Mountain troops windjacket

How to choose the size?

It should be remembered that the jacket is designed to be worn over the tunic. You do not need to add some "for outerwear" when choosing a size, you need to take a windjacket of the same size as your field tunic.

You can choose the size without trying. You will need a flexible meter or at least a rope. Measure a similar winter jacket that suits you. Designations:

• Chest around — the recommended bare chest girth for a given jacket size (taking into account that you will wear it over a sweater and tunic); in brackets there is the maximum girth of the chest, which will fit into a jacket of this size (without a sweater and tunic). In the size stamp on the jacket, the chest circumference is given in the center.
• The width of the shoulders — between the sleeves' seams along the shoulder seams, behind the neck; in brackets is the same but measured in a straight line.
• Back lenght to the belt — from the collar bottom stitch down in a straight line; it must be remembered that the belt of a Heer soldier was under the lower rib (not below the navel). In the size stamp on the jacket, the chest circumference is given on the top left.
• Total lenght — along the back from the collar bottom stitch down in a straight line. In the size stamp on the jacket, the chest circumference is given on the bottom left.
• Neck (collar) — the circumference of the neck slot when the collar is fully buttoned; remember that this slot is for both the neck and the collar of the jacket. In the size stamp on the jacket, the chest circumference is given on the top right.
• Sleeve length — from the shoulder seam down in a straight line. In the size stamp on the jacket, the chest circumference is given on the bottom right.

You can choose the size that is in stock. If the required size cannot be selected, then it is (already) out of stock.

Description

Free shipping can be selected in the basket when placing an order (not all payment methods are available for free shipping!).

A comparison of our copy with the originals can be found at the end. It's a very high-quality and responsibly made copy of the windjacket for mountain troops (Windjacke für Gerbirgsjäger), which they wore over their tunic and belt.

The jacket is made of thick raincoat fabric, produced and dyed to order in a pale green color (similar to the earliest examples of such jackets). The fabric also has a hydrophobic impregnation. The weight of the fabric is 320 g/m2, the fabric is completely natural. Buttons are high-quality copies of the original samples, on the jacket there are 3 different sizes: large in front, medium for attaching shoulder straps and fasteners on the collar, small for pockets. Original threads made in the Third Reich were used for sewing buttonholes and for buttons (and for jackets of size 50, original threads were used even for sewing). Also used is the original hook on the collar, to understand the price: such a hook together with the mate costs about 10€ itself as a spare part.

On the jacket there are stamps that carefully copy the original and accurately convey the size of the jacket, this is not an imitation, each number is reasonable. For example, the number in the center shows the maximum circumference of a soldier's bare chest in centimeters for a given jacket size. On the left is the length of the garment (top number — to the belt, bottom — full). At the top right is the size of the jacket collar, and at the bottom right is the length of the sleeve. The M39 stamp is made in a different scale, because this stamp is not related to the garment's size and was usually put at a different time than the manufacturer's stamp: when the product was accepted to the army warehouse. In this case, it is Munich (München), 1939.

This windbreaker is double-breasted, with the ability to fasten it on both the right and left (female) sides. The buttonholes are made on both sides. Only in the earliest jackets had this feature. Later, in order to save, Germans left the possibility of buttoning only on the right (male) side.

By the way, the very tradition of buttoning men's and women's clothing in different ways appeared in the XIII century, when buttons were invented. Shirts for men and women of the same style had to be somehow distinguished, while it was more convenient for women to button up on the left side, so that when breastfeeding it was convenient to hold the baby on the left hand, and with the right to do household chores. Source: gordonua.com

How to care for the product?

The soldiers at the front did not have the opportunity to wash their jackets (especially in the washing machine). Therefore, washing the uniform in the washing machine is an extreme measure. To get started, you just need to wash the jacket with a sponge or a soft brush with soap or detergent for natural fabrics in those places where it is dirty (usually this is the neck and cuffs). You can wash off the detergent with a jet of water (shower in the bathroom, for example).

If you decide to save time and wash in a machine, then select the delicate washing mode at a temperature of no higher than 40 degrees. Please remember that no clothes look like new after mashine-washing.

Historical reference.

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.

For a more detailed comparison of our replica and original jackets follow the link.