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 second pattern camouflage smock as introduced in early to mid-1940, 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. Although contrary to regulation it was not uncommon for personnel to alter garments according to their personal preferences and a myriad of unofficial modifications can be seen in period photographs. Of Note: The modifications were so prevalent that the authors M. D. Beaver and J. F. Borsarello even dedicated a chapter of their book, Camouflage Uniforms of the Waffen-SS exclusively to altered garments. While each soldiers was expected to care for and do basic maintenance on his issue uniform garments and issued a "housewife", kit which would contain sewing items to repair damaged garments most of the individuals would not have been accomplished tailors and each Company in the Waffen-SS would be assigned a tailor and a cobbler who could perform the larger or more difficult alterations. This example has been modified by shortening of the sleeves and tail skirt and alterations to the tunnel looped elastic at the waistline. The modification may or may not have been period applied.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Second pattern, waterproofed, cotton duck construction, three quarter length, M40 pattern, pullover smock with the distinctive, machine rolled, screen printed, reversible, Palm camouflage pattern. The camouflage pattern has distinctly different colorations to the summer and autumn sides, with the summer side being in shades of browns, tans and greens and the autumn side in shades of browns and orangish/tan. The colorations to both side are still fairly strong. The smock features a low, oval, boat style neckline, with an opened, vertical, lace-up front plaquet. The plaquet runs vertical down the front center of the smock from the neckline to the mid-breast and has five stitched eyelets to either side for the closure tie string. The tie string is absent. The smock has two, front, vertical slash openings with overlapping, straight edged flaps, positioned on each side of the lower breast, designed to allow access to the underlying uniform pockets. The smock has a machine stitched, horizontal, tunnel loop at the waistline with an inserted, blue rayon fit adjustment strap. The smock has two, crudely cut holes to the front center of the tunnel loop on the autumn camouflage side, to access the fit adjustment strap. The smock has had the tail skirt shortened with a dual-ply hem at the bottom edge. The smock has wide, raglan style sleeves with dual, evenly spaced, horizontal, machine stitched seams to the lower sections and shortened cuffs with tunnel looped elastics. One of the elastics is still quite taunt and is in likelihood a replacement. The upper back panel of the smock has also been modified by the addition of three, evenly, spaced, machine stitched, vertical tapering darts. The smock is in overall fair condition with numerous small rips, and tears, a large, machine stitched, patch, repair in the standard army splinter camouflage patterned cotton duck to the right sleeve cuff and the front bottom of the tail skirt as well as a couple of smaller machine stitched, patch, repair in the standard army splinter camouflage pattern and the Waffen-SS Palm pattern. The smock has no visible manufacturer’s or size markings. The smocks were designed large enough to fit over the standard field uniform and this, very large, example is roughly a size 51", (129.5 cm), chest.

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