M44 Erbsenmuster

M44 Erbsenmuster
Type	Battledress
Designation	Erbsenmuster/Erbsentarn for the camouflage pattern, M44 given by collectors, none given by the Germans for the sole uniform
Place of Origin	Nazi Germany
Produced	Early 1944-1945
Manufacturer(s)	Walter Klem, Hornberg Schw.
Material(s)	canvas, cotton, linen
Evolved from	Feldgrau M43 (uniform), Eichenlaubmuster M43 (pattern)
Evolved into	Leibermuster M45
Service
Used by	Waffen-SS, UNPIK
Wars	World War II, Korean War

The Erbsenmuster or alternatively Erbsentarn M44 (Pea dot pattern Model 1944) was a battledress of German origin. It was the sixth SS camouflage pattern and eighth German World War II camouflage pattern altogether and was also their first actual (true) camouflage combat & service uniform, since all other predecessing patterns were mostly only uniform and helmet covers (smocks) which were just worn above the standard Feldgrau (Greenish gray), non camouflage, wool service uniform (although there were many improvisations were they were made as actual uniforms, like this one). As mentioned, it was a camouflage pattern designed only for members of SS units and was so used exclusively by them. Like all other, previous SS camouflage patterns, the Erbsentarn was allegedly designed by German academic painter Johann Georg Otto Schick.

Overview

LSSAH officer wearing an M44 Erbsenmuster Feldbluse, Ardennes, 1944

The Erbsentarn was firstly designed exactly to replace the slowly obsolete wool made Feldgrau uniform as both standard/service (everyday) uniform as well as battledress/combat uniform for SS units, and to simultaneously makes uniform simplier, so that soldiers do not need two piece battledress anymore (sole uniform + camouflage smock) and what also made job easier for logistics as well as for production. However, due to that it was not generally reversible as previous (smock) patterns. The Erbsentarn usually had a relatively dense, four color composition, firstly consisting of light brown background (main) color, partially covered with spots of black, yellowish and light green and thus offered excellent camouflage and very accurate accommodation to terrain (especially in fall/autumn), although the color tones could vary greatly, depending on manufacturer as well as on material.

The sole uniform consisted of four components; the blouse/shirt (Feldbluse), the strap trousers (Keilhosen), the reversible jacket (Wendejacke) and even the very rare jump suit (Konchensack), despite the fact that it was an SS uniform as mentioned, as was thus never formally used by paratroopers (Fallschirmjäger). However, there were also many field improvisations of existing uniform components made by soldiers during the war. Interestingly, it never featured usual covers for Stahlhelm (combat helmet) nor any kind of field caps (Feldmutze) like all those previous patterns, despite many modern reproductions commonly and erroneously showing Erbsentarn field caps and helmet covers. The uniform was originally made out of cotton (and nylon, for jump suit), but there were also many canvas variants due to serious shortage of cotton near the end of war.

The blouse had a classic collar on which the ranks and unit (SS division) affiliation were often put and consisted of four frontal pockets with all-out knob buttoning. It usually came sewn with German eagle symbol on the left sleeve by default, as worn by the SS (Wehrmacht units featured eagle above the right top pocket of the blouse) and it commonly featured epaulettes on sholders which had a double role; to put ranks onto them as well as to pull through the well known 'Y' straps of their combat belt, the so called Koppeltragegestell, in order to prevent them from falling from sholuders while moving.

The trousers were also made out of cotton or canvas and featured strap holders due to which they did not feature belt rings. They also featured two front pocket as well as one on the rear and were also all-out knob buttoning, like the blouse.

The jacket was indeed a very modern design, made also out of cotton or canvas and featuring a hood, which could be also tightened with laces but it still featured only knob buttoning. It was the only reversible part of uniform, however, it did not feature another variant of same camouflage on the other side like previous patterns but was instead all white pattern, intended to offer camouflage in winter/snow.

The jump suit was made out of linen (a type of textile) like the previously produced smocks and it was, naturally, longer than jacket and blouse, going down as far as knees. It featured two diagonal, upper pockets as well as two classic, horizontal lower ones, all with modern, zip buttoning. It was produced in smallest quantities of all uniform components and was due to that very rarely seen and used, mostly on rainfalls as a raincoat.

The Erbsentarn was never officially designated as M44, which is just a modern collector's (unofficial) designation. It was originally designated just as Erbsentmuster (or alternatively Erbsentarn, as mentioned) which, however, reffered exclusively to the pattern and what also means that sole uniform actually did not have any kind of official designation. It was briefly produced; only for approximately a year, since it appeared as late as 1944 while the war ended just a year after. However, it still became very famous pattern and practically a trademark as well as one of main recognition symbols of late war SS units. It was intended to be replaced by Leibermuster/Leibertarn pattern (named after two Leiber brothers which designed it) in early 1945, which was the first camouflage in history designed to provide cover from infrared and which was intended to be the first camouflage pattern for both Wehrmacht - Heer & Luftwaffe/Fallschirmjäger (Army & Air force/Paratroopers) as well as for SS, which would thus finally eliminate the difference in their appearance, but which, however, never got a wider distribution due to soon end of the war and was due to that, exteremely rarely seen and very slightly used.

Like most other SS camouflage patterns, the Erbsentarn practically never fully replaced previous patterns in service and was thus mostly seen combined together with other patterns or even with standard, non camouflage Fledgrau uniform, so fully dressed Erbsentarn soldiers were a very rare sight. This was firstly due to supply and logistic issues, since the new uniforms could not reach every possible unit or a single solider, especially considering the fact that war was raging on multiple fronts when Erbsentarn appeared. Also, serious shortage of materials came near end of the war which also affected the quantity of production, so the Erbsentarn was, ironically, intended to be replaced with Leibertarn already a year later although itself never fully managed to replace predecessing patterns.

