Italian Camo 4-Pocket Tunic

[Mike C]

Hello all,

Certainly not the most expensive item in my collection - but one I think remarkable regardless. This four pocket tunic is very closely patterned on the classic W-SS M43 tunic and has many small details that I think mark it as a period piece - most likely worn by a soldier from either the LAH or HJ panzer divisions. Heavily worn but very, very neat...

Mike

[Mike C]

Second view...

[Mike C]

Third...

[Mike C]

Reverse of collar...

[Mike C]

Unfaded inside the pocket flap...and where the top of the pocket itself was covered by the flap.

[Mike C]

With a steel Assman buckle and belt - plus an early plane tree M43 cap...

[Mike C]

Another view...

[Mike C]

Rear of jacket...note the use of differrent material differentiated by teh dye run.

[Mike C]

And last - detail of the board loop. The tunic never had shoulder board buttons - and from period photos it appears that these tunics were invariably used with the camouflage rank insignia - notably by Max Wunsche and Karl Heinz Prinz (12th SS-Panzer Regiment) and Heinz Milius and Hans Waldmuller(25th SS-Panzer Grenadier Regiment).

Mike

[Panzergrenadiere71]

Mike, jacket.I think you love SS camo items,isn't it? Always good stuff from you.Thanks for sharing

Cheers
Emilio

[Lorenz]

Hi Mike!
Fascinating piece!
Could be Perfect with a LAH Officer straps!


By Lorenz

And last - detail of the board loop. The tunic never had shoulder board buttons - and from period photos it appears that these tunics were invariably used with the camouflage rank insignia - notably by Max Wunsche and Karl Heinz Prinz (12th SS-Panzer Regiment) and Heinz Milius and Hans Waldmuller(25th SS-Panzer Grenadier Regiment).

Mike

[Mike C]

Hi Lorenzo,

Interesting M43 on your side as well! I studied the LAH and HJ in Normandy and from period photos it appears that shoulder boards were rarely used although the board loops were there. Almost all jackets had the printed camouflage rank insignia on the sleeve and no boards. Take care,

Mike

[Gary Wood]

Mike,
First of all, I do not mean this in a negative way

Do you have a photo of this type of jacket being Worn? but the images I have seen (and I have not seen them all) show what look like 2 different patterns of Jackets being worn on the whole, the first appears to have no lower patched pockets, plane un pleated top pockets like your example and what appears to be Italian buttons, it also looks like in some of the pictures as if it had adjustable tie cords at the rear.

The second type I have seen is more in keeping with an officers 4 pocket tunic, pleated pockets, German buttons.

I have though also seen one piece overalls being worn as well again they appear to have Italian type buttons.

I have though also seen one similar to yours but the lower pockets are not positioned as yours are.

Again as I have said above I do not mean this in a negative way
Cheers
Gary

[Mike C]

Hi Gary,

No offence taken at all. I suspect that your reference to the two pocket version is based on the images of Wunsche and his adjutant Isecke(and frankly the absence of lower pockets for a tank crewman would make sense). I am now scanning for pictures that would show something similar - after a quick search I would note that the image of Hans Waldmuller (H. Meyer's history of the 12th SS, page B-11) clearly shows him wearing a four pocket tunic with unpleated lower pockets - but no clear image of the upper pockets). Having quickly gone through a couple of references, I can't find an image of a full tunic - but do note one or two images of unpleated bottom pockets and a very few pleated top pockets.

This tunic has never had shoulder boards - or the camo rank badges. Perhaps the pleated breast pockets were an officers only perk - as borne out by photographic evidence that seems to suggest that these tunics (within the 12th SS were more commonly worn by officers).

As for this tunic - it is what it is: a clone of a M43 tunic utterly without frills (perhaps done in Italy and not Normandy)?

I look forward to your comments. Cheers,

Mike

[Mike C]

Gary,

This picture is a poor one from Lefevre's "Panzers in Normandy: Then and Now" (page 88). It is cropped from a picture of 4 officers (one with AG wrapper and panzer schiffchen; the second wearing a U-boat leather tunic and then third in a smock). It appears to show a four pocket Italian camo tunic characterized by no pleats in the top, square off pockets and the use of standard wehrmacht buttons. Hard to tell....

Mike