BACKGROUND: The development of SS, Schutz Staffel, (Protection Squad), camouflage items was initiated by Reichsführer-SS, (National Leader of the SS), Heinrich Himmler in 1935 when he tasked the Reichsführung-SS, (National Leadership of the SS), to begin research of new camouflage patterns and garments for use by the fledgling SS-VT, SS-Verfugüngstruppe, (SS-Special Purpose Troops). In late 1936 and early 1937 the first SS camouflage garments were issued to personnel of the SS-VT Standarte Deutschland, (Regiment Germany), for field testing and evaluation. The first items evaluated were the Quarter shelters/ponchos, followed by steel helmet covers, face masks and smocks which were first delivered in late 1938. Originally the smocks were manually screen printed and due to the time consuming task of the manual printing only minimal quantities were issued until early 1940 when the machine rolled printing process was developed. By June 1940 over 32,000 camouflage smocks had been issued and distributed between four Waffen-SS, (Armed-SS), units and another 30,000 smocks were expected to be issued by September of that year. The original M38 style smock underwent minor modifications in 1940 and twice in 1942. As the war continued the SS developed and introduced no fewer then ten, assorted, new camouflage patterns including the, Palmemuster, (Palm Pattern), which was introduced in 1940 and utilized until 1942 when further production was discontinued. This example is the first pattern camouflage smock as introduced in late 1938 in the Palm camouflage pattern that was introduced in 1940. Of Note: Production of the camouflage smocks was discontinued in early 1944 to be replaced with the newly developed M44 dot pattern camouflage uniform, although the smocks already in use continued to be utilized for the duration of the war. Also Of Note: The SS-FHA, SS-Führungshauptamt, (SS-Operational Headquarters), and the SS-WVHA, SS-Wirtschafts und Verwaltungs Hauptamt, (SS-Economic and Administration Department) were the two departments responsible for supplying and maintaining all personnel of the SS. The SS-FHA was responsible for issuing the initial equipment, supply and maintenance of weapons and ammunition, and the supply of technical equipment and transport vehicles. The SS-WVHA, was responsible for issue of clothing and personal equipment items as well as rations including horse and pack animal fodder and personal fuel items.