Germany - Revision history

Admin1 at 03:27, 31 July 2025

2025-07-31T03:27:31Z

Admin1 at 01:14, 12 February 2025

2025-02-12T01:14:05Z

Admin1 at 01:10, 12 February 2025

2025-02-12T01:10:39Z

Admin1 at 01:06, 12 February 2025

2025-02-12T01:06:57Z

Admin1 at 23:28, 3 May 2024

2024-05-03T23:28:27Z

Admin1: /* German Army (Bundeswehr) Camouflage Patterns */

2024-05-02T21:51:47Z

German Army (Bundeswehr) Camouflage Patterns

Admin1 at 00:26, 21 October 2020

2020-10-21T00:26:33Z

Admin1: /* Articles on German Camouflage Patterns and their derivatives */

2020-10-21T00:23:54Z

Articles on German Camouflage Patterns and their derivatives

Admin1: /* German Army (Bundeswehr) Camouflage Patterns */

2020-10-21T00:23:11Z

German Army (Bundeswehr) Camouflage Patterns

Admin1 at 14:32, 17 January 2019

2019-01-17T14:32:04Z

@@ Line 70: / Line 70: @@
 [[File:Multicam.jpg|200px]]
-* It was announced in late 2015 that the ''Bundeswehr'' would introduce two more ''flecktarn''-based camouflage designs for use in arctic/snow conditions, and as a general-purpose camouflage pattern for personnel deployed outside of Germany. Initial research efforts began circa 2012, overseen by the ''Wehrwissenschaftliche Institut für Werk- und Betriebsstoffe der Bundeswehr (WIWeB)'' (the Federal Army Material and Supply Research Institute). ''Multitarndruck'' incorporates light green, dark green, brown, beige, grey and off-white colors in a design presumably based on the standard BW ''flecktarn'' pattern, and will initially be supplied only to the German Army Special Operations Command (KSK). New uniforms in the pattern will filter into the conventional ranks as time progresses. One distinct improvement the Multitarn pattern makes is that is provides increased efficacy in thwarting night vision devices.
+* It was announced in late 2015 that the ''Bundeswehr'' would introduce two more ''flecktarn''-based camouflage designs for use in arctic/snow conditions, as well as a general-purpose camouflage pattern for personnel deployed outside of Germany. Initial research efforts began circa 2012, overseen by the ''Wehrwissenschaftliche Institut für Werk- und Betriebsstoffe der Bundeswehr (WIWeB)'' (the Federal Army Material and Supply Research Institute). ''Multitarndruck'' incorporates light green, dark green, brown, beige, grey and off-white colors in a design presumably based on the standard BW ''flecktarn'' pattern, and was initially be supplied only to the German Army Special Operations Command (KSK). In July 2025, it was announced by the Ministry of Defense that all new uniforms and equipment for the ''Bundeswehr'' would be produced in the Multitarn pattern, and begin filtrating out to conventional units starting in 2028. One distinct improvement the Multitarn pattern makes is that is provides increased efficacy in thwarting night vision devices.
 [[File:germany27.jpg|200px]]

