I was wondering if anyone could shed some light on the colour of German Winter parkas warn by Luftwaffe men.

As far as I can work out the appears to be two versions a mouse grey version similar to the Wehrmacht mid-war revisable parka with diamond stitching pattern and a tan colour version with rectangle stitching. I was hoping someone may be able to help me out with this and confirm was the a tan version and I am correct in thinking that the Grey version was mouse gray and not Feldgreu.

Many thanks for your assistance in advance.

Regards,

Jerry

There were two versions; earlier version was the grey one, not sure if "mouse grey" - Bruce Quarrie describes it as grey-green, and the art work on the back of the old box of Tamiya German Paratroopers I have kind of agrees with this. Mouse grey as I understand it is quite pale, but in photos it isn't too pale. You are right that it isn't feldgrau though. The later version is the splinter camo pattern, in grey, green and red-brown. Apparently the smocks are different in cut too, with the grey ones are shorter with proper legs which come down to mid thigh, while the camo ones are longer, baggier, almost to the knees, and are fastened between the legs with press studs. Apparently even until 1943 both types might be seen together.

You should try to get hold of the Squadron Signal Fallschirmjager in Action book, there'll be some colour plates of the uniforms in there as well as the usual tons of photos. Try Amazon.

Unfortunately, you have described the jump smock, not the reversible winter parka.

Hi Jerry,

The quilted uniforms that I has seen with my own "Mark 1 eye balls" were as follows:

Diamond quilted (small segments)
1. Olive green
2. Olive green with gray wind flap and hood
3. Olive green with gray wind flap and pocket flaps
4. Neutral gray (perhaps what is known as mouse gray?) No obvious color influence.
5.Light gray green

Rectangular quilted
1. Neutral gray as in 4 above except a bit darker.
2. Light gray green.

Diamond quilted (large segments)
This version has been identified as Hungarian Army and NOT Wehrmacht. It is unknown if it was ever worn by German troops.

Note that the hoods are not quilted.

There's still much to be learned about the subject. HTH!
Ron Volstad

Guys ,

Thank you one and all for your responses.

Ronald,

Great to hear your opinion on this question since I am mainly working form your box designs which are great, - I am a big fan of your work. I hope you won’t mind if I ask a couple of follow up questions.

I was wondering do you have an references to images of these Parkas being worn in any publications since so far I have only uncovered Images of German Paratroops in “un-quilted” Parkas and winter gear ?

When you say

By “mouse gray” I mean the reverse colour of the mid-war Wehrmacht parka has illustrated by Andrew Stephen In German Army 1939-45 vol.3 plate H figure 3 (Osprey) , I assume that this is the same a “neutral gray” I think I picked up the phase from the Squadron publications pictorial history of the GrossDeautcshland Division. From the 1980’s besides with colour variations I am sure it will look okay.

Again many thank for taking the trouble to reply

Best wishes,

Jerry

Hi Jerry,

Refs showing these quilted uniforms have been few and far between, however these items show up increasingly more often. They would seem to be mostly related to Luftwaffe ground troops but the Heer also received some of these. Check out any books on 88m Flak guns and you will likely see the quilted uniforms.

And yes, that is a depiction of mouse gray in Stephen's illustration. I had heard that the first of the reversible winter uniforms was made in "mouse gray" but the first one that i ever personally encountered was a definite field gray shade (gray/green). Thus I had a sense of confusion on the subject since 1973. I've now seen dozens of these uniforms and now assume that colors other than mouse gray were likely issued after that first winter of usage. I believe some one has just announced that they had written a book on the subject. Hopefully it will further enlighten us.

Cheers,
Ron V

Hi Ron,

Many thanks for your further response it is most helpful , This is a interesting if complex subject, of course, photographs of 88s served by Luftwaffe ground troops would be a good source considering there responsiblity for air defence, thank for that tip. Also I will keep an eye out for the publication you mentioned it sounds very interesting.

On a sepreate issue , I like the look the art work you produced for the new DML commonweath troops at Monte Cassino very nice and dynamic !! look forward to getting a set.

All best wishes,

Jerry