H025858 SPLINTER PATTERN CAMOUFLAGE/TAN REVERSIBLE WINTER PARKA. (Tarnungs Jacke)

BACKGROUND: The development of camouflage clothing and equipment had began in the German army in WWI, and continued through the Weimar Reichswehr era. The geometric splinter pattern was developed in the early 1930's and was first adopted for use with the M31quarter shelter/poncho in late 1931. Further developments modified the original splinter pattern by softly blurring the distinct geometric pattern and slightly altering the coloration. This modified camouflage pattern was designated the Tan/water camouflage and was once again altered by an even stronger blurring of the distinct geometric pattern during the war. After the devastating winter of 1941-1942 on the Russian front the German army found that it was drastically under equipped with cold weather garments to withstand the severe cold and a wide variety of improvised garments including a broad assortment of donated civilian garments were utilized as a temporary solution. To rectify the situation the OKH, Oberkommando des Heeres, (High Command of the Army), began testing heavier winter clothing in the spring of 1942 to develop suitable garments for the Russian front. In April 1942 Hitler approved the chosen designs and the first models were issued in the autumn of that year, in the reversible blue/mouse grey/white colorations, which was modified to camouflage pattern/white combinations in 1943. Included with these new garments were heavy, padded, reversible winter suits which consisted of a parka, pants and separate hoods and mittens. Of Note: These garments were also produced in non-reversible models. The winter parkas were a standard issue item and were distributed to all EM/NCO’s for the winter season, (September 15^TH to April 15^TH), with other winter garments and were to be returned to the units clothing depot in April for storage, repair and cleaning to be reissued the following September. Originally Officers and senior NCO’s responsible for purchasing their own uniforms and headgear were required to purchase the new winter garments until regulations of December 1942 extended the issue winter clothing to all ranks in the colder theatres of operation. Although the suits proved quite effective they were very difficult to keep clean and launder which resulted in regulations dictating that the white side was only to be worn on the exterior when absolutely necessary. This example is somewhat unusual in that has the splinter camouflage pattern to one side reversible to tan.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Three quarter length, cotton/rayon blend construction, double breasted style parka with the machine rolled, geometric splinter pattern camouflage in shades of green, tan and brown to one side, reversible to tan. The parka features a large, overlapping, vertical, six button front closure with a smaller overlapping wind flap. Two of the front closure buttons are missing from the tan side. The parka has two, diagonally angled, slash hip pockets with straight edged button down flaps. The parka has a horizontal, tunnel looped drawstrap positioned at the waistline. The parka has small vertical slashes at either side of the front closure allowing the tunnel looped drawstrap to be utilized on either the camouflage or the tan sides. The sleeve cuffs each have horizontal, tunnel looped, fit adjustment straps with two corresponding buttons. The cuff fit adjustment buttons are absent on the tan side. The upper sleeves each ersatz, pressed cardboard buttons to both the inner and outer seams which were designed for wear of the identification armbands by front line troops. The parka has an un-padded, dual-ply, integral hood, which is large enough to accommodate a helmet. The hood appears to have had a tunnel looped drawstring to the forward edge but the drawstring is absent. The parka is fully reversible to tan with all the same features as on the camouflage side. The parka has an internal, heat retaining padding through-out. The parka is in overall very good condition with a few small picks and pulls and minor age and usage toning. The buttons, excluding the pressed cardboard armband buttons, are all the pebbled alloy type and most appear to have their original stitching. The parka has no visible size or manufacturer’s markings. The parkas were designed large enough to fit over the standard service uniform and this example is roughly size 40" chest.

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