@@ Line 31: / Line 31: @@
 [[File:germany28.jpg|200px]]
-* Within a year of the initial release of the ''Wehrmacht 31'' coloration, the ''Bundeswehr'' would introduce two variations of the design, both featuring grass green and reddish-brown splintered shapes on either a blue-grey or pale green-grey background, with an overlapping pattern of thin grey-green colored rain straits. Both retained the off white "slipped" sections bordering the green shapes. Produced only between 1956 and 1957, neither variation appears to have been fully-integrated into the Bundeswehr supply system, being primarily employed by regular and mounted infantry, mountain infantry ''(Gebirgsjäger),'' and airborne ''(Fallschirmjäger)'' units, in three distinctive styles of uniform. However, there are photographs of other combat personnel (armor crews, artillery crews, mortar crews and even medical personnel) wearing splinter pattern, so it appears distribution may have been more extensive than just infantry personnel. It is worth noting that, within two main colorations - blue and green - there appear to be at least one variation of each. The base color of the green, for example, may be darker or lighter, and the printing of the rain straits either bold or subdued. This does not appear to be product of wear to the dyes or fabric from exposure or repeated laundering, but rather a difference in the printing process itself, either from alternative dye batches or some other detail. The vast majority of the ''splittertarnmuster'' uniforms were withdrawn from service by the early 1960s. Only helmet covers in ''Splittertarn'' camouflage would continue to be worn by German ground forces for the next ten or fifteen years, most made from converted, detachable hoods.<ref>Wehrmacht Camouflage Uniforms & Post-War Derivatives, p. 25, by Daniel Peterson. Windrow & Greene, London, 1995. ISBN 1 85915 005 5</ref>
+* Within a year of the initial release of the ''Wehrmacht 31'' coloration, the ''Bundeswehr'' would introduce two variations of the design, both featuring grass green and reddish-brown splintered shapes on either a blue-grey or pale green-grey background, with an overlapping pattern of thin grey-green colored rain straits. Both retained the off white "slipped" sections bordering the green shapes. Produced only between 1956 and 1957, neither variation appears to have been fully-integrated into the Bundeswehr supply system, being primarily employed by regular and mounted infantry, mountain infantry ''(Gebirgsjäger),'' and airborne ''(Fallschirmjäger)'' units, in three distinctive styles of uniform. However, there are photographs of other combat personnel (armor crews, artillery crews, mortar crews and even medical personnel) wearing splinter pattern, so it appears distribution may have been more extensive than just infantry personnel. It is worth noting that, within two main colorations - blue and green - there appear to be at least one sub-variation of each. The primary difference appears to be that the rain straits are printed either bold or subdued. This does not appear to be product of wear to the dyes from exposure or repeated laundering, but rather a difference in the printing process itself, either from alternative dye batches or some other detail. The vast majority of the ''splittertarnmuster'' uniforms were withdrawn from service by the early 1960s. Only helmet covers in ''Splittertarn'' camouflage would continue to be worn by German ground forces for the next ten or fifteen years, most made from converted, detachable hoods.<ref>Wehrmacht Camouflage Uniforms & Post-War Derivatives, p. 25, by Daniel Peterson. Windrow & Greene, London, 1995. ISBN 1 85915 005 5</ref>
 [[File:germany4.jpg|200px]]

@@ Line 36: / Line 36: @@
 [[File:germany5.jpg|200px]]
-[[File:germany29.jpg|200px]]
+[[File:germany29.png|200px]]
-[[File:germany30.jpg|200px]]
+[[File:germany30.png|200px]]
 * Two additional variants of the ''Splittermuster'' pattern were produced from around 1957, differentiated by the employment of much larger and more prominent rain flecks. These designs, ''Bundeswehr Splittermuster - starke,'' (aka "broad splinter pattern") incorporate grass green and brown splintered shapes on a grey-green background, with an overlapping pattern of thick black rain straits. A brown dominant version (with larger, more dominant brown shapes) was produced on uniforms for airborne personnel, while a green dominant version (brighter colors, with larger shapes reversed and primaily green) was produced as an Infantry uniform. Evidence suggests that far fewer uniforms were produced in this pattern, it being much less commonly encountered.

