Slinter pattern info

[JimmyP70]

Looking for info on a uniform I accquired, I know it's Bundeswehr Splinter pattern, but looking to see what type of units would have used it, etc.

Thanks!
Jim P.

[Guardian 5]

JimmyP70 - Welcome to the BRD Forum and congratulations on your recent acquisition.

I guess I'm not the only guy in New England to own a set anymore....

Below see a blurb from a study I compiled on early Bundeswehr field dress:

The Model 1955 Battle Dress Uniform (Kampfanzug Modell 1955) was officially adopted on July 23, 1955. Manufactured in waterproof cotton duck, the ensemble consisted of field jacket, pants, and mittens all patterned in the Bundeswehr-Splittermuster camouflage design. The overall style and cut of the uniform owed much to the contemporary French Model 47/56 camouflage uniform issued to Foreign Legion paratroopers and other elite airborne units. The Kampfanzug 55 came with quilted linings that the Defense Ministry deemed suitable for protection during the harsh German Winter. This was not the case however, and veterans of the Eastern Front (östkampfer) scattered among the initial levy of volunteers at Andernach would recall the winter of 1955 with as much dread as any of those spent in Russia. It wasn’t long before the heavily constructed charcoal gray greatcoat issued as part of their dress uniform became a common feature during outdoor training.
Officers and NCOs above the rank of Oberfeldwebel wore “pin on” rank insignia attached to the epaulets of the Kampfanzug 55. Pictorial evidence also suggests that in certain instances, senior NCOs would sew early versions of the rank bearing shoulder boards to the upper sleeve. Junior enlisted men and NCOs sewed their stripes on the sleeves. A button top long sleeve under-shirt sometimes referred to as the “F-1” jersey, was worn underneath the Kampfanzug 55 in warm weather. Of cotton manufacture, it was usually colored olive drab. The Kampfanzug 55 was withdrawn from service on August 7, 1959. In addition to providing insufficient protection against the cold, it was noisy, poorly ventilated, difficult and expensive to manufacture, and of a camouflage pattern that many associated with the Third Reich.

There are many threads on this uniform scattered throughout the forum. "The Bundeswehr Lovers" thread is a good place to start your search.

Suffice it to say, there is much enjoyable reading to be had to get you through the cold winter months ahead. Some of our forum members actually wore this uniform during their Bundeswehr service.

Again, welcome to the forum and my compliments on your impeccable taste in mens clothing.

All the best - TJ Cullinane
Derry, NH

P.S. - Please tell me that you didn't buy your set from a guy named Buddy Cianci in Providence.....

[Hugh Zillmann old]

Hello 'JimmyP70',

Welcome to 'our' part of the Forum.
Nice rig you have there! Now all you need are the gloves/gauntlets and the hood.

Thomas,

Thanks again for your excellent discussion of the wear and use of this particular uniform by the BW. I don't want to quibble with the details, but there is a photograph in Hormann's book which shows the rank being worn sewn to the upper sleeves of one of these uniforms by a commissioned officer, so I suspect that this practice was not limited to EM's and NCO's.

Cheers,

Hugh

[Gordon Craig]

JimmyP70,

Welcome to the BRD Forum. Nice uniform you have there. We haven't really answered your question yet. This was the field uniform of the BW Heer and everyone wore it. Often over another uniform. There was a slightly different uniform, in the same camo pattern, worn by the Fallschirmjager.
Your jacket is of the standard Heer pattern but I suspect that the trousers are for the Fallschirmjager uniform. I have a pair just like them packed away some where. I think that the major difference between the standard issue pants and the Fallschirmjager ones are the tabs on the legs to make them fit tighter. I actually have two pair of these cammo pants and if I ever get enough room to unpack my collection perhaps I can post pictures of both pairs.
Since TJ has done such a great job of describing the uniform in text form I though I would give it the foto treatment. Please ignore the BGS pants on the mannequin.

Regards,

Gordon

First, the jacket on a mannequin with the hood down.

[Gordon Craig]

Next, the hood up but not fastened. I took this picture to show the tab on the collar of the jacket that buttons across the throat. Mine isn't fastened because the butttons are missing.

[Gordon Craig]

Next, the drawstring on the hood pulled part way. The bottom of the hood should also button across the throat but again my buttons are missing.

[Gordon Craig]

A side view of the hood showing the holes over the ears. This picture also shows the dome fasteners used to attach the hood to the jacket.

[Gordon Craig]

A close up view of the unique two part shoulder straps.

[Gordon Craig]

The jacket from the back.

[JimmyP70]

Thank you, all for your replies!

I was given the uniform by a former U.S. MP who served in Germany in the late 70's.

The jacket is in real nice shape.

The pants have a lot of wear and soiling in the knees, if they were used by Fallschirmjager it would explain why!

Thanks, again,
Jim P.

[JimmyP70]

Buddy Cianci's price was too high!

[Klaus1989]

JimmyP70,
nice uniform set! Your uniform is version for ground troops, not Fallischirmjäger. FJ version is slightly different, like Gordon said.

TJ,
interesting you mention they were withdrawn 1959. I have seen several photos from same exercise that say 1960 (latest I have seen). Maybe mis-dated?

regards
Klaus

[Guardian 5]

Hello 'JimmyP70',

Welcome to 'our' part of the Forum.
Nice rig you have there! Now all you need are the gloves/gauntlets and the hood.

Thomas,

Thanks again for your excellent discussion of the wear and use of this particular uniform by the BW. I don't want to quibble with the details, but there is a photograph in Hormann's book which shows the rank being worn sewn to the upper sleeves of one of these uniforms by a commissioned officer, so I suspect that this practice was not limited to EM's and NCO's.

Cheers,

Hugh

Hugh - You are correct, Sir!

Thanks for keeping me honest.

All the best - TJ

[Guardian 5]

JimmyP70,
nice uniform set! Your uniform is version for ground troops, not Fallischirmjäger. FJ version is slightly different, like Gordon said.

TJ,
interesting you mention they were withdrawn 1959. I have seen several photos from same exercise that say 1960 (latest I have seen). Maybe mis-dated?

regards
Klaus

Klaus - I think 1959 was the official implementation date. As you have noted, pictures exist of the uniform being worn after that period.

I tend to think that it took awhile for the field to implement the directive and that there may have been some hesitation to turn in the Modell 1955 Kampfenzug once word got around about the scratchy "felt louse" replacement.

I'll re-check my source data, but in the meantime, can anyone confirm the wear out dates of the splinter pattern combat suit and why it lingered in use until the early 1960s?

Thanks - TJ

[Guardian 5]

Buddy Cianci's price was too high!

Jimmy P -