GERMAN SOLDIERS NAL HISTOIRE & COLLECTIONSGERMAN SOLDIERS OF WORLD WAR TWO Written by Jean DE LAGARDE Translated by Jean-Pierre VILLAUME Franck BACHMANN Jean-Frangois ~GHINI Pierre-Ange CARAVANO. Michel GILBERT Jean-Michel DENIS Lucien NOEL Christophe DESCHODT Claude PELTRET Jacques SCIPION ISBN: 2908 182 29 7 HISTOIRE ET COLLECTIONS, P.O. Box 327, Poole, Dorset BH 15 2 RG UKCONTENTS 1939- 40 - THE BLITZKRIEG YEARS rd Pz. Rgt. Officer Cadet 8 Infantry Sergeant, France 10 1941 - FROM CRETE TO MOSCOW Paratrooper, Crete 14 Artillery Captain, Eastern Front 16 U-Boat Seaman 18 1942 - THE LAST VICTORIES U-Boat Lieutenant Afrika Korps Infantryman Mountain Rifleman, Caucasus Sentry in Winter Clothing Food Carrier SSBBR 1943 - THE TURNING POINT Feldgendarme on Duty 36 Hauptwachmeister, Marseilles 38 ‘Deutschland’ Squad Leader 40 Polizei Division, Eastern Front 42 ‘Hermann Goering’ Panzergrenadier 44 Fighter Pilot, Sicily 46 KG. ‘Hindenburg’ Bomber 48 Reichsfihrer’ SS Grenadier 50 Engineer, Eastern Front 54 Paratrooper, The Ukraine 56 Luftwaffe Assault Gun Crewman 58 Heer Infantryman 60 1944 - SETBACKS ON ALL FRONTS Paratrooper, Cassino 64 Heer Infantryman 66 46th Pz. Rgt. NCO 70 Tank Buster, Normandy 72 Artillery Officer, Falaise Pocket 4 ‘GroBdeutschland’ Engineer 76 Panzer Corporal, Normandy 78 Infantry Squad Leader 80 21th Pz. Div. Artilleryman, Normandy 82 Kriegsmarine Artilleryman 84 Officer, Fiihrer’s HQ 86 17th Luft. Feld. Div. Artilleryman 88 Recce Troop Officer, Italy 90 ‘Langemark’ Officer Cadet 92 ‘Von Salza’ Battalion NCO 94 ‘Brandenburg’ Division Officer 96 7th SS Div. Mountain Rifleman 98 Assault Gun Officer 100 Radio Operator, Italy 102 Infantry Officer 106 Mountain Engineer Officer 108 Recce Troop NCO 110 Grenadier, Kurland 2 Defence of the Reich Fighter Pilot 114 1945, THE LAST STRONGHOLD Heer Sniper 118 SS ‘Totenkopf’ Div M-G Gunner 120 Belgian Volunteer, Pomerania 122 SS ‘Nederland’ Div. Artilleryman Pomerania 124 SS ‘Nordland’ Div. Infantryman Pomerania 126GERMAN SOLDIERS OF WORLD WAR TWO This detailed and comprehensive study of World Two German units presents in a series of close-ups a panorama of an army that made the world tremble from 1939 to 1945. The evolution of the uniforms worn by ground troops, aviators and sailors are graphically illustrated in full colour photographs throughout this work. By focusing on uniforms, equipment and men, the book brings history closer to life by emphasing specific aspects of the conflict though a detailed study of military garments and items. The writers have gathered considerable experience in the arduous field of unifom research and military history, and have left nothing to chance to present the reader with a thorough, well documented and impartial work.1939-1940 THE BLITZKRIEG YEARSCADET OFFICER, Fight 1999. shown herein Indoors, the corporis B iped in pine AISED in Wirzburg in 1935, the 2nd Panzer commanded by Colonel Heinz Guderian until 4 February 1938 when the unit was transferred to Vienna after the Anschluss. Led by Major-General Rudolf Weiel, the ion took part in the Polish campaign in September 1939. Posted to Romania in April 1941, 2.-Pz.Div. was engaged in the Balkans and deployed on the Russian front. button down the “Loft he combat badge. {he we erated insignia Ismade of embossed it mata Rinsieses that he3 PERCE 1939-42 By Jean de Lagarde December 1952: away fom the front thse fer cae! |sundergong ior with the black uniform. The forage eap a mad of black loth “Sha nas the national emblem ‘embroidered in white teas on 3 ‘chevron piped in he colour ofthe branch of service fe worn onthe font ‘was offically dropped in 1842). The ‘hoo coloured cockade = woven on a black backing ‘To bia te orm wh & Mela grey shit The regulation issue double breasted short tonic and teousers are made of lock serge, The larger tet hand ‘Sine fep ia seeured tothe Might sido by seven buttons. The toni ie longorthan usual, ands tine with fine gray elt “down he font panels ‘which ave 2 box okt each, Tho shoulsor a> buttonc ave a ign ey tingh, while the thers fre made of synthetic materia The bottom of each aleve eet unstehes secon be rolled up mere easy “The'shoulder tbe aro ‘cured by a thin crap bultloned neat the colar The NCOs rank bedge is stitched ‘ona black tab piped inthe eorice colour metal the regimental snumber=e"2 gure is secarea with two Hooks. This way at wearing he rank inelgnia wae regulation for ‘cadets and NCOs ‘warrant ofcer ‘pwd The cadet officer ieignis consisted of to sive ip. fone embroldera ona black background, and woen 98 the ‘Soule’ tabs, Fhe lapets have two rectangular patzhes with pink piping and the tren Gross the ‘rmoured combat clasp, the ‘SAL insignia and the 2c lane itn Cross iobon ‘alpped trough sutton. ‘the belt buckle finished ih field ory, Below: Regulation isaue trousers for tank erews. Made of lack Serge lke the unl, the rousers have a hemedin bel ited wth sthee-prongd metal buck, The slanted sie and beck "7 ponte fap. The tapered legs sre secured with ry sp The upper part of the garment lined with ie white loINFANTRY SERGEANT, Te forage eap is made of good ‘ual eta grey clon. The Eoiour asthe unitorm FTER an exhausting campaign, forced marches ind brutal engagements, the infantry companies were quartered for a few days. Off active duty, the men swapped their field grey uniforms for denim fatigues. During the campaign, this soldier was promoted to the rank of sergeant and will soon lead a combat group into action. Lunbleachi denin. Th “The unitrm is made ot ‘ cure A fd find grey cloth protect the ; esi The fo flaps. A double crawating scoured the tani a wae! ove, patch pockats have “The straight here ‘Theblack bets fea wth» ‘The trousers athe Bick enharFRANCE, MAY 1940 The gue mak orto ‘The NCO is now ‘which the ant gos cape ready for another i ecur ing ver ‘ampaign The ight shoulder Si grey soe ‘Against regulations, tap ofthe breadbag strap to which the water oie andthe mess tn ‘eme sperts ne Straater"on the saretocked ie stung over fated. The the left shoulder, histra s ‘hsted with 2 pronged buck “The ld grey tunic has five buttons down the font. The collar fe done up by'2 metal hdok Tho undorcolar ete same atthe one Usea wth the ‘etiguee. The Dox peated pockets have tiree-poines flaps. The Ski pockets have aside access. The cul sits (to enable the sleeves tobe rolled {op quleky) secure by means of efhook and eyelet arrangement. The belt, ‘ooks to atthe tront ana two atthe back are stitched in eversewn tyeholes, The ofcers svergrey bred is sewn around the bulshrateen {olor The collar abs are made o sliver grey tread the colour (wn) of {he midale stip indicates the branch of servic. The collar tabs are sewn on {pce of cath the same colour asthe collar. The shoulder tabe (eergean) i {2 made of dark biue-green mater Piped in white ith silver brad the {bs are secured by a Button and a shouler loop arrangement. The chost ‘ogle's ombroidred in grey thread on adarkgreon background. The {inte gralny buttons are inched in eld gry. ec t0 the bel 8 a8 10 be within easy reach (not: the ld rainy bel eke hos worn off in paces: Bayonet cari in a black leather fog te which ls secured the NCOs’ sword knot {enhanced with white snd silver braid ad earledinto action By the man against regulations, The santed sie pockets ave ory | synthe Sato ike | these onthe eanie pocket The Fitton used forthe race aro ‘rovers alo rave an Ienarf poct and — brrangemer fertatening round he Pinte back, th gles have 6x30 "1941 FROM CRETE TO MOSCOWPARATROOPER, “Te ight green jump smock s made of cotton {hi tac Fevels strong proportion tt yelow tesa The garment sols by means of thee bive pass butons down {hetron consis yy, andy two eauure stage near the batom of he Enest pocket, Th no. he island of Crete, 20 May 1941, The parachutes of Fallschirmidger Regiment 3 blossom in the sky above Hania, one of the island’s westernmost towns. Captain von der Heydte and his men touch down to the south of the road leading to Alikianou. h Immediately, the Germans —_— sesso become involved in a violent battle with the 15,000 soldiers —petun from the 4thand 10thNew Sts" Zealand Brigades defending the ia." area. - ‘The pressure studs itn Lagarde and Jean-Michel DenisCRETE, 1941 The partrooper is now westing ‘me corpora’ ted grey heimet spats the Luftwae ‘gle transfer ont eft "side. The kid leather tonal eoekade ‘The mater bots is ° oted to metal arrangement The soldi’: rani inciated by tu wings superimposec + ‘on canary Yalow collartabs Vellow Fatschirmagers ‘service cou. Faskoog is ong overt lepettne raion euipmert Seecred 6 ‘rebel bys eta hook Thie-ga8 mask bag was on ‘The flag o the gas mash b ‘tte tipper down the side fe fted witha asic sik for Better grip. The carrying etrap adjusts by means of «runner {and i secured by a tnapook and a loep. Tho bag ie cocured by athick canvae strap ftes with 3 met Interestingly, inner reinforcements ate made of pattern shefteratlath Atte back, the pocket tke rangement sdee tothe nghthena side othe kt can carry = hnandgun. Tha rolled Upslooves show the ‘re nr extending ‘wayes atthe ‘Thettela grey Trousers are gathered into ‘angular eb pressure studs was used o ory regulation ‘gravity knifeRIEDRICH A. was born in Karlsruhe on 10 May 1919, Commissioned in 1937 with Ulm’s 41st Artillery Regiment, he served as a captain instructor with Assault Gun Training Unit 500. When war broke out, Friedrich was a platoon leader and fought on the eastern front. At the head of his unit, he destroyed 29 enemy tanks between June 1941 to February 1943. On 20 September 1943, he successfully countered a Soviet thrust in the Jasweno sector, adding a further seven T-34s and one T-60 to his tal- ly, Wounded in this action, he was evacuated a few days later. “HEER’ ARTILLERY CAPTAIN, (On 16 Novornber 1043, the Houtenant wae warded the Knights Crows for onepicuous bravery At the tie, fe wee commanding the ane Section, 2 Batery of he 237% ‘The officer wears a cap made oh unitorme. The peak i tiene Assaull Gun Brigade, deo Unusually this superbly crated ‘medals fined in back 1 “The officer woare 21942 bon ems prong "ela ge ‘The oer ‘iste Bf manutcctne By Angelus ‘a green surg The polehe ctr gee owEASTERN FRONT, 1941-45 ‘The captain in Wl sarview ress for dul indoors. The cp ane te un ‘eight wousers are cut In ‘rear corge. Te trousors havea athe eyian hue than the resto he vs ‘inform AL'Sohimmitae insignia ace ‘mado of git The dark lush ‘teen cap band ie mace ofthe Tine eisth. The tunte has tne buttons down te font The cola Is ‘secures by te nocks. The peated box pockets have pointed flaps. The sleeves have turned ack cute Seu ‘lose tothe sleeve the soul abs ‘are asornea with two gold pated the coat insignia ‘aver gry esd, Unusual, colour piping is woven nk, Embrerdred on 8 ‘rk greon backing, the wall enhanced with ria Worn around themneck, the Keighte Croce Te suspondod ‘German Cross in Gola pinned te theright pocket. On ‘he lf peckat, th ‘tng seul clap and are pinned reap below the gale ‘wound badge. The sibon of the 941-42 Flusslan Campaign is sited through he second tp ation {othe captain on 28 ly 1942. The moa for above the et pet sows that he anarded the 2nd Class ron cross on uly 1981, te 1981 “2 Russian compsign "alan medal avarded to personnal who took inthe bullaing of Pon the Slagited ine (Germanys nome ‘Seance ine), The gloves ate made ot thin are eat fo shoe made of back ether Promoted to he rank of captain in April 1945, ricich A ‘vam aad the ath grade aasaut clasp on 38 March 146 ‘This sword wae bestowed on solders who hod participated {ns assaults. At the time the officer was an instructor wit the s00%n Assault Gun Training Group. The oval wreath round insignia andthe: 75 figure inne bottom deview are Oi pated The national emblem, the bayonet ana the Renaegrenade ofthe insignia are ished infield rey. They fre secured wih four rivets, Ths wel crafted badge was tmanulactured by Joseph Felx Sohne, jewellers of Gaolone By Jean de Lagarde Wounded several imes, the aficer was awarded the black twound ness on 19 August 1042, followod bythe siver wound insignia on 16 May 1989 and finaly, he goa wound Insignia ne nighest ord, shaw har) an 19 Septomier 1948" Mage of guided sine alloy the ineignia wae ‘manultetired by Morte autseh at Prorzhein. 7ATE April 1941, at night somewhere in the Atlantic: the U-124, a IX-B ocean going sub- marine, surfaced and steered a westerly course. Commanded by Kapitanleutnant Wilhelm Schultz, the U-124 belonged to the 2nd U- Flotille. Taking advantage of the darkness, the submarine recharged her batteries as she headed at maximum speed for her pen in Lorient harbour. The raid was successful: the U-124 had sunk 11 Allied ships amounting to some 52, 397 tons since she left her base in February 1941. U-BOAT SEAMAN, Lon The-Ratrosengetrater in on his eyes, ne sidorned by an eden Stee. nitaly this ineignia wae esved Loft Displayed ona copy of ‘during the mission.1941 ATLANTIC CAMPAIGN By Jean de Lagarde and Franck Bachmann Fer protection against tho waves and the bl atante weather, the man has ‘py abuton stop. The elbows te Shoulders are reinforce. The coat’ four buttons are Covered bya trot The pockets hve road ops Action stations! The Matrosengetrlter has donned preserve’ over his pesjacket. With his blue helmet ‘epresented inte same way. The backing fs an oval plece ‘fark Dive cath, Displayec on a brochure tet “We osU-124 MATROSENGEFREITER, 1941 ft splayed on a Kelegamarine map, navigation comptes Inetrementseleafteaton (WR 1) Is inecribed on a amall pate on the Inner aide ofthe ia Matosengetater is back ns home harbour. At his fet lage bog contains ‘the porsonal etfocts ne wl eke with im Shuring nis furlough. His ue on metal neign the other, te tie: Kregemar geislatering on te tot fhe cap Lined with grey woot materi, the penjacuat fe mace of tick navy anchor he colar is cone Up by @ ftath button not seen here, Phe to inner pockets have laps. Embroidered in yoo trond, the Krtogemarine eagle oppeare onthe fight hand side othe est. The lapels are anhaiced with two ‘eetangulr elth patenoe, the blue ‘Shade of whieh sghtyghtor Clans ron Cross ribbon fe slipped fn sttened trough the top Buttonhole, ana the submarine planed tothe ek Wont of est The pea ‘mace of car blue cloth, they I {overed bya fap fastening with four buttons, The pockets have bre made of bck et ‘Below An hypsometer (or therme barometer, used for measuring the height above soa lvel by bearing th Boling pont of water witha senatvetermometer and £0 therefor determining the relative atmospheric pressure In the peture, the matal bole es boon ited tothe chable and watertight lid, One of te thermometers Is ad to nceate pressure. The eceptacies used oF lasting ea water ar Kopin tho ght prt of ho cae, 201942 THE LAST VICTORIESBy Jean de Lagarde and Christophe Deschodt UMMER 1942, somewhere in the Atlantic off the French coast. Her mission over, a submarine is hea- ding back to her pen. On board, the men are exhausted; constantly dodging escort destroyers, diving to escape depth charges, unceasing “ Pararanna "The cute are ‘ng have one baton nine the acket as no nner Kriegsmarine pty offcers was tradeoff ie watches and alienating from being jew! the hunter to the hunted is taking its toll, But soon, the ‘grey wolf’ will be >: back to the safety of Brest harbour. pater). Stancins ‘ork ie bacng.KAPITANLEUTNANT, 1942 Back ashore, nd now clean shaven, the U-Boat “ceptain hs recovered ‘rom is ovental jury waking a ‘Senimmutze 2 oublesrensted tune ot Hine blue serge and ing trousers. The 1 cf anchor buttons down the front, four of which reused fo fasten the ‘ight sie panel of he tune The hip poekate have horace sits with restangular apa. A “smal apless pocket ie Toeated above tho fith button from the tet Tho rank stipes are sewn si sem from te eaige ot th slaves, the mise * “ene oingsghty are mode of gota butanol On thee Sie of his tue he officer sports the Fire, cists ron Gross andthe badge aware to suomarine eres sar two engagements ih the enemy A wnte cotton shirt anid back ie worn on eit sco, wth the hangers slipped uncer The ine serge blue ‘trousers have opr Turmupe. The shows are made of Bick lestherThe rousere are opt up by braces. The hip posts are straight, and tne hip pocket hae 3 Button tap. Te trousers fare adjusted with buckle ‘saps on the hips: Al uttons are made of lack synthetic mater Seemingly waiting to fallow the captain on ‘another mason the Tellowing tom “played inthe suomarine cabin ona forage cap: 750 engravings ofthe iiegsmarine Gn ene tnd a goth letter Mt), “These wo well erated nbiaccBy Jacques Scipion UITE typical of the German soldier fighting at El Alamein, this Oberschitze belongs to the 21st Panzer Di 104th Panzergrena ier Regiment. AFRIKA KORPS Late The ordinary tropical eld cap smade of tion ana hes two ‘Sand paintes 1805 Pattern steal hee ‘captured Beth ‘geage ‘tendons fmuion pouches made: fralny black feather Web batt The ‘model shown Ire is new 93 ite book finghedia 1924 Pattern hand grenade Lot Closeup of the tunic Inlgnlar ove groom ‘shourder tabs th hte sak te Tnose suspenders ‘We ankete with Teather straps and lower edge reintorsements“034 alive green broadaag ‘atenew tothe bet nity ro ‘buttoned etrape and Hat hook The wo tropical water bots are made of Web strap ‘ny the ae ‘tree sops is through a step on ie bo nade of eto lap he entrenching tool ares made ofa ‘loth crossed incarrled in ts ‘own we fro, Fight The 1938 