@@ Line 31: / Line 31: @@
 [[File:germany28.jpg|200px]]
-* Within a year of the initial release of the ''Wehrmacht 31'' coloration, the ''Bundeswehr'' would introduce two variations of the design, both featuring grass green and reddish-brown splintered shapes on either a blue-grey or pale green-grey background, with an overlapping pattern of thin grey-green colored rain straits. Both retained the off white "slipped" sections bordering the green shapes. Produced only between 1956 and 1957, neither variation appears to have been fully-integrated into the Bundeswehr supply system, being primarily employed by regular and mounted infantry, mountain infantry ''(Gebirgsjäger),'' and airborne ''(Fallschirmjäger)'' units, in three distinctive styles of uniform. However, there are photographs of other combat personnel (armor crews, artillery crews, mortar crews and even medical personnel) wearing splinter pattern, so it appears distribution may have been more extensive than just infantry personnel. The vast majority of these uniforms were withdrawn from service by the early 1960s. Only helmet covers in ''Splittertarn'' camouflage would continue to be worn by German ground forces for the next ten or fifteen years, most made from converted, detachable hoods.<ref>Wehrmacht Camouflage Uniforms & Post-War Derivatives, p. 25, by Daniel Peterson. Windrow & Greene, London, 1995. ISBN 1 85915 005 5</ref>
+* Within a year of the initial release of the ''Wehrmacht 31'' coloration, the ''Bundeswehr'' would introduce two variations of the design, both featuring grass green and reddish-brown splintered shapes on either a blue-grey or pale green-grey background, with an overlapping pattern of thin grey-green colored rain straits. Both retained the off white "slipped" sections bordering the green shapes. Produced only between 1956 and 1957, neither variation appears to have been fully-integrated into the Bundeswehr supply system, being primarily employed by regular and mounted infantry, mountain infantry ''(Gebirgsjäger),'' and airborne ''(Fallschirmjäger)'' units, in three distinctive styles of uniform. However, there are photographs of other combat personnel (armor crews, artillery crews, mortar crews and even medical personnel) wearing splinter pattern, so it appears distribution may have been more extensive than just infantry personnel. It is worth noting that, within two main colorations - blue and green - there appear to be at least one variation of each. The base color of the green, for example, may be darker or lighter, and the printing of the rain straits either bold or subdued. This does not appear to be product of wear to the dyes or fabric from exposure or repeated laundering, but rather a difference in the printing process itself, either from alternative dye batches or some other detail. The vast majority of the ''splittertarnmuster'' uniforms were withdrawn from service by the early 1960s. Only helmet covers in ''Splittertarn'' camouflage would continue to be worn by German ground forces for the next ten or fifteen years, most made from converted, detachable hoods.<ref>Wehrmacht Camouflage Uniforms & Post-War Derivatives, p. 25, by Daniel Peterson. Windrow & Greene, London, 1995. ISBN 1 85915 005 5</ref>
 [[File:germany4.jpg|200px]]
 [[File:germany5.jpg|200px]]
 * Two additional variants of the ''Splittermuster'' pattern were produced from around 1957, differentiated by the employment of much larger and more prominent rain flecks. These designs, ''Bundeswehr Splittermuster - starke,'' (aka "broad splinter pattern") incorporate grass green and brown splintered shapes on a grey-green background, with an overlapping pattern of thick black rain straits. A brown dominant version (with larger, more dominant brown shapes) was produced on uniforms for airborne personnel, while a green dominant version (brighter colors, with larger shapes reversed and primaily green) was produced as an Infantry uniform. Evidence suggests that far fewer uniforms were produced in this pattern, it being much less commonly encountered.

@@ Line 31: / Line 31: @@
 [[File:germany28.jpg|200px]]
-* Within a year of the initial release of the ''Wehrmacht 31'' coloration, the ''Bundeswehr'' would introduce two variations of the design, both featuring grass green and reddish-brown splintered shapes on either a blue-grey or pale green-grey background, with an overlapping pattern of thin grey-green colored rain straits. Both retained the off white "slipped" sections bordering the green shapes. Produced only between 1956 and 1957, neither variation was fully-implemented into the Bundeswehr supply system, being primarily employed by infantry, mountain infantry ''(Gebirgsjäger),'' and airborne ''(Fallschirmjäger)'' units, in three distinctive styles of uniform. The vast majority of these uniforms were withdrawn from service by the early 1960s. Only helmet covers in ''Splittertarn'' camouflage would continue to be worn by German ground forces for the next ten or fifteen years, most made from converted, detachable hoods.<ref>Wehrmacht Camouflage Uniforms & Post-War Derivatives, p. 25, by Daniel Peterson. Windrow & Greene, London, 1995. ISBN 1 85915 005 5</ref>
+* Within a year of the initial release of the ''Wehrmacht 31'' coloration, the ''Bundeswehr'' would introduce two variations of the design, both featuring grass green and reddish-brown splintered shapes on either a blue-grey or pale green-grey background, with an overlapping pattern of thin grey-green colored rain straits. Both retained the off white "slipped" sections bordering the green shapes. Produced only between 1956 and 1957, neither variation appears to have been fully-integrated into the Bundeswehr supply system, being primarily employed by regular and mounted infantry, mountain infantry ''(Gebirgsjäger),'' and airborne ''(Fallschirmjäger)'' units, in three distinctive styles of uniform. However, there are photographs of other combat personnel (armor crews, artillery crews, mortar crews and even medical personnel) wearing splinter pattern, so it appears distribution may have been more extensive than just infantry personnel. The vast majority of these uniforms were withdrawn from service by the early 1960s. Only helmet covers in ''Splittertarn'' camouflage would continue to be worn by German ground forces for the next ten or fifteen years, most made from converted, detachable hoods.<ref>Wehrmacht Camouflage Uniforms & Post-War Derivatives, p. 25, by Daniel Peterson. Windrow & Greene, London, 1995. ISBN 1 85915 005 5</ref>
 [[File:germany4.jpg|200px]]

