M44 Pea Pattern Jacket

[Albert]

Dear All,

I have this one in my collection and would like to ask some general questions about those very nice pieces of uniform.

First question is regarding the material: the majority of such tunics is made of HBT, but some are made of cotton twill, which ones are earlier?

Second question is about the lining. Some, like mine, are lined in that silver grey herring bone rayon, others in tan cotton twill. Again, is there an early / late difference? Or is it something typical of the particular factories? Or is it something that was randomly distributed?

Third and last question. Some of tose tunics are SS BW marked others are not. Do we know why?

Thanks for your patience and for sharing the answers!

Best regards,

Albert

[Albert]

The back:

[Albert]

Close up of silver grey herring bone rayon lining:

[Albert]

And close up of the size and factory Betr. Ra. stamp:

[Bobwirtz]

This one was manufactured at KZ Ravensbruck (Betr. Ra.).

Bob

[Glenn McInnes]

Very nice Albert...The Betr-Ra markings,HBT lining ect are textbook.


Glenn

[Albert]

Thank you Bob and Glenn!

Allways great to receive some confirmation

Any answers to the questions above??? Pleazzze

Best regards,

Albert

[Fsoq]

Hello Albert,
Cotton twill was used earlier than HBT.
Often, you can also see Cotton twill used to make the inside of pockets flaps or the collar of a HBT tunic.
I do not think that a kind of lining is earlier than another but it is true that I saw more cotton twill made jacket with tan cotton twill lining and, of course, more HBT jacket with HBT lining. But the opposite is also true.

I have a question:
I can see that your jacket has black threads. Am I right ?
I have exaclty the same jacket, same lining, same stamp and mine has also this black thread. Pierre

[Albert]

Hello Pierre,

Thanks. Yes, I have also seen HBT jackets with the tan cotton twill lining.

To answer your question, yes, you are right, black thread was used on this jacket.

BR,
Albert

[prorege1]

Ref the stamp Betr Ra., to my knowledge this is not referring to the cencentration camp Ravensbruck.

The RA is an abbreviation for Rohstoffamt, pls refer to Mollo's books Uniforms of the SS.