The Bundeswehr in Service outside of Germany

[Gordon Craig]

I'd like to star a thread to show different items of clothing, arm badges etc. that BW personnel would have worn while serving outside of Germany. For many years they were not allowed to serve outside of their own country and it took a change of the constitution to allow them to do so. I don't have much to start this thread with. Just a simple UN helmet cover so please join in and post what you have.

Regards,

Gordon

[Gordon Craig]

A side view. Sorry for the loose shape. I do not have an issue helmet to put it on.

[Gordon Craig]

From the back.

[Guardian 5]

Gents - This mannequin was on display at the Panzer Museum in Munster when I visited back in NOV '02. It depicts a BW NCO assigned to the UN Mission to Somalia (UNOSOM).

The museum is absolutely extraordinary and I highly recommend it to all forum members.

Note that the mannequin is clad in light weight French fatigues. Not visible are French jungle boots. I seem to recall they were tan, but am no longer certain. The text within the exhibit described the uniform as a "Feldanzug (Oliv) Frankreich". It also said that the classic oliv moleskin uniform (NATO jeans) were too heavy for the heat of Somalia thus causing the BW to acquire and issue French fatigues.

If memory also serves, the pouch on the upper left side of the load bearing equipment was for additional G3 magazines. In older U.S. set-ups, this area was reserved for the field dressing. Also note that the UN crest is not applied to the helmet cover unlike the example above displayed by Gordon.

Are there any BW veterans of Somalia out there who can share their experiences?

Thanks - TJ

[Gordon Craig]

TJ,

Very interesting uniform. French fatigues! I would never have guessed that and you probably won't find that sort of info in the reference books. Munster has been on my list of places to go for some time. Thanks for showing this picture.

Regards,

Gordon

[Guardian 5]

Gents - Here's a MILAN gunner in Somalia. Note the protective vest in flecktarn pattern and floppy jungle hat that I presume is of French origin.

I suspect that the MILAN day sight is being used for long range observation purposes. There was little to no armor threat in theater, although I do imagine a MILAN missile would do quite a number on a Somali "technical" vehicle - a clear case of lethality overmatch.

The picture is taken from the book "Das Heer in Einsatz" by Gerhard Hubatschek.

TJ

[Guardian 5]

An example of the UN medal and award certificate presented to BW personnel who took part in UNOSOM II.

Source: 40 Jahre Fallschirmjaegerbatallon 261 by Wilhelm Schorn and Wolfgang Minich.

TJ

[Gordon Craig]

TJ,

Nice picture of the Milan team. If you want to be successful "go big or stay at home" comes to mind when you talk about the opposition of the Milan as a "technical vehicle". There is no doubt who would win!

Here is an obviously posed picture of two BW members in Afghanistan that I have posted before but fits in here nicely. A very good study of this type of BW uniform in wear in theatre. This photo appears on the cover of a pamphlet advertising Munin Verlag books so I can not quote an official source but it would appear to be a vality picutre of BW troops in the field.

Regards,

Gordon

[Gordon Craig]

Another photo of troops outside the homeland. I believe this one was taken in Kosovo. It is one of several of a series of Gebirgsjaeger. This one in concert with other uniformed contingents. Interesting feldanzug uniforms and the grey cap in wear together.

Regards,

Gordon

[sgtmonroe]

I see that this thread is a few months old, but, some of the information presented appears to never have been followed up on. The Bundeswehr mission to Somalia [UNOSOM II] is very interesting and even more interesting is the uniforms and equipment utilized.

Note that the mannequin is clad in light weight French fatigues. Not visible are French jungle boots. I seem to recall they were tan, but am no longer certain. The text within the exhibit described the uniform as a "Feldanzug (Oliv) Frankreich". It also said that the classic oliv moleskin uniform (NATO jeans) were too heavy for the heat of Somalia thus causing the BW to acquire and issue French fatigues.

Here is an image of one of the actual issued French F1 shirts [this one is the HBT version] utilized by the Bundeswehr in Somalia. This one has the Nationalitätsabzeichen sewn on both arms [most did not and the soldiers simply wore the issued armband].



An image showing a close-up of the issue armband utilized in Somalia:



Something to note in the above image is the old pattern suspenders. These are easily distiguished from the later versions by the weave of the webbing. Also the early versions do not have the "chest" strap. The display mannequin has, erroneously, the later pattern suspenders with "chest" strap.

If memory also serves, the pouch on the upper left side of the load bearing equipment was for additional G3 magazines.

In the image you posted [of the display] the pouch shown is actually for the standard issue flashlight. Below is an image of a Feldjäger in Somalia with two G3 pouches attached to his suspenders. Oddly enough he is armed with a MP2 and has the older cloth MP2 magazine pouch on his belt.



All of the equipment utilized by the soldiers in Somalia is the early olive colored nylon [not the later "flecktarn"]. It appears that only G3A4 rifles were carried [most of the soldiers were paratroops and mountain troops] with a few MP2s issued to some specialty troops.

Here is an image of soldiers arriving in Somalia, note the UNO blue berets:

and floppy jungle hat that I presume is of French origin.

The khaki "bush" or "jungle" hats are of German manufacture. The two originals I have seen were made by Bamberger Mützen [a German military contractor].

An image of two soldiers wearing the khaki hat:



Hope this information is useful.

[Gordon Craig]

sgtmonroe,

Thanks for adding this very interesting information. Lots to digest in these new photos. As for an old thread, they never get too old to post to. New information turns up all of the time as you have just illustrated.
Thanks again.

Regards,

Gordon

[SprogCollector]

Gents,
Would we like to include photos of training establishments outside of Germany? Excluding the constitutional change and subsequent military missions, Bundeswehr flight training in the US springs to mind (Texas and Alabama, for example). There are 1950s-era photos of Luftwaffe pilots in the UK, as well.

[Guardian 5]

sgtmonroe - Suffice it to say that your debut posting on the WAF BRD Forum was a resounding success.

Excellent information backed up by photos; you can't beat that! We're looking forward to hearing from you again soon.

Thanks for the updates - keep them coming!

SprogCollector - I'm offcially opening up this thread to training missions as well.

All the best - TJ

[SprogCollector]

Bundeswehr im Kosovo






Some Panzers for TJ:

[Gordon Craig]

SprogCollector,

it was never my intention to limit where the BW seved abroad. Anywhere was always my intent but thanks for asking. Other may have thouht the same and not posted.

Regards,

Gordon