Platanenmuster #6
The Platanenmuster (“plane tree” or “sycamore”) pattern is probably the earliest used by the Waffen SS, and can be seen in the pre-war photographs. This and it’s derivative Eich-Plantanenmuster, are the patterns which incorporate in their dark overprint system numerals “1” to “6”, which has been the subject of much debate.
One theory suggest that the number assisted soldiers in buttoning together correspondingly-numbered Zeltbahnen to achieve a good camouflage effect; this seems to be supported by the usually matching, parallel numbers found on early, better made examples of Platanenmuster and Eich-Plantanenmuster Zeltbahnen. However, it seems unlikely that under field conditions men of an SS infantry company would run around trying to match up Zeltbahn numbers before erecting their bivouacs; an in fact on many Zeltbahnen the left and right side numbers do not match, or are simply absent.
It is my opinion that the numerals denote specific camouflage printing screens to be applied to a given roll of cloth in a controlled sequence, Examination of many specimens revealed the lavender-gray, “spring” green and “autumn” brown base colors uniformly printed by means of rollers. But imperfections in the dark in overprints indicating hand application by a silkscreen process. Further, the pattern is never exactly repeated, as it should be if the entire pattern were roller printed.
Production of the original Platanen pattern seems to have ended by 1941, and the Eich-Platanen by 1941, perhaps because it was uneconomically time-consuming. Thrifty manufacturers continued using up surplus cloth in this pattern, however, probably till late 1944. Late RB-numbered Eichenlaub-pattern Zeltbahnen exist with “autumn” reverse side edging made of Platanen pattern cloth printed (for economy?) on one side only - the hidden interior was left in natural white, detectable today in damaged examples. There are also plausible reports of “autumn” Platanenmuster smocks and helmet covers left in natural white on the other side.
(Above, wartime photograph of a Wehrmacht officer wearing a Platanen smock.)
(Above, “spring” side of the Platanenmuster smock.)
(Above, “autumn” side of the Platanenmuster smock.)
The smocks were constructed of ‘duck canavas’ and were never made in HBT cloth.