| chrach7 | 07 Feb 2016 2:27 p.m. PST |
When did the camo helmet covers begin to appear on German infantry? I'm painting up an army of infantry for a Stalingrad battle and I'm not sure if the camo helmet covers would be an anachronism. |
| Jemima Fawr | 07 Feb 2016 3:12 p.m. PST |
While they don't appear commonly in photos, they were certainly in use by Stalingrad. There's a famous photo of a battle-weary German officer wearing one in the city. IIRC, such things weren't official issue, but were tailored from 'zeltbahn' (i.e. camo tent-quarter/ponch) material. Officers also sometimes had tunic jackets made from the same material. |
| christot | 07 Feb 2016 3:19 p.m. PST |
SS bods are wearing them in France 1940 iirc…but unusual nonetheless |
| Jemima Fawr | 07 Feb 2016 3:54 p.m. PST |
Indeed, the SS were issuing helmet covers, oversmocks, etc, in their own camo patterns right from the off. |
| Mako11 | 07 Feb 2016 4:01 p.m. PST |
Based on anecdotal evidence, from photos, I'd guess they became more common from mid-1943, or 1944, on. |
| Jemima Fawr | 07 Feb 2016 4:24 p.m. PST |
Indeed. Aside from that one photo, I can't recall any other examples. |
peterx  | 07 Feb 2016 8:22 p.m. PST |
I looked up German soldiers in camo covers and 3 photos of Wehrmacht soldiers with camo covers turned up. All the images were taken at Stalingrad. Not all the soldiers had them though. It was also in the summer or fall these photos were taken. So, in Stalingrad in August 1942- November 1942 the camo covers seemed fairly common in the regular German Army. As christot mentioned, the SS seems to have worn camo helmet covers from the early war all the way through to 1945. |
| Frederick | 07 Feb 2016 8:23 p.m. PST |
As noted, the SS had camo covers and smocks from as early as France 1940 – the Wehrmacht started using them more generally in 1942 |
| Martin Rapier | 08 Feb 2016 12:10 a.m. PST |
They were never very common in Heer units, although we all love to paint our 1944 Panzergrenadiers head to toe splinter. A rarity, even at Stalingrad. Re-enactors wearing splinter helmet covers for a 1942 impression would almost certainly get a bit of finger pointing:) |
| bsrlee | 08 Feb 2016 3:47 a.m. PST |
Don't forget the 'chicken wire' helmet covers for stuffing with local foliage, in use since WW1. |
| Fred Cartwright | 08 Feb 2016 5:58 a.m. PST |
Improvised helmet covers were in use before the official issue. Made from sacking or white sheets for snow camo.
See this site for some examples.
link |
| Rudysnelson | 08 Feb 2016 5:38 p.m. PST |
The Concord books on the SS has a number of photos which camo being worn. |
