BACKGROUND: The development of camouflage clothing and equipment had began in the German army in WWI, and continued through the Weimar Reichswehr era and on into the Third Reich. The geometric splinter pattern was developed in the early 1930's and was first adopted for use with the quarter shelter/poncho in late 1931. Further developments in 1943 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 pattern and was once again altered in 1944 by an even stronger blurring of the distinct geometric pattern. Further camouflage pattern development continued through-out the war and additional subtly different patterns were created with the intent to equip all personnel with the same camouflage pattern but this was never achieved. Following the lead of the Waffen-SS, (Armed-SS), the army introduced a camouflage helmet cover, along with other camouflage clothing items in early 1942. The first pattern covers were constructed of a cotton material with an HBT, (Herring Bone Twill), weave and weren’t provided with foliage attachment loops. Having had field experience with the camouflage helmet covers the Waffen-SS added foliage loops to their models in mid-1942 and the army soon followed suit. The camouflage helmet covers were manufactured in both a non-reversible model and a camouflage/white reversible model for winter usage. The camouflage helmet covers were issued in three sizes with size "3" indicating large, size "2" indicating medium and size "1" indicating small. Of Note: The helmet shells were issued in six sizes with sizes 60 and 62, being small, sizes 64 and 66 being medium and sizes 68 and 70 being large.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Second pattern, water-proofed, cotton duck construction, helmet cover with the printed, geometric, splinter pattern camouflage to one side in shades of green, brown and tan, reversible to white. The cover consists of five, machine sewn panels with two vertical panels to each side and a large, central, rectangular panel to fit the contours of the helmet. The camouflage side of the cover has seven machine stitched on foliage loops with one to each of the side panel sections and three to the central rectangular panel. The white side doesn’t incorporate the foliage loops as they were deemed unnecessary in winter terrain. The bottom edge of the cover has a folded over, stitched seam, creating a tunnel loop for the retaining drawstring. The white cotton drawstring is intact. The camouflage pattern doesn’t bleed through to the white side. The white side of the cover is well marked with the faint, black inkstamped, stylized manufacturer’s initials within an oval cartouche that appear to be, "NI", indicating an unknown manufacturer, additional, unknown black numerical inkstamps, "541 42", and a faint, illegible, blue inkstamp. The cover is in overall very good, condition with minor age toning and a few small picks and pulls. The cover has no visible size markings but appears to be a size small suitable for size 60 or 62 helmet shells.

GRADE ****                             PRICE $3,570.00