White Luftwaffe smock? Service or drill smock?

[Andy A]

White Luftwaffe smock? Service or drill smock?

A friend brought this into the shop yesterday. Is this an original WW2 Luftwaffe smock of some variety? He said that he purchased it from a man who had two identical smocks and had owned them for a number of years. He was told that they were brought back from Italy. The pockets have snaps. Thanks for any information. Always appreciated.

Andy

[Gran Sasso]

Is this an original WW2 Luftwaffe smock of some variety?

No

[Andy A]

Gran,

Thanks. I didn't know for sure. Thanks for responding.

Andy

[Mike TM]

+1

no

[Ir 143]

Jacket.

Looks to be a civilian ski jacket.

[Andy A]

I've been told by a collector, in Italy that it is a WWII winter anorak for Italian Alpini. I did find some pictures of the Italian smock that look very similar. If it is a WW2 era Italian smock, after Sept. of 1943 it could have been conceivably used by German troops. I realize that would be hard to prove, short of having a period photo of the smock in use. All said, this does fit with the story that the man that owned this smock, and another just like it said they were given to him forty years ago by a neighbor who said he brought them back from Italy after the war. Hard to prove, but not out of the realm of possibility. Thanks to everyone that commented.

Andy

[billbert]

With the new info I’m certainly a believer..they were pulling German snow smocks out of abandoned Norwegian defensive bunkers 20 years back..
Billbert

[Andy A]

Billbert, "They NEVER did that....YEAH they did ....."

Your quote says a lot and I don't mean just in reference to this item. In something as monumental as the German war effort, it's hard to say that they "never" did something. I know there were standards, but as the war progressed, shortages increased and the need became greater, I would think there was a significant amount of improvising. I realize that this mindset is a double edged sword. While it helps explain legitimate non regulation use, it also gives sellers a way of justifying every cobbled up Third Reich item that comes along. In the end, all the pieces of the puzzle have to fit. Would they have access? Is the time frame right? Does the story make sense? And, after you convince yourself, for the item to have monetary value, you have to be able to convince somebody else.

Andy