Winter mittens - strange fabric and camo

[marcinkappa]

Hi guys,
I would like to know your opinion about these mittens. They come directly from the Family of German officer and they are told to be used by him in ww2, just please tell me your opinion what it could be: non-German mittens, some front made mittens, some Axis countries fabric, russian captured fabric (scouts) .... etc.. ??

[Sonnenwende]

Its italian camo M29 Telo Mimetico. The mittens were probably made from cut-up Zeltbahns. The fabric looks typical later war coarse quality. Sewn during the 2. W.W.? Who knows, perhaps made in the field by a company taylor? I guess no stamps are present?

Looking nice

Regards Sonnewende.

[salamander]

Cool. I like.

[marcinkappa]

This GJ officer fought mainly in Russia in southern sector, his unit cooperated with Romanians and Italians, but the fabric doesn`t look like from the zelt....
Was there any other Italian fabric in this camo used to produce clothes, winter clothes ??

[marcinkappa]

cd

[Sonnenwende]

Hi Marcin,

I still think its (worn) italian Zelt cloth the mittens are made from. There is a great difference in the quality of cloth on italian Zeltfabric. Some of it is very fine like on the Zelt you have shown and some of the later war is really coarse. Wear and tear will also have an affect off course.

The germans used lots and lots of this captured cloth, but I think the only "official" clothing is the italian camo furlined Parka. Also the HJ-Division used Kombis made from italian cloth both in training and in combat on a wider scale, probably factory-made as well. And then there is all the unofficial non-factory made clothing like Jackets, Trousers, Hats, Stell helmet covers, wrappers ect. well documented in photographs. I´m not sure if the fabric was allways Zeltbahn-cloth or other fabric in this print existed.

The cloth used for the Parka resembles the fine Zeltbahn-fabric.

Was this previous owner a Wehrmacht GJ officer?

Regards Sonnenwende

[marcinkappa]

Thanks for clearing Sonnenwende

Yes, he was HEER GJ officer ...

[camo master]

Hi Marcin

Really interesting cloth but Im quite certain it isnt zelt material.

The weave is far too loose. I've seen a fair number of Italian zelts and things made from Italian zelt camo fabric but Ive never seen this. Doesnt mean I've seen everything and that it didnt exist but to me it would be highly unlikely they would make a zelt out of this cloth. Water would pour right through this and completely not wind proof.

So I really wonder what the intended use for this fabric was? Tropical tunics?

Always something new to see - amazing gloves regardless.
Cheers
Mark

[Sonnenwende]

Hi Marcin,
why don´t you try and post it in the "Italian & European Axis Allies Forum", they might have some input on italian camo cloth?

The cloth looks quite thin, and I still think it is possibly worn-out Zelt fabric that the mittens are made from, but a hands-on inspection would be great of course. I have a few worn-out Zelts that would not hold water anymore either, and the weave and camo schemes resembles some of the fabric of the german made italian Zelts I own (I think I have 5 + 1 hybrid Splittertarn/italian Zeltbahn) and have seen in my time. But, as Mark wrote, similar fabric, if it isn´t Zelt fabric, might have been used for other clothing in the german/italian army?

Regards Sonnenwende

PM sent.

[marcinkappa]

Ok, I asked also on Axis forum.

[kammo man]

first time I have seen these !

Looks like company made to me .


owen

[marcinkappa]

Hi there.
I`ve got this info on Axis Forum:

Italian M.1929 camo cloth. German production and refurbishing after September 1943.PaoloM

[marcinkappa]

And here are two pictures sent by Sonnenwende: these zelts have really grainy fabric but is this really so loose fabric as in my mittens ???? Hard to say ...

[Sonnenwende]

First Photo is originally from WAF-member ateas (aka Adam), hope its OK! It resembles the rarer colour variant of one of the mittens, also shows a worn fabric.

Second Photo is a near mint italian Zelt showing the difference between different qualities af italian M29 Zelt fabric. Imagine the coarse fabric worn. One of the colour schemes resembles that of the second mitten.

Italian camo Zeltbahn 31s were not that rare and would be readily available for a company taylor to cut-up for other purposes.

In the italian forum the cloth that the mittens are made from, is thought to be of german (controlled?) manufactore post september 1943.

However I don´t know if other fabric than Zelt fabric was made for the german army to use?

A hands-on would be great of course.

I´ll see if I can take some close-up photos of similar Zelt fabric later.

Just my 2 cents

Regards Sonnenwende

[marcinkappa]

Hi,
these are another shots from Sonnenwende, they really show well the coarse of some zelts (great zelts BTW ) but still - is it the same scale of coarsing as on my mittens ?? Take a look.