Germany - pre-1945

German Third Reich

text and photos by Henrik Clausen and Eric H. Larson

As a member of the Central Powers, the German Empire fought alongside Austro-Hungarian, Bulgarian, and Ottoman Empire forces during the First World War. This was the first large-scale conflict to utilize camouflage techniques for military purposes to any great degree, they originally being developed disguise artillery emplacements from aerial observation. Still later, camouflage designs would be applied to aircraft, ships, and even tanks. Several nations, including France, Great Britain, and the United States engaged the expertise of artists to develop camouflage designs for battlefield purposes during the early part of the 20th century. German artist and printmaker Franz Marc, a key figure in the German Expressionist movement, was perhaps the greatest contributor to the development of early German military camouflage, having been employed to create more than a dozen designs to be printed on huge tarpaulins and used to hide artillery emplacements. As with most other countries, the implementation of personal camouflage for German forces came later, but was relatively commonplace during WW1 in the hand-painting of various designs on the new Stahlhelm, introduced in 1916. Other techniques, including the art of sniper camouflage, saw early development during this conflict as well.

Following the First World War, Germany was one of the first countries to introduce mass-produced camouflage, and to apply consistent designs to military vehicles. It was not until the Second World War that camouflage development truly blossomed as a science and an art. Not only was Germany one of the first nations to implement military issued camouflage, but it was unequivocably the most prolific developer and user of camouflage designs during WW2. Both the German Wehrmacht (Army) and Waffen-SS were issued a wide vareity of camouflage uniforms during the war, and many of these later went on to influence the camouflage designs of other nations.

Camouflage Patterns of the German Wehrmacht

• Heeres-Splittermuster 31 (Army splinter pattern) was used for the Zeltbahn 31 - a triangular zeltbahn. The colouration of the two sides was different but both printed in a splinter pattern. It is quite similar to the Swiss Zelteinheiten 1901. The pattern was also used for a number of uniform items and was the basis of the Luftwaffe-Splittermuster

• Each German Wehrmacht soldier was issued with a Zeltbahn 31. This is an example of a Wehrmacht soldier based on the west coast of Denmark who has made his own uniform by sewing a zeltbahn like a M44 jacket and adding pieces of clothing from the zeltbahn to an old pair of trousers.

• Luftwaffe-Splittermuster 41. This was a scaled down version of the Heeres-Splittermuster 31 and was used for some Luftwaffe uniforms - eg. the "Knochensack" (Bone sack), the jump suit of the paratroopers. The photo shows a reproduction.

• Wehrmacht Sumpfmuster 43 ("43 Marsh Pattern"). This pattern still has the geometric shapes of the Heeres-Splittermuster, but additionally some blurred shapes on top of them giving the pattern a much more "fluffier" look. Used for garments from 1943.

[Photo needed]

• Wehrmacht Sumpfmuster 44 ("44 Marsh Pattern"). The geometric shapes are now gone. Used for garments from 1944.

• The book by Werner Palinckx and Dr. J.F. Borsarello on German Wehrmacht uniforms mentions a pattern called "Experimental WH trial". It is worn in the movie "Where Eagles Dare" (starring among others Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood) and was reputedly genuine wartime uniforms. It turns out they were in fact movie props...

Thanks to Remy Spezzano for the permission to use these photos

• Leibermuster was the final camouflage pattern developed by the Germans during WW2. It should be issued to both Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS soldiers, but it seems that it was mostly issued to Wehrmacht soldiers in Czechoslovakia in the very end of the war. The pattern is different from the Czechoslovak Leibermuster pattern. The photo shows a reproduction.

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Camouflage Patterns of the Waffen-SS

• Block pattern. The very first pattern. Developed and used in small scale 1936-38.

[Photo needed]

• Waffen-SS Plane Tree (Platanenmuster). The term refers to the Platanaceae species, better known as the sycamore. The first material of this pattern was produced in 1936 and continued until 1944 - there are several variations of this pattern. The pattern is reversible with a summer and autumn side. It is printed in two tones (giving the impression of three) with a black overprint. Used for eg. helmet covers, smocks and zeltbahns. The photo shows a reproduction of this pattern!

• Waffen-SS Blurred Edge (Rauchtarnmuster). 1941-1944. Used for garments and zeltbahns. The pattern is printed as a three-colour Oak Leaf pattern with a black two-tone shadow.

[Photo needed]

• Waffen-SS Palm Tree pattern (Palmenmuster). Used for smocks and helmet covers. The photo show a reproduction - in fact of a zeltbahn (the pattern was not used for the production of these!). Produced 1940-1942 and saw widespread use during the invasion of USSR.

• Waffen-SS Oak Leaf pattern (Eichenlaubmuster). There are two types of this pattern - A and B (also called "ringed" and regular). Used for garments and zeltbahns from 1941-1945. The photos show the type B:

• Waffen-SS Pea Pattern (Erbsenmuster) - the first non-reversible wartime Waffen-SS pattern. A late war pattern - introduced in 1944. Used for garments. This pattern was used briefly after WW2 by eg. the Hungarian Army using up German stocks. The photo show a reproduction of the pattern!

Resources

Several books have been written on the subject of German WW2 camouflage. Daniel Peterson has written two - one dealing with Wehrmacht and one with Waffen-SS camouflage - both also containing information on postwar uniforms. Werner Palinckx has written a book with Dr. J.F. Borsarello on German Wehrmacht uniforms. Michael Beaver wrote with Dr. J.F. Borsarello a book on Waffen-SS uniforms