S001095 M44 DOT PATTERN CAMOUFLAGE PANZER WRAP TUNIC. (Tarnung Feldjacke)

BACKGROUND: The development of SS camouflage items was initiated by Reichsführer SS Heinrich Himmler in 1935 when he tasked the Reichsführung SS, (National Leadership of the SS), to begin research of new camouflage patterns and garments for use by the fledgling SS VT, SS Verfugüngstruppe, (SS Special Purpose Troops). In late 1936 and early 1937 the first SS camouflage garments were issued to personnel of the SS VT Standarte Deutschland for field testing and evaluation. The first items evaluated were the Quarter shelters/ponchos, followed by steel helmet covers, face masks and smocks. As the war continued various other clothing items were produced in the assorted camouflage patterns. Originally the camouflage patterns were all produced in the time consuming manual screen printing until the development of the machine roller printing in 1940. By the end of the war no fewer then ten assorted camouflage patterns had been developed and used by the SS. The M44 dot pattern camouflage uniform, consisting of a field blouse and pants was officially introduced for Infantry personnel on March 1ST 1944 as a cost saving measure, and was designed to serve double duty by replacing both the drill tunic and camouflage smock. It is believed that the distinctive panzer wrap tunic and pants were also introduced and manufactured in the M44 dot pattern camouflage at about the same time as the Infantry models. The two piece M44 dot pattern camouflage uniforms for panzer personnel was intended to replace the cumbersome, panzer camouflage coveralls. Originally the early models of the M44 dot pattern camouflage uniforms were manufactured from stockpiles of dual sided, camouflage material with an HBT, (Herring Bone Twill), weave and the field blouse came outfitted with shoulder strap retaining loops and buttons and a factory applied sleeve eagle. By July 1944 the inclusion of the shoulder strap retaining loops and buttons and the factory applied sleeve eagle were discontinued. The M44 dot pattern camouflage uniform was only suitable for warm climates and regulations dictated that the uniforms were to be returned to the units storage depots annually on November 1ST although the lack of supplies negated this directive and the uniforms were worn through out the year. 

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Cotton/rayon blend material construction, waist length, double breasted, panzer wrap style tunic with fold back lapels and a lay down collar. The tunic has an HBT weave and the machine roller printed Dot pattern camouflage to the exterior in shades of tans, browns and greens. The vertical front closure has four hidden button holes on the lower left side and an additional three visible button holes on the left lapel. The right side of the vertical closure has seven corresponding, vertically aligned, molded black bakelite buttons. The left closure panel overlaps the right closure panel when buttoned. The interior left closure panel has two, extended, horizontal, button holed, fabric tabs with two corresponding black bakelite buttons to the interior of the right closure panel. The tunic also has a single metal hook and eye at the neckline for secure closure in inclement weather. The lower body of the tunic has small, dual, stitched, tapering darts to both the obverse and reverse. The tunic has straight cut, dual ply hemmed, non adjustable sleeves. The interior front closure panels are partially lined in the camouflage fabric with a horizontal slash patch pocket to the left breast panel. The interior of the tunic has a horizontal stitched strip of fabric to either side of the waist line with tunnel looped, fabric tape, fit adjustment drawstrings. The tunic has no visible markings. The tunic is roughly a size 40" chest. 

GRADE ****                             PRICE $

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