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Tropical Uniforms.....

Discussion in 'Uniforms, Personal Gear (Kit) and Accessories' started by PanzerMan, Jan 21, 2001.

  1. PanzerMan

    PanzerMan Member

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    Hello all,

    I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this question...here it goes anyway.

    What Heer Tropical tunic models were manufactured?? What shade of color variations were they commonly in??

    Another thing, could someone provide some info on SS troops serving in Afrika Korps service??

    Thanks

    * Alvin *
     
    PanzerMan, Jan 21, 2001
    #1
  2. Lupo Solitario

    Lupo Solitario Member

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    About tunics, I know nothing
    For what concerns SS units, the Osprey Book "Afrikakorps 1941-1943" tells there were no SS with Afrikakorps but a little SD group which operated only in last phases in Tunisia. This agrees with all my other sources

    bye

    Lupo
     
    Lupo Solitario, Jan 22, 2001
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  3. C.Evans

    C.Evans Expert

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    Lupo is correct, there were no Waffen SS in the Afrika Korps--Rommel would not allow it.

    As for your question on uniforms. It really depended on the manufacturer on the various shades of color and style. Forinstance, an Italian made DAK uniform would be a different style from one made by say--Franz Teufel in Duisburg. The pocket flaps and the general cut, would be different.
     
    C.Evans, Jan 22, 2001
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  4. Killjoy

    Killjoy Member

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    Infantry tunics would have been a sort of tan, presumably what some genius felt was similar to the terrain in North Africa.
    Tankers, sadly, considering the desert climate, were apparently stuck with the black uniforms assigned to all Panzer crews.

    ------------------
    Novus Ordo Seclorum
     
    Killjoy, Jan 23, 2001
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  5. Otto

    Otto Spambot Nemesis Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    Originally tankers were clad in black, but they soon were issued tropical uniforms like the rest of the Afrika Korps. I just looked at one of my books: Osprey's Men-At-Arms Elite series: The Afrika Koprs and it's full of photos of tankers in khaki uni's.

    Another characteristic mentioned and illustrated in the book was the huge variety in darkness of the uniforms. There was especially a large difference between a tanker's hat and shirt. Apparently all that riding around with your head sticking out the hatch of a panzer will eventually bleach cloth to almost white!
     
    Otto, Jan 23, 2001
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  6. C.Evans

    C.Evans Expert

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    Dear Otto, thats correct. As a side comment I will add this.... I know a few DAK vets, and one thing that they liked to admit was.. When a replacement arrived in Africa, in order to "look" like one of the "Older" vets with "More" desert experiances, that they would have a habit of sun bleaching their clothing as much as possible, so it would appear more a sand-white color.

    At one time, I had a perfect example of a DAK M-43 cap, that was not well used but, was almost bleached white from exposure. This was a DAK Panzer soldiers M-43 cap. Sometimes the new issued tunics and breeches would have a mustard color look, and was not liked, and thats where the practice supposedly started.
     
    C.Evans, Jan 24, 2001
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  7. PanzerMan

    PanzerMan Member

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    To Otto,

    Would you mind posting some pics of the Panzer Troops in Trop uniforms from your book??

    Danke

    * Alvin *
     
    PanzerMan, Jan 24, 2001
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  8. Otto

    Otto Spambot Nemesis Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    Alvin,

    You are in luck, I just got a scanner a day ago. I don't want to mess with copyrights too badly so I'll only post a few. I'd urge you to buy it though, it is awesome, and illustrated by Ron Volstad, one of the best military artists ever.

    ------------------
     
    Otto, Jan 24, 2001
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  9. Otto

    Otto Spambot Nemesis Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    Alvin,

    I made a page for you to look at with a couple very high quality images, check your email. I just don't like the feeling of posting other people's images on the web for all to see, besides, it's illegal.
     
    Otto, Jan 25, 2001
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  10. C.Evans

    C.Evans Expert

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    I agree, Ron Volstad is a good historical artist and has a great eye for detail. Too bad Don Stivers only does US Civil War paintings, because he would outdo Volstad and make the paintings more realistic. I do love their works and hope to see many more. This is like a case of Todd McFarlane pitted against Russ Heath and Heath would win hands down for accuracy and detail. I bet its not known here but McFarlane learned from Heaths work.
     
    C.Evans, Feb 25, 2001
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  11. J.Mahoney

    J.Mahoney Member

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    I can see what you mean, I used to collect war comics and loved Russ Heaths work. I have a favorite in particular, and it is a cover to Our Fighting Forces, and shows a G.I. lying on the ground firing his M-1 at a German fighter doing a strafing run on him, its way too cool.
     
    J.Mahoney, Feb 25, 2001
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