History

During the Second World War, German troops stationed in northern Africa are generally referred to as the Afrikakorps. Technically, this is not entirely correct, since some German units operating in Africa were not actually part of the DAK (Deutsches Afrikakorps), and some units of it were, in fact, Italian ones. However, for the purpose of collecting so-called “tropical” uniforms and insignia, collectors have simplified the meaning of the term.

The first German troops were sent to northern Africa in February of 1941, to support their Italian allies against the British. The climate of the African continent made it necessary to wear specialised uniforms and gear that not only supported the soldiers in serving in a hot and arid environment, but also helped them in blending in with the landscape, which, in general, presented itself as brown, olive, khaki, or sand/tan in colour. Worn over long periods of time under the blistering desert sun, some uniforms were eventually bleached to white or off-white. Uniforms and insignia in these colours are often referred to as “tropical”, and it is worth noting that they weren’t just worn by members of units stationed in Africa, but in the entire Mediterranean theatre of war, including southern France, Italy, the Balkans, and Greece, as well as in southern Russia during the summer months. Tropical uniforms were worn by members of all three branches of the Wehrmacht: the Heer (army), the Kriegsmarine (navy), and the Luftwaffe (air force). Members of the Waffen-SS stationed in southerly regions also wore tropical-style uniforms, and even though they technically have no connection to the DAK, all tropical uniforms and insignia of all branches of the German military are listed here.

The Kriegsmarine had three different tropical dresses: the white dress, the pre-war brown dress (which was very rarely worn), and the wartime brown/khaki dress, which was introduced in late 1941. The pre-war brown dress is identical to the white dress, but made of brown drill fabric.

The shorts (kurze Hosen) were considered to be special clothing garments, and they were worn by Kriegsmarine personnel while serving in tropical locales and during official summer months.

These shorts were manufactured in white for wear with the blue work uniform, and in tan/brown for wear with the tropical uniform. The tan shorts generally feature a fly closure with six buttons along the right seam and six buttonholes on the left seam, while the white shorts generally feature a front flap closure with four buttonholes, and two corresponding buttons along the waistband of each front panel.

The shorts have four to six pockets in total. There are generally two buttoned slash pockets on the front panels at hip level, a small patch pocket on the right front panel, and one or two additional buttoned slash pockets on the back panels. A hidden patch pocket may also be located on the lining of the right pocket

There may also be tightening straps at the sides of the shorts, or even examples of the tan tropical shorts that do not have any type of front closure, and instead, only feature slits at the sides with adjustable straps for sizing.