History

The M40 Camouflage Smock (Tarnjacke) was a loose-fitting water-repellent jacket that was worn over service uniforms and field equipment. The smock features a spring/summer camouflage print on one side and an autumn/winter camouflage print on the other.

The jacket is a pull-over design that is cinched at the waist and wrists and laces up at the chest. The front opening is reinforced by two panels of fabric and the eyelets are thread-edged. Extra fabric extends past the cinched wrists to provide coverage for the hands, although it was often tucked under the elastic wristbands or removed by the wearer. There are two large slits on each side of the torso that allowed the wearer to reach inside the jacket to reach his ammunition pouches.

The Waffen-SS produced no less than 8 distinct camouflage patterns, including ‘Oakleaf A’ for spring/summer and ‘Oakleaf B’ for autumn/winter. In addition, there exist numerous other patterns variations due to manufacturing differences.