16th SS-PZ GR DIV "RFSS"- Uniforms and Equipment.

Known as the "Himmler Division", during the campaigns in Italy, the 16th SS-Panzer Grenadier Division employed a vehicle recognition shield comprising the Reichsfuhrer's rank insignia. Another symbol commonly encountered was the double sigrunen-'SS' painted on the mantlet, above the gun barrel of Sturmgeschutz vehicles, as well as on the rear armour plate. Unit members wore the "Reichsfuhrer-SS" cuff-title- a black woven band, edged in white or metallic borders. The title itself embroidered in Roman lettering. Basic insignia consisted of SS sigrunes upon the right collar, and rank displayed upon the left.

Infantry/Grenadier elements of "RFSS" wore the feldanzug Waffen-SS issue continental field grey uniform, in basic cloth. Most commonly the 'M40', 'M42' and 'M43' feldblusen, 'M40' and 'M43' feldhosen, 'M40' schiffchen and 'M43' einheitsfeldmutze caps.

Issued to every soldier was a set of 'fatigues', or 'M40' Drilich uniform. A lightweight herringbone cotton weave, manufactured in reed green colour. Panzer troops were issued 'M38' Panzerjacke and hosen, with 'M40' schiffchen or 'M43' einheitsfeldmutze, in black basic cloth. Assault gun troops received the 'M41' Sturmgeschutz feldjacke and hosen, with 'M40' schiffchen or 'M43' einheitsfeldmutz in field grey basic cloth. Also worn by armoured troops was the 'M41' Drilich uniform in reed green herringbone cotton, the 'M43' 1-piece overalls in camouflage poplin as well as the 'M44' camouflage Panzer uniform in pea-pattern herringbone cotton. 'M40' or 'M42' Feldmantel 'greatcoat' of field grey basic cloth.

Shirts for all troops included the SS-braunhemd and midwar feldgrau hemd with M39 marschstiefel (Marching boots) or M42 schnurschuhe mit gamaschen (low boots with gamaschen). Helmet issue included all models of 'M35', 'M40' and 'M42' stahlhelms. As "RFSS" was deployed on the Italian Front, it's battalions were supplied the Waffen-SS Tropical uniform, the 'M42' and 'M43' Sahariana SS-tropenbluse, 'M42' SS-tropenhose, 'M42'-SS tropenhemd, 'M42' Tropenmutze (schiffchen) or 'M42' Tropenmutze mit schir caps, and SS-Tropenhelm. First issued during 1943, when the Strumbrigade was posted to Corsica. Camouflage clothing included SS-issue poplin smock and helmet cover, either 'M38' or 'M42' pattern, from 1941 onwards. The 'M44' camoflage drilich Infantry uniform in pea-pattern herringbone cotton, from late 1944 to 1945. Some Italian items, including camo ground sheets were also pressed into service from 1943.

Equipment and Uniform Requirements

FIELD EQUIPMENT (Feldausrustung)

Y-STRAPS (Koppeltragevorrichtung)

a) Leather Y-straps, black. Rec.source- At The Front, Grigsby Militaria, 1944 Militaria.

b) Web Y-straps, tropical. Rec.source- At The Front, Grigsby Miltaria, 1944 Militaria.

AMMUNITION POUCHES 98K Gewehr (Patronentaschen)

a) Original or repro. Rec.source- 2nd Hand, At The Front.

BAYONET FROG (Seitengewehrtasche)

a) Leather bayonet Frog, black. Rec.source- At The Front.

b) Web bayonet Frog, tropical. Rec.source- At The Front.

E-TOOL CARRIER (Schanzzeug Tasche)

a) Leather/Erstaz E-Tool Carrier, black. Rec.source- At The Front.

b) Leather/Ersatz Folding E-Tool Carrier, black. Rec.source- At The Front.

ASSAULT PACK ' A-Frame' (Sturmgepack)

a) Web + Leather Tornister A-Frame. Rec.source- At The Front, 1944 Militaria.

ASSAULT PACK BAG (Sturmgesack)

a) Continental, green/grey. Rec.source- 1944 Militaria.

b) Tropical, khaki/tan. Rec.source- 1944 Militaria, Grigsby.

CANTEEN (Feldflasche)

a) Original, repro or equivalent Post-war. Rec.source- 1944 Militaria, A The Front, Grigsby, 2nd hand.

