Early SS HBT drillich fatigue?

[NickG]

I got this cheap out of Germany thinking it was Kriegsmarine HBT,
primarily because of the angled chest pocket corners and gray color.

Now looking at Beavers book I am drawing a different conclusion...
Mike states that the button count (4 or 5) depends on size (length) of these SS
fatigue drillichs.
Mine has 4 old resin buttons , 1 replaced with a metal dish one..

Note 2 pockets only A + B ... (my example with 4 buttons...)
Thoughts?

[NickG]

The one in Mike's book...Same pattern but in field gray (green)...note gray-gray, which made me think mine = KM...
(but such a pattern I could not find in Angolia's KM book (vol.1)
No markings anywhere...

Period picture are LAH recruits... note pocket lay-out...

[NickG]

Me thinking its KM... I dolled it up a little bit, added some color...
HBT fatigues are pretty boring otherwise... but fortunately easy to reverse...(tacked on)
Is it Waffen SS?
even if is mine is gray and not field gray?

[-Ray-]

Well sh*t!!! Better yet then. That's good news.


-Ray-

[NickG]

Well sh*t!!! Better yet then. That's good news.


-Ray-

Yes Ray that's indeed good news, as it is the exact same pattern as the early LAH depicted Waffen SS one...(or rather VT-SS!!)
BUT why is mine in (KM) gray ?
and not green in color ? ("field gray")...That mislead me ...making me think Naval issue...not early VT-SS....
Again no markings anywhere to be found... but the KM insignia is coming off!

Anybody else? Gray OK for SS-VT drillich???

[NickG]

Here's a much better scan from Beaver's book...(with rear panel view)
Its described as "gray" (like mine HOWEVER its clearly Field-Gray!

Maybe mine is an early Algemeine SS fatigue?
As a political (para-military) organization maybe gray was their color,
as opposed to Armed forces green :"field gray", later changing to that?

[NickG]

Here's the entire picture...clearly early with black Alg.SS visor...
2nd image shows a recruit...pockets unfortunately covered but also with
stand-up collar...
So is that what my HBT might be?

[NickG]

Again because of the stand up collar and gray material, I was pretty convinced it was KM, but not any more...
Now delving into early Alg.SS -SS-VT period pictures it appears that this style collarless design on early SS HBT fatigue work garments was the norm.

Some styled with 2 pockets on the skirts (like Heer),
others with one chest pocket and 1 skirt pocket in opposite bottom location... Just like mine.

The question for me is:
are these gray ones like mine perhaps early ones for algemeine SS?? (goes with the black theme)
later military field gray got adopted when they transitioned to a true military force, now in army green like Mike's book example?
and eventually transitioning into more common style HBT drillichs (war time) with standard fall down collars like the RW/Heer, RAD etc...

Here some more period picture examples... Are these gray of Field gray (as in military green?)
Gray would look better with the early black SS headgear!
Anybody?

[NickG]

SS insignia just pinned on for effect to denote the branch!!!

[NickG]

Would look better with black side cap with metal button skull!!!!
but can anybody confirm this?
All I know now is that per Beaver's book it is an SS style and the book example shows the exact same tunic (with period picture)
BUT in green...not gray...a forerunner???
(Alg.SS to SS-VT to Waffen SS ?)

[Dennis S]

SS insignia just pinned on for effect to denote the branch!!!

Nick, I think all it needs is a belt and ss buckle on it. Sometimes less is better than more.......oh and maybe a pair of undershorts 😜

[NickG]

Nick, I think all it needs is a belt and ss buckle on it. Sometimes less is better than more.......oh and maybe a pair of undershorts ��

Agreed less is more... a simple recruit impression without insignia...just a belt maybe also bayonet.
( Half mannequin ...pants in matching material would be impossible to find...)
A black alg.SS cap (schiffchen or Kratchen early SS style) would be the cherry on top!
So the consensus is that its indeed an early SS piece.

Any other examples out there to show? (style without collar) or period images with my pocket configuration?

[NickG]

Nick, I think all it needs is a belt and ss buckle on it. Sometimes less is better than more.......

Yes less is more!
Just like these troops. Note 1st image 6 buttons (Beaver explains 4 or 5 depending on sixe/length) and 2 men with what appears to be chest pockets
(or just wrinkles). The2nd image Dachau shows KZ guards 1930's. Lesser button count with resin buttons it appears. Skirt pocket right side visible.

Still would like to have it confirmed that these are indeed gray in color. Sure appears to be a lighter color than field green... and gray goes better the Black early SS theme...
Anybody?

[espenlaub]

Stand up collars is typical to all pre 37 made Drillich-Anzug's, not only SS

[NickG]

Stand up collars is typical to all pre 37 made Drillich-Anzug's, not only SS

OK thanks. And also used for KZ lager inmates 1930's..in white/oatmeal..
but what about the gray color..hard to distinguish in B/W period pictures...
early SS? That's what I want to know...not an army color...
That's what I want answered...
not your standard oatmeal or field gray color ...That's the mystery. ..me initially
thinking KM....thanks...