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S003360 M40 "BLURRED EDGE" CAMOUFLAGE SMOCK. (Tarnjacke)
BACKGROUND: The development of SS, Schutz Staffel, (Protection Squad), camouflage items was initiated by Reichsführer-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 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 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, "Blurred Edge", camouflage pattern as developed in 1941, and reworked through to 1944. Of Note: Production of the camouflage smocks was discontinued in early 1944 and they were to be replaced with the newly developed M44 dot pattern camouflage uniform. This example is the second pattern camouflage smock as introduced in early to mid-1940.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Waterproofed cotton duck construction, three quarter length, M40 pattern, pullover smock with the reversible, machine roller printed, "Blurred Edge" camouflage pattern. The camouflage pattern has distinctly different colorations to the summer and autumn sides, with the summer side being in shades of brown, tan and green and the autumn side in shades of brown, tan and ochre. Both camouflage colorations are still quite strong and crisp. The smock features a low, oval, boat style neckline with a central, vertical, lace-up front plaquet. The plaquet runs vertically down the front center of the smock from the neckline to the waistline and has five, machine stitched eyelets to either side for the closure tie string. The tie string is absent. The smock has two, front, vertical slash openings with straight edged flaps, positioned on each side of the lower breast, designed to allow access to the underlying uniform pockets. The smock has an internal, tunnel looped, elastic positioned horizontally at the waistline. The elastic remains quite taunt. The smock has wide, raglan style sleeves with opened ventilation slashes to each armpit and dual, evenly spaced, horizontal, machine stitched seams to the lower sections with the typical unfinished bolt end cuffs. The smock is in very overall good condition with minor age and usage toning, about a half dozen small rips and tears, some missing seam stitching to the sleeves, two, small, machine stitched and two, small, crudely handstitched repairs. The smocks were designed large enough to fit over the standard field uniform and this example is roughly a size 44" chest.
GRADE ***1/2 PRICE $12,900.00
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