BACKGROUND: The severe cold encountered on the Russian front in the winter of 1941/42 found the Germans completely unprepared not only in heat retaining cold weather garments but also snow camouflage garments. This resulted in numerous, hastily improvised and makeshift heat retaining and snow camouflage items being utilized including everything from civilian winter clothing to white bed sheets. After the winter of 1941/42 the Oberkommando des Wehrmacht, (High Command of the Armed Forces), recognized the need for heavier winter clothing and testing began in the spring of 1942 to develop suitable garments. In April 1942 Hitler approved the chosen design, and the first models were issued in the autumn of that year, in the reversible blue/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, hoods and mittens. Of Note: These garments were also produced in non-reversible models. The winter garments 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 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: Non-reversible, three quarter length, blue/grey, cotton/rayon blend construction, double breasted style parka features a large, overlapping, vertical, six button front closure with a smaller overlapping wind flap. The reverse of the smaller overlapping wind flap is well marked with a faint purple size inkstamp that appears to be, "Größe II", indicating size medium and an additional, unknown numeral, "12". The parka has two, diagonally angled, slash hip pockets with straight edged, button down, flaps. The parka has a horizontal, tunnel looped drawstrap positioned to the interior waistline and a horizontal tunnel looped drawstring to the interior bottom edge of the tail skirt. The sleeve cuffs each have horizontal, tunnel looped, fit adjustment straps with two, corresponding buttons. The upper sleeves each have molded black bakelite 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 unpadded, integral hood, which is large enough to accommodate a helmet. The hood has a tunnel looped fit adjustment drawstring to the forward edge. The interior of the parka is fully lined in shiny, grey rayon with a heavy, internal, padding through-out. The parka is in overall very good condition with minimal age and usage toning and a small tear to the lower right sleeve. The front closure, pocket and cuff buttons are all the blue/grey painted, pebbled alloy type and appear to have their original stitching. The parkas were designed large enough to fit over the standard service uniform and this example is roughly size 42" chest.

GRADE ****                             PRICE $500.00