BACKGROUND: The development of camouflage clothing and equipment had began in the German army in WWI, and continued through the Weimar Reichswehr, (National Defence {Force}), era, (Circa 1919-1933). 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: Cotton/rayon blend construction, pants with the machine rolled, early, (Circa 1943), tan/water pattern camouflage in shades of green, tan and brown to one side, reversible to white. The pants feature a vertical, open 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 camouflage or the white side. The waistband rides slightly higher in the rear and has two, carved, cylindrical, wooden dowels secured by a stitched on piece of fabric to both the front and back, of the camouflaged side, for attaching suspenders. The pants come complete with separate, white, cotton/rayon blend construction suspenders with an HBT, (Herring Bone Twill), weave. The obverse ends of the suspenders have three, stitched, button eyelets while the reverse ends each have a single, stitched, button eyelet for length adjustment. The pants have large, rectangular, dual-ply, reinforcement panels to each knee. The straight cut, cuffs have a small, vertical, slash to the outside seams and a horizontal, tunnel looped, white cotton, 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 camouflage side excluding the suspender securing dowels. The pants have a heavy, internal, heat retaining padding through-out. The pants have no visible size or manufacturer’s markings. The pants are in overall very good condition with light to moderate age and usage toning to the white side and a couple of small rips and tears. The fly/waistband buttons are the large, ersatz pressed tan cardboard type while the pocket buttons are the natural, alloy, dish type and all appear to have their original stitching. The pocket buttons are of French origin and have impressed script, "Militaires Equipements", (Military Equipment). The pants were cut large enough to fit over the standard issue pants and this example is roughly size 44" waist.

GRADE ****                             PRICE $1,190.00