@@ Line 27: / Line 27: @@
 == German Army (Bundeswehr) Camouflage Patterns ==
-* A Second World War era camouflage design, ''Splitternmuster'' ([[splinter]] pattern), was given new life as a general purpose uniform for the Bundeswehr in the mid-1950s. Although retaining many of the original characteristics of the [[Germany (Third Reich)|Wehrmacht]] pattern, the 1956 version can be distinguished from the wartime era design by prominent white patches, indicating an intentional slippage of the print screens during production. The full pattern consists of grass green and brown splintered shapes on a blue-grey or green-grey background, with an overlapping pattern of thin grey-green colored rain straits. Produced between 1956 and 1960, the pattern was never fully-implemented into the Bundeswehr, being primarily employed by infantry and airborne units (as two distinctive styles of uniform), and were largely withdrawn from service by the end of 1960. Only privately produced helmet covers in ''Splittertarn'' might be encountered for the next ten or fifteen years. There were, in fact, at least two distinctive color variations of the BW ''Splittertarn'' camouflage, having either a pale blue or a pale green background color. It is unknown whether these variations were intentional or simply a product of mistaken dye lots or different manufacturers.
+* The Second World War era ''Splitternmuster'' ([[splinter]] pattern) camouflage design was given new life as a general purpose uniform for the Bundeswehr beginning in 1956. The earliest production of this pattern bears a very close resemblance to the wartime ''Wehrmacht splittertarn 31'' and consists of moss green and reddish-brown splintered shapes with grey-green rain straits on a pale, greyish-green background. Although retaining many of the original characteristics of the [[Germany (Third Reich)|Wehrmacht]] design, the 1956 ''Bundeswehr'' version can be distinguished by its prominent off-white patches bordering the green shapes, suggesting an intentional slippage of the print screens during production. Although very examples of this pattern have survived into the modern era, it is presumed the production was extremely limited and probably only in 1956.
 [[File:germany4.jpg|200px]]
 [[File:germany5.jpg|200px]]
-* A variant of the ''Splittermuster'' pattern dating to the same period employs much larger and more prominent rain flecks. This pattern, ''Bundeswehr Splittermuster - starke,'' incorporates grass green and brown splintered shapes on a grey-green background, with an overlapping pattern of thick black rain straits. Also utilized by both infantry and paratrooper units, evidence suggests that far fewer uniforms were produced in this pattern, it being much less commonly encountered. In English, the pattern might be called "broad splinter pattern." As with the standard ''Splittertarn,'' both infantry and airborne unfiorms were produced in this camouflage.
+* Two additional variants of the ''Splittermuster'' pattern were produced from around 1957, differentiated by the employment of much larger and more prominent rain flecks. These designs, ''Bundeswehr Splittermuster - starke,'' (aka "broad splinter pattern") incorporate grass green and brown splintered shapes on a grey-green background, with an overlapping pattern of thick black rain straits. A brown dominant version (with larger, more dominant brown shapes) was produced on uniforms for airborne personnel, while a green dominant version (brighter colors, with larger shapes reversed and primaily green) was produced as an Infantry uniform. Evidence suggests that far fewer uniforms were produced in this pattern, it being much less commonly encountered.
 [[File:germany6.jpg|200px]]

@@ Line 120: / Line 120: @@
 * [[Rain]]
 * [[Splinter]]
 <html>

@@ Line 27: / Line 27: @@
 == German Army (Bundeswehr) Camouflage Patterns ==
-* One of the last camouflage patterns implemented by the German Army during WW2 was ''[[Leibermuster]].'' Although never fully implemented by the Nazis, the pattern apparently retained an enthusiastic following within the German Army after the war, and was in fact produced in limited quantities by a Belgian military firm for the newly formed Bundeswehr in the 1955-56 time frame. As with the wartime uniforms, the BW version was never fully implemented.
+* One of the last camouflage patterns implemented by the German Army during WW2 was developed by German engineer Helmut Leiber, known as ''[[Leibermuster]].'' Although never fully implemented by the Nazis, the pattern screens were retained and considered for use by the German Army in the 1950s when there was serious discussion about creating a European Defense Union. Under the auspices of being adopted as a "universal" camouflage design for Germany, [[Belgium]], and the [[Netherlands]], limited quantities were tested by the Bundeswehr in the 1955-56 time frame.<ref>Lothar Schuster: Das Ausstattungssoll der Heeresangehörigen der Bundeswehr 1956-2010. Zeughausverlag, Berlin, 2011, p. 85.</ref> As the European Defense Union idea never came to fruition, ''Leibermuster'' camouflage uniforms were never fully implemented by Germany.
 [[File:germany1.jpg|200px]]