One interesting fact is that the Erbsentarn was, ironically, often and commonly used by SS Panzertruppen (tank crews; except tank commanders), almost as often as by common infantrymen (if not even more often) although it was a camouflage pattern naturally designed for infantry in the first place and despite the fact that the tank crews usually had their own all black uniforms with reason, whose dark color helped to conceal spots of fuel, grease and powder from fired shell cases.

The Erbsentarn was, together with its successor, the Leibertarn no doubt the most modern battledress/combat uniform of World War II and one of the most advanced and efficient camouflage patterns of its time and the same can freely be said even by today's standards. Moreover, the Erbsentarn had also inspired the modern German army, the BW (Bundeswehr) to design their Flecktarnmuster (Spot pattern) in the beginning of the 1990s, which is loosely based on it.

Genuine variants & components

Officialy ordnance manufactured garments:

Feldbluse (in M43 cut)

To be expanded!

Keilhosen (in M43 cut)

To be expanded!

Panzer wrap

To be expanded!

Panzer trousers

To be expanded!

Knochensack

To be expanded!

M42 Wendejacke

To be expanded!

Non-genuine variants & components

Non-officialy produced, modern reproductions and extremely rare field made garments:

Helmet cover

A replica M44 pea dot M35/M40/M42 Stahlhelm cover

Although, there are many reproductions and replicas of Erbsenmuster helmet covers for the Stahlhelm on the market nowadays and many reenactors use them, the Germans did not produce such ones during the war. They just used the remaining stocks of earlier camouflage pattern helmet covers, however, it is possible that there were some field-made covers from scrap cloths of Erbsenmuster, but there is no known authentic photographs showing such helmet cover being used during the war.

M43 cap

Although, there are many reproductions and replicas of Erbsenmuster M43 caps on the market nowadays and many reenactors use them, the Germans did not produce such ones during the war. They just used the drab and earlier camouflaged M43 caps, however, it is possible that there were some field-made M43 caps from scrap cloths of Erbsenmuster, but there is no known authentic photographs showing such caps being used during the war.

Modified Feldbluse

There is evidence of numerous field-made modifications to the Erbsenmuster Feldbluse. Bottle-green collars salvaged from old tunics were attached to the M44 Erbsenmuster tunic, this was popular practice among officers and senior NCOs as it allowed them to display rank insignia without the need to wear a woollen tunic under a camouflaged garment during the summer.

Some of the M44 Erbsenmuster tunics were worn tucked in the trousers in a similar fashion to the M44 tunic. In order to accommodate this, the lower pockets were removed and the skirts were shortened.

Custom tailored Erbsenmuster tunics were made for high ranking officers. These included scalloped pocket flaps, pleated pockets and bottle-green collars.

Hauptsturmführer Miervaldis Ādamsons of the 19th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (2nd Latvian) wearing an M44 Erbsenmuster Feldbluse tucked in his trousers

Misconceptions

There are some misconceptions regarding the Erbsenmuster garments. In the recent years, among some reenactors has developed the idea that this uniform was only permitted to be worn with Schnurschuhe and Gamaschen. Another misconception is that the Erbsenmuster uniforms had to be worn with the entire set consisting of solely the same camouflage.

However, these ideas are wrong as by the late period of World War II there were no specific regulations regarding how to wear the field uniforms in the Waffen-SS. There are many authentic photographs displaying Waffen-SS troops with jackboots or wearing mismatched camouflage garments. Due to worsening wartime shortages and supply issues in the late stage of the war, the Germans simply wore whatever they had in whatever manner they find fit.

An SS-Panzergrenadier digging a slit trench during the Battle of Tarnopol in April 1944. Note the combination of Eichenlaubmuster helmet cover, custom-made panzer wrap jacket and Erbsenmuster trousers.

An SS Untersturmführer wearing Erbsenmuster panzer trousers, M36 Feldbluse and M43 cap

Members of SS Ski Jäger Battalion "Norwegen". Note the Erbsenmuster Feldbluse combined with drab trousers

Videos

German WWII SS Camouflage Effectiveness

German WWII 44 Dot Camouflage Effectiveness

The 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend in Normandy, 1944 (Remastered)

In popular culture

Media	Notes	Date
Saving Private Ryan	The trousers (Keilhosen) used in few occations by SS troops in the final battle	1998
Combat Mission: Beyond Overlord	Complete uniform (blouse + trousers) used by SS units	2000
Rise of Nations	The Erbsenmuster M44 tunic is worn by the Volksgrenadiers unit	2003
Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway	The blouse (Feldbluse) and the fictional Erbsentarn cap (Feldmutze) as well as helmet cover (Stahlhelm überzug) are used by SS units and cap and helmet cover are also erroneously used by Heer and Fallschirmjäger	2008
Call of Duty: World at War	The Erbsenmuster M44 tunic and trousers are worn by the Waffen-SS	2008
Company of Heroes 2	The Wendejacke and fictional helmet cover are worn by the Obersoldaten unit	2013
Fury	Worn by the Waffen SS in the final battle	2014
Call of Duty: WWII	The Erbsenmuster M44 trousers are part of the Valkyrie Infantry uniform	2017
Post Scriptum	The Erbsenmuster M44 uniform tunic and trousers are predominantly used in portraying the 9th SS "Hohenstaufen" in Operation Market Garden	2018