrap leather lying around. However, I wanted to maintain the aesthetic of the bag if possible. Thanks as always for your videos.
I can’t think of any right now. Those bags are getting harder to find. Check your local surplus if you have one nearby. Mine carried them before and you might get lucky and they may still have some.
I have one of those packs but dont know how to put the straps together on it? Can you do a video on that?
I have the combat pack, but where did you get all of the other gear? Any online recommendations? You made me want to buy every piece of kit for it like the gloves, mess kit, shelter half or pancho whatever its called the canteen thats all awesome!
I got most of the stuff from eBay, Hessen Antique, and Varusteleka a while back. I’m not sure if it’s available anymore. Thanks for watching and for your comment
Ранцы были с резиновыми ремешками и текстильными со стальными наконечниками...А также с резиновым вкладышем и без этого вкладыша.У меня есть такой...убрал нижние крючки ,а к верхним прицепил брезентовый ремень...хожу по городу и на работу...😊
Очень хороший обзор, спокойным голосом всё объяснил и всё показал. Спасибо!
I wonder if you could mod it to take an M1945 cargo pouch?
Now I have to go buy some NVA equipment.
the camo type is called "ein strich - kein strich".
I am guessing the markings are Roman numeral. Mine says “NVA IV/E”
Are the strap lockers in aluminium or stainless steel ? Risk of rust ?
Yougz I just checked them with a magnet. The buckles of the front are mostly aluminum with the rollers on the buckles being a zinc coated steel. The pointed metal tips on the main flap straps are zinc coated steel. The rest of the fasteners for the suspender system are zinc coated steel. None of mine have rusted yet even with all the adventures they have been on. But I guess with abuse they could rust. Hope this answers your question!
You kinda threw 2 different eras of NVA together, the stuff with the grey straps and belts and the teeth clips is the "regular" uniform, It doesn't have any real common name, unlike the first and third generation, and the third gen, known as UTV, which is an incomplete system meant to be implemented in 1990/91, that's pretty much everything with the green straps and wire hoop clips. The first gen is the one with the weird camo that you have on one of your bottles.
Schützer der Arbeiter und Bauernmacht Thank you very much for pointing that out. I had another viewer comment the same as you and that is just more confirmation. Thanks so much for watching my video and for sharing your knowledge!
The second bags stamp NVA 11/0 (Roman numerals not 11)
Also must say, some old nva soldiers tell me that they use this pack seldom.
Dont be ashamed of how you look in the gear! I look even more ridiculous in my undersized soviet rig!
I used to could get these for 5 bucks a piece with suspenders the backpacks
I use mine as a regular Rucksack
I like my small pack. I get them when I can
CHIPMUNK RAPIDS MADMAN they are starting to get hard to find for a good price. I think I would like one more... Lol. Thanks for watching and for your comment!
@@John-Sherwood-W4JFS I found some near me. I want to get another one.
CHIPMUNK RAPIDS MADMAN my local surplus had a couple too last time I was there. Maybe I will get lucky.
@@John-Sherwood-W4JFS I only picked up the AK magazine pouches. It's nice to have matching gear.
Прекрасный ранец...под дождем не промокает.
86 45 2020
It looks cheaply made. Durability tests would be interesting to see.
You pronounced "Blumentarn" better than "Strichtarn". You said "Strich" like "Strick". "Strich" means "line" / "stroke" / "dash" and "Strick" means "rope". But I know it's difficult if it's not your mothertongue.