Pattern gas mask ‘container ha inner reinforced rim ‘one red ining used ‘or identhestion. ‘The cotton twill "vousere are fastened witha belt {tod with a palied metal bukie. There isa fourth pocket with ap on the beck attheright. The braces butlon onto “he two eral vertical straps atthe back The pockets have grey. Te rag wousers have notightening straps: the ‘ankleboots have 48:50, studs ng an U-shaped Steel loc. The manutecurer's name Is ‘Stamped on the tongue ofthe boot the production year is ciched on the ste or28 By Jean de Lagarde and Pierre-Ange Caravano N21 August 1942, elements of the German Ist and 4th Gebirgsjager Divisions (mountain rifle division) proudly raised their flag on Mount Elbrus (5,633m) in the Caucasus range. Among the victors were soldiers of the 98th Regiment, the 1st Di Made ofthe same cloth a8 the {Unie the early type cep has Shoriar peak anda turm-down flap doe up with two small buttons. The ational emo febetos with gole-panted central motif appears on ‘on * ‘The leather straps ofthe rucksack are er tabs Siippes uncer ‘he Teather strap with prongea Dele spare ‘lose tothe boa. Wirrantoffcor's tunie, nts GEBIRGSJAGER Asorgoant of te ah ‘Regiments rey around a mountain op with» shortoned peo. "wlingjacka iso M ver the tune The shoulder tabs inde Rots sua the bottom athe trousers eg, ‘ttool ane ‘hmong,SUMMER 1942 Desuseantis cad in tornen oft 13 Br “4 Company, 3th ey ini Fegiment ofthe Sens down A Sec collar ther ay bral. ade of cotton, the uniined“Windjacke! has ve buttons down the ont. The eu tightn wih button strap. The collar can be kept up bythe same arangemont. The ‘cae a comort crease and 25 scjustable buttoned hal belt Apart rom ‘the shoulder tae, al the buttons are made of green synthetic material. Te four oskets have buttoned fap ‘he four tapped pockets of he trge rckesck have esther renforzed eo ‘Caro onthe bat sinc he mess tn tebe of the es the pred trousers are ined ith af loathe ‘extending nt a ightening strap. The Trousers havea enforosd coat, and "he two font, fob and hip pockets eve abulton fap, The trousers ‘are kept up with braces ond ‘aust around the walt by mmeane oftwo straps sipped syrthatie material. The civetonabe green putoes ‘re sonired with Rooks sna bees, The length pute varios fam 1.25 "Som and from 8 0 ‘Bem ‘The mountain boots have anther ‘henge and seven pars of eytets ‘The upper edge of shebocteuf hse 8 feld grey cloth reinforcement The oo and te ek ‘nave orampons pnd thei.SENTRY IN | ‘winter 1867-42, he 1835 Patten ste! helmets tnished F In glossy rk gey. The back shieléshaped decal on i {he let sce 's stormed witha siver Wehvimacht eagle ace of thick white oth, the hood i folded back over the shoulder. To eld CGuoraing the command posto he armoured group's Kommandeu, te “sonitze’ has donned a thick overcoat ‘ver his oreatcoal and uniferr, APM i overomt shy thick, comfortable grey atm Reaching own tothe anes he double-breasted garmant has > rowre ofl grey buttons down te Tront The cheat and side pockets Thave respectively vercl and ‘horizontal openinge, arth ate, ‘bution flaps The haf bet iano tvel is astaned with tno ‘putona, The skin vent inthe Back has aap secured wih four buttons mage of ereeen Synthetic meter A nocd ot te cloth coves fe colar ot the Seen turned the sens cer itis kept up bye stirs ofthe cloth nd satenad wit baton . , ‘slap arangomert HE unit commander gave : tromine cola ese the order to halt, : Tandon ct Immediately, the column bia eater eaten of tanks and half-tracks : 3 fie sipped woottned ground to a halt by the edge : 4 eae of the snowbound forest. The Se i acatateniail tanks and APCs positioned themselves into a defensive screen for the soft skinned vehicles and trucks. Completely exhausted, the men to snatch some sleep ‘on the frozen ground, During their rest, the tr troops were protected by the 5 unsung heroes whose courage 4 and dedication have never resect received the praise they ‘ne the ols e en deserve: the sentries. be inked ogee ‘wana mineamer tongue, the sey T simeswamns PPS ‘submachine-an captured tom he ‘colder on the lft are mage ‘tise paimea wed. The ‘aft is tem tiskans relntooed with a hin Back Teatro sip. Thetwo brown straps use or fastening the foctwea ae ited with a pronged ‘metal baton Te ceverboots worn by th scidiron the eft haves ‘grey fl het fastening Sethe back with 2 crap ‘and pronged bucks ‘rangement. The Soot ae mace ot ttn brown ‘sutfening. The ae swith wooden pegs "Sneath "skid soe scored with steWINTER CLOTHING Winter 1942-43. The “Schutaoe helmet hae'a while cotton clots cover. Mace up of ive paces, ts factoned wih a “drawstring around the rim. ‘Tre goggles nave wayelowonted ‘Tne cut ofthe coat is identical to iene that ofthe previous garment itis lined with grey wool xcept fr the wide cufed sleeves). The high colaris made of matching cloth, Worn over the grestcoat, the ‘nite smock is made of fine C ‘stant ste. The Nod ie ‘wide enough to accommodate the halt. “The smock is gathered around the shaist by a regulation Back leather belt ‘ited with eld ‘roy buckle / “The smock ‘ sathered ‘round the ‘waist bys regulation basoater wet eg th eld grey us | ‘Tie incde view ofthe tu lined overcoat rl shows the verti! sit opening forthe rer let posket inthe ont. Thelarge cot Neo ae wie un up colar sary ‘Shown Wt covers the helmet when wor By Jean de Lagarde ‘Avwool knit glove (arg size ae indicated by the thes wh Finge around the wea) ail grey ition and a grey ft initen are dapiayed on the white smock ‘The smock buttons ane the hip operings for accoss tothe (featcou's pockets are coary shown. atPainted green the aluminium food ‘antainer has round sew top. Is ‘Secured toa blackpainted meta frome ey “The turn ups done p | by te bu (smaller pattrn at | “Temper! | face by tee horizontal and one orca trap tte wth too! ; Z ‘he sore light great ces. “angular becang. ‘The soldiers costs made of field grey lth Tinea wth grey material, that IGHT falls over the battlefield, The front line freezes after a long day’s struggle through the snow and mud. Soon, shadowy figures will creep in from behind and sneak towards the assault groups clinging to the hard won i ground. In the bleak landscape lit =" only by the wrecks of the u burning tanks, soldiers on supply duty will selflessly deliver hot rations to their comrades manning the advanced positions. Farther back, the division’s bakers and butchers will have a busy time working over hot stoves until dawn. " several Shades, olosey ad mat. 1. Aluminium jg 2 Bakalte sit box with srth ste! ena.ON SUPPLY DUTY, 1942-43 “The reversibie white parka is worn here » By Jean de Lagarde | and Claude Peltret | Forimproved the ront ing into double butonholes. The Inner pockets ave 5 large slanted button tap. Like the hood. he parks aajuste with = Sraweting alongs ‘edge: The cutie Rave butions fortightening The is covered by 2 ‘hy P his is } Farnana fsa mente Sung eround | temas neck esovers Mitr bts | theses (slows ofthe | Sopeare rotevorthy) 2" Box of matches with protective cover 5 Folng et of eating wensis combining @ fork and = Spoon, {Po ofthe four eating wens sets wit builtin tin opener 5°.Gace spirit bote in wooden container with svveling i ‘or expecton tough the 6- Tinned chocolate, 7 Broad in papet wrapper Paper bag containing seasoning for hot meal (soup and meat 9 Powderedegg 10-809 of 11- Bagot ripe bonis for cooking ork dishes ‘retrousers ae made cnx felagrey etm, ‘tered ino back Fete igh beets worn 36a protection againet severe wath ‘onatens: The shaft is Imooe of hex black ft,1943 THE TURNING POINTFELDGENDARME ON ‘The Senior NCO ie onecking ‘entity documents. His stot ‘elmo s 1935162 pattern ‘model with a decal onthe lett The ‘Feldgendarme's'gorget plat a the metal and fished in inks. 9, "eldgonaarme “These four compor tre secired'to the, forget plate by hooks, aontity By Jean de Lagarde TEE Sano RIGINALLY raised from the ranks of the farsa ‘civilian’ police, the Feldgendarmerie jase: Th cement fal was a subunit of the army's provost ‘medal forthe 1941-42 corps. In addition to keeping Taw and Winter Campaign in order among the troops, the Feldgendarmes’ Nation Sports aware missions were mostly those entrusted to this __ asset te rotor type of unit and included gathering prisoners imerstrectee, war and refugees, protecting captured commence At equipment, controlling the population in occupied territories and directing traffic. Belew Woven In brown cotton thre, the cutie at he boom ofthe sieve 2 ‘and Gothic letters Te into one the gorge! is covered in Telgrau lath to reduce wea.DUTY, 1943 outta inthe operational zone. ‘motoreycists The colt rubberised tare coat has can be wor turned up thanks flapstnave one button ena the ‘uf wo. The garment is Tide ofthe cnett'A panel ‘tthe garment can be done tip our Batons 199 Patern| aTBy Jean de Lagarde and Jean-Francois Ghini N early 1943, the Germans decided to have the old city of Marseille razed to the round. The Polizei Regiment ‘Griese’ - which had taken the name of its commander - was provisionally raised in southern France for the mission. The ut first searched the city and then had all its inhabitants evacuated. HAUPTWACHMEISTER, ‘The forage cap ie made of groan cloth aang has one eld grey versa ‘grammet on one sige. Light green Siping" the service colour fune along the edge of he crown. The imperal ‘Sele sen on te ost fa woven in “The tunie ofthe Schutapoizol senior NCO is ‘arment is done ipby ‘means of we hooks (cols) ‘and elght metal eters down the ion The et ard lap ofthe tun as te service branch piping down "Hauptwachmeiser worant ofeer ‘lacs I] appear on the shoulder fabs high ones of. fgreen backing wth 2 shaped cenra sip iin brown ct pen ‘reepattone: The emborsed ‘inlened nl aluminium ony Piping is slver-groy Interovon with brown stipe, Tight geen thread on ark green Becking, the fogle i worn ‘onthe let neve, The Bisse Lelbesubungen Swastika y ‘Gorman fan the ook ymnastes feat Associaton ott are awards pred ‘wove on tothe leicht anova! pocket thovight band se, Stung over therisht ‘Shoulder, the roms bit by means of @ Sleeper with @ Enaphook (eajuston uty prongiess buekt Lot On theft sido of tho hema austrian Theses tna block shold. The ines. Tm arent cera bye wreath and caries ‘he ‘Gor iit Une" (Goa lita us) moto nts blac Hocter forthe P- shown by the smal Strap and ratanng ug fon the fap, There Standard 98/05 Mauser BayonetThe gaa is Huser ite ttea witha bow leather sting ‘The ste! helmet ished in shi Ald grey. Te ht hand ie lon black an featur hit rin, tad of ik green cloth te gresicoat has a dare grey ining. Down the nt the garment has two owe of embossed aluminium Suttons, Piped in green ane fastening ultn ste! hook she eon is made ot fe own ty The shel sre socured with an peut ands button (smaller pattern). The sit pockets eve a slanted opening and 3 argeflap. The turn ups arg cut inthe ‘Geme cieth a the coat The gloves “re made of grey woot ade of back rainy tester, the ‘ammo pouches srecarried ons bolt ited wth an slminiam buekle. ‘the slaps slung Toross the chest are sed te carry ‘he breadbag and (gosmask box ‘The bayonets worn ‘onthe et sao na biel leather frog The ‘aamask box was monufectured by ‘Auer Pato ott {10 this model wae Iseued te paramiltary formations uch braadbag. The hat ‘el wiht siuminium butions ae viable belo the Teather belPaul Hausser, commander of the $S-Pan- zerkorps in Russia, outlined hi ATE on 9 May 1943, Obergruppenfihrer lan for the reconquest of Kharkov which his troops had evacuated a few weeks previously. Th mmander of the “Totenkopf” Division was ordered to skirt the city and hold its northern sector while the ‘Leibstandarte’ would attack from the west. The men of ‘Das Reich’ were briefed to thrust from the east and seize the main railway station. On 12 March, the station fell to the Germans ofter a spirited defence which forced the iging admiration of the victors. However it would take another two days of bitter struggle in the mud and snow before the SS wrested the gutted city back from the gallant Red Army soldiers. ‘DEUTSCHLAND’ The torge cape made of tes ory “The 1st Class Iron Cross fod \opped eth eagle ars woven it rey tiead on a back pach, Worn over 2 aay jersey shi tiwead toope tothe pct. Two medal ribbons (2nd Gta Won Cross and Son12 Rurean ‘rough the second buttonhols down ‘Gare nthe right cet Dultone made of back eynnetic mwtatie peta ge me ROY mie ang crcsing pose "atecired win yet iene one cota Dversewn eyelets oF Sting the bets stot hooks, The buttons have ul gay finish ae thelr oigina! ald grey {colour nas worn of Secured by an paulo fogp and 2 Button noar the coi, ‘hewn ped made of back cot, ‘Thonn eter of {he regiment'2. (goto capital fetes pearson the shoulder tet long with he rank insignia consisting ‘eta iver stare {ho siver braid ot Haupishartonrer (eanant ee {he outer cage ot the patches ang ‘penton The ign patches adorned Sith the 88 runes ‘mbroldored in Sivergrey these Gn thee patch, the ranks. Inateated by two ara stip civced Byathin bias ine, ‘The eagle insign onthe lef hone patch. orev ve i ited with the types ‘SS embossea meal boueke The bulges “adorned wha spreadeagle etching asta The maa sound the eagle eos ‘eine Ere Hott Trew honours royalty The ‘The ‘Selabuch (paybook) weer On duty, twas eatied Im-ane of te fun’ poskets Inside the Book, the man’s piture iv Lnitorm) ie wecured with Sewn 14.30m ‘lumunium tread edges. ‘ne gotni letering ie made of sllversgrey three,SQUAD LEADER, 1943 “The stel net has By Jean de Lagarde and Lucien Noél if Chinstap' mode of ‘ihc ter ana Pronged bucks. For Houpschataher Weare scart fine Feld grey woot in Sekon tos tick feld rey padded aria thvoe potted fap. The deep skit pockets are {brown letner ined with woo! ane inap case and wick sheepsion. Te ‘ves amo pork tned with poushos are ria the fat Tes: ‘eld classe patted lo feve aback Tater sng. The Seisers hana Sreprotected by geyetes ‘ote, adjustable elasticated ‘banc “The reversibie cotton trousore (worn white side out here are padded with Wootten ofreuts and gathered sound the aries by 8 ‘oth sap. The winter Soot have a brownish “ett shett with smooth black eather vamp and Lined with rabbit fur and fastening witha drawstring, the hood wide enough to aecommadete the soles head wnen he's weering hie helmet. 41HEN the German army swept through the Soviet Union in 1941 large num- bers of Russian soldiers were cut off from their units and isolated behind enemy lines. Soon, these regulars were joined by par- tisans and by 1942 they ha formed into organised underground brigades led by unconventional warfare specialists who raided communication and supply lines in the Wehrmacht’s’ rear, Repression was ruthless. To eradicate the partisan threat, the Germans carried out massive search and destroy operations, particulary in spring 1943 when ‘ore than 69,000 soldiers took part in a massive sweep in the forests between Briansk and Gomel ‘The subject ofthis close-up is a member of a ‘Schutz- polize? unit as he appeared during this action. \When displayed in this fashion, the forage cap clearly Shows te metal ventlaon grummet. The breadbeg - not ‘Failen the plotares “ie wom by the solar over hie right ip; iia standord sue but made of te dark (geen clathepectc tote pote force. Fhe shortened gaamask box ited ‘nth web straps. The Kak bayonet fis toh coloured wooden aris. “The young policeman is pltured in front of ‘Te shoulder straps of {potter elebrating ‘Geran Police Day Untorwachmester are 23 Shay event at the onset of winter on en near the armhole Behalf te force's walle organizations “Troy consist ofa ne green cath backing wit 8 1995 Patern stool scent stp in glossy laid grey, \ ‘The edge is made of the Felmet le adored with tao rancor: on ‘nme meter bt the lft th rod shold wit tho white ‘enhanced witha silver fond owactt ‘rey tnreadod patter, the siver police ‘Tne Sehutapoten cae month et S pronged buckle. The pallcemar's {urtele made offine weal serge: was Intended for vee nthe warmor seasons land manufactured In 540. Rs greenish UZ oth Bscing fe fc typical ofthe garments fesued to Y nd Yates poles. ths buttons are made of ight. ‘black Surinurn. The tunic Ras elght buttons svat down the font The edge af tho lot i pipes in groon he ine series branch) $e pleted chest pockets and Shit peteh pockets have thos pointed button fae. Piped in ffeemand adored with we Battone the out turnupe tre made cf ight brown othe A vent adored ith {wo buttons and green Boedtcigs re down Two hooks ate sched to the back othe tunic for Securing the Bett Fully fine tre tune hes one inner pocket nthe Rent hand fie at chest fovet Made of 'spipedin ‘Teen and ‘Secured ith two hooks. Cut In'ine green oll patches fave dul stver Dra and edges. “They are pipes inthe colour of thearm of badges worn on the ek chest pocket lesterTHE SOVIET UNION, 1943 ‘The patceman is shown here cla in the oid uniform ne wore inaction Throughout summer 1943 Pllzal unite were heavily committed inthe Briana forests anc the Pripet marshes. In theessress, twas Pot “unusual for porisan brigades to number more than 000 men Lined wit ght green materia the forage cape mace of tick grooncioth and Tas a vantlation gramme on each ‘side!'The Palz! insignia atthe ron it ‘woven in white read ona black aeking. Used for tne manutectre 9 ‘woopers uniforms the areen tunic cispays ts Spica greyish hue. The Pockets are arranged in fro same way anon the Provious uniform but “he skirt pockets are plestod, The