camo FJ sniper?

[m-e-h-t]

this photo is dated August 1944 and came with other FJ photos. IMO he wears splinter camo jacket and trousers for sniper. What do you think? I never saw this worn by FJ. A stunning photo

[Scott A. Hess]

Hard to say really. There is nothing that points to him being or not being a sniper, would be great if he had a sniper rifle next to him. It could be..as I suspect, just a shot of a FJ wearing POSSIBLY splinter or italian camo trousers, and a Heer or SS smock, because he liked them, and they afforded some camo protection. The HG routinely wore a variety of SS smocks and covers in Italy, and I doubt they were only issued to snipers, even tank crew are seen wearing them over their black wrappers.

[OSS]

These Heer Sumpftarn smocks were standard issue to HG personnel in '44-'45.

[NickG]

Just for the record that "FJ shaped helmet" on top of the fuel tank is not what it seams to be...It is actually a metal cover (box) that contains a sealed air intake.
It is one of the various military aspects of the (late model) R75 and allows it to go underwater (up to the tank) and still function,
for fording streams and rivers. NOTHING TO DO WITH LW PARA TROOPERS! Just wanted to make that clear as its outlined in the image as if its something special!

[Willi Z.]

They are not FJs. No FJ trousers, boots, etc. My guess would be HG.

[W Petz]

That would be my guess as well as HG in Italy wore a variety of field made camo items mixed with issue splinter or SS smocks.

[lucalocatelli]

I agree with Willi and WPetz about HG, but IMO it's not Italy...
Never seen before such kind of surroundings, the little white fences are not typically italian stuff.
(Maybe in a camping) why not...

Best,
Luca

[MP41]

Great photo! However, I agree with the others. I do not see anything in this photo that would indicate that these are FJs, or that one is a sniper.
Most likely Luftwaffe infantry, possibly HG division. Still a neat photo.

Matt

[W Petz]

Hi Luca....Germans love to build fences and structures wherever they go. You see them at Cemetery's, POW Camps, front lines, KZ's...so why not in Italy.

I agree with Willi and WPetz about HG, but IMO it's not Italy...
Never seen before such kind of surroundings, the little white fences are not typically italian stuff.
(Maybe in a camping) why not...

Best,
Luca

[m-e-h-t]

thank you all for your comments.

I thought about sniper, because the smock has a hood, which were only a part of sniper smocks, not common smocks, from my knowledge.
But I collect WSS, beeing not an expert in WH/WL stuff.
Correct me, please, if I´m wrong...

[17thairborne]

These Heer Sumpftarn smocks were standard issue to HG personnel in '44-'45.

Being new to the HG realm, I was unaware of this fact. Can you help me with a reference to support this? Thanks in advance, always looking to learn something new.

[Willi Z.]

thank you all for your comments.

I thought about sniper, because the smock has a hood, which were only a part of sniper smocks, not common smocks, from my knowledge.
But I collect WSS, beeing not an expert in WH/WL stuff.
Correct me, please, if I´m wrong...

The water pattern smock had a hood. The smock was standard Wehrmacht issue. Yes, many snipers were issued the smock, but that does not make it a sniper smock for their use only.

[m-e-h-t]

ahh, OK, that was new to me. I had in mind that there was a special smock with trousers for matching snipers, to recognize by the hood.
"Never stop to learn", ha ha.

The water pattern smock had a hood. The smock was standard Wehrmacht issue. Yes, many snipers were issued the smock, but that does not make it a sniper smock for their use only.