BACKGROUND: With the first devastating winter of 1941-1942 on the Russian front the German army found that it was drastically under equipped with cold weather garments to withstand the severe cold and a wide variety of improvised garments including a broad assortment of donated civilian garments were utilized as a temporary solution. To rectify the situation the OKH, Oberkommando des Heeres, (High Command of the Army), began testing heavier winter clothing in the spring of 1942 to develop suitable garments for the Russian front. In April 1942 Hitler approved the chosen designs and the first models were issued in the autumn of that year, in the reversible blue/mouse grey/white colorations, which was modified to camouflage pattern/white combinations in 1943. Included with these new garments were heavy, padded, reversible winter suits which consisted of a parka, pants, mittens and hoods. Of Note: These garments were also produced in non-reversible models. The winter hoods were a standard issue item and were distributed to all EM/NCO’s for the winter season, (September 15TH to April 15TH), with other winter garments and were to be returned to the units storage depot at the end of the season for reissue the following year. Originally Officers and senior NCO’s responsible for purchasing their own uniforms and headgear were required to purchase the new winter garments until regulations of December 1942 extended the issue winter clothing to all ranks in the colder theatres of operation.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Field-grey wool/rayon blend construction winter hood with an internal padding reversible to white. The hood is cut in nine panels with five panels for the actual hood and an additional four panels for the neck and shoulder cowling. The hood has an extended section to the left front panel, with five vertical tapering darts, a small vertical slash and dual grey rayon tie tapes with an HBT, (Herring Bone Twill), weave. The right front panel also has four vertical tapering darts. The tie tapes were designed to go around the wearers neck and tie in the front center for a secure closure. The small vertical slash to the left front panel was designed to accommodate the tie tape allowing the hood to be worn with either the field-grey or the white side to the exterior. The bottom edge of the hood has an extended four panel, neck and shoulder cowl. The hood and cowl were designed to be snugly form fitting, and retain the maximum amount of warmth. Size marked 55.