Sumpf Pattern Jump Smock, Dec. 1944

[Remy Spezzano]

I was reading in a thread on this forum that photos showing sumpf pattern jump smocks in use during the war were rare. So here's a photo of a young captured German FJ wearing a sumpf pattern smock which was taken by a US Army Combat Photographer in Belgium Dec. 1944. See also the official caption from the reverse side of the photo. What's interesting is the caption states the soldier was injured during a night jump.

Also the smock seems to be pretty minty and has the white plastic zippers.

regards.
Remy Spezzano

[Remy Spezzano]

Photo Caption

[SMP]

That's a great photo. Nice clear shot of a tan/water with plastic RiRi zips . Thanks for showing it !

Steve












( Hey John, looks like someone beat him up to steal his zipper-pulls )

[doriani]

Very interresting

[rob NL]

thanks for showing Remy

[rob NL]

Very interresting

Tell us why .

[Glenn McInnes]

Nice photo...I would say it's more likely that the GI's beat him up.









Glenn

[clint-magnum]

the leather pull tabs seems to be missing .

the pants seems to undergone some damages

[Óscar G]

So, "night jump" has to do with Kampfgruppe von der Heydte/Stösser onto Mont Rigi. Nice shot.
Best regards. Óscar

[Willi Z.]

So, "night jump" has to do with Kampfgruppe von der Heydte/Stösser onto Mont Rigi.

It might be. He certainly looks like he had a very bad night in the woods.

That is a great photo! I have seen this one before, but not both sides.
I do have some other Signal Corps photos from the aftermath of Stösser, so I will have to check if they were taken by the same photographer.

[Óscar G]

I recall to have seen another similar photo: two GIs speaking with another FJ (the same bad look than this one). The photocaption argued that it was taken on 17 december 1944 in Inden.
Many FJs from the Kampfgruppe v. d. Heydte were wrongly dropped and scattered on the area between Köln and their target. Most of them landed on no one's land, as Georg Le Coutre did, and were lucky enough to reach the own lines. The same did not happen with this young FJ.
Best regards. Óscar

[John Hodgin]

The poor fellow trousers are in rough shape. Indeed Steve, those nasty Americans beat him up and ripped his leather zipper tabs off!

Excellent photo with great history on the back.

[mayer]

So the pull leather tabs in the zipps, seems to be not a rule?!

[Willi Z.]

So the pull leather tabs in the zipps, seems to be not a rule?!

It depends on whose rule book you are referring to.

[SMP]

So the pull leather tabs in the zipps, seems to be not a rule?!

Only on plastic RiRi zips. I think all metal ones had them .

There have been many threads on this. It has been a source of much teasing between me and John

I will win !