The Waffen-SS was the first military organization in the world to use mottled camouflage clothing. Its combat units used various patterns from 1935 onwards. They had pioneered camouflage zeltbahns, smocks and helmet covers in distinctive spotted patterns, and subsequently made wide use of a perplexing variety of season patterns and colors. Camouflage zeltbahns and smocks were designed to be reversible, providing camouflage for two seasons, whether summer and autumn, or summer and winter. Distribution was limited to the Waffen-SS, ostensibly because of a patent. The camouflage patterns were designed by Johann Georg Otto Schick, a Munich art professor and then the director of the German camouflage research unit. The Waffen-SS camouflage development truly blossomed as a science and an art. Insignia were not supposed to be worn on camouflage uniforms, but this regulation was widely ignored among the Waffen-SS and the SS sleeve eagle, though unofficial, were often seen worn on the upper left arm, which went aginst regulations. In 1944 the Waffen-SS introduced a complete tunic-and-trousers camouflage uniform. The German names used for the plane tree, palm and oakleaf patterns were invented post-war. Left image: Waffen-SS machine gun crew wearing camouflage smocks in 'Eichenlaub and rare camouflage face veils. Commonly associated with sniper equipment, it was actually issued to all types of Waffen-SS close combat ground forces. The photo was probably taken by SS-KB Hans Cantzler who served with the battle-hardened SS-Panzergrenadier-Division Totenkopf during Zitadelle in 1943, better known as the
Battle of Kursk. U.S. NARA. Right image: a conscript of the infamous
7.SS-Freiwilligen Gebirgs-Division Prinz Eugen in a Zeltbahn in Serbia in 1944. The tent quarter is separated into two different camo patterns, the Eichenlaub and Platanen pattern. Credit: Johannes Dorn. Fair use.
Some of the best camo ever made. The Waffen SS camo patterns work far better than that so called Universal Camouflage Pattern the Army adopted for the Army Combat Uniform. Germans were really way ahead of their time.
ReplyDeleteTheir camouflage system with dots was patented and even the US army had to pay until the expiry date of the patent. The money was collected by a german organisation who only accepted membership of former waffen-ss men.
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