correct headgear for wear with M44 camo tunic?

[TMurray]

Hi guys,

what would be the 'most appropriate' piece of headgear for wear with a M44 dot pattern camo tunic? I'm not asking about helmets but more so about field caps? would it be the grey field cap or a camo field cap?

many thanks

[Gary Wood]

Hi guys,

what would be the 'most appropriate' piece of headgear for wear with a M44 dot pattern camo tunic? I'm not asking about helmets but more so about field caps? would it be the grey field cap or a camo field cap?

many thanks

All forms of headgear are pictured in period photos, side caps, camo caps, m43 style caps, peaked caps so there is no norm,

cheers
Gary

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Thomas, like Gary's said anything goes.

I would say the most typical combination would be the Einheitsfeldmutze.

Cheers, Ade.

[Guy]

You tend to see the Tarnmutze being worn a lot in period photos. My favourite though is the side cap.

Yours, Guy.

[bnz. 42]

I have another question
What pants EM/NCO wore with dot-M44 tunics? (talking about field-grey, not camo pants)

Hi guys,

what would be the 'most appropriate' piece of headgear for wear with a M44 dot pattern camo tunic? I'm not asking about helmets but more so about field caps? would it be the grey field cap or a camo field cap?

many thanks

[Guy]

Again, generally, kielhose. Tucked into short boots and gaiters. Or with sexy, size banded socks. Sartorial elegance seems to have been an issue with the SS.

Yours, Guy.

[Bob Hritz]

I have seen photos with the M-44 cano jacket worn with kielhose, reed green herringbone twill pants, natural tan colored herringbone twill pants, and straight leg earlier trousers. By the time these camo sets were issued, about any servicable trousers and headgear was used. Fashion was not of paramount importance when the enemy is 500 meters away.

Bob hritz

[Coco]

Headgear for M44 Camo

I think they really wore everything available and what they preferred themselves...I have my mannequin ecquipped with a Schiffchen....but that's a personal choice......


Best regards,

Coco

[Guy]

Thought I was setting myself up for a kick there, just suprised at the source.

I generalised stupidly. Sorry Bob. You are right one sees all kinds of combinations in period photos and, under battle conditions, I am sure vanity took a back seat.

However I must respectfully disagree if you think looks didn't matter. One only has to study the huge range of privately made garments, modified smocks etc to see these guys really did care what they looked like! Indeed I was told first hand by a veteran that the baggy Italian trousers were an absolutely "must have" item if you wanted to look the part. Similarly unit tailors were much in demand to "alter" garments to give them a bit of "individuality" (thats squaddies for you, especially those who consider themselves elite).

Not disagreeing for the sake of it I just think appearance was given more recognition than you think.

Guy.

[Bob Hritz]

Well, if by 1944, and the Reich collapsing, the soldiers were more worried about their appearance than battle, it is easy to see why Germany lost the war. I would think that fashion would have not been of such importance, and victory would be on the soldier's minds. Of course, the alteration of garments was common and made them more practical and appealing, but I stand that by 1944, fashion should be the LAST thing on the mind of a military force that was being defeated in battle after battle and pushed back injto a crumbling Germany.

The photos that I have seen of late war soldiers were battle weary and poorly uniformed men.

Bob Hritz
Bob Hritz

[TMurray]

thanks for the tips guys seems the side cap is fairly popular