unio hele butions down ‘he font and «hook atthe collar Fhe sloovor have a they ean be rolled up ulcer. The skrt ot {he tunics a vent ‘down the backs To eaten the el four hooks are provided ineversewn ‘yatts ‘The colar patohos ‘are woven in dl creyiah thread and ‘ovoid of bata Paving, ambushes storming Serongholi tthe ‘han hie fair share of ‘ction agent partisans. For his cetlorts, ne hasbeen, worded the intentry ‘assault clagp (worm next to the SA D390) ‘nd the Back wound medal Hohas also boon promoted tothe rank of (corporal as indieated by the dul sive stipe near te tp ofthe removable shoulder tbe, Bacleather bat Bit grany pouches, ane ‘opan3 99K Manufactured in 12, the trouser recut ethene, The Bioskeather FReboots have Shortened shat. ‘Te tunics displayed to show the ld dressing pocket in the inner ont of tre garment Intended for poles frees Use, the lid dressing ts marked ‘Polizei Santaslager Beri NWA. The pocket and the tunic have the sate pale {green lining. Their tabe securing the bet eve provided Ath five oversenn oyolts, Ths tune h pocket. The oath label niente thatthe w Betonge toa pollcemen, pote in de Lagarde and By J ts hini Jean-Francois Displayed on a March 1942 German Police Force journal are {he following tame: a pesteare sold by the police andthe ‘$5 on behalf of the 1942 winter rales aluminum Badge ‘featuring the poise insignia and commemorating he 1982 Police Celabration Day and finaly a police sesocinion Tape! bagN late August 1943, the veterans of the ‘Hermann Géring’ Armoured Division were mustered at Caserta to the north of Naples for refitting after the hard-fought Sicily campaign. Reinforcements had ben broughtin from France so that General Conrath could bolster his unit before mee ting the Alles who were to land land at Salerno during the night of 88 September. Conrath’s force was already Lundersirength winen it was deployed against the assa Tants at dawn on 9 September. nthe evening, a Ger. man company made contact with the enemy an Mount San Angato. Under massive shelling by British and. ‘American warships, the ‘Hermann Goring’ divisional reoce group headed for Maio! which was already held by American rangers. The hils were rocked with explo- sions as throughout the day, attack folowed counter attack before eventually petering out into hand-to-hand fighting, But thoi offorts ware t9 no avail and the men lhe elite Lufwatle division laid down their Ives in vain bby nighitfal, more ian 50,000 Brlish and Amercan so diers had set foot on ltalan sol. ‘HERMANN GORING’ Igaued to otherranks and NCOs, the ‘Schirmmltze (peaked cap) ic eutin roy blue cath and ise a black cap band. The Black patent peak has 2 sttchod ‘lice ning Hola in place by two black buttons, the black loathe ehinstrap has two buckles at he front and one hat Keeper on each ‘ide. The arm of service ining is wie, Secured tothe front of the cap, th Luftwaffe eagle ard the winged cockade are made ot “Te ibbon ofthe 2n8 ‘lass Iron Cross it tipped through the mie uttonhole on te rant “the smal blue boon ‘aoormed wit sver eagle was awarded for ‘our years’ servos with “he Latwatte. The “case Iron Croce it Lutte assault clasp ‘embossed siver metal (galnted tee groy with 2 Siver eagle. The elder ls worn over a shirt isa Condor Lesion loth The jacket ‘etoran se shown {Fiogorbice) i cut in ye prestigious ‘Spanish ‘cross with tone up oy five ‘Swords Buttons (ger ward worn patorn) down the onthe raht Front Th cola has ‘ide of hook and eyelet chest rangement eager sigey rey be Ender “me pockets Tove sane tpeninge sn large Siton Rape, The Stage inatcanbe Schistea Te ck ot theron, tne chest and fais aesaing pockets are “The vsona cue is oltre iched on eight stesve, slopedon ‘sem above te lower edge af the lock ‘tent tunwaie “suas By Jean de matching 4 fete Lagarde fanned Tocked ns Stemped inthe itt pocket, the sis fequlnon nerenge incl the waa {Slowing parila: (ram opt om Bottom lors} 6 engin), 96 (wait) The breadth actose the Shoulders has been erases. The ‘manufacturer's stamp (i. Drews: Son) followed by three letters: LBA’ (LuftwalfeBekieldungs Amt {twat thing depot and bythe figure'39 indicating the yearn which the tunic was made: aly, the stamp reading NERS. GaTL RG-HG Incleates the 2nd Betalion ofthe ‘GSring Reslments depot. The marking ‘tena onthe bel buckle leathor ab fade iIAEGT. GEN. GORING. The ‘eoiment we expanded to brigade ‘rongtn in July 1942 betore becoming the Hermann Goring vision on TS ‘etoder Tne unt was ralsed to Panzer Biot status i hay 1989,PANZERGRENADIER, 1943 The camoutlage garments ‘rom by the RCO (helmet ‘he same camoutage pattern of dark brown, Brown, dark green and ‘green intermingled blotches. The eaiy Spe ‘mock hes an opening for ‘he ead extending into 8 front sit unning down to nid chest, and done up wth a lace sirung through five Bais of oversewn eyo. "The elasticated bands on The cuffs have slackened with use. The smock skirts Tucked vp inte the belt The Delt earring the ammo pouches (ree PAD magazines) Is held Up by {worbinc leather bracee invisible nthe plete, the Tanagun Role is worn onthe ni Ieoued to other ranks ‘ane NCOs, the eu tie Tsmade ofa dark Dive lath strip wit Ietterng ‘woven in siverorey thvead Wo shoulder tabs are made of gre-bive cloth edged with {ull sver braiding and adorned With one pip ach. The tbs Srepiped nwt. The same braiding as eed onthe Shouleer abe le repeated aroun the edge ofthe collar a5 Betts NCOs. The ite cole patches are sdorned wth tree Sylised metal wings each “The Luftwate sharpshooter shoulder cord (test rade) Stung etwoen ie second button dou th front of he {unle na tne right shoulder ta, The award consists ofan Oval nsignla secured to a tlsted ord covered wth & pattern of gry-bive and sluminium tread, The oval insignia features a siver eagle secured to an embossed metal backing representing oak loaves ‘Te main component of the ‘Spanienireuz' awards a Maltese ‘rosa The Knights oft John who setup ther heedquattts st Mat inthe teh century sect this cose a her emblem {hen they designed the new arte leaders of the Thi Raich probably mained that the miaion ofthe Condor {Sgn m Spain wou esemola tna protection ole othe Knights The fet mada awarded to victorious Wehvmacnt Sollers, the cross fe unusually largo (557mm) and was worn ‘Sa tmeright sce atthe snes. The Spanionivour shown here Drorudes more than on other meds. The swords sid eagles Eo parteularly wall inished L's, the Wademark of manufacturer Gottied Wagner. fetched onthe cross‘Syslte no ap bane = By Jean de Lagarde and Jean-Michel Denis IHE 3rd Group of 26th Heavy Fighter Squadron was deployed in the Mediterranean sector shortly after the Each cults dot tr Uipentonding dow fom the Western eampa in ended. The unit citow siong tho unstitches fought there for 30 months, Faisareceing pocket notching up 130 enemy aircra! Breton shirts cuts and 1,210 armoured and soft- ‘Stone tem above te skinned vehicles for the loss of 252 Siiursise’ coe von crewmen. ‘ The pilot here is shown celebrating mnie" the squadron's 10,000th mission Sxage si with his comrades, for 280 missions. Both the officers’ batt wth remade of brown leather ‘Te frame ofthe sun gogsles ‘The second eutonant’s oulder ‘obs consist ot ‘ho stripes of aluminium raiding stitched along porviee colour ado of hick tan cloth, the double ieei oes Tron Cros ararahes ‘rule para ronSQUADRON, SICILY, 1943 Ao jocket wae an ‘ete necenny pls operating mostly lr water Watghing {ig the mocel chown Tere consisie of Seal linges padied winhapck, art proot burthe vepetale otra. the roumers on ‘eguation compass is factaned othe we The olve gr oeke are foled Upper Boot ut. wa) ‘Cut in tan cotton, the ofcer' tea cap ‘has two brown fished vention ‘rummets on ether ofthe cape adorned by nations! cockade anda grey {ony the shoul ab ‘butons are the el ‘rey eal nish typel:The cheat engle is woven night beige thread ona ‘wangulay tan Becking “The tan trousers are gathered lth waist by ‘tap made of matching cloth ait ‘wth a ste! buckle, The ‘diagonal side pockets have no aps unline the ipa rent thigh pockets which nove Poree painted lps covering the buttons ‘Tho fooee iting trousers 6 ar tapered and thored around the anklas witha bueke and ‘tap arangement, ‘sinforeed with 3 button tab. All buttons are made ‘of beige syminetic ‘materia inclusing those ‘Sched inside at waist evel or the braces, nickel copper alloy. ‘Theweath on whichFala senate ILOT Officer Helmut Sprung, a second lieutenant commissioned with the 7th Staffel of Kampfgeschwader 1, was awarded the Knight's Cross on 12 December 1943. In the original picture below, Sprung is being congratulated by his comrades who have formed a guard of honour. When the photograph was taken ‘at Neuburg, somewhere behind the Eas- tern Front on 5 August 1944, Sprung still sported the rank insignia of second lieute- nant. Our reconstruction shows the officer a few months later after his promotion to the rank of captain. Issued only to otcers, the cul fil s made of dark blue ‘woolen material. The ‘Geschwader Hindenburg’ Inseription Ingothic lettering Is made of aluminium tread Ketptgoschader 1 Took te name from Marshall Paul von Benackendort und von Hindenburg wh defeated the Russian at Fannenberg in 1978 Manufacture by Philip Winter on 109.194, the tight segues used by the captain on hs bombing missions tr shown n thle riginal brown eraboard box The goggles are ites ‘nth a strong elastiated strap wnieh canbe aojusted by a sliding metal ieoper tit the wearers head. & Spare sirap is provided inthe box Bong with two pals of pain and tinted tenses aaplayed tare on tei Inaivdual grey cet protection begs. ‘The motal pars are pated green, and tha frame te made of tik, it brown rubber To vols damage, te lenees fare hept na parltoned case fer anspor The captain's ‘Schirmmteeiscut in a in aluminium teas, Two tin tated sluinium cores are feldin postion {wo smal sliver ‘ide ofthe cop. Band: The block olan anit with 9 back te party htaden bythe Knights Cross hanging fom ts Black white and ‘ed rbbon worn itound the neck. ‘The tuniela made urtone sown the font nd it our ivr with grainy fineh The sleeves nave {Urmupss the open collar ‘s'adorned wih an ‘luminium twisted piping und tre ecg Sitened ot he shoulder tabs have 2 bright deri he Lo fying personnel sr Bleu adernod wth 0 ged bra erp re emboceod stars. so mado of bright Yalow oth the collar patches ‘re piped in aluminium wings over a hal oat ‘reath indicating the och ‘modes stitched above st pocket The oes fm Gold Spears under the ight chest poekot The Luftwatte ‘heawy bomber gol clasp Is Pinned above ie lot chest Pocket above the Ist Fron Cross and the plot badge. ‘he 1841-42 Russian campaign meds ribbon ‘emippes and sched through the ep buttonnole of he tule “The euf eis sewn on "the let sleeve, one cemimetre above the ‘odge ofthe turn. rey sue fastoning with pressure sida ine ‘wrt iBOMBER PILOT, 1943 DR cicrsinacsrnaes feet rn eect ae iaiterte terete a ofp row leather, the betas apronged bucke. The {ekronn feather gauntiets | etoes it rabbi fur {a gathered around the iis by pressure stud Sap. The ur lined oats haves chromed lester amp and let suece shat Fae atanng fotwearie ted | na ap sown tele strap ot sii te ran otters ‘Woco-Geecho |store. Te German Cross in Gott case is made of wood and back ‘board. The ner ade Othe id Ted wit white sateen, The 1st lass ron Cross ace ie aloo ‘made of wood and back caraboar but ts botom s lined ‘with belge velvet ait i wth white sateen The Bomber Gola ‘Clasp is eari n'a cari ue ‘ase made of ood and a remy wt, the lds made ot light yellow sateen, The ease forthe plot badge is mage matorile 2 before but ‘very ark Bi The inner ide ‘The overall ie made of sturdy dark lve slat, ul lined with {he came oynthele ur as used for he wide colatThe sult hata strong zp down he ont which siratehes across fram {he et hight te right shoulder A ip slvo used fo Keep the colar pan. There ta large triangular lp to protect ne Fight shoulder A chest pocket with avartcal opening is provided near the neck The two Back eather taba ate Front are used to fasten the radio lead connecting tothe bck ofthe helmet On theft hand side ofthe overall 2 trongular cloth lap covers the ving used for Quickly Lndenning the suit. The cu zp fasteners ere reinforced ‘with pressure ste straps. Two vertical its at hip level Broce acess ogame worn unde oer The fh, {he bottom ofthe lege, anc the ng noize end vertical Bockets ha il manufactured by Else, Rapid ‘Zipp of Barln. The zip abe sro made of brown esther. Connecting othe aerate eating system the plugs et tne uff age and under the verieal pockets are protected by ‘rey iether tbe, By Jean de LagardeJORMED around a cadre of 28th RFSS (Reichsfihrer SS) Sturmbrigade elements, the 16th SS Pz, Gren. Div. 'Reichsfiihrer SS’ was raised in Octo- ber 1943, Posted to Corsica when ready, it soon became the only force capable of fully opposing the increasing activities of the island’s partisans. When the French troops landed in Corsi 1944, the 16th RFSS withdrew to the Bas- jo area prior to being shi to Italy. The move was conducted very slight losses. In January 1944, elements of 35th $5 Pz. Gren. Rt. (one of the division's two grenadier regiments), fought the Allied troops defending the Nettuno-Anzio beachhead. Transferred to Hungary for refitting in April 1944, the division was ferried back to Italy in May where it distinguished itself by checking the British 8th Army between Parma and Grossetto. From August to September, the division fought its way up Italy during the German withdrawal and, during the treat, severely clashed with Italian par- tisans in the south of Bologna. “REICHSFUHRER’ ‘The SS-Panzergrenadir (vat) | hears ight ah cotton shirt. The A carmen: has ourbuttons down he ‘Tort, buttoned cue ana yoke {covering totorea down tothe | ‘cheat pleated box pockets, ‘The hauler fabe are pes ‘The wopical helmet consists of ir covered with ight tan prongless buckle ara™made ot Ser gre ie Tombossed prongs. The Insignia worn on the ght tres tne 8S ver background (he tho eth eter of \cesteove: ace o aye ‘natn ne ront an elt Bons rete seme colour | sce seth ony those ‘onthe shoulder aba Soing made of brown finshed ‘nea set slighty ‘embossed pattern ‘The shone esto we ited is ‘namin ‘ck he rmatat hooks ouble asta Keeoers By Jean de Lagarde ] The type ot boot, worn bythe seer teame, The var Stoner extends up {o cover the ankle. & ofbrown tang, rough fur eyatets torughton te at. down the ack ofthe ShatTis arrangement hoipa to pu the bootSS GRENADIER ade of ight tan cotton, to fora ‘green itn, Tropical Uniform not sver-grey Ike those issubd To continental $8 format yellow threed ona black $ Upon page 32. The eagles dul yetow and the deaths heed (larger patter) Is made ot ‘argh yellow tress, “Tne tan cotton tunic has four buttons down she rr and tn sara yoke athe anit. The toh pockets on the chest and the peatec Pat oxepockets on the skit have pom uttoned laps. The pocket an tule uttons ‘ot metal and stitched on Woven on a black triangular sleeve eagle Insignia, The Infantry assault bacge ‘seeuredto thee ahest pocket. “wo types of ammunition pouchee: (G3 ‘attern onthe right ana Kak pattern onthe et) sbround box magezine Nose te eons Shown hore wore ose {en RES io Corsa and fay ‘The shorts wor by the grenacer are cut in ight cotton ‘loth he slante Side pockets havo Sutona: They ha five butona. The fob waten hoe a horizontal opening. The ined and thehed wth te Sared with buckle trap on nd pockets) e mace of white clath. Al but ork brown ayrthatie materia Another typ of shorts cut Inthe sam tn tian of the top anc ip pockets have 5152 Close-up ofthe tropical uniform national nein Bright yeton ona lace averay igh: any type oftunie (pleated box pockets) made ct sturdy cotton til. The tied essing pockate inthe ‘aps ofthe front arrangement and ‘devoid of collar Suttons Above Close-up ofthe Steel helmet has received a coat of ght ochre palnt over Re origina fila ‘rey fs ‘The Reichstuver 8S cuf the (not worn on any ofthe ropa uniforms iewrated in this bleet embroiered, an the deaths ead woven na thlcke patter of dul yelow tnread The tuna the same pattern 9 te es ) ‘ore worn by th sla on page St Al tke yellowish ne Tank stipes are deerived on page 52 ‘The taperee trousers fare made of fn cotton. Five brown are aitchod a ast evel to socure the belt The tye ‘dome up wth ive buttons. ‘The sigh slanting pockets have buttons The Opening ofthe fob watchs horizontal On each Mp, ‘here's s buckle aap beck ofthe garment. The ining i eum wits gathered eround the kis wth thin sirap endo cloth ‘srps, The two nip pockets button nthe hive way as the front, ‘ones. The buttons ‘made of brown ‘ochre synthetic crater Close-up ot the yplca yoke ofthe ropa tunic covering {he top ofthe back and extending down te ront nto 9 point fap pockets, Of note are the cut sis and Ne tick Irmer seams ofthe cranstving a wast level.OVIET shelling intensified into a pounding, ominously forewarning that a Russian attack was in the offing. Outnumbered, the German soldiers of the 34th Infantry Division ing the front line evacuated their nat dusk. Only groups of the 34th 9 Battalion were left behind to turn info a ‘Teufelsgarten’ (devil’s playground) the trenches, the strongholds and the front line positions abandoned by their com- rades. Soon, the engineers had completed their deadly task: the few remaining buil- lings, the ford and the sunken track lea- ding fo the command post