Troops serving in the field, especially those under combat conditions, soon take on a distinctive, scruffy appearance - a far cry from the smart parade or walking-out uniforms worn by these same men at home or during periods of martial celebration. Although the German military authorities made every effort to try to provide their troops with warm, dry quarters and with facilities to keep clean and shaven and their clothing and equipment in a state of good order and repair, it was almost impossible to maintain these requirements throughout the armed forces under wartime conditions. As the war progressed the state of uniforms became worse. The availability of replacement garments became more difficult and extemporized uniform items more commonplace. Something of this problem can be gauged from photographs 2 and 3 : the first was taken in 1942, when it was still possible for German personnel to appear smart under active service conditions; the second was taken in the summer of 1944, and shows some of the first prisoners to have been captured at Calais arriving in the United Kingdom. The photographs featured in this book should give some idea of the appearance of regulation clothing and uniforms worn by German troops in many theatres of war, at different seasons of the year, and at different periods during the hostilities.
Download from (depositfiles.com) or (filesonic.com)
