| Original caption: “German Army.” This United States Army poster identifies Nazi German Heer (“Army”) uniform conventions and ranks with explanations in German and English. The 1943 United States Army Handbook on German Military Forces informed the American soldier that “The present type of uniform in the German Field Army has been evolved from that worn during World War I, the chief requirements being that it should be light, comfortable, weather-proof, and inconspicuous. The uniforms for officers and for enlisted men are basically the same in almost all particulars. Officers are distinguished from enlisted men only by insignia of rank and other comparatively minor markings and variations in their dress.” “The field cap (Feldmütze), which is similar to the U.S. Army garrison cap, is made of greenish-gray cloth. It is worn by officers and enlisted men of all arms, except mountain troops and personnel of certain armored units. The officer’s field eap is of a better quality than the enlisted man’s and has aluminum-colored piping along the top seam and top edge of the turnup. The field cap is so designed that it may be worn under the steel helmet. (A new field cap (Einheitsmütze) in the style of the mountain cap has recently been adopted.) The steel helmet (Stahlhelm) is made of seamless sheet steel and is painted both inside and outside with rust-resistant, dull field-gray paint. Officers and enlisted men wear the same helmet.” “The pack (Tornister) is a heavy square-shaped canvas bag with leather binding. A blanket, a camouflage cover (which sometimes serves as a raincoat), and at times the overcoat, are rolled and strapped around the pack. For mountain troops, the pack is replaced by a rucksack, a form of which, originally adopted by the Afrika-Korps, is coming to be used extensively throughout the Army.” “Other equipment.—Other equipment carried by the individual includes leather cartridge pouches, a shelter-half with ropes, a canteen and mess kit, a haversack, a gas mask, a gas cape (an impregnated cloth cover for protection against gas), entrenching tools, and side arms. Officers wear brown belts (sometimes with the strap of the Sam Brown type), and enlisted men wear black belts.” “Field uniform of special units (plates II to IV).- (1) General. Various units of the German Army with specialized functions wear adaptations of the normal field uniform or entirely different uniforms designed to facilitate the execution of their duties.” “Tank crews wear black uniforms with loose-fitting trousers and black field caps. Armored-car personnel wear a rush-green or grayish-green uniform of similar cut. On the black uniform, the collar patch has the skull and crossbones insignia.” “These troops wear a mountain cap (Gebirgsmütze) similar to the field cap worn by other troops, but with the addition of a visor of the same material; the ordinary type of field blouse; and greenish-gray or gray cloth trousers, fastened around the ankles by puttees, and high shoes.” “The olive-green double-breasted wind jacket is a distinctive accessory of the mountain uniform. For use in snow and in special types of terrain, mountain troops may also be equipped with snowshoes and various kinds of coveralls.” Similar posters were produced for the Schutzstaffel SS, the Luftwaffe (“Nazi German Air Force”), and the Kriegsmarine (“Nazi German Navy”). Additional posters were made for the Dai-Nippon Teikoku Rikugun and Nihon Kaigun (“Imperial Japanese Army and Navy”) and the Regio Esercito (“Italian Royal Army”), Regia Marina (“Royal Italian Navy”). | |
| Image Filename | wwii0904.jpg |
| Image Size | 4.53 MB |
| Image Dimensions | 6654 x 8626 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | Office of War Information |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | January 1, 1942 |
| Location | |
| City | Washington |
| State or Province | District of Columbia |
| Country | United States |
| Archive | National Archives and Records Administration |
| Record Number | NWDNS-44-PA-856 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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