EAST GERMAN BLACK ST. SGT. SHOULDER BOARDS NEW

Add a slice of authentic Cold War history to your military surplus inventory with these East German (NVA) Staff Sergeant Shoulder Boards. Issued to non-commissioned officers of the Nationale Volksarmee, this matched pair features the distinctive black piping that identifies the Engineer/Pioneer service branch, finished with the silver senior NCO braid that marks the wearer's rank. Brand new, unissued surplus — perfect for collectors, reenactors, costume designers, and uniform restorers building accurate DDR-era kits.

The boards are built on a base of field-grey wool with an arched top and a slight taper toward the shoulder seam. The outer edge is finished in black branch-color piping, denoting the Pioneer/Engineer corps, while heavy silver bullion-style braid wraps the perimeter and forms the horizontal NCO bar at the base — the rank insignia of a Stabsunteroffizier (Staff Sergeant). A central button hole at the top allows attachment to the uniform's shoulder button. The reverse is finished cleanly for sewing into the shoulder seam.

Who It Sells To

• Military surplus collectors building East German / DDR / NVA uniform sets
• Cold War and 20th-century militaria enthusiasts
• Reenactors and living-history groups
• Theatrical, film, and television costume departments
• Fashion-forward surplus shoppers drawn to authentic vintage military detail

Key Features

• Rank: Stabsunteroffizier (Staff Sergeant) — silver senior NCO braid
• Branch: Engineer / Pioneer, identified by black piping
• Material: Field-grey wool body with woven silver braid trim
• Condition: New, unissued East German military surplus
• Sold as: Matched left-and-right pair

As genuine NVA surplus stocks continue to dry up, authentic East German rank insignia like these become increasingly hard to source. They're a strong impulse-buy item for surplus shops and a valuable component piece for any retailer serving the collector and reenactor community.