Oakleaf Camo Wraps

[Panzer Bob]

Hello, all!
I was wondering whether anyone has some decent photos of oakleaf - fall or spring - wraps being worn. I have looked through a number of references, and the photos seem few and far between (probably for very good reason!).
Regards,
Bob

[Bobwirtz]

I don't believe they were widely distributed, sort of an interim step between the combination and the two-piece in the dot camouflaged pattern. There are some photos in Mike Beaver's Camouflaged Uniforms of the Waffen-SS, as well as some samples from collections.

Bob

[Panzer Bob]

Oakleaf Wraps

Bob,
Thanks. Yes, I agree they were probably not widely issued. I'm curious as to which formations, if any, seemed to have a lot of them (in relative terms) and whether any relatively decent photos exist. I am familiar with the sources you mentioned, as well as the two shots of the spring-pattern wrap in Pruett & Edwards Germany's Panzer Elite (shameless plug! ) but was hoping the many photo collectors on the forum might be able to shed some more light on the subject.
Regards,
Bob

[Luca Ongaro]

but was hoping the many photo collectors on the forum might be able to shed some more light on the subject.
Regards,
Bob

I am waiting for.
Luca

[JohnS]

Wraps

Bob,

(And others w/ interest...)I believe there are several photos of Nordland soldiers wearing the oak wraps up by Narva, Spring/Summer 1944. As I recall the pictures showed them being worn by infantrymen, though you'd kind of assume that the Division's Tank Battalion (a rarely photographed unit) was issued them too....

Cheers, John

[Bobwirtz]

These came out in 1943 so the new divisions with panzer units probably got these issued. That was a tendency of the German's supply system. Instead of giving the Panther to the hard-core, combat-experienced veteran divisions first, they issued them to the new units coming online. Panthers in the hands of combat veterans would have been far more successful. So I'm (educated) guessing that this may have happened too; that new units forming got the latest-and-greatest garments too. I've never seen one of these with the spring side out; always the autumn. These were HBT printed on each side with an oakleaf (for the most part "A") camouflaged pattern. But they were not made to be reversible. I've seen a few of these in collections and all have been with the autumn colors on the outside.

Bob

[JohnS]

Wraps

For what its worth, I am pretty sure the majority of the run was Fall-side-out but I've owned an orig and very well used pair of WSS Pz oak pattern pants that were made Spring Side out.

Got them in 1993 think I sold em at at the MAX that year (they lasted 5 minutes...)

I believe I have seen an orig spring side out oak jacket, though I'll admit I was not in a "cloth phase" at the time and so, didnt spend any time with it.

JS

[Panzer Bob]

Spring-Side-Out Trousers

John,
Yes, I have seen these as well, and not only in the Beaver books. A pair was being offered for sale several years ago at the MAX, as well as a fall-side-out pair. I have never seen a jacket, other than the photos I mentioned previously in "Germany's Panzer Elite".
Regards,
Bob

[Lorenz]

hello,
the HBT wrappers in Oakleaf that I personally saw and examinated were in Oakleaf "A" and in the autumn camo pattern how right side.
Regarding the trousers, how descripted in the Beaver book existed in autumn oakleaf "A" and spring Oakleaf "B".
I'm courious if existed also the wrapper in oakleaf "B" spring camo, Just never saw one in person, I never saw also it in pictures of wartime....
This is an interesting question, it existed?
Lorenz

[markus]

Borchers Cammo wrap

The SS-Pz Rgt. 1 must have received some. This shot comes from the group of SS-UStuf. Borchers and must have been taken around the Winter 1944 or Spring 1945.

[Luca Ongaro]

Do not seems an HBT wrap, could be a field jacket in my opinion made from zeltbhan.
Nice picture Markus, thanks to share it.
Luca

[SJP]

IMO Oakleaf (production) wraps first appeared in the spring of 1944.

Besides the sources mentioned period photo's show Hohnenstaufen & LAH (Schw.SS Pz 101) in Normandy w/these wraps although the photo's make it difficult to determine weather its A or B pattern.

There are private photos I have from Horst Gresiak ( 7.SS Pz Regt.2 ) with his crew one of which is wearing a Oakleaf wrap.

I also believe the photo Markus shows is a tailor made piece.
Hans-Albin von Reitzenstein (SS Pz regt 2) is shown wearing a tailor made Oakleaf in the spring of 1943

This picture is supposedly taken Southern Russia spring 1944...Oakleaf (A) wrap,pea pattern trousers.
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Cheers Steve

[Gran Sasso]

Picked those up at LaGleize 2 days ago: