Camouflage Helmet Covers

During the Second World War the German Armed Forces (Wehrmacht) as well as the Armed-SS (Waffen-SS) produced a variety of cloth helmet covers designed to aid in concealment.  The application of cloth or burlap helmet covers for the sake of camouflage was a practice that began during World War I.  Helmet covers made for the Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS were produced for all seasons and many were made to be reversible. The first helmet covers produced for military units of the Third Reich were those manufactured by the Waffen-SS.  Using a number of cloth SS camouflage patterns, helmet covers were introduced as early as 1937.  A patent submitted in the name of the Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler protected the design from being copied by the German Army, a staunch rival of the SS.  However, the Army was well on its way to developing its own version of the cloth helmet cover.

In 1942 a general issue helmet cover (Stahlhelmüberzüge) for the German Army was factory produced and introduced to front line combat units.  Although not intended for every soldier, the camouflaged helmet cover was provided to both officers and enlisted men in enough quantity that it was used on all fronts.  Issued predominantly to the Army, some cloth covers were provided to the German Navy (Kriegsmarine) where they were used by coastal artillery and naval infantry units.  Soldiers serving with Luftwaffe field divisions often wore a blend of both Army and Waffen-SS varieties.  An order dated 21 July 1942 stated that certain Luftwaffe troops be issued Waffen-SS patterned helmet covers.  At the time, these were intended for men serving with the Brigade "Hermann Göring", which later became Division "Hermann Göring." 

Camouflage Main

Waffen-SS Helmet Covers

Wehrmacht Helmet Covers

Camouflage Paint

Helmet Netting

Wire Configurations