When I started collecting East German hats my original plan was to collect items between 1968-1990. Twenty two years of history, firm start and end date. Nice, ease and low cost.

Then this 1960 dated visor hat became available... (read more about this hat on page 17: 1960's items) An Easter Egg of questions and speculations... is it Stasi or Artillery? The photos I have taken of the original piping look artillery red, but to human eyes it looks maroon. According to the experienced collectors at the  DDR sub-forum of Wehrmacht-Awards items marked DDR are Stasi related. Intriguing.

Then I found this lovely 1965 dated DDR winter hat. All this has sparked my interest in the earlier hats. So I guess I'm collecting headwear from the early 1960's too...

DAMN YOU STASI!!!  I'm running out of room to display my hats!!

 

Ministerium fur Staatssicherheit-Stasi-MfS-Ministry for State Security.
A telescopic Baton said to be MfS related. For 15 Euros a great toy!   (I broke it    if you get one "IT'S NOT A TOY")
Officer, silver hand embroidered wreath and metal cockade, silver cap cord. Originally this hat had dark red piping. The red piping was mostly removed or trimmed down and the white piping sown on. This occurred around 1964/65 in accordance with new uniform regulations. Thanks to Tony for informing me of this. Size 58 and dated 1960. VEB 1856. Marked DDR." 
Officer, gabardine fabric, two piece cockade and silver cap cord , white piping. Size 54. Marked DDR, dated 1969.
Officer, gabardine fabric, two piece cockade and silver cap cord, white piping. Size 54. Marked DDR, dated "X" (1971).
DDR marked Officer Winter hat. Imitation fur, embroidered wreath metal cockade. Size 57, dated 1965
Early Issue Career soldier side cap. Gabardine fabric, textile circular cockade, no piping. Size  53 , no date. On the inside of the cap is stamped "DDR 53 1856 23171".