This uniform shirt is a historical military surplus item used by the Volkspolizei (VoPo), the national police force of East Germany (German Democratic Republic), between 1945 and 1990.
Features:
Material: 50% cotton and 50% polyester - a durable, comfortable to wear and easy to maintain combination, both for everyday use and for collecting or historical reenactments.
Color: Light gray - a shade specific to East German police service uniforms; may vary slightly depending on batch and wear.
Design & style:
Typical military/police service uniform cut: shirt with classic collar and front buttons.
Sober and professional look, suitable for wearing with the rest of the uniform (trousers and equipment).
Condition:
Military surplus product - may show minor signs of wear, shade differences or imperfections specific to reused items.
Additional details and uses:
The shirt was worn by members of the Volkspolizei (VoPo), the uniformed police of the GDR, as part of their daily or ceremonial service equipment.
It can be used today for various purposes:
collecting and historical reenactments;
filming/themed costumes;
wearing as a military-inspired or vintage clothing item.
The mixed fabric (cotton + polyester) offers a balance between comfort and durability, being easy to wash and maintain.
The list below shows the conditions of each item in the military surplus category.
- Like New: The item is in excellent condition and fully functional, but it may not be shipped in its original packaging. The item has not been used and does not have a warranty certificate.
- In Good Condition: The item shows minimal wear but is fully functional. It may include original or new accessories, but is not shipped in its original packaging and may have been used for testing or demonstration. Items in this category may have variations in appearance, such as differences in color shades or other minor imperfections caused by long-term storage. They do not come with a warranty certificate.
- Used: The item shows signs of cosmetic wear, but is fully operational and functions properly. Items in this category may have variations in appearance, such as differences in color shades or other minor imperfections caused by long-term storage. They do not come with a warranty certificate.
- Non-functional/DECO: The item is not operational, requiring repairs or missing components. These items are typically recommended for strictly decorative use (collections/vintage) and may show variations in appearance, such as differences in color shades or other minor imperfections caused by long-term storage. They do not come with a warranty certificate.
People vary primarily in height and width. The East Germans took this into account in a very special way, combining the European sizing system numbers with German language and East German specialties.
Widths
Widths are like normal European sizing widths, except they do not affect length, and some sizes are left out to simplify things.
METRIC
| Size | Chest | Waist | Easy size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 44 | 85-92 cm | 71-78 cm | Small |
| 48 | 93-100 cm | 79-86 cm | Medium |
| 52 | 101-108 cm | 87-94 cm | Large |
| 56 | 109-116 cm | 95-102 cm | X-Large |
| 60 | 117-124 cm | 103-110 cm | 2X-Large |
IMPERIAL
| Size | Chest | Waist | Easy size |
|---|---|---|---|
| 44 | 33.5" - 36" | 28" 30.5" | Small |
| 48 | 36.5" - 39.5" | 31" - 34" | Medium |
| 52 | 40" - 42.5" | 34" - 37" | Large |
| 56 | 43" - 45.5" | 37.5" - 40" | X-Large |
| 60 | 46" - 49" | 40.5" - 43.5" | 2X-Large |
As a special touch suffix numbers are used to account for different body types, for an example SK48-0 or G52-1. These add or subtract 8 cm (a wee bit short of 3") from the waist as follows:
- 0 = -8 cm, Athletic body with slender waist
- No suffix = No effect, normal body type
- 1 = +8 cm, Dad body
- 2 = +16 cm, Beer belly
Lengths
Lengths are determined by letter codes. They are short for German words Sehr Klein, Klein, Mittelgroß, Groß, Sehr Groß and Übergroß. Here's what they mean:
| Letter code | User height (metric) | User height (imperial) |
|---|---|---|
| SK | 158-163 cm | 5' 2" - 5' 4" |
| K | 164-169 cm | 5' 4" - 5' 6" |
| M | 170-175 cm | 5' 7" - 5' 9" |
| G | 176-181 cm | 5' 9" - 5' 11" |
| SG | 182-187 cm | 5' 11" - 6' 1" |
| ÜG | 188-193 cm | 6' 2" - 6' 4" |