BREADBAG (Brotbeutel)

a) Original, repro or equivalent Post-war. Rec.source- 1944 Militaria, A The Front, Grigsby.

M38 GAS MASK CANNISTER + STRAPS (Gasmaske Tragbusche)

a) Original. Rec.source- 1944 Militaria, At The Front.

GAS MASK (Gasmaske)

a) Original or repro. Rec.source- 1944 Militaria.

GAS CAPE (Gasplane)

a) Original or repro. Rec.source- 1944 Militaria.

MESSTIN (Kochgeschirr)

a) Original or equivalent Post-war. Rec.source- 1944 Militaria.

ENTRENCHING TOOL (Kleines Schanzzeug)

a) Straight handle E-Tool (original or equivalent Post-War). Rec.source- At The Front, various, 2nd hand.

b) Folding E-Tool (original or equivalent Post-War). Rec.source- At the Front, 1944 Militaria, various, 2nd hand.

BAYONET + SCABBARD (Seitengewehr)

a) Original. Rec.Source- Various, 2nd hand.

SS ISSUE M38 ZELTBAHN (Zeltbahn)

a) Waffen-SS issue Zeltbahn. Rec.Source- 1944 Militaria, At The Front.

PERSONAL ISSUE

BLANKET (Mannschaftsdecke)

a) SS or WH issue Blanket. Rec.source- Der Erste Zug, At The Front.

WH ISSUE EATING UTENSILS

a) Original or equivalent Post-war. Rec.source- 1944 Militaria, various.

WH ISSUE BUTTER DISH

a) Original or equivalent Post-war. Rec.source- 1944 Militaria, various.

WH/SS ISSUE 'DOGTAGS'

a) Repro. Rec.source- Various.

SS ISSUE 'PAYBOOK' (Soldbuch)

a) Repro. Rec.source- At The Front, 1944 Militaria, various.

UNIFORM- STANDARD ISSUE

BELT (Koppel)

a) Leather Belt, black. Rec.source- At The Front, Lost Battalions, Grigsby Militaria, 1944 Militaria.

b) Web Belt, tropical. Rec.source- At The Front.

BUCKLE (Koppelschloss)

a) Waffen-SS Buckle. Rec.source- At The Front, Grigsby Militaria, 1944 Militaria.

BOOTS (Stiefel)

a) M42 Schnurschuhe mit Gamaschen (Low boots with gaiters). Rec.source- Lost Battalions, At The Front, R.Underwood, Grigsby Militaria.

b) M39 Marschstiefel (Marching Boots). Rec.source- Lost Battalions, R.Underwood, Civil War Boots, Grigsby Militaria.

HELMET (Stahlhelm)

a) M42 Stahlhelm. Original or repro. Rec.source- 2nd. hand, At The Front, Grigsby Militaria, G-Max.

b) M40 Stahlhelm. Original. Rec.source- 2nd.hand, At The Front, Grigsby Militaria.

c) M35 Stahlhelm. Original or repro. Rec.source- 2nd.hand, At The Front, Grigsby Militaria, Lost Battalions.

SOCKS (Socken)

a) WH issue Grey woollen Socks. Rec.source- Ostfront, various.

b) Civilian/foreign Issue woollen Socks, grey, khaki, olive, black. Rec.source- Various.

BRACES/SUSPENDERS

a) WH issue braces, grey, white, tan, green, olive. Rec.source- Lost Battalions, Bill Bureau, G-Max, 1944 Militaria, At The Front, Hessen Antique, Grigsby Miltaria, R.Underwood.

CAMOFLAGE SMOCK (Tarnjacke)

a) SS issue M42 tarnjacke. Rec.source- At The Front, 1944 Militaria, Grigsby Militaria.

b) SS issue M38 tarnjacke. Rec.source- 1944 Militaria, At The Front, Grigsby Militaria.

SS ISSUE HELMET COVER

a) SS issue M38 stahlhelm Cover. Rec.Source- 1944 Militaria, At The Front.

b) SS issue M42 stahlhelm Cover. Rec.source- 1944 Miltaria, At The Front.

SS ISSUE CAMOFLAGE CAP

a) SS issue M42 camoflage Feldmutze. Rec.source- 1944 Militaria, At The Front, Grigsby Militaria.