had also been turned into lethal trap. Russian soldiers looking for souvenirs would do well to be wary of weepons, mapeases and all sorts of odd equipment ‘lost’ by the retreating foe! Making the most of their redoubtable skills, the German ordnance specialists had again managed to check the Soviets by chan meng their forces into a ‘mine bloc cade’, ENGINEER, neers 1895 Pattern ode of ld grey cot, tee Originalypsinted feta I etme ‘bint yolow ochre ‘ha bron onthe ‘op me colour te used for tha regimental ruber wen onthe tabs ang outned in white The tbs Se Tactoned witha russing ering near ine Srnhole woven in grey tread fey underlay. The corporal feoneckafoune s worn on the left Two a grenades re ‘Spped inte the back leather belt ted witha bsround the ankles, anc have st {ign poctete wih slant ‘penings and butlon Maps. The “Splinter camoutloge patern onalat of sot edged bloehes of masum groon land woodbrown ons Hght fold grey backing. The tose fiting trousers osn be worn lover te regulation field grey “Thus equipped, the engineer corpocal is ready foray Hie food consits ‘mostly of explosives charges equaly shared between the two side pouches and backpack of ‘gee mack cared inthe beri utr poco ‘ot fand pen ‘Re wo wb araps scuring he pouch ip are temtoroed wrth nth ang he main Somparment of thede posen consis ec: Kiogramme here. 3Sir pouches Sco have fur ena {estening eatidge Sages each notaing a Sine erounaie Stn usuniy fora ‘boi Thetop of ach ramfreed sap Int sto! bl. ‘The three components ofthe ‘Shelneors assault peck“ the bocce ‘ay ove green ana. The fet hand carrying a one-i txplosive charge ana four ‘nth straps passing through invortod U' shaped! {nd rectangular met idtogether with on {ajustale web strap worm by the Small ofthe Bock: A sa cared inEASTERN FRONT, 1943-44 By Jean de Lagarde and Jean Peltret ee aren tho ack rent for poalng Hs Cook reered the smal fogs ‘stores n'a black anil eather seats Teather bracketsPARATROOPER, DDaubedinwnite to maten the lanaseape, the paratroopers me ‘Setonable balakiava he ented n rey Woo). The ime sn ajustane side oop. By Jean de Lagarde ted with 2 rey _———p ine JROM Norway to Denmark and pouches for from Holland to Belgium, foe German paratroopers were at 5" the vanguard of Hitler's forces during the opening moves of the Blitzkrieg. After seizing key points and airfields, the airborne soldiers won fame for capturing fortresses which stood in the way of the panzers. In Greece, the German paras captured the Corinth Canal and later, stormed the island of Crete at a terrible cost. By 1943, some para units were deployed on the Smolensk front in the Ukraine. hires mage ot ‘ckaneer soe {ibm ck carbon, manganese and chromium hoy anh 220 fempering strength). ‘The helmet liners made of two plain ‘The batom of shat leather bootsTHE UKRAINE, 1943 The coubleoreasted parks sacar cverpping Barone gy futon tape The cts can gathered bya button Sirsp.Theeiasarewsting Ste wate the buttons tromade of brown ana White syne meter ‘The parka has athiek protects agains! the cid ‘and provides camoufiage ele! wien wom wits tre green sige ut Like the trousers the paral ined with teintorced with square pater guiting, Att vath reon or white ice ‘ut, On eter side ‘ihe hood, there ‘missing ero The tumup ofthe fed oy Faldmuta rotted national cockede, the cages iy tent covering Sixblack synthetic buttons. The removable shoulder tabe are made of ‘revive lath Piped in plow (he service colour Stparatroopes) secured rear the col Dy ‘Wo sma git Buttons: Ths ‘colar Is one up. The two "yellow collar patches ar cekeh adored wits a meta ‘wing, indesting the rani ot private. Woven in gry thread, the eagle insignis pears on the "ualliestion badge! wom an the let sce ot The Luftwateaitoome uaiiication badge was awarded efter si jumps The baage shown hore well erated and consists of ppernche oly rest oak est pattern onthe eft sh ure on the right) onto vuhich 8 diving base eagle Is secured The oagle cutches a swaetna intsASTERN Front, late 1943 early 1944. The outposts, defended by the men of the 5th Luftwaffe Field Division, are being Subjected to.a short but intense shelling by Russian artillery. Harried by the spi Bosckan covalent ihe doved furvivers fal back to the rear positions. The barrels of the MG-42s glow red as the machine-gunners loose off burst after burst into the Russian waves. Under their withering crossfire, the Russian assault is beaten back but then numerous T-34s enter the fray and threaten to break through to the German battalion's main defences. The ‘Sturmgeschiitz’ of the ‘3’, led by Lieu- tenant Walfgang Bach, are called in to plug the gap. A deadly duel is about to start. LUFTWAFFE black on fe ou rey woo! fer prveely purchased garment The dil Smock (worn 0 Tegerblues) 1s rot reveribe. The camouflage patorn Consists of sharp esged regular wood ‘rown and medium green blot fooaely printed overs tela grey ‘Bacnground. The pattern ie completed by ‘erica thin green stipes. The ve Buttons down the ont are mede cof dark blue synthetic ‘materia, The cole ie Fite with a met tras nevied on 2aSoptember ‘gaat reword the German and ‘olders who had Been et off in the Kuba bridgehece From February toay 1080 they Supptes ‘rapped rom thea throughout he ‘loge ater Scesstuly fesistng all toowttank or ‘lomonts ofthe ‘army ana re awa aking er to Octobe ie ea othe aware ere as aos fo fave orvedin the Edpeoas te dye to Serving ne bridgehen trto nave been engaged in ne major operation ate Eridgeneee The she with» bronze wash a The design was stamped in the pte ana nade try cage st the top lunging re Sumaunding » Swastce. Te shield ie Sci hrs rey. be colour of Serie, On oor side tn siete Sate'49 anaes fespecivey and, ust, {Buching he botiom Stine wreath te Sore: KUBAN tn Bock conta Beneath thee 20g broad tne ‘presenting the Erlagenesd wth the main engagements tegunen, Krymota and Noworo Sala rovises under the ‘armpts of he comoufige smock “Te ees ‘revue syntate ‘materia. The inner pocket provides in ‘te upper ror Woven in unite read ue backing the Latte ‘heet eas appears on he right side of ne ‘ey lth They areipped in scart, {the service colour ofaseaut gun unt) and secured le stone used torte ver rad ath ‘an the tabs were Lunwattenos. Te “eats heeds (cssued to anny ents ‘ne soured forces pinned oneASSAULT GUNNER, 1943 By Jean de Lagarde and Didier Lodieu ‘Manufactured in et grey cloth by metal uttons mater peter atthe font of etumaparepantes farkbue The front halen grey thea and ra s fhe rational cockade $ feweven onthe same i done up with tive the front Made of ‘drk grey syathete mate, the buttons ate covered with 3 ch “iy tront The hook securing the colar is fished: “The cuts can be by senncin sap stipplng though a sit ‘he pttoning on the outsae Sorting ‘Sight the Mp pockets have ton taps shouiders ot tnetunie. Ther ‘sate crossing fight ont ot Te woo's she sire Five a butons rang is (omatier pee rete feet soem atneck whi ime of Siok eter the arse ype) poet cea toring es shoulder tabs wate ‘nd the betula acket Sage of ete Sonim ark grey ‘The chest eagle and tho shoulder tabs th th ‘ecuring arrangement) nda twost Ileroprene in isi hand NCO braia i seven sarounel the eage ofthe ‘olla The pels are adorned withthe some etl death's ‘tom onthe camouoge ‘Sneek mn compllanes thine cress Tucked ito the black later boot, tefl grey y ‘suurmgescnutae of the ‘th Set-Propelled Ant "ane Gul unit (Panzerigerabteting 5}. Two meaas, he st Clete on Cross and the ‘Ground Combat 8290, are wom onthe titeryman'a sheet "ub shield is secured othe lft soeve Straght trousers are ‘aguision sue Designed by Prof. von Weech of Berlin, the Ground Combat sagan istites by Gonng on 3" Haaren 1982. The avard onsets of wreath of oak leaves, Luttat ‘rem whieh aightning bot strikes iain alloy while te embossed ‘liverand secured to the set with {he insignia has practi {oldlore wino Had buen involved In Uivew engagements on tree Siterent days agle anda cloudBy Jean de Lagarde JHE wear and tear on the helmet cover dates this reconstruction to winter 1943-44, Like the helmet cover, the reversible padded parka and trousers set were Introduced in autumn 1943. This uniform was only issued to Heer field infantry units on combat duties. HEER INFANTRYMAN, ‘Lot For beter hearing, the ‘hood has round a Pattern 1942 field grey cap “hth rabbi tring. otn tape the Roos ‘ticity protect the lower bal ofthe face, te neck ane the nape. The menutacturers Itademare "eRe of a is stamped in nk inaise the righ ap ofthe roo. ‘The paaides mittens are tines nth rast ur Tey ‘secured around the {apes This model was a ‘vaio with weal pedaling. colours. The Sottom ofthe legs oecure ‘ver the boots th eats tapes. Kon rite‘The 1943 comoutoge ‘ait as wom wth ihe has 10 buttons down secures vith apes ut ae gotherea wth ctth ‘rape and butons, ‘Thanks to this removable devie (winter tigger) soi oul eth ie wt her gloves on ir asion tthe eparate hum, seme mien Mad an unlined index inger 50 the solr sould pul he tigger more easly ssa pac: ose of rin nrerening eather ee” ‘Sencard ‘nmin reat res ete Fasten oe bck eater Brit The solder | Patiorn 1942 fot boots made ‘ot high grace fethor (two ofthe numerous variants on Cans an he varius Securing arangemer tne op Of note ae the tow {easing fom some eoweting1944 SETBACKS ON ALL FRONTS64 By Jean de Lagarde and Jean-Michel Denis shrine of Christianity - was turned to rubble by Allied bombers on 15 February 1944, The ruins were quick- ly captured by the paratroopers of the Luftwaffe Ist Fallschirmjager Division. The German paras deployed in the ltalian theatre were clad in a mixture of standard airborne equipment and clothing issued during the North African campaign. N the Italian front, the Mount Cassino monastry - a celebrated PARATROOPER, ‘The pullover summer shit hos Th sitar with 2 year sete Mage poplin Eaton, tw Tost Faber {Couoor are astoneg a Te helmots covered wit reguaton Camouflage neting os often st ‘during he Gassing betCASSINO, 1944 ‘The sola is shown in he Cloth vniform whieh Tike theron eamoullaged ‘helmet wa oftan wor talon ee 168, Ped otha chest Flue the Yet Class Iron ross andthe parece Ealeation badge, ‘ap sealing witha painted ‘uton’ The cofer displays the r taps seal pressure su "tape and tho back ones wit uttons The ertial pocket on veriat ab pocket provided onthe left and sealing with toe tna Secured to the shellby an and rubber pads Thechinstapsare mace ot grey leather secured to al wit four Bats (ane on cither sige and ‘woatthe back, ‘hd adjustable witht pressure mi ‘suds Teather erent theng and aves deep notch ronning roundingCommand issued requirements for the development of a new infantry uniform. ‘The uniform was ready in summer and soon issued {or esting tothe folowing unis: the 17th and 73¢d Infan- try Divsions, the 78th ‘Sturmavision’ (assault infantry dison), he 26th and 104th Jagerdvisions' ight infan- try), the 2nd Mountain Ril Division, the 16th Panzer Division and the ‘Ersatzbrigace Grofdeutschiand (mechanised infantry) "The offers of hese units were briated with reporting to High Command about the mosifications and impro: vaments they felt the uniform needed. The new pattem ‘was ofiealy approved on 8 July 1844 with delivery sta ting seven weeks later. Although offcial directives spe- ified that the colour ofthe uniform was to be ‘olive brown, his was not sticlly enforced as fleld grey (or ‘even grey) clath is also known to have been used. “The untiorm used for this study fully complies with regulations but vareions have been noticed: some other ranks jackets have cuff urn-ups ike the oficer's while ‘others: have box pleated pockets with three-pointed flaps. Also, the legs of some trousers secure with ankle laoing while others don't a N spring 1943, German Army gl THE 1944 PATTERN “Te jacket and the trousers are cut inthis olive brown ‘The Panzergrenadier hes loth The jacket has ay front covering six groy ‘donned nis 1943 Pattern finshed buttons, two of whieh are sitened on a belt Tila op, the peak Ito sap. ‘The colar can be kep up thanks to 8 ‘nigh fe ates ‘hap sifehee under te colar a let ana button st sroundthe eae ot Fight eptionsl arrangement) The taps ofthe chost ‘sitening pitch pockets have sight cages. Running down From he elbow the sleeve sls visible on the eat the ap, the be | sraihe one pouenes are mada ‘lack esther The buckles finished 9 ull atm tut printed on etrangular backing (te dectve not itis emblem are se pipesn = The fan epauleteloop Anew pattern bayonatis xed to the 90k he gesmask ox Straps surg ‘verte lt Shoulder Displayed on 2 1908 “Tne short gies protecting te ties are mae ove gestARMY UNIFORM Secured tothe lester straps vith snaphooks, tubular pouch (ght preture) here Dy the shelter hall The yoso'e metal fing are ‘aintes grey hie numerous varatons inthe webbing celour ere obssrved, The breadeag, towhich he water pote hooked, fs ‘astoned to the bat The grtmass box Ie secured next to the wate Bote. Te aga cape nits green pen ‘The entrenching tel in ts black leather errors ‘secured to the lft sie (concealing the og of the new pattern bayonet secured to te bed. etal pegs end coiled cord prot trom ‘one end ofthe rolled up shelter hal Jean de LAGARDE ‘Tne 1964 Patan saan trousers ate ut nti ove $row lot fe rouse canbe ep op eter wt braces ths eoiton bl sispes trough sig bro be {SiCovereh, The es aur butions 9th ones pronced under rot behind he lt Te ane se fochets nal win burton fap Tne bon Pepe feta Eraup pockets neve srg edges The rouse ining Sha te pockets re nase tata cokon Tre aves ‘anes type met buttons ae pure grey Teo ls {ato pele rade otc geen abby Tre op (er eteaies biases Eee ovTHE 1944 PATTERN ARMY UNIFORM “The new pattern krifobayonet measures 295em. The metal the gps of Beko, The ey aconescrau.@ ‘typ rubber cables nde oa siuroy stl, the sat Ts Nighy finished and alts components ara riveted together. The stel ‘Seanbard's palnte black and the cut saps use thes Button, The loose fiting shirt e teaches down theta ‘There oe thin epauiete oops i, hess the shoulder seam forthe Shoulder tape. The privat’ {ag and a religious medal hang {rom beck sora Made of thin ove Springs at kcnoy ‘Seale renga ‘teamed meta ‘Thotips ofthe raps could be finished in black, brow fawn or isin athe.HE tailors commissioned with the various infantry companies obviously had plenty of crea- tive sense as shown by the numerous non-regulation garments they designed and manufactured for resp in the field. One of the tailor’s favourite materials was the camouflage cloth used for shelter halves. Our reconstruction depicts a soldier on duty near Aachen in spring 1944, Belonging to the 116th Pan- zer Division, the NCO seems to be very proud of his non-regulation uniform. 116th PZ. DIV. ‘Te warantotcer ‘wears 21985, pattern samoutage ona angular field ‘fey backing ‘The NCO has tea his ‘Theieignin's secures ‘nth twornooke (enather Shoulder abe ‘The man has donned a ‘htm painted buckle ‘one of ne pennants fea fo te 16th divisions! exp baaze = Alspayed shove: On sitter tide ofthe pennants tp sre inthe bottom fet i thepany tailor must inepired by te breasted tunie when ne designed ins canoutage Tacket Pictorial evidence shows tet such garments ere even vam inaction Tae tet lap af no double breasted garment factons ‘nth four dishes mot battons on the right ise Tae Tapels are more pointed and vider than usual. fixing parculry arouna he {iment was certainty meant to be worn over the doubt ‘oreasied clot ture. Th cutts have button straps. Th Snlined ocket has no pockets sds devoid of rank e.g ‘this wae net unueual when Uniforms laches ops ot The NCO seems o have acta turn of min ie snow wearing & TF wsitover nie mode ot fg comoutlage cath | ke sports his rank badge Se rcntns well ored garment ehouider abe edn pink nd adorn wit on fromade of lack syntnetie mater. Feld designed uniforms were isaved nan mtoresting ‘vatetyofeute and ‘syle “Tho bagay ary del eousera can be worn 1s. protection sult ‘ver tne coth nto ‘The flapess pocket on the night pas one patton Ail he buttons ‘re made of black synthetic materiaTANK BUSTER, “The dark bluish goon ‘shoulder bright sver bra Tr "white piping incest the infantry are secured by a loop the sleeve which buttons . near the collar The eagle he black, whi ‘embroisoredon a ‘Sauare piece ofthe same cot, Te Badge amarded forthe personal Gestruction ots tank caw onthe fettsiove neartne snowicer Tis badge shows the sinouete ofan trade of meta tine’ to Feetangtlrpeich of sliver thread piped n black The ‘cotton ti tunic has tve Sttons down the ron but ro linngvand ts coer ‘eccurtdby ahooke ‘hetour posted pockets hve pointed Kape: Mase of ean Dish geen ser thecoisrin piped with ght er “ie clr Backing. Acitrune sown the bask of te tune, The mata Blane "aro patted fo grey. Sn a paten of the Same cloth athe olla. They lack the tredtlonal By Jean de Lagarde mek and Didier Lodieu aah. N25 August 1944 at 9.30am, ry two weakened companies Shae", : from the Heer’s (Army) 346th Infantry Division were pt deployed in front of Epaignes, near Ceonetiias te ener ne while later, a recce unit from the ‘The assauit pack ‘andthe carat 49th West Riding Infantry Division Mhagecre ran into the German defence lines suspensed ton and was stopped dead in its tracks. treble eater sf change ie loop ram ie ettenest pocket button ster Bote an elite up, a ‘etal eompanents The aries ae sro panted grey. protected oy web ‘Thotgas mask | ‘niet. The continer nas clea tons een sprayed ssi oat