Compared the original and a copy of the mountain troops windjacket

This windjacket was used exclusively by mountain troops, as they fought in a mountainous climate: on sharp rocks, often in the rain and wind. It was made of thick olive-colored canvas, double-breasted (for better protection from the wind in the front), and wide enough to accommodate the shooter along with the equipment on his waistbelt.

German gebirgsjager wearing such jackets in the Caucasus at about 3000 metres, World War II, from L'Illustrazione Italiana, Year LXIX, No 42, October 18, 1942. Source gettyimages.it.

The fabric was quite thick and hard. The color of the new pre-war jackets was closer to green than khaki. Over time, the color changed to a warmer and "dirty" green. Also, when analyzing photos of the originals, do not forget that the jackets faded with active use. The jacket had 2 pockets with traditional for all German military uniforms before 1942 bow folds and a pair of slanted slots on the chest with shaped flaps: through them you could get to the pockets of the jacket or just warm your hands, as in a muff.

Photos above and below: comparison of the original jacket sold once on ima-usa.com and our copy (on the right). The color of the copy is richer, because the new jackets were brighter than the original ones that have survived to this day. The originals have come faded from the bright mountain sun and irreversibly polluted (that is, more yellow and light shade) than they were originally in the factory.

The cuffs were tightened with a button-down flap (also in 2 traditional positions: released and tightened). There was a half-belt at the back, like a greatcoat, that stretched the broad back of the jacket.

Photos above and below: comparison of the original jacket sold once on militariaplaza.nl and our copy (on the right). On this original sample there are buttons made of brown plastic, although they could be feldgrau or black (as on our copy). Below is a comparison of the size stamps (which usually had a size of a palm, but were very different in font and padding).

During the war, a material of a less saturated color was used for sewing jackets: the shade became closer to ochre, dirty brown. Many elements of clothing and equipment during the war acquired a yellowish (field jackets) or gray (helmets) shade. Many modern copies recreate this "dirty" color and, therefore, can not be used for the pre-war period and for the period of the beginning of the war.

Below: a comparison of the original jacket sold once on ratisbons.com and our copy (on the right). There is an obvious difference in color between the wartime issue (left) and a copy of the pre-war product (more saturated color, right). You can also see how the details have changed slightly, for example, the collar strap on the later original has only 1 button.

The jacket of mountain rangers of early military production was exactly green (grass) color, closer to fieldgray than to khaki. Cheap copies of windjackets in khaki, brown or even sand-gray are common these days. These are not the right colors for such a jacket, although many inexperienced reenactors consider these colors to be the "signature" shade for mountain jackets.

The photo below shows three windbreakers from different angles and details, two of which are original from the Second World War (with characteristic scuffs), and one copy is made by the Replica store . The copy is distinguished by the unfaded green color of the fabric and the absence of scuffs. With active use, the intensity of the color quickly subsides, and the jacket becomes indistinguishable from the original.

You can choose the appropriate size and buy the mountain troops windjacket following the link.

Author: Anton Volchkov

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