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S013659 WAFFEN-SS ITALIAN CAMOUFLAGE ANORAK. (Windblusen)
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. As the war continued various other clothing items were produced in the assorted camouflage patterns. In October 1940 Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler traveled to Norway to inspect Waffen-SS, (Armed-SS), personnel temporarily stationed there to evaluate SS winter clothing in anticipation of the inevitable invasion of Russia. This primary evaluation led to the introduction of field-grey test Anoraks in December 1940. Further testing and design alterations occurred over the next couple of years resulting in the production of the fur lined anorak in January 1943. The early pull-over style anoraks proved unpopular with the troops as they were too heavy and hot without enough ventilation. As a result a new pattern anorak, with a full length, button up front closure, was introduced in early 1944, and manufacture of the earlier pattern was discontinued. With the fall of Germany’s Italian allies as a result of Mussolini’s deposition and imprisoned on July 25TH 1943 and the subsequent Italian unconditional surrender to the allied forces on September 8TH 1943 the Germans appropriated large stockpiles of Italian clothing and equipment, including camouflage material which they utilized in the construction of assorted garments including the winter anoraks. Of Note: In a daring raid on September 13TH 1943 Mussolini was rescued by the Germans and under Hitler’s forceful encouragement began formation of the puppet fascist RSI, Repubblica Sociale Italiana, (Italian Social Republic), on September 17TH 1943, in a failed attempt to restore fascism to Italy. The RSI along with the GNR, La Guardia Nazionale Repubblicana, (Republican National Guard), which was formed on November 20TH 1943, continued to fight in Italy under German command. Also Of Note: Photographic examples of this style anorak can be seen in M. D. Beaver and J.F. Borsarello’s book, Camouflaged Uniforms of the Waffen-SS on page 195.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Later pattern, (Circa 1944-1945), large, heavy, three quarter length, fur lined, water repellent, cotton duck construction anorak with the machine roller printed, Italian camouflage pattern to the exterior in random splotches in shades of green and brown. The anorak features a vertical, nine button front closure with an overlapping wind flap and an integral hood. The anorak has two, non-pleated, patch, breast pockets and two, diagonally angled, slash hip pockets all with subtly scalloped, button down flaps. The anorak has an internal, horizontal, tunnel looped, fit adjustment elastic positioned at the waistline with the stitching visible to the exterior. The elastic has lost it’s elasticity. The straight cut, non-adjustable, sleeve cuffs and the bottom edge of the tail skirt have dual-ply, hems and the bottom edge of the tail skirt has a small, vertical, slash to each outside seam. Both of the armpits have a small, opened, horizontal, ventilation slash. The anorak has a large, integral, fur lined hood with four rows of reinforcement stitching and a tunnel looped, drawstring to the forward edge. The hood drawstring is intact. The hood is large enough to accommodate a helmet. The interior of the anorak is fully lined in multi-panel, patch worked, brown , grey and white mottled, animal fur. The fur lining extends down the top of the sleeves to just above the elbow and the interior forearms are lined in grey rayon with an internal padding. The lower sleeves have internal, grey rayon, storm cuffs with tunnel looped, elastic ends. The cuff elastics have both torn off. The interior, hip, pocket bags are constructed in a combination of fur and wool. The anorak shows moderate to heavy age and usage toning and color fading, numerous small rips and tears and no fewer then seventeen machined, handstitched and glued repairs, some which appear to have been post-war applied. The buttons are all the ordnance blue/grey painted, pebbled alloy type and retain various amounts of their paint. Most of the buttons appear to have been re-stitched. The anorak has no visible size or manufacturer’s markings. The anoraks were cut large to fit over the standard service uniform and this example would roughly fit a size 44" chest.
GRADE *** PRICE $952.00
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