ow freon on ar ‘theyre made of Stow background hokoned fae Thereversive setor “ihe seine cuerternas me same sled nae tneaium green ea on te ark brown spiter ower par ne aroutiage pattern and rng noth ase fone across urbiack fae ight ele grey painted nooks Background the aie Ente Uppers dork grey gre ‘ne)- The smal [sro modium greenNORMANDY, 1944 hard edges stands out on the ight fan beoxground. Smal green ‘vip complote the camourlage og. The smack fies th 9 hood but has no face vel te ‘usted with a sord stung through eoven button he "Thor ar two vertical sits By a lap on the chet. around te waist by 8 ‘ord wich be ‘The entronching too! carrer ie mad of strong ‘cardbord and bisck leather: The block vy" straps aro Black ‘ie andThis second lieutenant has managed to collect around him a few self-pro- pelled guns - all that's left of the retreating batteries decimated in the ter- rible rearguard actions. Allied fighters rule the Normandy skies and, to keep out of their deadly sights, the armoured vehicles hardly ever venture out of the protection of the hedgerows. From under- cover, the artillerymen will pounce on the soldiers of the 7th US Corps who have skirted Argentan to better harry the Ger- mans and prevent them from linking up with the 2nd SS Panzer Division at Saint Lambert. F ALAISE Pocket, 19-20 August 1944, ARTILLERY OFFICER, ly fined in fe rey, the NCO's helmet ngs nowt been reposted dork green {nd fited wth chicken mesh for ang. ‘camouflage. A regulation Froneh Army shet, area tothe righ {ive eynthoie buttons of whit or ochre ‘Synthetic material The two vertical sie a tower edge, enabe the solder troll up is, remade of scant cloth (he attpropeied artiry Serles colour adored ‘wins double raging of {ta aluminium meter, ‘Thetypieal NCOs barallelograr-shaped ‘Shoulder patcnes are ol dark bah they feature wo Sores in Magazine pouches Gna Pe hoster are tered fo Stap ofthe Sinoculars (ited wth 2 ‘The trousers are made of Inatching cloth They hav {0b pocket and thew sie hove stright edges ane ‘vith 2 meta Buck. Eight ‘shed metal buttons =the Some ag those tor the ty fare stoned on the outer ‘Side ofthe walt fo fasten Seven pals of eyelets each,FALAISE POCKET, 1944 By Jean de Lagarde ‘The atilery NCO has now donned his rere ‘Felemutze’Intredueed in 1834, tis cap ie known a6-alter Ar (older ype) Fited witha black iether Peak, this cap is softer ane igher a $ "he attener haa eon removed. TAS vs rneaagear i eu in fine Rela grey city ond ted with a derk bulsh tes” band \intreduced In June 1937). The crown an the two edges tthe cap band ae ped vee breasted Jacket Is idemtica' tothe ‘modal shown on ‘allowing dtteranooa: tne ‘garment has ‘sevon grey metal ight ap the colar patches ‘ae fot and |) sre secirea sth ‘an epaulete Teop ana button (Shaler Pattorn) near the ‘collar Final, ‘Assault Badge ae pinned tothe jacket. Fhe metal fide he ofier holds in Mis righthand ean cary rape and be veed a6 3 yotting board badge wae awarded for aking part in 26 or more Sisauits or spending 18 monte on active duty. The model torath of oak leaves, Secured tothe dak with tv rivet, {he santraldevies const ofan army eagle clutching 8 Srossed grenace. The badge In laure wrestn made of neke.cop ‘iver. Like the bottom device with the fi Stk grenade and eaglo et is mado off finished in rk aey.By Jean de Lagarde Nearly 1944, the Grofideutschland Panzer Division notched up yet another success when it captured the town of Wilkowkirshken in Latvia. General Schérner, commandin Army Group ‘North’, personal congratulated the victors, particularly the soldiers of the engineer battalion. fy GROBDEUTSCHLAND Teme NCO has donne els ary lot eap he tum-op of which i fastened ‘nt wo button rar pater) fished inl gry. The Imp (ray thvead ana ner sayy colar irk buisareen in black (the Service colour ight gry jersey shirt, the ‘tery cation: Clee fing, itisuntine and eovold of Inner pocket. bekle and eases the back ether Pooehoiter Al the ton including those of the shoulaertabeThencos tamoutage smock famatching eine’ cover are Ios made tem. Conatng oF ue Enmoctage ater green ana Frown braxen ines vers fel ge fasigreund), te Cove is secured tha raweting “round th i Tre tapered Aouoere ae tucked Ino back fathor kote ‘magazine pouches fr the submachine-gun, the back Teather folder andthe -08 folser are secured tothe belt he submachine gun ISclung ever the shoulder ‘and carieg on the NCO's back The sand painted 6x re ited witn a bisck Teather step. ‘The 1943 Pator tapered Trousers are cut nfl ‘rey cloth, The fy has bottom ofthe legs are ‘ited with sdusteble ‘stiups, The side vations The fb pocket en thet trots ted wath 8 smearing and seals wan baton fp. Sttahed along te upper edge a the alse, four bultoned tabs ean ‘Steratvely be ‘sed 08 bet eepers orto secure braces, pocket onthe fontnip e Seats covered mn 8 Targe cosh enforcement ‘rom the crotch ups 8 trap and meal Buckle Sach nip or ‘ightening. ‘ypeor mage ‘rsymtnetle ‘materi ‘Te raversiie whitecamourtage smack is eut in sturdy Cotton material Coose iting, fastens wth a whit cord Stung tough ve pats of eyelets (und the two edges of {he chest sitaverap). On the chest. two vorvea sits ‘lowing aczess othe uniform pockets are covered wih Stoned flaps, The smock fe fesenes witha grey drawaeing Sound the iat The ete have metal Buttons. The crmpts Feve large vents, Repestod every 4acm, the plinter ‘amouflage consiets of a mecium green and wood brown pattern painted on aight fd grey backarouNd For Improved camoufage elect random pattern of thin geen Stipes ie applied in paces.UMMER 1944. The armoured column grinds to ‘a stop by the edge of the forest lining a Normandy road. But the trees only afford sparse cover and the sun is already high «A few crewmen leap out of their PzKpfW IVs in shirtsleeve order although others are still wearing their two-piece denim suits over their black uniforms. Supported by a series of original photographs, these unusual clothing arrangements are the subject of this study. 78 PANZER CORPORAL, ‘n kooping with his rank - =the man ie ments over he black oor Shin ana regulation Chitorm, The petro loony shows the to ‘The seven button ror ‘extend up tothe neck, By Jean de Lagarde The corporal snow cad Inturdy ight eee green ‘enim. The short, double provided at wait iovel Fhe garment is untnes Sraustrngs on the smallNORMANDY, 1944 ‘Teorey jersey tis done up wifour ettdbour buon doh ‘he hon The ehest pocket Pape nave svagnt ages ane te cue sige. Tre natonal emer is wovet in wit tend ona ack eckground: Sched ona Back em, the corporal Va Sopesr one ef sleeve he Tank Stl Boage' secured to the lett pocket nit vo tread loop Tvs big was swarsed fortaing part intves ormoured salon vee Stern days “The buckle of me black eather bats holster caries 9 P08 andi. lth its collar done up the double-breasted black tunic Seas inthe ome way an affords the same protection 25 the denim garment worn on top of ‘The wousers ae wide enough tobe wor over she blak regulation ones foray other The rent secures wth a se ermedn sth bok "ted wih pe pronged buckle. tab an foto wont helps to keep the belt place Te ‘vousers have foe pockets sealing with 8 tneepolnted buon flap {the treet microphone is ‘cried nine night pocket Relead is sipped ‘tier the eather be iti gtch pocket on the eh thigh with the ne butt and op arrangement a thet ohers ‘wo hip pockets wth he ‘Same Naps and button ‘srangements asthe above. two side its not vibe itae| providing sooess to "Tousere worn under he denim gxmort ‘The loge ae tapered sr aves double buttoned trousers are wom mth tne ‘ottom ofthe legs eked insicethe bot 79352nd Infantry Division, were locked in fierce combat the Gls of the 2d US Infantry Division. Firmly entrenched, the Germans were holding the Bérigny-Saint-Georges- d’Elle sector to the south-west of the Cerisy forest. Mal terrain which lent itself remarkably well to defensive warfare, the Eastern Front veterans checked every move the Americans made to break thi ines and advance towards N9Q June 1944, the grenadiers of the 916th Infantry Regiment, SQUAD LEADER, ‘Combined ona common trapezoidal ‘Felomatee- The NCOs" allver braiding itched around he edge tte i Shouller tbe are pied in wri intnty servic slo, The ane indeatod bys stip ot fn. sar Woven'in grey th pocket The tunie sworn ‘ver a grey lersey ahi (packetess ‘model Hh ceraboara buttons). For easier each, the ‘The qua loader roars tho reed ‘ren ferringbone ‘weave uno ‘The elth ana herringbone have tne same ‘out and four cnet. The tunis FEdone up with ix sgrany metal Buttons down the front the pockste he. m ing too. The Fegulaton et pocket fame i secur ‘smal strap othe shoulder mb button Stung around the NCOs mock wits Diack lester ‘rap. "oes ce ttee ch rubber ions coverNORMANDY; JUNE 1944 Late on a hot tune afternoon: despite the heat, Nco hee donned his By Jean de Lagarde 1g fotage tig. ne eehen mesh is goer parofra hme wih argh wre ‘shel ana nookeato ie let ane nght a aftne The poncho hes sceiral et for he Read their eto leather colour82 ARLY on 6 June 1944, the powerful 21st Panzer Division rumbled out of its barracks near Caen to muster in the Chicheboville forest and around Virlont to confront the British 3rd Infantry Division. For several weeks, the German defenders stubbornly denied British forces access to the martyred city of Caen. Now serving with the 2nd Group, 155th Armoured Artillery Regiment, the 21st Panzer Division, the man in this study is an Africa Campaign veteran who belongs to the crew of a Hotchkiss half-track armed with a 105mm gun. 21st PZ. DIV. GUNNER, The corpora’ helmet it widely issued to sth armoures Artiery Gots. Thejersey shits Fegiment. The garments done up with ‘rey and the le black Fk insignia worn St arevscreen sateen, The ackel i the the gunner fastened with a drewstting at wast with etinetionn follup the sleeves more ees, 2 at wih ‘anal cefonce battery, ‘vo buttons runs cown from tie elbon | the:Atrea tite i attched on Piped inres the service colour ot German the ttion of he et soe ‘9590 ofthe curt Tse ‘rica Campaign ‘Seams anda buon near he veteran and afew olan Ao piped in seat, note ‘he blulahegreen colar survivors patches are made of cloth The dune ng have the standard ‘etes braiding of re forces Vow oy thresd one he Underlay, the mpecal ‘orders 3 ‘eagle stoned to the ‘Gone! fight chest pocket Foust beween the tt and ‘ong Shan buttons Ea ‘The 2nd Class ron inthe Sipped and stitched Panzer {hreugh the seventh Ohsion Buttonhole The ach bive ribbon bar ae domed with the rt imperial eagle rales sae awarded for iny Tour years ‘ae service Hs ranks ‘howe byw stipes ‘el ae boing Insttated on 18 January 1943 for Hoer personne the’ Arka Cul tile ean be regarded a6 ‘medal ints own right The Cnteria for award wer: ‘A canvas magazine four months’ dues for the pouch ang 82.08 soda deployed during the hoster are fantenesto Hay 1983 Tonal campetan ‘he back leather et ‘sx months” duties Noh ‘ited with fee grey ‘ea ‘reel buckle. *Contictng an ness or Sstering swound reauting in manent incapacity to serve i Except the clot the Bistheates field grey colour snd "Bearded automatically tothe ‘ths staigh ogee ‘ecient of any bravery meds oa he ‘he cl ef cotton band resrethe S3rim wide with AFRIKA KORPS 020 ofthe 5 tetorng, ankee Dy 8 {olders om the right elm tee'on ether side and woven nd of silver embroidery The bia esther ‘Several variants were obuerved boots secure th {our pars of eyelets and tree pais o hooksNORMANDY, JUNE 1944 The corporal has donned his fats rey forage cap. The Imperal eagies woven In ‘rey teed ona att green Backing The national Cackade is embroiered in back white and rea Used bythe 2ist Division's artilerymen, the portable rangefinder helps aecuretaiy ‘elermine he distance ofa target. The instrament ie painted ight ochre, The leather tings ae brown, the cupport plats is Mshed in dark groon ant carying "drape made thik green canvas mimesis ftom oma ight The Heeres Flakabzelchen’ (Anti-Airraft War Badge) was iswovenIngtaythrend one uioh: {PENG the trl to detect an aemy arr found lostor . Fon essere any single act of bravery or merit which occureé inthe Feorcmene swarced his 58a Designed by Winelm Eenest Peoknaus of Born a tnely faatin ine, the badge consists ofan upward poling gu ltéed wih oak leaves and eapped wilh an al gle utching a swasti, revousers are mace of stay ey tapered trouser lags tighten wth two “apes and 3 button84 URING the night of 5/6 June 1944, Allied Bombers dropped more than 600 tons of bombs to silence the Kriegsmarine artillerymen manning the Marcouf battery on the eastern coast of the Cotentin peninsula. However, the raid was unsuccessful as it could not prevent Battery Commander Oberleutnant (lieutenant) Walter Ohmsen’s gunners from hitting and sinking several American ships. The officer and most of his men had been wounded by the time they were ordered to evacuate the position on 11 June. Ohmsen kept the Americans at bay by having the German battery of Azeville shell his ‘own gun emplacements and, for his gallantry, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. KRIEGSMARINE Mery Tre Krlagsma War Badge Krlogabzeichon orc Warine rtilorie was netted [Admiral aeser on 22 June 19a) Yo fevtordnaividuais and gun erews who Periormed with alstinton unger fre ight points wore needed to foblainthe award, The eer were shooting down an enemy aircraft “unaded fo points. Shecting down an enemy aircraft aided ‘by another even fone point. Staind looters, searehilght operators and gle fr tions, The worded te Iie ogmain rlenma's Felt ie imperial eage ona ‘Black shila finished inte ‘olden yell service colour ‘othe Kriagemarine, The cennstran ta mace of brown Tester Dadge furthermore, Bersonne rom associate services for Sloungulsned conduct under tre Cast fine ano, he Badge Consists ofan oval oak lot wreath {Spped by a alt dlplayed bmperal fagte clutching a swastika, and ‘The tne la made ffl grey nas fe buttona vn ‘he front only four are showing here. te top one is undone) Collar ook and four box plested Dockets wih three pointed Naps The cuts have no sits. On the smal ofthe back, three belt hap pote romby Rent win {rteryman spots Sudeterland medal ‘The sides Kregsmarine ater rane The matching Towers eretuceed ackboots The weapon is The shoulder tabs ofthe ak berte remade of blush-green Weal cloth whieh have Pointed ends anno woven in right yeliow head. The shodider tabs frofastones witha trussing string on the frmpole sean and wth 3 Button near the cot. The Calla patzhes are woven. Ingrey thread one oun the mise. The ‘host eagle woven in {golden yellow thread on 36ren backing. The fala grey metal buttons fre adornedARTILLERYMAN, 1944 Combining esrpieces and a microphone, ‘he atleryman’s heedset was usec in very postions and asta bunkers Watachaesroune the he and eather swaps. Both the Ieroprone, secures to the right Earpiece, andthe case-on the chest Se patted lack By Jean de Lagarde 12 of tne two types of trad Bolt buckles “The reed green heringbone weave tune was manutaetored Inbaris es shown by the tailors white abel anenea in Buttons adorned with ne Kilegsmerine neh “Th four box plata ockote have te painted pe, “an Inner pocket it provided inte rant "ap. A detach ‘of buttonestened ‘round he ‘opening. The Idntieal to those ‘wor on tye cloth ‘iniorm: tho bet uke finished inate tls gay vith buttons ‘Alettor and an ‘etched on the back ‘ofthe smmuniton pouches, The lanufocturer's ep stamped ini gr Fastenes wit four ‘butons the rectang ‘rant lap of he matching Wouse could be lowered "Merete side pocket ‘onthe right ang ‘double pocket "eft, The two belt wo buttons ‘Devoid of bot tak "sighty "apered ond gathered with ‘are the cishod metal type, ‘Along with an imp Is stomped on te leather ap securing the fle sroy bolt bucke,OUNDED several times while leading hi battalion in he field, this major has now been appointed to the Fihrer’s HQ at Rastenburg in eastern Prussia. On 9 April 1944, during a mission at Posen, the officer decided to relax by going to a show. OFFICER ON DUTY AT the crovn of 9p) has he ‘Settelorm’ (saga shaped) raised By Jean de Lagarde Teta down theron. he sante 3 Pockets have broad ‘The cutie sav above the {urn up on tho ef sleeve, Danging rom two hangers secured to mer snapneoxe, ‘hs ceremonial cagger ls {ieg almost Norton ‘degger was crates by Elcknorn of Solingen Shown by the trasemar Pees ticket has been ds super fn oval mecaifon gedea hhumber "0 engrav the obverse a ‘hat the nega in had been wounded ives (oor Inpermanent sent‘Schirmrtza' and gloves before taking his seat Te out (or ser ae an option Ts piped in the colour a service pround the ulch-grgon collar aroun the uppor ote cru up ana in a nd right (visible here) edges of fhe tune taps from the lower edge ofthe skit up tthe “op button. The me has ive metal buttons down the font. The four pockets bo pleatod on ‘he chest and el polnted aps. Sitched nea the ‘shoulder seam an buttoned near abort made of embonsed ms ‘and inished in siver CCutin the same serge as te ight ‘eld grey tums, he ousers sre ‘roy and piped in wate aiong the ‘ute eg seam Inveducea in ‘The cola is secured with wo metal Hooks. The while eluotd osdam Pator short Sack esther Insttuted in danvary 1943, he cut tite was issued to appointed to the Furor headquarters, Consisting of Cotton (r cloth) sr, the cut tes piped in slum In gothic long hand, Lettering is of the samo material insertion ‘Fuiwermauprquarte SF eaTHE 17TH LUFTWAFFE fd the not