Although the German dye industry had been the worlds leader for decades before the Second World War, the production of huge numbers of a wide variety of camouflage printed garments was still a challenging undertaking. Fabric printing of such complexity, and on such a scale, had never been attempted. Dyes, printing and fixing techniques, were in many cases developed especially for this task, and advances represented played a part in the in the revival of the industry of the post war.
There is a popular misconception that the Waffen-SS was the first military force to issue camouflage-printed materials. This is true if we exclude the camouflage tent/poncho, an example of which was issued in 1929 by the Italian Army. The Familiar Wehrmacht “Splinter” pattern tent/poncho (Zeltbahn), introduced in 1931, also predates the Waffen-SS as an organization.
Camouflage clothing was first tested by the Waffen-SS at the end of 1937; and in June 3938 a patent was awarded by the Reich Patent Office for the reversible camouflage helmet cover (Tarnhelmübrezug), pull over smock (Tarnjacke or Tarnhemd), and a face mask. Initial manufacture was slow so they screen-printed by hand. By 1940 introduction of the roller printing press had greatly sped manufacture, which never the less limited by the availability of high quality waterproof cotton duck.
The idea of equipping the Waffen-SS with camouflage clothing is credited to SS-Sturmbannführer Wim Brandt, commander of the reconnaissance section of the SS-Verfügungstruppe, the forerunner of the Waffen-SS The Earliest camouflage patterns were designed by Professor Otto Schick, and were based on studies of the effect of sunlight through trees. It is possible Schick developed most if not all of the SS patterns, as he is also credited in a 1945 report by the US Army Quartermaster Francis S. Richardson with the design of the very last pattern-the Leibermuster-of which began in early 1945.
The first three years of the war camouflage clothing was limited to those garments first introduced in 1937, and unofficial garments field-made from Zeltbahn material.
1942 saw the introduction of visored (peaked) field cap, and the improvement of the helmet cover and smock: both had foliage loops added, and the latter, integral skirt pockets replaced to replace the original breast access vents, in 1943 various new items were introduced, including the one-piece reversible coverall for armored crews; and a complete winter uniform of trousers, parka, mittens and hood, reversible from various patterns to white.
The pull over smock was discontinued in 1944 in favor of a two-piece suit (the getarnter Drillichanzug) cut like the current field gray wool uniform. The one piece Panzerkombination was also superseded by a two-piece suit (getarnter Panzer Drillichanzug) of identical cut to the black woolen Panzer uniform. Both of these uniforms were initially printed in the earlier Eichenlaubmuster, but are better known in a new “all seasons” pattern-the first major departure from the contrasting “spring/autumn” coloration of the earlier uniforms. A wide variety of garments were being made in 1944 from Italian camouflage (1929 Telo Mimetico) material. The begining of 1945 saw the introduction of a new combat suit, inspired by the British battledress, in an entirely new camouflage pattern known as Leibermuster.