During WW2 did other units wear camo smocks other than the SS troops?
For some reason I was thinking maybe the Herman Goering division or Grossduetchland units wore them.
1 Like
British paratroops, commandos etc. did, as did troops from other countries in those units.
1 Like
US marines in the Pacific.
2 Likes
I seem to recall that the Hermann Goering Div did wear SS pattern camouflage smocks. I am pretty sure that the Panzer Grenadier elements of Grossdeutschland Div would have had access to the Army splinter (and other schemes) camouflaged uniforms.
I believe that some US troops for a short time wore camo uniforms in Normandy but their use was withdrawn after several casualties caused by confusion with the Waffen SS. I imagine it must have been the USMC pattern but do not know for sure.
British airborne - including glider borne - troops had the Denison smock, but from around 1944 onwards British Infantry could be found in the 2-piece camouflage windproof smock and trousers:
1 Like
Also, the Zeltbahn shelter quarter could be worn as a camouflage smock and was issued to every German soldier:
In the wehrmacht, the zeltbahn was the main camo option as SSGToms has said. Late in the war they also had specialized camo smocks, but they were never widespread, mostly allocated to recon and motorized units, but not on a large scale. The cut was different from the SS iirc (from memory I don’t think they had drawstring cuffs, and I think there were a couple of other differences) and the camo patterns themselves were different.
1 Like
Misread the title and wondered who needed camo socks… 
3 Likes
On trying to find some to post a humorous picture in reply, it surprised me that Varusteleka doesn’t seem to sell those … I’m not surprised that they do, however, sell this.
2 Likes
Do you mean these uniforms?
I am actually wondering how to paint this uniform on a figure, since two of these guys are on my workbench.
1 Like
Thanks for all the replies. My mistake though, I should have been more clear. My question is what other German WW2 units may have worn camo smocks other than the SS units ? I speaking specifically about the pull over smocks.
1 Like
I’m wearing camo socks.
A decade ago there was a Great War channel on YouTube and they sold WW1 german camo socks as a promo kind of thing.
2 Likes
That’s what I figured when I read your post, and also the entire reason I replied to mention British units only 
1 Like
Kind of ironic that the model on the cover is a Fallschirmjäger, which part of the Luftwaffe.
1 Like
The above book is one of a pair; the other being about Waffen SS uniforms:
Both are invaluable I feel - especially to those Cold War modellers who desire information on NVA camouflage and say, BGS types. Priceless!
Oh, and obviously good for WW2 modellers as well(!)
1 Like
It certainly is… 
But then again : the question was if there were other German units wearing camo… Fallschirmjäger were certainly amongst them.
1 Like
The Hermann Goering Division was supplied with Waffen SS Camouflaged smocks. There are numerous pictures of “HG” personnel wearing them. The Wehrmacht “splinter” pattern smock was on widespread issue in the last year or so of the war. It has detail differences in construction to the Waffen SS smock which are noticeable in 1/35th, namely the lack of elasticated cuffs (the Heer pattern has a tab and button) and midriff (replaced by a drawstring) and the seam across the shoulders where front and back are stitched together. It appears to have been extensively worn by units in Normandy, but never supplanted standard field grey to any great extent. As others have mentioned, Luftwaffe paratroopers began to be issued with a camouflaged version of the “bone sack” from 1941 on. The wearing of camouflaged gear to some extent became the province of “elite” units, with the possible exception of Luftwaffe Field Divisions who wore a specialised camouflaged coat, which reached to the knees, they could hardly be considered “elite”. In addition there are numerous documented and photographic instances of individuals having camo gear made up from Zeltbahn material. There was also a curious item on issue, a sort of “string vest” which allowed the wearer to garnish himself with foliage.
2 Likes
No real irony, the Wehrmacht refers to “armed forces” of which the Luftwaffe was part (whereas the Waffen SS was not). The army alone is referred to as “Das Heer”.
2 Likes
You’re right, the Heer camo smocks didn’t have elasticated waist band or cuffs, but the cuffs had a button and tab tighteners, and a drawstring waistband. At least some had an attached hood (not talking about the snowsuit!).
1 Like
