Luftwaffe Ground Force’s:
Luftwaffe Ground Forces 4-pocket Splinter Camouflaged Over-Jacket:
These would be, I think, the most common camouflaged jackets worn by the Luftwaffe Ground Forces, well, next to wearing a shelter quarter, like a rain poncho by the infantrymen, and Flak-Artillery Forces. I think also there were several variants of the over-jacket itself.
*Obviously I need more pictures of this uniform.
Unteroffizier, 39 Field Infantry Regiment. 20 Luftwaffe Field Division:
After being formed in 1943 the 20. Field Division transferred from Germany to Denmark in August of that year where it remained until it transferred to combat duty in Italy in June 1944. After five months in combat, the division was reduced to a size where it was put under the command of the 26th Panzer Division until November when it was taken off the line, and the remaining cadre was assigned to a training division, probably the 155th.
Lacking infantry combat leaders, Luftwaffe Field Divisions drew NCOs and Officers from the Army. Wearing their Heer uniforms alongside their Luftwaffe troops these men may have found reason to adapt to a form of Luftwaffe dress that would make them closer to their men. The collar tab change may have been changed from the Heer style as well, to clarify his rank.
This is the case with this Unteroffizier who has replaced his worn-out wool-Heer green uniform tunic with local Italian camouflage material, cut in what was thought to be the Luftwaffe cut. A communication expert, and assigned, he wears the ‘Funker’ blitz on his sleeve, but like his tabs and boards has the green on them for the Luftwaffe Ground Troops.
For the photo shoot, he got assigned an MP-40 machine- pistole and the ammo pouches to go with it, on his leather belt, fewer Y-straps, and in the belt he placed some stick grenades. The uniform carries the Luftwaffe pattern National Eagle as well, on a rare green backing. He has been around, and on the ribbons bar, has the Early Ost Front Ribbon, as well as War Merit Cross with Swords, from prior service, Also for his leadership, he has earned the Iron Cross 1st Class Meadly hanging from loops, and the II class in the buttonhole.
Also on the left pocket hang the Silver Wound Badge and the rare Luftwaffe Ground Assault Badge. Also, he’s recognized to have knocked out several enemy tanks single-handedly as seen by the decorations on the right sleeve. With the uniform, he likely would have a helmet, but these were seen less and less in the last year of the war, I have an overseas cap Tropical cap, as well as a matching camouflage pattern M42 style hat with the uniform.
LW. Reversible Winter Over-jacket:
I’ve misplaced the story for this, but in short, it’s the Luftwaffe’s version of the ‘Freezer-Suit’ reversible and insulated they were a lot of work, and in the field, they were scarce, all winter uniforms through the war for the Germans, were in short supply, never enough, and rarely issued to the troops, they grabbed what they could, when they could, the moment stock showed up-it was divvied out. I imagine many ended up with the Heer pattern over-suits!
It’s the ‘Mouse-Gray’ color and white on the other, he carries on the forearms pin-on yellow bands, as a code for the day, or what have you. His helmet is a bluer/gray color rather than feldgrau and retains its decals.
The uniform was used with all the field units, infantry, and artillery, ground crews for the aircraft, authorized for freezing conditions they were seen mostly with those fighting in the east.
LW. Pioneer Company, Officer:
