The stripes were used during the Battle of Berlin, as an identifier. Reasons vary from ensuring there were few blue on blue incidents between the Red Army and the Allies, identifiers for their own infantrymen who would shoot first in the berlin rubble, air recognition markings [in the absence of the coloured panels used by Allied vehicles, to a suggestion that it was a personal thing for those vying for Berlin's laurels [which I don't believe]. My best guess is a combo of the main reasons.
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