hooks ‘Shou an this tet vow ofthe Stowe nul combat order nis ariiarman beiongs othe ‘Group, 20m Fak By Jean de Lagarde ORMANDY Front, 17 August 1944: commanded by General HK. Hocker, the 17th Luftwaffe Field Divisio: taking up positions to the south of the Eure river. Its n is to hold back the XIXth US Corps until the bulk © of the retreating German forces have crossed the Seine. Protected bya ty front, the five front ultens othe collar patches indies he fank ot eorporl Tho chest, Brown lear bots cot sot Sra Srey. The Moo’ Fak {signi is worn on the otFIELD DIVISION, NORMANDY, 1944 = oHE radio operator's voice sounded almost surreal «as the message transmitted by one of the group's advanced elements reached the H@ of Pz. Aufil. Abt. 26: ‘They are now in the valley, with armour, trucks and artillery. Their vanguard is now entering the gutted village. They will reach the bridge in a fow minutes. They are heading right in your direction!” From atop their rocky observation post, the men of the recce group were closely monitoring the advance of the enemy through their binoculars. This was early ‘May 1944 on the Italian front somewhere between ler, Their mission over, the men of the recce detachment briskly pulled out as the arfille- Art, Rgt. 93 of 26th Panzer Division were 1g their guns at the valley. {he standard camoutlage with a green ana brewn patter printed ove ligt green Backing The patches have sharp edges an for roved camoutlage eect, © fom pattrn of tin greeh stripes has Seon ada. Strapped aroun the helmet, te goggles Borrowed from ane ule re gathered wth pointed strips fastening Iwithaished buttons The tower partef the tunic ls pocket inthe et tte tml, ‘Both a denim shir ne breasted cloth jacket of armoured crewe are Storm undr th leather belt hich ie tite with oto leather boots nave seven pairs of ‘yelets ach, “The shirts mage of Tine tan coton Ine tropleal wear, the pullover Shiis done up wlth four ‘grey-green cardboard Suttons sown pockets ave wth strap fied wns Cardboard button The Shoulder tabs have 3 pink interoven U-shaped braid ‘round the edge. The Sypher and the hgure 2" inate thatthe ‘Seconcteuenant is ‘Autnarungesttalung 23 {armoured recce company) ‘ear the collar. Tao 1st Chass Iron Grose lepine forthe lot chest pocketITALY, 1944 By Jean de Lagarde nants Feldmites ‘loth, The urna up with we butions (smaller ertaps the right where “tens vite double ow of five Wipe ang und the ‘molt. The cut ‘its secure with ‘sro buttons each “The waist 7 thread ona pale ‘groennacting are piped in pin and adorned with ‘the embossed met death's same covour es the shirt Toe slanted sie pockets havo ne ‘ro ty and belt cished buttons our are mage Pockets capped with 8 ‘meta ing "There ea peckat on sheright hip. The tipollon socks or roled over he boot, ‘The trousers are made of reed green herringbone weave the patch onthe let thigh fhe original colour ofthe lath. The FRommed:in bolts made of grey cloth and secures wih th Dronged buckle. The flaps a he side pockot uso tho same ished Buttons seth ly (our). Aeton each hip allows access {othe cloth trousers undermestn: Theresa pocket on the night hip. The tapered trouser tege are gatherec witha strap ted ‘ith two metal Buttons eachvolunteer with the SS ‘Nordwest’ Regiment at the time when Germany turned against Russia in 1941, this young veteran has served as an NCO with the $5 ‘Flandern’ Legion (Flemish Legion) on the Eastern Front. In this study, he has just graduated as a ‘Standartenoberjunker (cadet officer] from the Waffen-SS Academy of Télz before commissioning with the Flemish 6th ‘Langemarck’ Assault Brigade in February 1944, “LANGEMARCK’ Made of printed materia the reversible halmet cover fa worn bere wth brown The camouflage ontlets o rusty rod brown Background ntorepereed witha dark Brown and brown pattern matching the olcurs of autumn, The heet sept in place with tee burnished metal “ptingonded, double-sided clips (one ‘This combat uniform was doa! Ter fghing in wooded areas Shring the enter morte. n ‘2ddhion tote cemoutege properties, he wel padded ata provided superaive ESmion in exreme weather breasted peri done Up buen rangement onthe ight fastens wih ahesmecin Sharply defined, wide Spaced peter consist‘! thet button straps. Te ews have cloth Fin Backgrouna. The Unlined hood s made ofthe same ut ts comeutioge colours ore against ‘Buttons are mace of Two slick grenades ‘anda set of ‘lack father bok fitted with lege ‘double pronges veka, Phe 08 braid and carrying the - cetera oe opine Baten was lesued to ‘th ps. Kept up es up othe ra “oth races they ‘of Oberst eve two Nap te Button pockets, rat-coloneh, cone fob pocket ana ‘Thee patente ‘one hip pocket. Senior Ws rank iter made ot insignia wnish consats cardboard or meal ‘fro meta stare and ‘dished type) The Stumm beat vth a Wrote acute with iimotack stip down i ‘Satop and emilee ‘| ronged beckle “Suptecnetrer's 4 . Srangement on (Gener warrant orice) swe beckons ‘Shoutaor tops ave mace thio cloth piped in ; state the service ea olor of nant) ate securing Shoe the same srs worth top wi ‘ine colar patches. : Suckies and ‘este helmet Shape panied fad grey: ne ‘The boots ae made of sturdy ‘orown eatherCADET OFFICER ‘The tack of ate shows that the NCO is of duty. Wearing » ight ‘are ersey sh, the cadet Nae done his Felamutze alter Art (cary type cap) sft ght hneedgear devoid of corde and stttoner The peeks mace of soft Black eather An embossed metal death's head is pinned athe front on he sack velvet cap band piped In white near tie edges. Mad of Wild grey Deskin oth the ron Isao pipedin white. The death's Thad and tempera eagle are secured witn nooks, These wo insignia wore Issued all Watten SS The oer ankle ey tne done up ion ve buttons sown Setont and acoler ook. The pocket, fave treepomted Naps an the seeve avec it sealing Avert there are two overeoun eyelets {Dsecare the metal oulder tabs sre ‘toned oto the toe seam and tenes near re col itialy formations. inthe nat fae. ne tens have The cut tite is teoone stitches 18.Sem shiny th above the bottom terse ‘edge ofthe ot wear eave: The sleeve eagles embroores in fey thread ona ‘lack baking. Secure to the le ‘de ofthe chost with pin boven Includes tne 2nd Claes ron cross, the'ond Cass ier Mort Cross with ‘Stoo and the dal forthe seats Winter Campaign'in ‘useias The nto theft Pocket. Worn over thee hip the B ‘Dahoisteris fastened tothe bik eather bet ited it pronged buckle The oficers’ marching boots ‘re made of sof back esther. Representing a standing ion ona yetow backing, tho Flemish Legion insignia woven in eoton thresd a Sched on the botiom ofthe let sive. The Ineerpion on the other ranks’ cut te is woven inversions bick bckground: Th piping fs mace of aluminium tread eee ee ee Langemarck rere eee Ter rarer senae 93eae, Sere By Jean de LAGARDE ARLY 1944: after a gruelling two- week retreat, the Illrd German Corps units led by their commander ‘Ober- gruppentiihrer’ (lieutenant-general) Felix Steiner reached the city of Narva in Estonia. Although severely pressed, the Germans tumed this sector into a bulwark to stem the Soviet steamroller. The city and the defensive positions were soon heavily shelled by the Russians who launched numerous assaults at the stronghold. ‘Among the defenders were the tank crews of $S-Panzer, Abt. 11 Hermann von Salza’ (‘Nordland’ Panzer Division) who particu- larly distinguished themselves by repelling @ powerful Russian thrust against the sou- thern sector of the city on 11 February. In this action, the tank crews fought on as infantrymen after losing all their tanks. In early March, one of the battalion’s Panther companies confronted and defeated a lar e number of T-34s in a series of epi uels. ‘ThistD tag has boon ues bya warrant offer a he S- Panerai 1 Hermann von Sac le clang sages of e e “thin cord the alumina tg ‘aos the flowing ingerpions <'S8-P2 OT 1 indlesting tat ‘hema blonge othe “at Company, 11h ‘rmoures Rogimint of the Watton SS. The igure 857 tathe man's personal sdministrative number uso een shortage of manpower the regent could never be expanded ite the twosbattlon formation was nally meant be. neta he unit remained the Hermann von Seis kemourea ation, od by StamBenntuneer (aio ‘Abert Kauech whe was awarded the rught's Grose on 28 c “VON SALZA’ NCO, (warrant ofan) 1201 cath forage ap letuod to Watfon 88 oer ranks ane NGOs. The heacgear was ayed black 28 bots the regulon elathing issued to. fimoured ree personne Movin lull grey tread, the death sho Stitched ‘othe front ofthe tureop hos alla fakenon ayeiowlsh ue win age. Tre a > trmup could be loneredto protect tne (aE hock the temples andthe top ofthe, {orenens. Woven in dul gry tread on aback backing, the Watfen SS fegutaton mpecal ease fs ermal than that worm on te left sleeve, The capi lined with ack cloth, {grey-green cotton a {hei sack ike the founded lapels. The Ierap ofthe doublesreasted veges ‘namie backing, “he cut garment esaned to the right ide with Synthetic mater above tne lower eage the Second Gross and the 19st «2 Aussion Cemoaan setlpped tena down tne tune tron The Ist Class and the Tank Bat Badge srepines chest fhe back Steen tring inte let ror WO's snout mace of black loth, piped Inponeche soe dour of ‘Sdorned th a right iver Brad around the edge, The iver a nate igure 31 malier Eins ms ‘Shoulder strap are secured wath epaultte loops ane Daralltogram-snape Enoulder pateher are ‘eapectively adorned with ‘the twa $ runes woven in iver thread and te WO (rey meta stars (smaller hotatr (not ibe lett hp. The black leather belt's ited issued to Wate $3 ‘other ranks and NCOs Manutactured by BeVo ot Wuppertal Barmen, the 1989 Black and grey ol ae wor by all armoured Bataion personnel. The (0211-39) a Grand Master of {he Teutonic orcer who abtanes rom “The raguaton gloves sre knit n grey 90 {he endorsement of the Kerigntsfoture sonquests The bisck eathor ankle boots haves tip fand ae ted with clonted and studded ‘Soles They are done ip wath hooks ond eveetsNARVA, 1944 ‘The regulation ices" Pater 1943 elem ta made of tick and ined with grey sateen, The Te kept up with two black pales buttons (smaller pater), Woven in dull grey read on black backing the Wallon $5 rogulation negra, doath'shexg is etched tote ront ‘ofthe cap. Mado ofthe same ‘mate tne Imperial eegle ‘Sapears en the le ide green cart worn tor et protection ner he The three-quarter length coat is mado of shoepakin, The ‘wide colar can be Kept up ‘uth stouton strap. “tne garment hae ‘yeod nod with ‘cats dene up wt ees smal ‘wooden peg "iting toops: The slanted side pockets seal ‘srrangement The trousers are cutin sof, sturdy, black cot The syateral ser than that ofthe tunie even trough both garment wero eeuoe tore same man. The ‘waist vith bet spe ‘through seven tbs ‘Ter sa pookst on the right or they ‘sone up with four butions The walsts done up with "wo buttons atthe from and adjuste with a buckle and strap arrangement on ‘ech hip. The sie pockets have vert] peng and seal with ‘wosbatton flaps. The ght hip pocket nasa tree pointe bution tap. The buttons sre made of se ‘om tne crotch up. The lower par ofthe taperad Tags aro lined with wie ‘lth and gathered ah Grawsttings. The upper part ofthe woubere ane tne fy arene th we totton Tho same mara is sed for he pocket, ‘he thle lack fol boots ove black oater lors woes (lated and ‘Two types of lath ar used forthe trousers worn by the eiot onthe far lat thick grey-green clth and wit trator. The garment Ie kept up with braces an so ‘ths double erewtring on the smal ofthe Back. The fly has fourbiack synthetic buttons. The sie poeta ae Bion: Te eps re gainers wth rematings ara‘BRANDENBURG’ Spring-summer 1944 In Northern Daimat ‘worn by this ofcer is eutn ‘Te tunic is made of thick olive green cit ot Russian on By Jean de LAGARDE band Contred FIER being involved in a susie ruthless struggle against “eise-27088 the Dalmatian partisans jimustbutonsar aatring throughout spring 1944, ei the men of the ‘Brandenburg’ uftaraes Division relinquished the surprise cy raids and anti-guerilla sweeps to ee take part in Operation ‘Réssel- sprung’. Refined by the 2nd Armoured Army head-quarters, the aim of this mission was to capture the city of Dvar in Fegoslavia where Marshall Tito had set up his command post. The men of the Ist Regiment were set at the spearhead of this action and, although they seized the city, the Germans failed to capture the guerilla leader. In the process they incurred severe losses as the partisan forces in the area numbered no fewer than six ions. Brandenburg bs 3 96 ‘army uniforms) The ‘Brandenburg cut thle (Out in knaklcoton, leatxer nding boot,DIVISION OFFICER, 1944 OPERATION ‘ROSSEL SPRUNG’ The 1942 Patorn helmet is rishes Init grey, fthae no insignia The tunics eu in standard ‘splinter camoutage loth (medium geen and ood brown bbackaFeund, complementeg hore ‘wth Founcee brown blothes fr Impreved semoutiage effet) The turiohas four butane down the front The box peated pocketo have three pointe button ape, The colar cu in ‘dork Bulehgreen cloth, The heat sagies woven in ‘aluminium these on 2 tangular buistgreen The oficer has now black backing. ‘The submachine gun pouches ar fastenea ts a {he insignia were embroidered (8, D anc F) or woven (© ana he breeches are made E} Some models had a back cit revorcement. The set ‘offine grey cloth. Shown here isnot comorenensiv 7By Jean de Lagarde COMMANDED by Brigadefihrer (lieutenant-general) Carl Reichsrichter von Oberkamp, the ‘Prinz Eugen’ Division was involved in a massive sweep against Marshall Tito’s 16th, 17th and 36th Proletarian Brigades from 26 April to 5 May 1945. The action took place in the Dinaric Alps, to the north-east of Sarajevo. The soldier depicted in this study belongs to the 8th Company, N°13. Regiment. 7TH SS DIVISION “The ‘elamitzois ou in old gry cloth. The Imperial eagle appear on te rent. An ecebwelss ie Stitched fone ft side Worn over a ary jersey shit, the tunis mado ‘of field grey cloth and seals with five buttons: —o Sountetont Thesnest pach pockeana, : {he'hin "ells pockets nave tres poted ~ ape: the suf sits reasoned wth tro - rey yneto buttons each Te belt etd pace by meta nooks peat tat evel om reson elt tthe ont and Eeeeotine fate te star Felines with grey sa some material used fr the field dressing pocket in the ight rom The shoulder tabs are with tuasing sings and Butons taking pat in three Seage s pinned to ‘hoof eheet pocket eae Made of back eloth, the Shoulder tabs aro Fiped in green {price colour af Watton SSmountain September 1989), ‘The cap edelneiss Isrepeated onthe Introduced in Septembor 1043, thie insigria is fembrogeres in wr-greythroad ‘hanced wth gold Sand tomen yellow read ona black hig ao ‘iver grey thread on ‘black background, fhe 7ih $8 Drision 5 olor pateh insignia ‘godin Scanainaviay| rmythoiogy also Syrmvotses Midgar, Ate region enerelos bythe sea on whien mmentive. The other {eb ves lettin plain black cloth.MOUNTAIN RIFLEMAN combat order rgd ot the tack, bayonet in tS Esch esther og, ‘tie the beasbag “nd the water bots “The man woars a camoufiage fold cap. His camourlage material wich features = sharply defined ight, medium and dark ‘green pattem ona bage background ‘The Tarnacke’(camoutage smock) is worn over the tune. Fitted with elacteates ‘Bande, he cute and the shit re ueked Up tor eomtor, “The stondardiasue vweaponis a K-30 uneain Fits Division Eugene ot Savoie-Carignan (665-1738) 3 Austian generat wino expelled the Turks from Hungary ond captured Belgrade made of finely woven block clots adorned with 9¢grey lettering and sluminium tare pin ‘Thro ts stitched to the Tet sleeve 1450m above the eige of ho cut. Tee tapeea sade of eld rey cloth. The Teg are gathered in canvas aniets “ted vith 0 Teather buskle straps each The mountain boote are made of back esther ‘secure wth seven pare ot ees REI leaval ‘Te camoutlage pattern of the Tanjacke’ consists of blued ‘age pattern of green ochre and brown bloshes interwoven tna pale glaen backing. “The gam ted ih an olasticted bane around the coe (rnssing here). The chest sit secures wi a lace etna {nvaugn to oversswn eyelets: Giving the wearer access tothe {nie orn andernenth, two vertca site sre proved on the Chest; eoch i oimoread with clot strip ad ites with & Suton ae sit ote Tarmace is gue yah sme material 35 the smock but the camouflage colours are tore subdued, The elasticated sleeve bande fogetnor withthe added cule which are eu feature the same camouloge pattern asthe helmet. Thecus have hand-atiched hema: fhe- autumn side othe reversible camouflage smack shows He ochre an brown pattern trough {he choet sit opening. Two overettched elotyloope are provided on the back and on the chest: This model ofthe FTatmlacke’ Is known ae eary ype1042. Thi aecond- liectonant ie ‘commissioned withthe ‘Sern Assault Gun ‘Group ae shown bythe ct meta Fis shout Decking seule ia and he ‘essai gun erews on ‘20 ay 190 double Ssthewer progresses By Jean de Lagarde N 1935, the then Colonel von Manstein advocated that an assault gun be designed to Provide close support to infantry assaults. ‘A subdivision ofthe artilry as indicated by the service colour, the ‘Sturmgeschitze’ were mostly engaged against enemy armour. When the war ended, no fewer tan 148 assault gun crewmen had been awarded tne Knights Cross, 14 of them with (Oak Leaves, Gray skin roves The trousers issued to assault gun cows were fastened around the west wats @ hemmed: belt ited wih teee-prongod ‘eel