BACKGROUND: In October 1940 Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler traveled to Norway to inspect 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 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 25^TH 1943 and the subsequent Italian unconditional surrender to the allied forces on September 8^TH 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.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Later pattern, (Circa 1944), 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, eight button front closure with an overlapping wind flap and an integral hood. One of the front closure buttons is absent and all eight button holes have small pieces of machine stitched on camouflage fabric reinforcement panels. The anorak has two non-pleated, patch, breast pockets and two diagonally angled slash hip pockets all with scalloped button down flaps. The anorak appears to have had a tunnel looped fit adjustment elastic positioned at the waistline but it has been removed with dual, horizontal rows of stitch holes remaining as evidence. The anorak has straight cut, non-adjustable cuffs. Both the cuffs and the bottom edge of the tail skirt have dual-ply hems. Both of the armpits have a small, opened, horizontal ventilation slash. The anorak has an integral, rabbit fur lined, hood with four rows of reinforcement stitching and a tunnel looped drawstring with wooden dowels to the forward edge. The hood drawstring is intact but may be a replacement. The hood is large enough to accommodate a helmet. The interior of the anorak is fully lined in multi-panel, patch worked, brown and white mottled rabbit fur to the body and grey rayon to the sleeves. The interior hip pocket bags are constructed in a combination of rabbit fur and wool. The anorak shows moderate to heavy wear and age and usage toning with numerous small rips and tears and no fewer then seven machine stitched patch repairs. The buttons are a combination of the ordnance blue/grey painted, pebbled, magnetic sheet metal and alloy types. The buttons retain assorted amounts of their ordnance blue/grey paint and most appear to have been restitched. The anoraks were cut large to fit over the standard service uniform and this example would roughly fit a size 42" chest. 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.

GRADE ***                             PRICE $995.00