Trabi/IFA Chat Forum

The synthetic materials make my head itchy

I am looking for a generals Ushanka but its proving hard to find unless I want to pay serious money

Comrade, the itchiness is intentional.
It took many years of research and practice to develop a material that remains itchy for several decades of hard use.

This is intended to keep you alert and in a state of readiness for anything those Insidious Western Spies™ might concoct.
It also helps keep your Righteous Indignation at a suitable level for dealing with hostile enemies.
Pure genius! No wonder the west never successfully invaded East Germany... DDR soldiers had itchy hats and a foul disposition.

Dear Itchy Hats, Suspicious and rude was not enough for guards at the boarder. Thank you for being so itchy.

OK that's exactly like mine. Even the plastic piece in the head liner and color. Mine came with the small compass emblem, but not the wreath around it. Unless yours is just one piece.

I paid $10 for mine but because it came from Quebec, Canada (less than 1000 miles), cost me $20 shipping. Also the Canadian postal service operates at a snail's pace. I can order something from the UK and it's quicker and cheaper.

I missed that one. Is USA ebay and Canada the same? I must admit I wasn't looking because I "think" I have the right hat for what I am trying to do. Look above, just emblem, no wreath, is enlisted. This does not apply to peaked visor caps though, correct me please if I stray from accuracy, the "chin" cord (which should not be used ever) tells enlisted vs. officer.

I think you posted it correctly and it is an interesting thread. Thanks for starting it.

Mine has the fold down visor and the chin cord.

I'd like to see that. I will take a pic of mine one of these days. Maybe Laterday.

The chin cord is the same thing that holds the ear flaps together as seen in the original photo. There is a button on one side attached and on the other is a short strap with two slots cut into it to make it adjustable. But once the ear flaps are pulled down the straps keeps the flaps so the press up against your ears.

Unless we are talking about two different chin straps?

And yes this hat is quit itchy with the ear flaps down and so is the chin strap. I only do that when the wind is blowing like mad.

Sounds russian

No I think they are two different sites. Ebay.ca .

I actually went through an Army surplus store I found on the web after doing a search for Ushanka. I have yet to figure out which countries tack on import duties and sales tax. Canada sure does. I'm not sure what rate it is. Germany charges 19%. Seems like items I have ordered from the UK, there is no import duty or tax applied to the order. Royal mail is not too bad on their rates compared to Canada.

I don't think Slovenia charges tax but shipping from there is damn expensive. I ordered a short throw shifter for my Yugo and shipping was about $50 and the shifter was just in a bubble wrap envelope so it weighed less than 5 pounds. More like 2 or 3 lbs. Then later some stabilizer bars and shipping was around $50 as well.

I also ordered a pirate PCI FM transmitter card from Slovenia and shipping was $50. Must be a $50 minimum thing..

Thanks for that info. I hadn't thought about those things. Sure didnt know there was an ebay.ca....

Hi
I am selling my Ushanka it is an East German NVA type with the other ranks cockade. It says it is a size 58 but its more like a 57cm. I am looking for £15 plus postage. pics below

[USER=961]Suzi[/USER], feel free to post it in the For Sale thread too if you'd like: http://trabantforums.com/categories/the-trabi-trader.12/

I'll create another section in there just for other items like this