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Photo: The
Splinter Pattern Army Helmet Cover.
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During the Second World War the German
Armed Forces (Wehrmacht) 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. 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." A good
number of helmet covers were produced in the field by supply
personnel. These were issued to officers and men as needed.
They were generally made from typical "Splinter-A" type camouflage
material from zeltbahn tent quarters. Factory made examples were
produced in "Splinter-B" material. The Splinter-A material is
distinguishable from that of Splinter-B in that the pattern is much
larger. Splinter-B material was reserved for uniform articles
only which generally included padded winter jackets and pants, smocks,
and other garments1.
Notes:
1
Almost all helmet covers encountered today are reproductions both
new and old. Reproductions are almost always produced from
Splinter-A material cut from large sheets of zeltbahn cloth no
longer deemed collectible. Once sewn into helmet covers, these
are often passed to collectors as being genuine articles.
Original helmet covers were produced of Splinter-B material with the
smaller camouflage pattern. The construction of these helmet
covers is also of different quality than found in modern
reproductions. |
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Overview
Each section of German-Helmets.com
is divided into separate Information Tracks that outline important
details, facts, and historical notes pertaining to steel helmets used by
the German Armed Forces during World War II.
Information Tracks are organized
by subject matter and their content is directly related to the service arm
or organization to which each topic is related. Topic areas that
bridge one subject matter to another are cross linked within each Information Track.
This Information Track provides historical
facts pertaining to camouflage helmet covers used by the Wehrmacht
1942-1945. Individual links related to this subject are
outlined below.
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