Camuflagem

Although crude attempts at camouflage wer used in World War I, the development of disruptive pattern material by Germany for use by the Waffen SS was probably the most influential addition to uniform design in the 20th Century and varients of Waffen SS style camouflage are still in use today with some NATO armies. The Waffen SS first tested camouflage material in the field in December 1937 and early 1938. During these trials it was estimated that this new innovation would reduce battlefield casuties by 15% and these unforms were issued to the troops a few monts laterand patents were issued for these uniforms in June 1938 so as the army could not copy them. Otto Weidinger in his history of the Das Reich Division attributes the design and develoment of this style of uniform to SS-Sturmbannfuhrer Dr. Ing. Wilhelm Brandt of the Aufklarungs Abteilung of the SSVT.

Camouflage was first used during the Polish Campaign but was only issued to assault troops due to shortages in supply. This was due to difficulties in obtaining the waterproof cotton duck material that the smock, groundsheet and helmet cover was made from, as well as the fact that the material had to be printed by hand. This new style of uniform was noted by the army (notably Generalmajor Werner Kempf ) who informed OKH of the benefit of using such material but camoflage uniforms were not introduced into the army unitl 1942 and the army devised their own designs and colour schemes for their uniforms. The only unit to adopt Waffen SS camo style uniforms was the Herman Goring Regiment (later Division).

Before 1940, screen printing was used to print the camouflage patterns, which used up to six screens using Anthrasol dyes and took several days to dry was used on the raw garment (which was an off white colour to start with). This meant that waterproofing (which could only be done when the garment was dry) could be a very lenghty process for just one batch. After early 1940 screen printing had been superceeded by machine roller printing using Indanthern dyes which sped up production considerably and by June 1940 over 30,000 smocks had been delivered to the troops. Smocks were made reversible with green camo patterns on one side and brown on the other. There were several differnet different patterns produced but there was no real consistancy in these patterns with leakage and bluring occuring during printing. This of course was not undesirable and it was rare that although smocks were printed with the same pattern, no two smocks were identical. Supply shortages continued to hamper the supply of camouflage uniforms throughout the war and the use of high quality cotton duck material had to be stopped in early 1943 and replaced by non-waterproof herringbone drill material. Even this was in short supply and supply problems continued until the end of the war.

THE CAMOUFLAGE SMOCK

The reversible pullover smock (Tarnjake) was made of closely woven spun waterproof rayon/cotton duck (the same material used for the (Zeltbahn), elasticated at the wrist and waist and cut with no collar. It was originally designed to be worn over the uniform and web equipment but obviously this would prove impracticale in battle. After it was decided to wear the smock over the uniform with the webbing and equipement over the smock which proved much more practical. A common way of wearing the smock was to tuck the waiste and cuffs inside the elastic giving slightly more freedom of movement. The neck opening was secured with a lace strung through ten eyelets and earlier patterns had no pockets either with only two vertical slits with button flaps to gain access to the uniform underneath. As the war progressed modifications wer made to the smock with the addition of loops on the upper arms and shoulders to attach foliage to giving extra camouflage cover in the field. A longer skirt was also added as well as proper pockets with button flaps. The smock was worn over the uniform and in cold weather it was sometimes worn over the greatcoat. As a rule no insignia was worn on the smock but at least one photo does exist of rank insignia being worn on the left sleeve. The introduction of the camouflage field blouse in 1944 saw an end to production of the smock but wartime photos show the smock being worn right up to the end of the war.

Two examples of the Waffen SS camouflage smock. On the left is an early patteren smock with vertical slits to gain access to the uniform worn undeneath. The pattern displayed is the summer pattern with green being the predominant colour. The later pattern smock on the right has some changes made to it. The chest vents have gone, the waist elastic is higher and more comfortable, the "skirt" is longer and foliage loops have been sewn onto the shoulders and upper arm. The brown pattern showing is the autumn pattern camouflage scheme.

THE DRILL 1943/44 CAMOUFLAGE UNIFORM

The development for this uniform started in 1942 and from this various types of camouflage uniform evolved. The new uniform was based on the 1943 field grey uniform and was made from spun rayon, flax tow and other materials woven in a herringbone pattern and incorporated the "pea pattern" camouflage scheme. Again Indanthren dyes were used for the five colour scheme which was printed on one side of the uniform only, thus the uniform was not reversible. Various colours were used including yellow ochre, pink, dark green, dark brown and light green which could provide good camouflage whilst the wearer was static in most field conditions. The only insignia worn on the jacket was the national eagle, worn on the upper left arm, which went aginst regulations. The 1944 uniform was of slightly poorer quality with the coulor scheme differing form the 1943 version. The model 1943 was predominantly yellow ochre and the 1944 version was more of a pinkish brown hue.

Two views of the 1943/44 camouflage uniform. The picture on the left shows the colour scheme and "pea pattern" of which a variation is still used today by the Swiss army. The picture on the right shows a Waffen SS NCO being searched by an American soldiar in France 1944. He wears the 1943 camoufalge jacket over the his field grey tunic. The jacket was unlined and did not give much protection agianst cold weather.

Apenas mais uma das várias formas em que o nazismo estava avançado para a sua epoca.