BACKGROUND: As a result of observations of the Russian experimentation with the newly developing paratroop personnel in 1928 the Germans began serious consideration of also developing paratroop units and plans were drawn up for formation of such units in late 1935. Both the Luftwaffe, (Air-Force), and the Heer, (Army), eventually established paratrooper units, consisting of voluntary personnel, on January 29^TH 1936 and March 31^ST 1937 respectively and a paratroop training school was established at Stendal in early 1937. Originally development of special clothing and equipment was undertaken by both branches of service to provide the paratroopers with functional items specifically designed with parachute jumps in mind, until January 1^ST 1939 when all the paratrooper units were transferred to control of the Luftwaffe. The first pattern, mottled green, jump smock was introduced on March 15^TH 1938 and was a, pocket less, short legged, step in model with a dual vertical zipper front closure. This first pattern smock was utilized for testing and evaluation and was found to be somewhat cumbersome which led to the development of the second pattern smock in late 1939. The second pattern, mottled green, smock was originally also a pocket less, short legged, step in model with a modified, single, vertical, zipper closure. This second pattern smock was also found to be somewhat cumbersome which resulted in a third pattern smock being introduced in mid-1940. The third pattern smocks featured a full length front closure as opposed to the earlier pattern "step-in" coverall styles. The third pattern smocks were originally produced in the early, mottled green, fabric until late 1940 when the splinter pattern camouflage fabric was utilized. From mid-1942 the smocks were constructed in both the splinter and tan/water camouflage patterns. The paratrooper’s jump smocks were classified as Sonderbekleidung, (Special Clothing), and were issued exclusively to paratrooper personnel although the smocks were retained later in the war when the paratroopers were employed as ground combat personnel. Regulations dictated that the only insignia to be utilized on the jump smocks was the Luftwaffe style national breast eagle and sleeve rank insignia, although when the camouflaged smocks were introduced it was not uncommon for no insignia to be worn. Of Note: The development of camouflage clothing and equipment had began in the German army in WWI, and continued through the Weimar Reichswehr era, (National Defence Force, Circa 1919-1933). The German army’s geometric, Splittertarnmuster 31, (Splinter camouflage pattern 31), was originally developed in late 1929 and early 1930 and was first adopted for use with the M31 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 Sumpftarnmuster, (Swamp/Marsh camouflage pattern), although it is now commonly referred to as the Tan/Water camouflage pattern, which 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.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Third and final pattern, waterproofed, mid-weight, cotton duck construction, knee length, paratrooper’s jump smock with the screen roller printed, geometric, 1943, tan/water, camouflage pattern, in shades of greens, tans and browns to the exterior. The smock features a vertical, five button, overlapping, French fly type front closure, with hidden button eyelets, resulting in the buttons being un-obstructive when closed. The smock has a diagonally angled, slash pocket with a molded, white, bakelite "Ri-Ri", zipper closure and a overlapping protective flap, positioned to either side of the front closure, running from the shoulder seams to about mid-breast. The right breast features a machine embroidered, second pattern, (Circa 1936/1937-1945), Luftwaffe eagle, clutching a canted swastika in one talon, in silvery/grey rayon threads, mounted on a cut-out, Luftwaffe blue/grey wool base. The eagle looks to be restored. The smock also has a horizontal, slash, front, hip pocket to either side of the front closure, positioned at the waistline, with molded, white, bakelite "Ri-Ri", zipper closures and an overlapping, protective flap. The outer waistline side seams each have a vertical, darted, opened slash with a small, horizontally extended, fabric closure tab with a field-grey painted, magnetic sheet metal, "Prym", snap fastener. When opened the vertical side seam slashes reveal three, vertical aligned, stitched eyelets positioned at the waistline, intended for the belt support hooks. The belt support hooks are absent. The lower, right, reverse panel has the stitch outline where a flare gun pocket and an additional cylindrical barrel pocket had been applied and removed. The lower, left, reverse panel has a stitch outline where a horizontal, equipment retaining fabric loop had been applied and removed. The long, reverse, tail skirt has a short, central, vertical slash. The bottom edge of the tail skirt has three, evenly spaced, male and three corresponding female, magnetic sheet metal, "Prym" snaps to each side of the reverse tail skirt vent and the front closure to secure the tail skirt around the wearer’s upper thighs like the earlier pattern "step-in" models of smocks. The straight cut, sleeve cuffs each have a small, vertical, slash to the outside seams with a single female and dual male, magnetic sheet metal, "Prym" fit adjustment snaps. The sleeves have no rank insignia, as is common with the later, camouflaged smocks. The smock has opened, vented, armpits. The small lay down collar has the typical zig-zag reinforcement stitching to the reverse. The collar has no collar tabs as per regulations. Neither the sleeves or collar have any evidence of any insignia ever having been applied. The interior of the smock has large, ribbed, tan, cotton twill reinforcement panels to the upper breast panels, ribbed, tan, cotton twill hip pocket bags, to the lower, forward, tail skirt panels and grey rayon reinforcement panels to the reverse of the removed, exterior flare gun pocket and equipment retaining loop. The upper, left breast reinforcement panel is well marked with the faint black inkstamped date, "I 45", (January 1945), the size, "IIA", indicating a size medium/short, and an RB number. The partially illegible RB number seems to match that of the Gebrüder Dietzel firm of Litzmannstadt, (Lodz Poland). Of Note: The RB numbers, Reichs Betriebnummer, (National factory code numbers), were introduced in late 1942 and were intended to replace the manufacturer’s marks on garments and equipment to conceal the manufacture’s name and location from the allies, to prevent bombing raids on German industrial factories. The lower left panel has a faint black inkstamp that consists of the partially illegible owners name with rank prefix, "LT. Otto K?", a unit inkstamp that appears to be, "6. Kp II/FJD", (6^TH Company 2^ND Paratroop Division), and the date, "1945". The interior also has a horizontal, grey rayon tunnel loop positioned at the back panel, waistline. Each side of the waistline has dual, short, white rayon fit adjustment straps with an HBT, (Herring Bone Twill), weave. The interior cuffs have ribbed, light weight, grey rayon storm cuffs with tunnel looped elastic ends and a single female and dual male, magnetic sheet metal, "Prym" fit adjustment snaps. The left storm cuff elastic is still quite taunt although the right, storm cuff elastic has lost it’s elasticity. The smock is in very overall good condition with minor age and usage toning, a few small picks and pulls and light chafe wear to the cuffs and collar edges. All four pocket zippers still function surprisingly well although the upper left breast zipper has its pull tab end broken off. The hip pocket zippers still have their original brown leather pull tabs intact. Both hip pocket zippers have small handstitched repairs. The obverse of the female snaps retain almost all of their field-grey and blue/grey painted finishes and show light to moderate surface spotting to the reverses. Most of the snaps still function. The buttons are all the large, molded, blue/grey glass type and all appear to have their original stitching. The smocks were designed large enough to fit over the basic uniform and this example is roughly a size 42", (106.7cm), chest. Potentially traceable, very late war example.