What would be the most common camo for HEER

[2nd Bat]

I am accumulating (slowly but surely) a costume department of German impressions as loaners. With all the widely varied camo patterns for German smocks what would be the most appropriate for common HEER Infantry? I am also noticing different colors for pouches and even bread bags. (Not just shades here but totally different colors)

My research indicates that early war most troops wore jack boots but increasingly this went to low quarters and spats. (Which also are offered in different colors). What if anything is important to know?

[patrickl29th]

Splinter camo

[insterburger]

Camo was not all that widely worn by Heer, but as Patrick says, when it was it was usually splinter. "Tan and Water" or Sumpftarn was also seen, but not nearly as often. Keep in mind that the Heer with VERY few exceptions didn't wear SS-style smocks, although when they did it would be splinter, but they were rare enough to be something to avoid. Splinter Zeltbahns were, however, worn smock-style, and splinter helmet covers were seen often enough (also Tan and Water, but less so). Reversible winter uniforms for Heer came in either Splinter or (again, more rarely) Sumpftarn.

As for breadbags and pouches, I'm not sure there was tremendous rhyme or reason as to who got what. Most variations were just production foibles based on available materials at different times of the war. I believe pre-war breadbags were a greyer color, which became more of an olive/khaki later in the war. East German post-war bags could plausibly stand in for early/pre-war bags (though the cut is a bit different), or repros are available.

You are correct, gaiters became more common as the war went on (hence their nickname, "Rückzug-Gamaschen," or "retreat-gaiters").

[LϟϟAH1944]

get splinter zeltbahns, NO SMOCKS OR HELMET COVERS! and then youll be good to go.

[2nd Bat]

So for smocks and helmet covers which are logistically and financially my best bet I should go SS? With that what camo pattern? I have to say they are all very cool.

Helmet covers are a must for me as my helmets are cheezy. Smocks work great as I can just hand them out and aren't as concerned about sizes and fit.

[insterburger]

As Graham says, the most common configuration for Heer would be just tunics and steel helmets, with splinter Zelts only used when weather dictates. That said, splinter helmet covers were factory-produced from 1942 and also were also depot-made in quantity, so by 1944 they were far from uncommon (especially among the front line troops depicted in our games). You'd be perfectly fine using Heer splinter helmet covers, they weren't in every unit but there were plenty of them around. Using them would be especially effective if you can outfit all or most of your unit with them (since when they were issued, they were typically given to entire formations).

If you're looking to use smocks, you'll really need to go SS. They were all but unheard of in the Heer. My understanding with SS is that the smocks and helmet covers were of various patterns that could or could not match, pretty much the luck of the draw, and apart from avoiding fantasy items (i.e. helmet covers were apparently not issued in Dot 44) any combo would work. But someone (Graham?) with a deeper knowledge of SS practices could help you more here.

Bottom line, SS is probably your best bet, because even if you use Zelts for Heer, the sleeves of whatever is underneath will poke out and look conspicuously wrong unless you have your guys in something like a wool tunic... in which case, you could just do that.

[LϟϟAH1944]

for ss smocks and covers, mix oak a, oak b, any planetree, blurred edge, or palm. no smocks in dot. mix the camo, so i.e. blurred cover and platan smock, etc.

[2nd Bat]

So any pattern but dot and hodge podge mixes are not only OK but probable. I have some splinter smocks and covers but I will live with it. I'll focus on SS smocks moving forward. They look cooler anyway! Thanks guys!