History

In July of 1940, the SS-Verfügungstruppe was officially renamed the Waffen-SS. Uniforms that were issued prior to this date will be included in the SS-Verfügungstruppe section. These uniforms include: the SS Black Service Uniform, SS M35, SS-VT drill uniform, SS-VT M36, and the SS-VT M37.

The predecessor organisation of the Waffen-SS, the SS-Verfügungstruppe, entered the war wearing the M36 uniform. The M36 tunic can be readily distinguished by its box-pleated patch pockets and dark green stand-and-fall collar, which features black and silver piping. All future Waffen-SS uniforms were simplifications of this model.

The M43 tunic is essentially the same as the M42 tunic, except the scalloped pocket flaps have been removed, and they were produced using different material. The front of the tunic features five buttons and there are only two eyelets. There is no interior suspension system to attach metal belt hooks to. Instead, four cloth straps with eyelets are sewn to the tunic and they are used to attach the belt supports.

Following the occupation of Italy in 1943, the Germans confiscated large amounts of raw materials, including a wide variety of fabrics. The use of this material in clothing production largely changed the appearance of the Waffen-SS uniform in 1944-1945, and the predominant uniform colour in 1944 was a dark field-grey, also known as Italian grey. The M43 tunic is lined with either grey Herringbone Twill (HBT) or grey satin.

Officer grades generally wore uniforms composed out of Italian gabardine.