Cold War Crap
East German army Ushanka hat
Price: £8
Manufacturer: Army surplus
Model: NVA Ushanka
Date/Year: 1972 B
Quality Code: TGL 108-754585
Authentic?: Yes
Materials: mainly woollen textile with an outer faux fur lining
Vendor: local market trader - not online
First impressions
I bought this hat some time ago but never got around to looking at it in any detail. After a few frosty mornings recently I thought I might dig it out and put it to the test.
I bought this hat from a vintage army surplus guy at a local covered market. It wasn't the first time I had done business with him, my first purchase was a Nazi officers dress dagger which turned out to be repro in the end but nice nonetheless.
After looking through the various army tunics, trousers and ammo belts I came across this Ushanka wedged between a navy great coat and the scaffolding holding up his stall.
This traders stall is a mixture of genuine and repro gear so I was hoping to get the real thing with this purchase. I looked inside the hat and noticed it indeed had all the genuine dates and codes stamped inside. This particular hat was a size 57 which is not the biggest by any means.
Happy with the hats condition and autheniticity I paid the man and shuffled off.
Who were these hats issued to?
These Ushanka hats were issued to regular serving men in the National Volks Army (NVA). These soldiers were based in East Germany and came under Soviet administration (DDR).
Some NVA ushanka hats feature a silver crest around the central circular pin badge. These were issued to higher ranking personnel.
What do the codes mean?
Inside most pieces of DDR clothing are various codes denoting the year of manufacture, the factory where they were made, the size and the quality regulation code.
This Ushanka was intended to be issued to a serving soldier in the NVA (National Volks Army) and not the secret police (Stasi) as I first thought.
Testing
I must admit this size 57 Ushanka is a little tight on my head. A little pulling here and there loosened things a little and I was able to Don the hat with no problems.
The vast majority of the hat is made from WWII style 'itchy blanket' material often seen these days in hotel closets made into spare blankets (Premier Inn, Travel lodge etc). Some people may find this material irritating to the skin and with good reason. It seems to be made from a rough tightly woven wool (I'm no textiles expert) which although incredibly hard wearing, is itchy as hell to some.
The fake faux around the sides seems more of a garnish than of any practical application but it looks good.
Folding down the sides of the hat is just a case of unbuttoning an elastic strap across the top. It really keeps your ears warm!
The front fur part of the hat can also be lowered.. not quite sure why? It's held in place a two firm fastening press studs. The front flap folds completely down covering your eyes...Perhaps useful in a blizzard?
Overall this hat really keeps your head nice and toasty!
Itchy material
Rating ✅✅✅✅✅ 5 out of 5
The Russians certainly know how to make a good hat. Despite the 'itchy blanket' material used in its construction it's comfortable and warm to wear. These trapper/Ushanka hats are coming back in fashion just now so bagging a genuine one instead of a poncy fake is the best option. Cheap and durable!