UNIFORM- FIELDGREY SERVICE DRESS (Feldanzug)

SHIRT (Hemd)

a) Midwar M41/M43 knitted Shirt, fieldgrey. Rec.source- Lost Battalions.

b) SS issue knitted or woven Shirt, brown. Rec.source- Lost Battalions.

c) Midwar M43 woven Shirt, fieldgrey. Rec.source- At The Front.

CAP (Feldmutze)

a) SS issue M43 Einheitsfeldmutze, fieldgrey. Rec.source- At The Front, Lost Battalions, Hessen Antique, 1944 Militaria, Grigsby Miltaria.

b) SS-M40 'Schiffchen' Feldmutze, fieldgrey. Rec.source- Lost Battalions.

TROUSERS (Feldhosen)

a) M42 'Kielhosen', fieldgrey. Rec.source- Lost Battalions, Bill Bureau, G-Max, 1944 Militaria, At The Front, Hessen Antique, Grigsby Miltaria, R.Underwood, QM Militaria.

b) M40 'Langhosen', fieldgrey. Rec.source- Lost Battalions, Bill Bureau, G-Max, 1944 Militaria, At The Front, Hessen Antique, Grigsby Miltaria, R.Underwood, QM Militaria.

c) M36 'Langhosen', stonegrey. Rec.source- Lost Battalions, Hessen Antique.

JACKET (Feldbluse)

a) SS-M42 Feldbluse, fieldgrey. Rec.source- Lost Battalions, 1944 Militaria, GMAX, R.Underwood.

b) SS-M43 Feldbluse, fieldgrey. Rec.source- Lost Battalions, 1944 Militaria, GMAX, R.Underwood.

c) SS issue M40 Feldbluse, fieldgrey. Rec.source- Lost Battalions, 1944 Militaria, GMAX, R.Underwood.

d) SS issue M44 Feldbluse, fieldgrey. Rec.source- Lost Battalions, GMAX.

UNIFORM- TROPICAL (Tropenanzug)

SHIRT (Tropenhemd)

a) SS M43 woven tropical Shirt, tan. Rec.source- GMAX, Keith (E-Bay).

b) SS issue knitted or woven Shirt, brown. Rec.source- Lost Battalions.

c) Midwar M41/M43 knitted Shirt, fieldgrey. Rec.source- Lost Battalions.

d) Midwar M43 woven Shirt, fieldgrey. Rec.source- At The Front.

CAP (Tropenmutze)

a) SS-M43 Tropenmutze mit schir, tan. Rec.source- Lost Battalions, GMAX.

b) SS-M42 'Schiffchen' Tropenmutze, tan. Rec.source- Lost Battalions, GMAX.

c) LW-M43 Tropenmutze mit schir, tan. (rebadged for SS). Rec.source- Lost Battalions.

TROUSERS (Tropenhosen)

a) SS-M43 Tropenhosen, tan. Rec.source- Lost Battalions, GMAX, Panzerfaust 1943 (E-Bay).

JACKET (Tropenbluse)

a) SS-M43 Tropenbluse, tan. Rec.source- Lost Battalions, G-MAX, R.Underwood, Panzerfaust 1943.

b) LW-M41 Tropenrock, tan. (rebadged for SS) Rec.source- Lost Battalions, G-MAX, R.Underwood.

UNIFORM- DRILICH HBT (Drilichanzug)

JACKET (Drilichjacke)

a) SS issue M40 HBT Drilichjacke, reed green. Rec.source- G-Max.

b) SS-M44 HBT Drilichjacke, camo pea-pattern. Rec.source- 1944 Militaria, G-Max.

c) SS "M43" Tarnjacke (poplin or HBT), camo oak-A/B, blurred-edge, plane tree, Italian. Rec.source- GMAX, 1944 Militaria, At The Front.

TROUSERS (Drilichhosen)

a) SS issue M40 HBT Drilich 'Langhosen', reed green. Rec.source- G-Max.

b) SS-M44 HBT Drilich 'Keihosen', camo pea-pattern. Rec.source- 1944 Militaria, G-Max.

c) SS "M43" hosen (poplin or HBT), camo oak-A/B, blurred-edge, plane tree, Italian. Rec.source- GMAX, 1944 Militaria, At The Front.

Ende

Heim

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last updated 3rd February 2007