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 which were first delivered in late 1938. Originally the smocks were manually screen printed and due to the time consuming task of the printing only minimal quantities were issued until early 1940 when the machine rolled printing process was developed. By June 1940 over 32,000 camouflage smocks had been issued and distributed between four SS units and another 30,000 smocks were expected to be issued by September of that year. The original M38 style smock underwent minor modifications in 1940 and twice in 1942. This example is the fourth and final pattern camouflage smock as introduced in late 1942. This pattern was almost identical to the earlier M42 Type 1 pattern with minor modifications to the pockets. 

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Waterproof cotton duck construction pullover smock with reversible, printed "Plane Tree" pattern camouflage. Camouflage pattern has distinctly different colorations to the summer and autumn sides, with the summer side being in shades of brown, tan and green and the autumn side in shades of browns and tans. Smock features a low, oval, boat style neckline with vertical lace-up front plaquet. Plaquet runs vertical down the front center of the smock from the neckline to the waist and has five stitched eyelets to either side for the closure tie string. Smock has internal, tunnel looped elastics at the waistline and sleeve cuffs. Forward tail skirt has two horizontal slash pockets with scalloped button down flaps, just below waistline. Pockets have green cotton/rayon blend pocket bags with an HBT weave. Pocket bags slip through the pocket slashes allowing them to be utilized on both the summer and autumn camouflage sides of the smock. Couple of small period repairs. Original buttons. Foliage loops are both side. The smocks were designed large enough to fit over the standard field uniform and this example is roughly a size 44" chest. Of Note: Production of the camouflage smocks was discontinued in early 1944 and were to be replaced with the newly developed M44 dot pattern camouflage uniforms. Excellent condition, Nice!