BGS Sumpftarn Smock

[Klaus1989]

Finally filled hole in my collection and thought, that I would share here. The BGS sumpftarn smocks are not very common and I was outbid on 2 several years before. This one was listed as "very rare 1960s GSG9 paratrooper smock", so probably why I win for start price!

The smock - I call it 2nd Model- was introduced 1957 (I think), during trials for new camouflage uniforms for BGS. The other was jacket. The jacket was modified with detachable hood and shouldercover and then become standard issue and is well known. The sumpftarn smock was apparently not so well-liked and production was discontinued, but I assume, it was produced in some numbers, because more common than prototype jacket. However, I have never seen it in photos. The pattern is same as 1st Model in Splittertarn that was introduced around 1953/54, but not reversible.

If I could only find the Splittertarn smock now - I had opportunity to buy damaged one once, rejected, then reconsidered and it was already sold!

Front view. This is nice faded worn example, so obviously was used. It was fortunately never mutilated by BGS like with some of their camo uniforms. Front opening has zipper and buttons. I found a spare BGS bandage to put in front bandage pocket also. I find interesting, that top of hood can be buttoned behind neck to give more orderly appearance. No stamps, which is typical for smocks, but size label "48" in neck area.


Back view. No rings for canteen like on jacket.


And set up as Unterführer, armed with Astra 600, ca. 1958.


Regards
Klaus

[Collectinsteve]

I'm glad you won it! And you got it for a pretty good price. I've seen similar condition examples sell for a lot more, rarely less. Well done.

Somewhere on this Forum I documented all the examples of Sumpftarn I know of. Easy enough for me to recreate it again, so here is my terminology is:


1. First Model Smock = same as Splittertarn type. 4 pockets, attached hood, external bandage pocket. Part of 1957 trials. No stamps.

2. Second Model Smock = 2 pockets, attached hood, internal bandage pocket. Part of 1957 trials. No stamps.

3. First Model Jacket = 4 pockets, pointed pocket flaps, no shoulder cape. Part of 1957 trials. No stamps.

4. Second Model Jacket (early) = 4 pockets, squared pocket flaps, shoulder cape, button on hood, and no provision for shoulder rank.

5. Second Model Jacket (late) = same as above but with provisions for shoulder rank. Many Early examples were retrofitted to have shoulder rank. Production ceased in by 1963, perhaps as early as 1962.

6. Third Model Jacket (early) = similar to the Second Model, but no button on hood and has arm pocket. Only BGS shield badge present on pocket, but often added later when used after 1970. Production started in 1967 and went until about 1970.

7. Third Model Jacket (late) = same as above but with wider rank loops for the 2nd Model shoulder rank. Production started in 1970 I think. Around the same time the BUNDESGRENZSCHUTZ arc was added to the pen pocket flap. Production ended in 1975.

In addition to the basic uniform there are a bunch of other Sumpftarn items. Here are the ones I am aware of:

1. Trousers = produced alongside the 2nd Model Jacket (roughly 1958-1963). There was only this type manufactured.

2. M43 hat = made alongside the 2nd Model Jacket (roughly 1958-1963)

3. Parka (early) = 1967 production only as far as I can tell. Slight construction differences in the armpits and for the flashlight button reinforcements.

4. Parka (late) = 1967-1975. Identical to above except for the small alterations. Sometime around 1970 changed to have wider rank loops and BUNDESGREZSCHUTZ arc badge added.

5. Zeltbahn = made between 1959 and 1963 for sure, but possibly 1958 as well.

6. Rain cape = thin plastic apron. I don't know the dates for this, but I suspect late 1960s.

7. Titanium helmet cover = 1970s through 1980s

8. Fragmentation vest = 1980s in exact same construction as Bundeswehr type

There are three distinctly different camouflage patterns used with many color variations throughout the production period (especially 3rd Model stuff).

That's all the items I am aware of! I have an example of each of these if there are additional questions.

Steve

[Klaus1989]

From your list I have the 2nd Model jacket with hood (1959), which I have posted, and Zeltbahn (also 1959!). My jacket has provisions for shoulder rank - have seen these from 1959 on. Interesting, that they are 2 variants of Sumpftarn. Smock appear to be 1st variant, but very faded. Jacket is also 1st pattern, but has reinforced areas (elbows, shoulder, loops) in 2nd pattern. Zeltbahn is 2nd pattern. This seem to indicate, that patterns changed 1959.

I used terms 1st model smock and 2nd model for Splittertarn and Sumpftarn versions. Was the 2 pocket one actually earlier than 4 pocket? Yours is only, that I have seen or heard of, and it appear to be maybe protoype variant, but 4-pocket is direct copy of Splittertarn in Sumpftarn (and made nonreversible). So it seem liklier to me, that 4 pocket was earlier, but maybe you have evidence for 2 pocket?

Regards
Klaus

[Collectinsteve]

From your list I have the 2nd Model jacket with hood (1959), which I have posted, and Zeltbahn (also 1959!). My jacket has provisions for shoulder rank - have seen these from 1959 on.

