'In the years after World War I, the defeated and much-reduced German Army developed new clothing and personal equipment that drew upon the lessons learned in the trenches. In place of the wide variety of uniforms and insignia that had been worn by the Imperial German Army, a standardized approach was followed, culminating in the uniform items introduced in the 1930s as the Nazi Party came to shape every aspect of German national life.
The outbreak of war in 1939 prompted further adaptations and simplifications of uniforms and insignia, while the increasing use of camouflaged items and the accelerated pace of weapons development led to the appearance of new clothing and personal equipment. Medals and awards increased in number as the war went on, with grades being added for existing awards and new decorations introduced to reflect battlefield feats.
Specialists such as mountain troops, tank crews and combat engineers were issued distinctive uniform items and kit, while the ever-expanding variety of fronts on which the German Army fought - from the North African desert to the Russian steppe - prompted the rapid development of clothing and equipment for different climates and conditions. In addition, severe shortages of raw materials and the demands of clothing and equipping an army that numbered in the millions forced the simplification of many items and the increasing use of substitute materials in their manufacture.'
Joining me is Dr Stephen Bull.
Stephen is the author of Ospreys publishings sumptuous German Army Uniforms of World War II.
87 - Hitler's Death
86 - The SAS in Italy, 1943-45
85 - Alarmstart East
84 - Shot Down
83 - Operation Crossbow
82 US Navy vs IJN Fleet Submarine, 1941-42
81 - Britain's Blockade of Europe & the response of the ICRC
80 - The Italian Army In North Africa
Last Man Standing: Geoffrey Rothwell
79 - The Forgotten Dead: Exercise Tiger
78 - Bones of My Grandfather
Hitler's Vikings
76 - RAF Flight Engineers
75 - The Rise of Hitler and National Socialism
74 - The M3 'Grant' Tank
73 - Ghost Riders: Operation Cowboy
72 - Mediterranean Strategy
USS Indianapolis
70 - Aerial Warfare
69 Interwar International Naval Policy
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