154. Armed-SS: SS Obersturmbannf�hrer, 1944, Black Panzer Uniform.
The SS crews and replacement crews of enclosed armoured vehicles such as tanks, armoured cars and armoured radio vehicles were issued with the SS version of the special Black Panzer uniform. It was originally intended to be worn when serving with an armoured vehicle and when first brought into use by the SS in 1938 it was for this express purpose, in exactly the same way as the Army issued its armoured crews with their black Panter uniform (No. 93). However, the uniform proved to be increasingly popular with the troops to the extent that it was worn on every suitable occasion.

155. Armed-SS: SS Obersturmf�hrer, 1945, service Tunic and Tropical Shorts.
Although the Waffen-SS did not have any of its military units participating in the North African campaign members of the Waffen-SS saw service in southern Russia, the Crimea, Greece, Italy, Yugoslavia, the Mediterranean and southern France, all countries and areas subject to extreme heat during the summer months. Under these conditions the Waffen-SS troops were issued with tropical clothing. The SS Obersturmf�hrer shown here in No.155 is wearing a mixture of temperature climate servicejacket, tailored to his own personaltaste, with khaki drill shorts and the tropical version of the Model 1943 Replacement Field Cap

156. Armed-SS: SS Untersturmf�hrer, 1944, Field Grey special uniform for crews of self-propelled artillery and anti-tank units.
The Waffen-SS field-grey version of the special uniform illustrated in No. 154 is shown here. It was basically the same pattern as worn in the Army (No. 101) but it was cut shorter at the waist and it had the obvious addition of Waffen-SS Insignia. This type of uniform made its first appearance when it was worn by the assault gun crews of the Leibstandarte SS 'Adolf Hitler' Division during the Balkan campaign of the summer of 1941. A year later in August 1942 its use was extended to crews of self-propelled artillery weapons and by December of that same year and for the duration it was being issued to crews of self-propelled anti-tank units. (No. 156)

157. Armed SS: SS-Unterscharf�hrer, 1944, Camouflage Smock.
158. Armed SS: SS-Sturmmann, 1943, Camouflage Winter Uniform.
159. Armed SS: SS-Oberscharf�hrer, 1943, Camouflage Field Uniform.
The Armed-SS (Waffen-SS) had made far more use of camouflage clothing and items of camouflage than any of the other fighting services. The Waffen-SS clothing authorities had produced a number of camouflage items of clothing in a variety of patterns and colours. The three figures featured here illustrate the basic patterns and colours used and show some of the items of clothing in use at different times. No. 157 shows the typical summer camouflage patterning on the Waffm-SS 'Tiger Jacket'. No. 158 features the autumn patterning used on the reversible Winter uniforms. These uniforms were of the same design as those used by the Army and to a lesser extent other ground fighting forces. They differed only in that they displayed the distinctive tan, brown and black ragged spot design. No. 159 shows a mixture of various SS camouflage patterns. The jacket is patterned with the summer 'foliage' design, the trousers have the finalpattern autumn colouring. The steel helmet has a cover made from Italian Army camouflage material.

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