The only ones I have seen dated before about 1960 were not from the factory. My 1957 trials jacket certainly has no loops for rank. I have seen a variety of modifications too, including non-Sumpftarn cloth for the loops. So clearly the early versions did not have shoulder rank, but instead it was added later to jackets still in service.

Interesting, that they are 2 variants of Sumpftarn. Smock appear to be 1st variant, but very faded. Jacket is also 1st pattern, but has reinforced areas (elbows, shoulder, loops) in 2nd pattern. Zeltbahn is 2nd pattern. This seem to indicate, that patterns changed 1959.

It is a little confusing. To me there are three distinct patterns with some extra variations for the 3rd Pattern used from 1967-1975. I will try to take some pictures of each.

Here is a good example of the color differences of the 3rd Pattern:

I used terms 1st model smock and 2nd model for Splittertarn and Sumpftarn versions.

In general I find it more clear to label the cuts of uniform by camouflage pattern. The reason I do this is it can be very confusing to say "2nd Model Sumpftarn" if there is no actual "1st Model Sumpftarn". Likewise, Splittertarn only comes in one design and therefore calling it "1st Model Splittertarn" is confusing because it implies there is at least a "2nd Model Splittertarn", which is not true. It is more clear to say "Splittertarn Smock", "1st Model Sumpftarn Smock", and "2nd Model Sumpftarn Smock".

But, of course, there is no official way to document these things and therefore my method is only an opinion. But with about 1800 uniforms in my collection I find the method I use is the one that works best across all countries for all time periods.

Was the 2 pocket one actually earlier than 4 pocket? Yours is only, that I have seen or heard of, and it appear to be maybe protoype variant, but 4-pocket is direct copy of Splittertarn in Sumpftarn (and made nonreversible). So it seem liklier to me, that 4 pocket was earlier, but maybe you have evidence for 2 pocket?

Yes, unfortunately there is no good documentation of these items! For me I think it is clearly best to call the 4 pocket Sumpftarn "1st Model" because it is identical to the absolutely earlier Splittertarn design. The 2 pocket "2nd Model" makes sense because usually designs are simplified over time, not made more complex.

My guess is 1st and 2nd Model Sumpftarn smocks were made at the same exact time for the 1957 trials. Same with the 1st Model jacket. It is also possible that the 2nd Model Sumpftarn was made as a production sample but was never issued even as part of a trials. As you say, it's the only one out there as far as we know so there's no good answers

Steve

[Klaus1989]

Think that the confusion about the smocks come from our different ideas of model. I wrote was "1st model smock", but you read as "1st model Splittertarn smock". The Sumpftarn and Splittertarn 4-pocket smocks could almost be considered same model in different colours (like WW2 FJ smocks), except Splittertarn reversible and has some minor differences to allow this. Otherwise cut similar. I admit, that it confusing!

Regards
Klaus

[Collectinsteve]

Think that the confusion about the smocks come from our different ideas of model. I wrote was "1st model smock", but you read as "1st model Splittertarn smock". The Sumpftarn and Splittertarn 4-pocket smocks could almost be considered same model in different colours (like WW2 FJ smocks), except Splittertarn reversible and has some minor differences to allow this. Otherwise cut similar. I admit, that it confusing!

Yup! The two primary (easy) choices are:

1. "Absolute Reference". The style of the cut is the only thing that matters. Material, camouflage, user, etc. are not relevant

2. "Relative Reference". The cut of the item is second to the cloth and/or user.

You are using #1, I am using #2. In my years of collecting large numbers of variants I have found that the #2 method is much less prone to conflict and confusion. Not perfect, but generally more robust.

For example, there are about 5 BGS jackets of similar construction. 3 of them are in Sumpftarn, 2 are in Gray. What is the jacket made in 1967?

1. 5th Model Sumpftarn Jacket (Absolute Method)
2. 3rd Model Sumpftarn Jacket (Relative Method)

#1 implies there could be as many as five types of Sumpftarn jacket, when is wrong because there are only three. #2 makes it clear there are as many as three.

Even more confusing if you bring the Polizei jackets into the discussion. What do you call the Berlin Polizei Sumpftarn jacket? It is nearly the same as the BGS 2nd Model Jacket, but it is not identical. Which means it is a 6th type. So do you call it 6th Model Berlin Polizei Sumpftarn even though there is only 1 such jacket like this?

Again, there is no one correct way to assign names. I am just strongly in favor of the "relative" method because it is less confusing when an identification is made on its own. At least that's my experience

Steve

[Klaus1989]

Well, for me, the grey and camo could be variants of the same model, at time they are worn, so "3rd model BGS jacket in Sumpftarn/grey" for example. Here, the Berlin jacket would be 1st model in context of Berliner Polizei, because minor difference to BGS. It is the first Einsatzjacke for them (but not for BGS). One could invent M- designations to these, like the WH collectors, but not everything clear, when it introduced.