"West Germany - When Did They Get Fritz Helmets?" Topic
9 Posts
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| Mako11 | 06 Oct 2015 11:15 a.m. PST |
I know the US troops started getting these around the mid-1980s, but would like to know when the Bundeswehr switched over to the "Fritz" helmets, and multi-colored camo. uniforms (BDUs) like those of the American Army? |
| Jcfrog | 06 Oct 2015 11:56 a.m. PST |
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| Mako11 | 06 Oct 2015 12:04 p.m. PST |
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| David Manley | 06 Oct 2015 12:33 p.m. PST |
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| nickinsomerset | 06 Oct 2015 1:23 p.m. PST |
A friend, who is oft on here, recounts a tale in about 94 at HQ ARRC when a German WO walked into the G2 office in his new uniform. When informed that it was somewhat reminiscent of the old SS pea dot uniform he said, I know and have you seen the helmet whereupon he pulled it out of his day sack! Who said that Germans had no sense of humour!! Tally Ho! |
| Mako11 | 06 Oct 2015 2:36 p.m. PST |
That's a good one, Nick! Incidentally, I did a little more digging, and it turns out that starting in the early 1980s, it appears the Bundeswehr got serious about camouflage, at least on their helmets, and started trading with US troops, and/or others, or making their own covers. Seems to be that rather an eclectic mix was permitted, and people used all sorts of camo fabric for it, from shelter quarters, British DPM camo, US Woodland camo, etc.. Once the US switched over to the Fritz helmets, things really accelerated, and the BW guys got a lot of ex-US helmets in trade, or as gifts, during combined unit exercises. It appears Flecktarn started being introduced in 1990, in the Bundeswehr: link I'm pretty sure I've seen pics of BW troops in full Woodland camo too though, at least on a model box for West German troops in Fritz Helmets, so did some of their units use that for a while? If so, anyone know the introduction and end dates? |
| Cherno | 06 Oct 2015 4:01 p.m. PST |
The Bundeswehr (partially) had this pattern from about 1959 to 1969, although it proved unpopular and in the end, was shot down by politics.
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| Mako11 | 06 Oct 2015 5:38 p.m. PST |
Thanks for the note and pic. I'd read that, but was given the impression that it was in service for a much shorter time, like from 1958 – 1959, or 1960. It's good to know it can be used for a longer period of time, since one of my Cold War target periods I'm interested in is the late 1950s and 1960s. |
| Cherno | 07 Oct 2015 1:57 a.m. PST |
To be honest, I don't know how long exactly it was in use. Your estimate might be closer to reality. |
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finds bridges to match the river sets.
