Prototype M1943 Shoulderboards

[ekclete]

Doug,
Were the uniforms you connection had where they prototype uniforms or the ones already in service. If they were prototypes do you have any pictures? Thanks Clete

[DougD]

I did have a chance to photo some prototype uniforms back in 1998 in a private collection; I'll see if I can dig up and scan them. I think 2 were lost in a fire; a tragedy because they were stunning.

DD

[DougD]

OK, I was able to find the photos of the exp.tunics. I would now kill to have gotten my hands on them since its my little area of collecting.

Here is the first.

dd

[DougD]

Here is the other, a more unusual design.

DD

[DougD]

Yes, got confirmation today; these tunics were lost in a fire circa 2000; tragic loss as they were unique.

DD

[sovvisor]

extremly nice Doug.:love Any chance they did sew up two of them?

[DougD]

I wish...there is the famous one on display in the Museum of Military Uniforms (very overdone) and I think there was one in London in a collection a few years back; i might still have apic of that one.

dd

[DougD]

Just got word that i should be getting the final grouping of prototype boards from my collector friend in Russia next week; long negotiation, but I really wanted to get them all (or at least all i knew he had). Will post when in. DD

[DougD]

I spent wayyy too much money, but had to buy out the final batch of these exp. and prototype boards that I knew of. So, this really should be it!

first one is for the rejected rank of Marshal of the NKVD, 1945. Beria wanted full Marshal USSR rank, not a unique NKVD rank. Note that the star is bordered in royal blue.

single only, never made it to the pair stage.

DougD

[DougD]

This board is soft, never having made it to the full board stage. Rank that was proposed was Cheif Medical officer of the NKVD.

DougD