East German Combat Pack
In stock
- SKU
- EGCC
- Material
- Cotton
Description
NVA Raindrop Combat Pack
This is the combat pack carried by soldiers of East Germany's National People's Army (NVA), issued from around 1968 until 1991. It is a compact cotton canvas pack that rides on the back from a grey webbing Y-strap harness, sized for a soldier's daily kit rather than a full field load. Collectors, Cold War reenactors and anyone who wants a small, plain day pack with real service history will find it useful.
Features
- Strichtarn Raindrop Camouflage — The canvas is printed in the NVA's Stricheldruckmuster, a field of short brown vertical dashes on a khaki base that collectors call raindrop camo.
- Cotton Canvas Body — Thick cotton canvas forms the box-shaped body, with stitched seams around the flap and sides.
- Two-Buckle Flap Closure — Two canvas straps with metal tips pass through steel roller-style buckles to hold the deep top flap shut.
- ID Card Window — A clear window stitched to the flap holds a name or unit card where it can be read at a glance.
- Internal Retention Strap — A buckled strap inside the main compartment cinches the contents down so they stay put when the flap is open.
- Y-Strap Harness — Grey webbing shoulder straps meet at a reinforced patch on the back and attach with snap hooks at the top and adjustable buckles at the bottom, so the harness can be taken off.
- D-Ring Attachment Points — Metal D-rings let the pack hook onto the NVA combat belt and suspender system, the webbing rig soldiers wore to carry pouches, canteen and entrenching tool.
- External Lashing Strap — An adjustable grey strap can secure a bedroll or jacket to the outside of the pack.
- Top Carry Handle — A canvas grab handle on the top lets you carry the pack by hand like a satchel.
NVA Issue And Build
The pack was one part of an integrated load-carrying system that also included magazine pouches, a knife, a canteen and an e-tool, all hung from the combat belt and its suspenders. Closed, it measures approximately 12 x 11 x 5 inches (30 x 28 x 13 cm). The hardware is plain pressed metal and the harness is grey webbing, both standard for East German field gear of the period. It pairs with other NVA belt kit for a period-correct loadout, and it works as a light day bag on its own.
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Customer Reviews
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Top customer reviews
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Amazing Value and QaulityAmazing value, and qaulity for an amazing price!
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Textbook NVA StrichtarnThe Stricheldruckmuster what most people just call 'raindrop' or Strichtarn is vivid and unfaded, which tells me this batch was folded and crated not long after the Wall came down and never saw daylight again until now. The PVC interior liner is completely intact with zero cracking or delamination, which is exactly what you want to see on a pack that's been sitting in a DDR-era warehouse for thirty-plus years. D-hooks for the Y-strap suspenders are solid steel, no rust pitting, and the cotton canvas exterior shows no stress fraying at the seams or the main closure flap. I've compared this side by side with a Czech M85 surplus haversack I picked up from Hessen Antique a few years back — the NVA pack is more compact (roughly 37 x 32 x 10 cm) but the cotton-canvas construction and overall stitch quality is on par if not slightly better. The only gripe I have at all is the warehouse smell, which is that deep musty DDR-closet funk that no amount of description really prepares you for. A day airing out in the sun and a light wipe-down with a damp cloth handled most of it.
Correct D-hook attachment for NVA Y-strap system
Strong musty warehouse storage odor out of the bag
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The real dealThe rain-drop camo is period-correct and the construction matches my reference photos from the 70s-80s. Mine arrived unissued condition with the rubber liner intact yeah it had that classic surplus warehouse smell but a wash with dish soap and baking soda fixed that in one afternoon. The Y-strap attachment points are exactly what you'd expect for the NVA combat belt system. This batch from Keep Shooting actually includes the suspenders which is a huge plus. Buckles have that nice patina, canvas is thick and sturdy. If you're building a complete East German kit, this is essential.
Authentic NVA construction Rain-drop camo pattern is iconic Rubber liner is genuinely waterproof
Was smelly but just wash it!
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Unique raindrop camo looks awesomeBought this for hiking and honestly its way better than I expected for the price. The camo pattern is really cool looking, gets alot of compliments on the trail. Stitching looks super heavy duty, nothing feels cheap or flimsy at all. This thing will probably outlast me lol.
Built like a tank
No internal frame so heavy loads can get uncomfortable
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Great for the priceHonestly for 17 bucks you really cant beat this thing. The rain drop camo pattern is awesome and looks even better in person than the pictures. Mine came in pretty solid condition considering its actual military surplus, just some minor wear on the straps. I use it for day hikes and it holds up fine. The field suspenders it comes with are a nice bonus too.
Rain drop camo pattern looks really cool
Smells a little musty, had to air it out for a couple days but that's surplus.