Mixed tropical / wool uniforms (Heer) in Italy, Southern Europe.

[PaulW]

Hi, I wondered if anyone has seen any pictures of Heer soldiers wearing (against regulations of course!) mixed tropical and wool uniforms in Italy or southern Europe, probably from 1943 onwards?

I will add a couple of pictures from Stefano Di Giusto's excellent book on Panzer Abteilung 208, reviewed here:-

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru....php?t=1020940

that also covers the later history of Pz Abt 212 in an Appendix section. These pictures are of Panzer Abteilung 212 retreating through the town of Buja in northern Italy on 2nd May 1945 when uniform discipline was presumably not what it once was... Both Pz Abt 208 & Pz Abt 212 (earlier stationed in Crete) were issued with tropical kit.

I can't be sure but I think there may be a couple of tropical caps worn in conjunction with at least other soldiers (possibly from the same unit) wearing wool uniforms. The soldier in the centre of the first picture (possibly a tropical cap), and in the second picture (both wearing greatcoats) the soldier on the far right of the picture and one in the back of the truck?

In other words nothing conclusive, hence wondering if other Forum members have seen anything similar in better more conclusive period images?

Regards, Paul

[Mike Davis]

The wear of mixed continental and tropical clothing is an interesting topic. You might want to take a look at this series.

[PaulW]

The wear of mixed continental and tropical clothing is an interesting topic. You might want to take a look at this series.

Dear Mr Davis, thank-you for pointing out that excellent book series!

Reviewed earlier on the WAF here:-

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=562404

Regards, Paul

[paintbrush]

Hi Paul - Its OP from the 6th Div. I'm surprised no one else has responded.

I'm quite sure this happened. I've seen pics of Tropical gear with wools in Normandy, so I would think it's a for sure thing in Italy/MTO. There's a photo I'm thinking of that I'll try to find, of a man wearing tropical pants and a gray assault wrap. I'm also pretty sure I've seen GJ's in Italy wearing mixed kit.

[paintbrush]

Paul, this is one I was thinking of - Kesselring & men in Italy in 44. Looks like tropical tunic and tropical pants mixed with wools?

[paintbrush]

This is the one I was thinking of in Normandy/Northern France, but no mix. Credited as NordFrankreich in Bundearchive, Sommer 1944. Still odd to see tropical that far away. That cap would stick out like a sore thumb.

And sorry, got my pics mixed up - I thought the guy wearing the wrap was with Rommel in Normandy. And not sure if you're including Italian camo as a tropical item, though I'm wagering no.

[PaulW]

This is the one I was thinking of in Normandy/Northern France, but no mix. Credited as NordFrankreich in Bundearchive, Sommer 1944. Still odd to see tropical that far away. That cap would stick out like a sore thumb.

And sorry, got my pics mixed up - I thought the guy wearing the wrap was with Rommel in Normandy. And not sure if you're including Italian camo as a tropical item, though I'm wagering no.

Hi paintbrush, thanks for posting those interesting pictures!

The wool wrap and tropical trousers was what I was thinking of and illustrates that 'it happened'.

The picture of the officer in northern France in what appears to be full tropical uniform shows that the 'Naples line' rule was also flouted!

Many thanks, Paul

[OSS]

This is the one I was thinking of in Normandy/Northern France, but no mix. Credited as NordFrankreich in Bundearchive, Sommer 1944. Still odd to see tropical that far away. That cap would stick out like a sore thumb.

And sorry, got my pics mixed up - I thought the guy wearing the wrap was with Rommel in Normandy. And not sure if you're including Italian camo as a tropical item, though I'm wagering no.

This image shows an officer in Lunneville, France from the 15th Pz. Gren. Div. that had recently been transferred from the Italian front. This explains the tropical uniforms worn by him and others seen in other photos from that series.

[PaulW]

This image shows an officer in Lunneville, France from the 15th Pz. Gren. Div. that had recently been transferred from the Italian front. This explains the tropical uniforms worn by him and others seen in other photos from that series.

Thank-you OSS, very interesting information!