I'm designing a diorama of a winter scene during the Battle of Kharkov in February 1943. To spice up the mix of uniform variants of the SS panzer grenadiers in the diorama I wanted to have one of them wearing a woodland camouflage patterned jacket. Did these exist at this point in the war or were all the uniforms still gray (or white in winter)?

Thanks,
Erik

Yes its possible to mix them up. The winter jackets were double sided. Camo .. on one side and white on the other. The soldier could change to suit!

I'd be wary about putting "woodland" camo in a Kharkov scenario. Firstly, I don't think the SS version of the Special Winter Clothing (which was the camouflaged kit) was issued until later on. Secondly, all the photos I've seen of Kharkov (& I've seen a lot) show troops wearing the SS parka & winter trousers in a variety of shades, none are wearing camo. In fact Kharkov seems to have been a zenith as it were for the SS parka. Dragon do a set of SS Panzergrenadiers specific to Kharkov, & they are all wearing the parka.

I agree with Steve, no camo patterned parkas at Kharkov. These weren't ready until the following winter. Any of the standard winter uniforms were white, reversible to mose gray (or perhaps field gray.

Cheers,
Ron Volstad

I've been looking through some pics of Kharkov tonight and I'm in agreement with Steve and Ron. White on grey reversible parkas only. The reversible parkas weren't initially issued until December 1943 and then they were Autumn pattern to white. Given the circumstances of supply on the Eastern Front at this stage I would imagine that very few of the initial batches made it through till 1944. I assume by "woodland" you mean the Summer pattern?

That last message read badly. I meant no camo reversible parkas till December 1943.

In his book 'Waffen SS Camouflage Uniforms & Post-War Derivatives' (Europa Militaria 18), Daniel Petersen confirms that the two-piece Wintertarnanzeug didn't come into use until winter 1943/44. A good point to remember as well is that the cam side of this was most commonly produced in the autumn version, and very rarely in spring colours.

Thanks for the info guys. I appreciate it. I think I'll stick with white for the most part with the reversible gray on one or two of the figures. "the two-piece Wintertarnanzeug didn't come into use until winter 1943/44" is just what I needed to know.

Erik