German Army Uniforms of World War II

A photographic guide to clothing, insignia and kit

German Army Uniforms of World War II cover

Description

A detailed illustrated history of the uniforms of the German army from the period leading up to World War II until 1945.

In the years after World War I, the defeated and much-reduced German Army developed new clothing and personal equipment that drew upon the lessons learned in the trenches. In place of the wide variety of uniforms and insignia that had been worn by the Imperial German Army, a standardized approach was followed, culminating in the uniform items introduced in the 1930s as the Nazi Party came to shape every aspect of German national life.

The outbreak of war in 1939 prompted further adaptations and simplifications of uniforms and insignia, while the increasing use of camouflaged items and the accelerated pace of weapons development led to the appearance of new clothing and personal equipment. Medals and awards increased in number as the war went on, with grades being added for existing awards and new decorations introduced to reflect battlefield feats.

Specialists such as mountain troops, tank crews and combat engineers were issued distinctive uniform items and kit, while the ever-expanding variety of fronts on which the German Army fought – from the North African desert to the Russian steppe – prompted the rapid development of clothing and equipment for different climates and conditions. In addition, severe shortages of raw materials and the demands of clothing and equipping an army that numbered in the millions forced the simplification of many items and the increasing use of substitute materials in their manufacture.

In this fully illustrated book noted authority Dr Stephen Bull examines the German Army's wide range of uniforms, personal equipment, weapons, medals and awards, and offers a comprehensive guide to the transformation that the German Army soldier underwent in the period from September 1939 to May 1945.

Table of Contents

Introduction

CHAPTER 1: UNIFORM
Dienstrock, Feldbluse and Waffenrock
Officers' Dress
Markings and Orders of Dress
Quality and Change
The 1944 Uniform
Other Issue Clothing

CHAPTER 2: HEADGEAR
Peaked and Field Caps
Tropical Headgear
The Steel Helmet
Parade Helmets and the Panzer Beret

CHAPTER 3: PERSONAL EQUIPMENT
Rucksacks
Digging in and the Tent
Anti-gas Equipment
Food, Drink and Brotbeutel
Personal and Pocket Items

CHAPTER 4: SMALL ARMS
Rifles
Pistols
Submachine Guns
Automatic and Semi-automatic Rifles
Grenades
Edged Weapons

CHAPTER 5: SUPPORT AND SPECIAL WEAPONS
Machine Guns
Mortars
Anti-tank Weapons

CHAPTER 6: SPECIAL CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT
Tanks and Motorized Uniforms
Tropical Uniform
Gebirgsjäger Uniform
Winter Clothing
Other Camouflage Clothing
Women's Uniforms

CHAPTER 7: HEER MEDALS AND AWARDS
Awards Sanctioned in 1939
Campaign Awards
Combat Badges
Senior Grades of the Ritterkreuz and the Deutsches Kreuz
Manufacture, Certification and Pricing

Select Bibliography
Index

Product details

Published Feb 04 2021
Format Ebook (PDF)
Edition 1st
Extent 256
ISBN 9781472838049
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Illustrations Fully illustrated in colour and b/w
Series General Military
Short code GNM
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Stephen Bull

Dr Stephen Bull worked for the National Army Museu…

Resources

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