belie The poskate have button {fap (except the fab pocket whieh fit feta mot ring). The Sivbustons of the 1944 Panern trousers ae trace of reinforce Cardboard Secuting ‘nth crawstngs, te Bottm af the ouser 100OFFICER, 1944 4089 Patton Feismatze, hee with the otenrs sin peg tabs and the collet ibetches. The artitryman has warded fot decorations: the and the fet Claes rot Grose ic pinnod to the chest above the General Assaut Badge. The ‘Kuban shield commemorating The 1989 siege is worn onthe eft sieeve. Ts peture ceerly shows ow the ou ofthe Jacket and ts uted tothe crow operatiog Msice 2 cramped dentnes of soured vehicles The jacket syne materah-The sevanth one's sevn a 9 "The label stiched to ine grey soeen ining indent the garment vas made in 1943 bya manufacturer The two liner pocket ar also mode of ‘green seen, The cuffacan bo gathered with 2 button “andthe colar sopares with a metal hook he back be nth lage, Throat microphone end headset, P-38 handgun in its "ua patter nolatr and ordnance map: euch were the indlapeneabie tole ofthe often the Yl “againerogulatone, the offers 1933 Pater forage cap nas retained the reaping which Was ‘fetal dropped on 8 September TOs2 Marching boots ae stil atnough they wore to evap ‘it aces santany "eet102 N 1944, on the Italian Front, the Allies stepped up their offensive and rapid- iy skirted the German lines held by the 14th Panzer Corps to the sou and the 51st Mountain Corps farther north. The two ‘Funker’ (radio operators) depicted in this study are seen some: ‘where between Arce and Ceprane. They belong te a small intelligence group fransmiting data to the 5¥st Mountain Corps from their hideout set up on a roc: key suterop, Soon, the German arrillery will open fire on the Allies, smashing bridges and pounding assembly areas before o postible counter-attack. This metal telephone wire in green andnos soured bythe man on Ts fit wht s brew leather canying sap, RADIO OPERATOR bossed metal edelwelss Is Ded tothe eft sie of he cap. ‘green cardboard Buttons, The box plesied pockels| fave tree: pelnted fps. ‘eth meta finned in Tie Bote tune the Sha fasten ‘th meta Togps the tong steves fre gathered wth ‘Souble butoning ‘signals red a russ fing onthe armhole seam ‘Secured o ne welt tne second model Ps holsters mae a ‘back leather Te "are white nos fight fre mage of mat inshed materiITALY, 1944 ‘en cartes on theradio operators ° which works ‘he braking ‘ne wire Spo is clean visible By Jean de Lagarde and Claude Peltret The operator carries the heavy telephone e chet: Manactured in 1359 by Bxpressmerte AG, th eposl ed with a thick carrying tap asjusting around the amie’ waist. For improved eomfor, the poo's upper and lower cross frames are respectively padded wth» ck, leathorrintoreed canvas fap ane 0 Drown eather poush elds various iy unvoll he ine by ‘Simpy operating the Randle. The felephone ine is sbout 300m long ‘The shorts are mad o ght ree green denim, The hy nas ‘hc buttons of yllonish synthetic mate The Wels? {adjust with strap and pronged buckle arengerment. Slipped through five tabs wo.on the front and tives on the bach) the blak esther {finished iets grey. The sl Buttons. Th to waten hae 9 hain. The pocket on the ight me button the lining. pockets and eretenremoreerent are made of white cotton, 1037 RADIO OPERATOR ITALY, 1944 Te second operator woars 2 1943 Petter eld ap, cut n fine and sturdy otto vith iteheg-on turn up. Like [slned with groan cloth and felntorced with» eather band, ‘Both routers and-ep are regulation ‘Seve lems whereas the smock has ‘been made in camoutage cloth by thefront the patch pockets have threnpointed haps the cuts ‘rine otmer buttons are ‘of greon syle ‘The trousers are cut Inthe seme cloth ‘asthe cep. The. froueere nave 18 vast forthe fj Braces, veto coupthe ty tenons | Felternsprecher 8 8 “The sets ted wt itg headset ara tost_ merophone ' pockets and ‘stn fhe tot seanemiing and recenig. fobuttons The ‘Te P08 ois s ‘double naltbelt on the resto the ick Small ofthe back alusts Sth blac paintes ‘metal buoxe. The lning iSmae of green sateen fanatne pockets oe eut ‘ten tne bor lid close tha roosver is hela dou nth a Inwhite corto. | ml see! spring lp. with Hla ae buckle, The mountain aot remade of redelsh-oroun leather over wich sung rey carvan ant"GROADEUTSCHLAND’ ‘The senior NCOs Sehiemmitze’ i the close trace of regulation tla-grey cath . 1 Close Combat ‘The erown an! the rk sh ‘Clasp in Gold {teen cap band are piped in (Natametepange) is Ste, the service esiour ofthe ‘2ured above the ot Panzer Korps Fuser chest pocket to whlch the Rogiment of Groddeutsc Tollowing mecale are Panzor Corp. The binge pinnes the tet Clase ron mage of vuleenaed fe, Grose the Inantry Assault ( ‘Bsdige sind te Svar ound « ~ ‘Baage (warded for trae sluminium thread on 3 dark Tour wounds biulsh-green Backing, The ‘The 2na Class ion Cros etter cords nor Abben sippes and stehed trough tne ‘second buttons down the front “he tnie is cut inthe same thick ‘ey cloth asthe cap. ‘Trebor plestes pockets have thre: pointed baton {ope The sleoves have twned beck ute. Sttehed on the armtole ‘Shaped ‘lumina braid. The oles rank Badge, a tae made of ‘mboseod Sic han cra pinned iwube ee Mchaisine N11 December 1944, Helmut H, Perlsioga~. was awarded the Gold Class steuiseroe Close Combat Clasp, the highest Scusis"""" decoration which could be sominium ori bestowed on a German infantryman. It tnnsunor ane Shanty was awarded for fighting for 50 days Shining inhand-to hand engagements where Snihucest te individual weapons and cold steel ‘omni often made the decision. Now aged _—_suminum tread M4, the second-lieutenant is commissio- green underiay. ned with the H@ Company of the fae te deutschland’ Panzer Corps crt ’ Regiment (infantry). Exceptio- fight sieeve one nally, H, has been granted a 21 days’ —camimatre shove, furlough and, after being promoted to ihecfiun a higher rank, is about to rejoin his as unit based in Prussia near Willenberg. ftp. The tcp and the uni but Took slighty greener, “Tobia eather ing boca re ‘inah LGronseutschiand cut tl, fourth typ, ntroduced in October Tosa, The siver grey tread etiring n got ong ‘ands embroidered on aoa sateen cloth tp piped in. Shiver ey near he edges 108INFANTRY OFFICER, 1944 By Jean de Lagarde The els the same regulation Sworn by ne ofieeee aks indented by sng around the =. Turn, the importa sage andthe =— = Meockade, The officer has donned his rubbersed 5 mater, ‘orginal gold tnsh. The etl buttons are fished in ed grey Designed by Wihelm E-nest Peekhaus of Belin, the Gold taker a the widest pelt ‘The gold clasp was usualy beter crated tran the Wo lowerBy Jean de Lagarde and Pierre-Ange Caravano OSITIONED with his men in the JGustav Line sector in late Janua- ry 1944, this 5th Mountai Engineer Division officer will hardly ever have the opportunity to wear his service dress and so proudly to display the ‘Kreta’ cuff title ie was awarded for his part in the invasion of Crete. He was still a junior NCO when on 25 May 1941, he captured the city of Kastelli with the 95th Mountain Engineer Battalion. MOUNTAIN ENGINEER “The office's ted grey cap is ut in fine {nd sturdy file grey woo! cloth. The ‘2p piping, tne imperial eagle andthe ‘Sectage woven on a darks Underlay aro made ot aaminium toad jon a shape backing, this re ‘ol he battalion commanders cap. The dare bllsh-green collar of tee grey tune scares gears done up at pine ela grey ke nose of the box pleted pockets. ll four pockets have tres: pointed laos. The pronged buckle onthe bel is pated fed ge. The P38 Holster scared ‘onthe let hi ‘The eaptoraip is secured with 60 $erutlons mater prem Stee ‘Soubieintorwover raiding of dul ‘slumiium tread Te numeral 95 inafeating the batation number are made of Glided embossed metal. The da Buish-green cola pat ‘nhanced with dou ‘egulation insignia of the ight arm. The eu tite stenea contimet abo Seper edge oft The ribbons ofthe 3nd Class ron Cross, the 945-42 Russian sign Hed ‘he decoration worded forfour Theehrmachr a0 fftened 0 the tunic (theater nas a smal may aso inaiete up to Ye yoars service), ‘The tat Clas ron Gross a pnned tothe black enamel. The General assault Badge is finland in ll iver (originaty intended as the Engineers Assault Badge but redesignated in June $940 to netude other services), ‘The Heer Mountain Guide insignia lao has a dul sver irish and features 2 metal eevee with 2 {olden heart set on a dark green Samellod oval, edged in gold. The eeresbergefunrar lettering. Institted inthe 19308 this nsgnia sisted on ase athe dys ot ‘The breeches are made of fine grey cloth The legs ojos with zip down the Enki Tre igh boot are mageCut in thick gry cath, he eap worn Fare also suitable for cold Meath Ths headgear combines thetic’ sve piping nth the ‘errant imperaeagie and ‘ional eockace. The Prrbersed mot! ecewess ls ‘che tothe ot sie empl hs personal Erman ith fun and hand Srrades Made of uc reas brown leather the sate Sorstave Sects ono Sung through sont pars eyes This lose fitted uniform was mea Jiro over werner garments. Com wna an one ight brownlsh-gray ‘ide The wostan top ot the jacket are done up wih pte buon an trap arrangement reinforces with 2 lace etrung through six eyelets. When tightened around the face ‘tha drawstring, tie hood Provides extra protection sdjeiing chest pockets are Tied th thre: pointed Plested. The ieoket ‘sdrewstang ‘wl. ‘The cuts ae Is keptin place itn a wide eros sacri Be pocket wih button lap on each hip. pronged buckle arrangement the trousers have side pockets the legs are (geheree round the ‘nites with rawstnngs. The buttons are made of Dressed eardbosra ‘The otcers’ steve deiwales is woven on @ dark bllch-grean oval patch Te heat athe respectively woven i ald and green hres Tae fisted rope ‘round the edge the ring and bt, sherry om te was Introduced on 16 persone ofthe Fer, Kriegsmarine Se Luftwrae who had Banieipated or helped Inthe invasion of Grote. ‘The eul band takes ths form ofa wnte cotton strip, 2mm ‘ido, mith 2 border of yellow cotton Imetwoon, in capil etre, tho word KRETA’ ie ‘mbroldered In yellow cotton threae On oir sie ofthe ‘ame isan srayof acanths leaves (3 ina, Several Varations of tis eu exist. The unsttohe te (Dow) is mace of uiy cloth adorned wih 13 aeanthus envesCTOBER 1944, Elements of the ‘Grofideutschland’ Panzer Gre- nadier Division were positio- ned between Tryskaia and Plunge to the east of Memel in eastern Prussia. Heavily outnumbered, the Germans defenders eventually yiel- ded to the overwhelming pressure of Russian armour. However soon after, the group’s ‘Jagdpanzer’ 38t Hetzer and the ‘Schiitzenpanzerwagen’ (half- tracks) intervened and checked the Russian’s outflanking move. This study depicts a sergeant of the divisional ‘Panzeraufklarungsabtei- lung’ (recce company) as he is retrea- ting with his unit along the railway line towards Plunge. ‘GROMDEUTSCHLAND’ Woven in grey thread, the imperil eagle Is worn elong with the nations oakade onthe front ofthe 1949 Patten Seldmutze” Seth ine gnia Backing. The exp tumcup kept up ‘with to nek butions. The ning fe trade of green sateen: Cut in black loth the shor acket sworn over a 4 grey shirt adores with a biack tie The Luni fastened with the \ lela securing over tot ight Side's seven buttons Th tne ining is made of black cotton, The Sermentfestons st wast evel with Erawrating. The cut sits havea double button rangement nthe fan picture, the chest eile {oright ep. Theo te i stitched to the Bottom ofthe Fh sleeve, The shocider ising Sng The eolour patches Bipea in falden yelow fhe service eolowr of recoe Sits ana ‘domed wth metal death head. The rosa and tne Snd Class Tank Battle Badge fabzeicnen are pinned to ne len ide ofthe ‘The P08 back leather hoster fastened tothe et ‘Sie. The boek ‘ype bet buckle ‘ished int dare grey Mase are made of black tab ofrmtching blac loth ond piped in yellows, the renkinotgnia 2 mage oth the Ot lver bre while the segulation ‘histone outers (Grotdautechiand) gothic fastoned wth ‘woven hn golcen hommossin bo, ‘securing with nell pronged hanged many times: buckle The rgialy pink tas tapered teuser lage re ater ‘tha burton Feplaced vith olden Yello in 1998. n 1999, Selden brown was intended fobe usee but ths colour ‘as inateed ative to. totoreyeist battens. ‘verted to pink 1981 but how cre enforoes te tna Gectve was pareulory rong rot tine uitRECCE COMPANY NCO ies conooge ae te By Jean de LAGARDE incr cinws ct gre fares enon Teun ey “The jacket has ve buttons down the ronuacuresina large {thing shop. im Pato faa Soh geen ing Sas instituted lon 2 July 1983, the 25’ Class Tank Battle Badge was awarded for {aking part in 28 ark engage ‘cays, of for ts months Lninterruptod service on the ron nes Serous wound. The numberof pints requ bythe company commander. ‘The orginal badge was Instuted on 20 July 1059 and awarded for taking part in thee tank engagements on thee aero aye. Parzmeamptagenatencnen (anki. ) to obtain te wardvwas recorded Bate Bagge) an 1 June 1990 \ Sree” fl pn) FA | cy ‘tmoured avisions ond {ele recovery teams ‘who often had to Perform her tasks on Bauge concats ofan ‘val pate. girded with ‘ak leaves snd-acome, Shthe apexs an eagle Serk grey tank passes ‘rough the wreath rom lettorngneYne device wth finshed in bras on a black thiaed cen the ck pa ‘he eagle ae ished in dul sliver. "1ERE they come!’ The soldiers of ‘Heersegruppe iGrtand? (Kurland Army Corps) trap- ped between the Balti and the Gulf of Riga braced them- selves when their front posi tions erupted into flames. The Soviets rushed the German 1s and soon, after fierce Pohting:cight of heir divisions had broken through. Deployed to the south of Libau, the 126th Infantry Di Bion Ree the thick of the fighting but soon managed to. plug the gap and established § strong defensive line to check the Soviet onslaught. tapesianeoin tase Derere tities ee an ee ose ars Se ee a ey A ee a ey tere Maen ee es eet eke ootor (elders of ener Unite who had eerved for three tonine with Heeresaruppe Kurland wore aso alge forthe te). GRENADIER, Inlay palnted fl grey the ‘been daub “infor e grainy, non rite tt randomiy spied ov tela grey backing The garment fs ‘done up with six metal buttons {tung nto deublo butonnles ‘The skit poekets have slanted ‘danging irom ‘ammunition pouches. The field Tucked nto ‘The cuff thee mace ‘lth the wih of whieh vi ‘Srmm (lor tne models she ‘Showing marked diferences a7 the Tetioring andthe size ofthe devices adorning the ttle on ether sce of the ‘KURLAND insripton i capital ters {the devices are tho creat of he Grand Master of me Teutonic Knights and the rmoose's hes! barred from ine amie ‘ofthe ely of tu) Tao ttle was either woven tap model or ambreidered (two bottom medals) in lack three. The same ‘spnles fo ine white ping slong the ‘edges, Thevediferonces rect rom the cul les wore producedCOURLAND, 1944-45 By Jean de Lagarde “The veteran's 1983 Patten eld cap io cutin ‘ld grey cloth the colour ‘of which ie greener thon ‘asl, The turncup ie ‘Ths sted and cetanty sponting al nis ‘edi the corporal surenceres wen Germany captutates on 8 ey ‘94 Along wit te survivors thin fa Bataion, 422m Regiment the sole boarded the Ofe rane be shipped to 3 Seheowe Hostom naour onthe 12- “aay. Thao, ne was handed over Dit oops, whereas his comrades of fhe ash rary Dison remains In Spiel sstody Thetis and the cap are cut n the same Te shovier abe re pipe in Ws te serve clour of he {tna Regiment grnadrs. The toler Lizen are woven in 0 tere shoes of grey fan stehed above the os Gaytread onapale green Erde Ton cofpra ok taasecouio gy ator fe woron oo ot shore ne uric ir Eine down ne ort Soares count, este treo fies pockets havea Ereepae tp: The Sitges ee sete" ype benng oe atte Selasted tn wo Spat tones. Theomertutone re rats eto adn ge. “The cu le ie stitched 14:Sem above the lower edge ofthe Tot slave. A medal bar forthe towing awards is sticned thors the lt chest pocket: tne ana Case Iron Cros, the vk negeversianst Kreuz= War Mert Mec) anaithe ‘ost.te Russian Winter Campaign. Pinned sbove tne fibbons the Bronze Class Close Combat Clasp, a highty ‘tingishes order was swerded for 5 days cioge combat ‘The at Class ron Gross and te Infantry Acsaul Badge are i | b pinned onte thee pocket “The straight rouser ae et in ld grey cloth (¢howing 2 ‘Mighty rownish shade). The roveers are linea wih white toll cloth around the va the samo material ls Used for {he side and hip pockets. The hip pockets have one button tach and the ob pocket had nether fp nor button, ‘The fourty buttons are made of back ‘Synthetic those Used for Tastening he wrocns are made of metal (dished 9. ‘Tey reinforcomant ‘mage ot 9rey clot The hat bets on ne mello the back tighten vwih'a double:DEFENCE OF THE REICH ofthe ing heimetis mad rato roinforced wih black 3 Be Cut n grey vive cot, ne pit {op. Blak oanars Used forthe "xaen ca sor me hagear The bitin heacphonet are protected A offeers'siver ppg ‘ith conn lather taps The en pgs turmup is fastened wih om Secured tothe back ofthe headgear. The “iver button, The pvt Sxygen mask (cari in the aor i secured purchased leather jet vt ‘ith soe! scenet on both cheeks. The throat 3 aveurte sang Imiraphone is held in place with so rigt Back twat fighter ‘The model shown hee Yellow ubberaed meterial an secured with fou horaontal pockets sean ‘hoe metal pronged buckles. faton i en oe cat ane rt ‘schieved by using tne smal compressed gos flaps (sk) The ecket 5 one Soe carfedin' small pocket athe boom Uwnth 8 2p dow te ror the let fange. In ease a emergency, anda Buckie and stp the provorver can be infited by rangement ate lower fron Blowing trough th tube on the ie ject fs roan Upper let The ise lather the welt avntets are igtened with to austen iipressure sudand sep ‘uct tap rangement a include tne outenant shoulder tobe ane embossed metal onthe ign de of he chet By Jean de Lagarde Aompees anda ar and Jean-Michel Denis se secu he bon |O bring Hitler's Third Reich te 5, tattene wi a eouble- the Allied air forces carried out massive Po?s2mea! buck bombing raids which turned German cities and factories into rubble through a merciless round-the-clock poundi fn Breving overwhelming odd, the plats of the Earn urmt Richthofen ae ‘Squadron doggedly itcrarcunsinewase fought on until the very end to save their #vsed:0hap 00 country from total destruction. fis reinforced witha, " a {9p The trouser lege sro secured ith Zips down tne sree The sat eed thotrees cover ) Soret fhe pgs Seating to esting system i 1. Seaing witha ‘i sud sa presoure sud lp, te , ee {erge pocket on te le Stine ct thigh Poids the fre Distt secured with a {bag strap toe nner fine a wal ame toad and lugs connecting thehoating system Zipped vertical pockets Mola {spare comprenaea ga bottle for belie preserve. Thigh pocket. sealing witha ss apa ite th stab strana to secre mans ‘nd plata eres {Nests zipped pocket. 5. Thangutar pocket wth press Stud ass to Secure tne hana tvertea pocket naling the yon |) boxtor the entction fg: || Seating win pressure stud fp,FIGHTER PILOT, 1944 The successful plothas Ahove Olsplayed ona black leather coat are the gaunt, Tow been promoted to gloves, forage cap, sit peaked cap Ting headgear therane of eaptan as tne Eompaas, gray kn, G2 wagagesemmanr 2) UM te woatrsagomngms shapti wh res, Hele clad ina grey-ue waiking-out drs with ‘matching forage cap Solow The pit had his picture takon before another ‘scorned with siver mission In this photograph, he woars full service dress ‘ulion piping and Wh sil peaked cep insight. Worn with an ‘open collar, the Flogeritea isd protected tna ty font ‘On the apes, he rank Insignia are embroisores Inver bullon on 8 yellow undeny tyeton wis the sevice colour ot fying personne), The ‘ol piping sn te ‘chest eagle are also mace of ser ballon Sew to the ight slave the cuties made of Dive eotion and earrae IICHTHOFEN ineenption ‘omoroidered in rey thread The flowing right sige ofthe enest the at Glass ron Gross, The Pilot Badge (buon ‘ersion) andthe Siver Wound dade Above, theses the Sliver Class Day Fighter Operational Flying Clasp awarded for Go'mistione The Garman ‘Grose n Gata (outlon version) Is worn an the righ ide of te chest under the eagle. The 2nd is pped ane sttenea Tiweugh the second buttonhole cown the front Te alt has been ‘Grose and weers the prestigious award around Tremock. A brown lather gloves breaches and igh Boots ‘complete the handsome1945 THE LAST STRONGHOLDBy Jean de Lagarde and Pierre-Ange Caravano NVISIBLE and deadly, the sniper stalks his prey like a lion on the prowl. Undeterred by extreme weather con she shares his loneliness with his weapon as he scans the enemy lines for an unwary target. The sharpshooter depicted in his displays the late style requ- lation camouflage suit and the se tomatic G-43 rifle as issued to German snipers in the closing stages of the war. HEER SNIPER, \When wearing this camoutege ge ‘the sniper con ply hia deadly ath {rom a wade varety of hea torent, copses, rocks, une ee The smock ited with a hood wise eneugh to cover the ead and the neck ttxng foliage or wigs pattern consists ots pale groom Bkgrcnd reed with eon ‘The smook’scamoutlage She bracor nat clsned metal btn1945 ‘De manis hong his fle with his iene ane fo iggr A ZF Ilescope(ieervahr 4 fact), wes ooantnng poner trenching toa the ster faire ‘This white unitorm was used for pockets ‘taps. The cults ee fastenea with buttoned. reseed cardboard Tre compass, 2 10- round ammunition slp anaine taming ‘he ‘end cmouage rmartng engraved on the Gs inceates that pro mace by Wattentaprk ‘ann 8G at Prevaui OPF’ MACHINE-GUNNER, itn an ee ipod and has a oling "rorial cooking ever is one of is most cistinctive features. stores superative protection in ‘titery conditions "ne garment is By Jean de Lagarde and Michel Gilbert HE weather was bitterly cold when the 3rd ‘Totenkopf’ SS Panzer Division led by Briga- defiihrer (brigadier) Helmut Becker tried to relieve Budapest. Las- ting from 1 to 13 January 1945, the operation only forestalled the inevi- table end, This machine-gunner took part in the action alongside his comrades of the divisional armoured recce group. Joves are mado of aay wool Spare breech sping ints bowBUDAPEST, 1945 “The nelmet cover Ie made of two types of ‘oth: the panel tretahing fom te viet | Improted and 0 IRecorora has frnowed as hor ‘Shaterntea ‘ry tn sang {i tre matening Stone down he saith dark green motting over wide, dark Srownblcches, Te tee spngionaed ‘Rooks securing the cover are ma fet The pocket ‘Burnished metal ana ted wth fiorhave ssh fet Woven n of wie cation on * tegen Mecollar ‘ink backing, the Seth's es Serbenuithe ‘dsional inlgna of Totenkopr so int collar patch non Inadaiion tothe death's need Cola patch insignis, Kopf personnel ere isaued withthe some ‘egulaton other Stormations Woven i ‘oftwmite torent ‘tehed to heft sleeve othe tune older rake inciested on te eve shaped stipe) and rating wit Tne “The 2nd Class lon ‘Cross nibon i slipped end attened ‘through fre soeond button down te front The General loft ehest pocket Tne oaaclava helmet nas een rolled around the heck. The cust goggles ites with iige lenges are slung over the camoutage sige out. The four- colour poh dot pattern consists of small beige ight redetsn brown, pes green and ark green regular dota over pinih an eackground. The camouflage pater of he wise ee cot rlnfre larger The ‘bs “gritype sight 3. Ole ce " ©. Cage extractor (damaged sores Eevge. Sed pee eve ‘Sime ° sop. ‘ules barrel change. | extractor alenscembly to Case extractor undamaged ase K. Breech extractor an ting in cheat 121in puches on glen cc background Aero ig rolled up around nec and eovers the collar of ‘hin The 1048 Pater woolen khaki let. The twolnner pockets. The metal buttons tld grey. Secured by tussing stings and ‘buttoned nedr the colar, the shoulder tas re ped in wnt: the service colour of Watfen ‘3S infancy The ight clr pat mae ‘woven in wiht read. Thee inaignia of mountain oop woven n {golden yeliow th ‘loth patch). EPLOYED on the Pomeranian front in February 1945, the Wallonie’ 28th $5 Division had dwindled to a 2,000 man ‘Kampfgruppe’ (combat group) in the final months of the Russian campaigi Made up of Belgian volunteers, the unit was positioned to the south of Stargard in a last attempt to stem the Soviet offensive which was sweeping from the Vistula to the Oder. Through the rain and cold, the ‘Bourguignons’ fought their last battle and held their ground to the last man, ‘Te back esthr bet tes "witha regulation Waten Ss buckte pained in ela rey ne ‘saul rife magazine pouchos ‘ore made of sturdy greyish canvas with dark brown. brown ‘nd blak leather tings. The outer side ofthe leather harness Is black. Ar-egg-shaved grenade hangs trom the right ap of he host pocket he igh). Although tis insignia was ‘souea o Belgian volunteer Wom T9a1 to 1943, seems Ikely thet the embroideres insignia designed for SS frelon ‘volunteers never reaches this particular init WALLONIE 122POMERANIA, 1945 The gronaer's Suigmilae ls made of fegrey cin The turrap fasten ‘nwo buttons The ingrey hraad on atk backing The ‘agin Hae {salves ped next ‘Bemoseec mets tage ne aware for Speraens inthe hieasus rece, {ef sit pocket. pera ad By Jean de Lagarde 2 and Lucie Nodl ‘The Watt SS 1948 Patern hooded regulation coat was eut in tick, comfortable eld grey cloth and Ted wit grey material. The ulation eagle and the rank Ingigni ae repeated on the lett ‘Shoulder ‘The noo is roleg under the eallar and can be Kept up witha erap ane button arrangement The le fap secures ‘ver tothe right with ic buttone The two ene Pockets nave no “The sleoves ar ined vith grey sateen. An inner pockets ‘bow the lower partof te xin he vent "taps overlay butions. The ‘re made of ‘metal and finishedin fea oe The fob and hip pockets sea with Tuttons. They hae x buttona “The button ‘arrangements ‘tate level (wo atthe ‘Wont and two atthe eek) ean beused to ‘eaten cithorbek orbroces, ‘The tapered trouser lege reves rawsiting round the bottom edge. The garment adjusts with abucke sap on both hips, Severe! patterns ‘of cloned metal butons users are made of tieky woven pale yellow cloth, ‘The camoutago consits of brown and green regular patohes overprinted with thick pater of sma pea ge Specks. Te pattrs is topeated every 48em. The sie at pockets have buttons.Cn its obverse, the Watfen SS officers regulation buckle jazenge (Overnot & ce ot (azine ane suman at) Secured to one end ofthe black leather belt th prongs. At the olNer end, a argo at ‘hook tee afar buck tenet te inner side o Delt The bucke comprises a spread eagle clching {atone 9 wroath adored witha swastika inthe mile SS motto Meine Ere helt Treue (my honour ls called loyety) is engreved around te lower edge a tho buckle ‘Tle molt re deeply engraved Kis tnisned in dul slver S early as July 1941, Dutch volunteers flocked to jo in the ranks of the Waffen SS and fought alongside them on the Eastern Front. On 22 October 1943, the original ‘Nederland Freiwillig Legion’ (‘Nederland’ Volunteer Legion) was expan- ded into the ’Nederland’ 4th SS Panzer Grenadier Brigade before becoming the ‘Nederland’ 23rd Freiwilligen Panzer Grenadier Division on 10 February 1945. Dutch volunteers undoubtedly ranked among the most pugnaciovs sociors and wore therefore requerly ‘deployed nthe mast exposed sectors ofthe front Mery Gf them wore awarded the Third eich most prest {ious decorations. Ths artilory ‘Untersturmfrer is ‘Sepicted while commissioned with 3rd Panzer Army in Pomerania. en Manufactures by BeVo of Wippera the cut tle and Eriggacgteoven nary thes his tga wae ene ‘NEDERLAND’ GUNNER, “The ‘Shirmmitze inde trousers ae cut in oth). The Walton 8S ‘fiers’ regulation Issuo peaks tap nat a double sliver cord rou tne ron fastened wth fl, the exp an is made of na Black velvet the white piping was short S), The patallelogram-shaped ofcers ‘alla patches sre mede of lock loth pipes wih hn alumiium braid Thelefe patch le domed with the SS runes, andthe right one features the tree sive sar female Dattern) of a secondieutenant Srepuaton nig remade ot ‘and pinned to the cloth. The short, ‘double-breasted jackets worn over Screen cton ian bic e. ‘Theta fap ofthe short Jacket fastens over to the ight with seven furor wnicn (larger attr) are covered Stn a ty front leering tom ‘Rewatstup. The “The shoulder abe ae secures nth 3 tusaing rng on te bouton neer the colt Made of bask eth wine pling te rly the tbe fresdomed vith {tree top oes. Soule bre uncovered interwoven eats iver br. rons rom town. The “The impara fromtot gen Garments siversrey hoa wrth readand rari ne ‘ey fastio inner re poeta A colour Tohtr fis mace insignias possible bra wom above Focblesrovsting ‘he Drovided atthe smal “neaertane Ertne back ‘ct lower sdge ofthe cu ‘The tot Class iron Cross anda medal ber frie and Class ron Cross and he feted Russin Campaign lesa pinned to the Jt se ot hotter fay type) s Trateneg tthe so Teather be, Althe pockets ofthe 1) 0n 8 oct Patorn trousers Maus a have button taps. The leg bottoms are secures ‘wth cravings. The ankleboots are made o1 black eather‘The roveribio white\emoutage parke nd trousers recut nthe “The camoutage patter brown, dark brown, green ana ight ‘rcen thislyinferwinea“eakIeaves “The reversible wnite-camouttage ’ © Gouiblebreasted garment cone Up ‘hood Is lowered, showing ‘th the right fap fatering over fo the ‘eof green woolen lef wth sbebuttone, The cute are tert The oitcers’ bet ‘ ‘stoned witha bution and tab itedwinaisrge, gf ‘rangement: The srowsting neergvar a. ‘round he buck ‘roy cath a Trouser y ‘anol. The skit pockets ier notster ave slanted openings ‘sith pointed button | Sivor thread (against regulations asthe cap sh Fad tne same unite piping as te oftenrs"Senirmmarte 9 ‘rectve wich tanded tobe rather loosely enforced). The ‘Seth's oad ie woven n ll grey thread, wale the eagles ‘ade of bright silver materiel The turr-up ls Kept up with 3 ‘Sythetic button. The ining Is made of gro sateon. The ap has ro sweet band fourburtons fat being tied on born te we and carouags Sues ortnegemen. By Jean de Lagarde ‘the tg booms ao gathoed th drawstinge The ale os are mage of PaCKIEAINEY Th two insignia wn here were esued tall ranks. Beth ao late style German manufactured ems. The Duteh Retionel colours ae depinyea horzontaly across shield ‘atin in back The wel worn mode onthe fet has ay While the model on tha rights hghtly 128126 ‘NORDLAND’ GUNNER, The soul eae secareg the sipped and stitched through the Second buttonhole coun the Pinned tote tt ie of he chest FTER pulling out of Courland, the ‘Nordland’ percent aera protected with Pomerania to defend the aps. borders of the Reich. There, Scandinavian volunteers were engaged alongside Dutch, Flemish, Walloons and German Waffen SS in a desperate struggle to stem the Russian tide. On 14 February 1944, Operation ‘Solstice’ was launched but got bogged down after 48 hours’ desperate fighting. In this action, the eater ‘Panzerjiger’ (tank destroyers) inthe sts of ‘Nordland’ occupied Ridge 107 to the south of Hassendorf. The men of Sturmbannfihrer (major) Schulz-Streek had destroyed no fewer than fe 22 T-34s when they were forced "*** out of the iti age of back Ter 30 days duty involving and to hana Wahine ‘aver shows tat ‘hs mers dedication to ty inthis let hanaPOMERANIA, 1945 “The winter cap ls made offs srey loth ined with rab fur and grees sateen, Adorned with 88 Insignia, the Trontis raises, wherese te turn-up, ‘which can be lowered over the earé and the nace fs astenea th 8 button and ace arrangement ‘securing'on the top. The grey woo! far mf are keptin place ith U'shaged exe metal stp, ufectured by Hensolat, $8 eld glasses are Hing around the neck with © Steiner ap. astoned to sil lether esos s" hs with Sack esther sip ad strap. ‘Te cotton para is padded wth woo! ori escept he he), Te grmet is done up Wit the et ap fastening ‘ver i buttons down te right one ‘The watst is adjusted with Wide hemmedin sith bel. “Theceller andthe bottom art of the skirt are (gathered with ratings. The pockets have ‘butane The thie reversible garment Red one white side Yor snowbound conditions and cone brownian side Te merge wth the “colours ot suturmn Intaty meant or he Schirmmie’ the SS regustion ‘agle ana cents hea pred to the ont of te Meaageat background re stamped nine zine, These insignia ree secured witieburred Win two pins o aiched on (parry te death's neo. ater ct The otnerranks’ tel bet buckle i ifshed i pale gee ‘jange bron, The 88 motto Meine Ere held Treueie engraved Issac ‘arkand igh atring sound a entra met sowing esprondeaule brown) The clutching a swastcagrdcd win an oak iat wreath comowtage paternot wremtons By Jean de LAGARDE and Lucien NOEL other rank ombroldered at grey trac on ‘lack ungertay. | Minto study green clot ype of do forthe Jive ota ropes. The forte ae kept ith wo ate of free. Tho fy “setatone. The [aaitiee se he seats area with th The retapere, rocks are mace ge] wool andthe blak manufactured by Bevo ot remen, ombroldored with Back and light grey 127ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The author wishes to thank all the specialists and collectors who kindly supplied material to illustrate this book. PHOTO CREDITS Philippe CHARBONNIER Design: Patrick LESIEUR. © PLST_ UK Co-ordinator: Alexandra GARDINER [Al ights reserve No part oft publcaton can be ISBN: 2.906 182297 Edt eompostion : Macintosh I FX. X Press reproduced or ansmitedn any form or by any Publisher s number: 2908182, ‘and Adobe ilustator ‘means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, Published by Histoire & Collections Photography : SCIPE, Paris, recording or any iormaton storage and retival 18, avon doa Républove olur separation is ‘system without the prior written consent of the ‘75011 Paris, France. os action : OGERALET Fi PPubishers. All enquires should be adéressedto the Tel: International (1) 4021.18.20 _—_~Priled by P.P.O, Pantin, France Publishers, Fax: Intemational (1) 4021.97.55 ‘February 1906(Picure © Burdesarki) GERMAN SOLDIERS OF WORLD WAR TWO A detailed and comprehensive study of World War Two German forces, consisting of photographic close-ups of the soldiers who threatened the world from 1939 to 1945. ‘The evolution of the uniforms worn by infantrymen, aircrew, paratroopers and tankmen is geprically illustrated in detailed, full colour pictures. ‘ocusing specifically on uniforms and men, the book brings history closer to life by delving into individual aspects of the conflict through a detailed study of German fighting gear and military equipment. ‘An acknowledged expert in the field of World War Two German uniforms and regalia, author Jean de Lagarde and his team have left nothing to chance, sparing no efforts to present the reader with a thoroughly researched, superbly documented and authoritative work on this subject. aN: 2.908 182287 iil 182293) 5, averue de la République, F-76011 Pais, Tal: (1) 4021.18.20 9