Waffen SS camo 1944

The erbsenmuster camo was issued in an order from March 1944. The two piece uniform was made from a herringbone twill as well as a smooth cotton duck. Collar insignia was not authorized to be worn on these uniforms but the SS version of the eagle and swastika national emblem was authorized on the left sleeve similar to the field grey uniform but photo documentation shows that this was often omitted. The uniforms were not made with loops and buttons for attaching epaulettes and officialy the only type of rank insignia authorized was  the sleeve patches of bars and oakleaves. Photo documentation does show that standard rank epaulettes were ocassionaly worn on the jackets. (In the catagory of just when you think it was all black and white...I have a photo of a uniform of an SS Obersturmfuher using the 1944 pattern erbsenmuster hbt drill tunic sporting the epaulettes, assault badges, feldritterkreuz and a "other ranks" belt buckle on the belt.) The original issue butons were tan porcelin.

There was a version of the SS wintertarnanzug (parka) in erbsenmuster produced in small numbers. SInce it was produced in the last winter of the war, and few made it to the front lines in the west there is scant evidence of it in the Ardennes offensive but shows up more in the eastern front.

 Officialy, no hats or covers were produced but there is plenty of evidence of it in "field made" items.

Tankluver wrote:

Did the Waffen SS use only the ea pattern camo in 1944. I want to do a dio in 1944 russia and I have a gun crew in regular camo without the pea pattern would it be ok if I added waffen SS troops witha Pea Pattern camo.

Pea-dot patterned blouse on guy on left:

Pea-dot pants on guy on left:

Another pea-dot blouse and '43 cap on Panzer Meyer:

Pea-dot pants:

Pea-dot tanker uniform (guy pointing):

This is an excellent site:

http://www.1944militaria.com/waffen_ss_camouflage.htm

Huxy,

Waffen SS started using camo in 1937. Heer was using it in 1931. (Italians were using camo in 1929) The Italienischestarnmuster pattern was pretty popular after Italy's disarmament and 1 SS LSSAH and the 12 SS Panzer Div HJ. were big fans of it. Very popular with senior officers.

Tankluver,

The german terms for the camo patterns are below. This should help your research.

Reversible patterns (Autumn and Spring Green with some variations) were:

Platanenmuster (Plane Tree or Sycamore)

Rauchtarnmuster ( Smoke Pattern or Blurred Edge)

Palmenmuster (Palm Pattern)

Eich Platanmuster (A mix of Plane Tree and Oak Leaf)

Beringt-Eichenlaubmuster (Ringed Oak Leaf Pattern)

Eichenlaubmunster (Oak Leaf Pattern)

Non reversible patterns were

Erbsenmuster (Pea Pattern)

Liebermuster (this was a very rare, very late war pattern)

There are small nuamces of patterning and garment construction regarding "official" issued clothing. i.e. First and second pattern issue, foiliage loops etc. But for your use I think you're safe not really worrying about those details.  It would be easy to say that ony certain types of camo patterns were used in certain years but it seems that evidence shows that if it was available, it was used. Some older patterns even show up in photo references as brand new, years after their original issue. So someone liked them. As Hans pointed out, there was a great deal of field made or "customized" garments made from zeltbahns and or obtainable fabric. So you'll find Panzer jackets, smocks, coveralls, tunics etc. all made from fabric that was issued as something else. In some cases, collar tabs from regular issue unifroms added to camo smocks to turn them into tunics. There is also variations of weight of garments too with some made as heavy winter clothing. There is also a line of winter garments with white as the reversable color. Hopefully the above info will give you a good start to figure out what you want your figures dressed in.

From a Waffen-SS uniforms book from Europa-Militaria No.6, states that the SS-Standarte 1 'Deutschland' was the first group to be equipped with camoflage smocks and helmet covers as early as 1937.

German troops used all kinds of uniform combinations on all fronts from 1943 onwards...  You really need to narrow down your question... I'd start by Google Image searches for "Waffen SS Camouflage"...

Start here:

http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=Waffen+SS+Camouflage&gbv=2