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 M31 quarter 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 pants 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.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Early, reversible, field-grey to white, (circa 1942-43), wool/rayon blend construction pants feature a vertical, fly with an overlapping, trapezoidal wind flap with a three button closure and an additional button positioned on the waistband. The pants have two, diagonally angled, slash, front pockets with straight edged, button down flaps. The reverse of the pants have dual, horizontal, fit adjustment tie straps intact. The reverse of the pants also have small, vertical, slashes at either side of the central seam allowing the fit adjustment tie straps to be utilized on either the field-grey or the white side. The waistband rides slightly higher in the rear and has integral, white cotton/rayon blend, construction suspenders with an HBT, (Herring Bone Twill), weave, machine stitched to the reverse center. The suspenders feature small strips of white fabric machine stitched to the forward ends of each with three stitched button eyelets. The forward waistband has a suspender attachment button positioned on either side of the fly. The straight cut, dual-ply, cuffs have a small, vertical, slash to the outside seams and a horizontal, tunnel looped, white rayon fit adjustment, drawstring with an HBT weave, to the bottom edge of each. The pants are fully reversible to white with all the same features as on the field-grey side. The pants have a heavy, internal, heat retaining padding through-out. The white side of the pants are well marked with the red inkstamped size, "I", the manufacturer’s name and location and date, "Zyrardower Manufakturen A. G. Zyrardow 42", and an additional, unknown marking, "K". The pants are in overall very good condition with light age and usage toning through-out and a small machine stitched repair to the lower left front leg. As is typical the white side shows the soiling more easily. The fly and suspender attachment buttons are the large, molded black bakelite type while the front pocket buttons are the natural, alloy, dish type and all appear to have their original stitching. The pants were cut large enough to fit over the standard issue pants and this example is roughly size 40" waist.

GRADE ****                             PRICE $952.00