Zeltbahn

The "Zeltbhan 31", the classic German camouflage cloth

By: Carlos L. Giordano

The Zeltbahn 31 (“tent sheet”, “poncho”) has its origins in 1930, taking like example the camouflaged quarter of tent-poncho Italian model 1920, the German army orders an element in replacement of the old rectangular poncho gray color used from World War I, thus makes his presentation in 1931 the Zeltbahn 31(of triangular form), clothing designed to be used as raincoat, quarter of tent, element of flotation (filling with straw or small wood, and tied properly), blanket and like camouflage element. This last function although was not the main for which it was designed, it was the most widely spread, since widely it was distributed in the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Police and SS units.

Manufactured in cotton fabric, had print in both sides the pattern of camouflage denominated “Splitter” (“chipped”), formed by three colors: a base color of gray-greenish aspect (although in many occasions the base is observed of toasted aspect), and spots of earth brown and grass green. On these was the Strich (drops of rain) of green color and that were arranged in vertical form. In one side was print of a dark tonality and in the other in a lighter one. The colors tonalities underwent slight variations according to the manufacturers or the year of manufacture. In the last war years (1944-1945) the printing was no longer in two tones but that in one single one: the lighter one. Also took place the production of a smaller amount of Zeltbahn 31 with a face in three brown tonalities, probably to be used by the Afrika Korps. To the SS units the Zeltbahn was provided in little amount with the traditional camouflage scheme, since a Zeltbahn with SS schemes existed, that displayed in one side a “spring” coloration in greenish tones and in the other an “autumn” coloration, in brown tones; and also was provided a small amount of the old model of Zeltbahn (Viereckige Zeltbahn) of World War I.

To some units of Zeltbahn were applied the same blasting overprint of black coal color that used the 1945 Leibermuster scheme, which was the last camouflage for the Wehrmacht and the Waffen-SS. The black coal element absorbent of the light was introduced because of beginning of infrared images equipment, that denied the effectiveness of the previous patterns.

The Zeltbahn (of triangular form), were of 240cm base and the sides of 203cm, presented 60 magnesium bellboys (30 in each face), 30 eyelets and 9 metalic orifices, that from 1943 for budgetary reasons the metalic orifices were reduced to 5 and the bellboys were made of brass, iron or zinc.

There was three ways to dress the Zeltbhan: a form to mount, other to drive a bicycle and another one for march (see illustrations). When it was not used the Zeltbhan was transported comprising part of the “assault or battle pack” (Sturmgepäck) between the kettle and battle pack, enlisted to the Y harness by means of accessory tapes in the back, also was taken in the back part of the belt or rolled in the horseshoe roll (with or without the overcoat) around the knapsack or the Sturmgepäck.

The individual set of the Zeltbahn completed itself with: the 1892 Model cord of 4 mm of section by 2 ms of length, a part of the 1901 Model wood, two aluminum or bakelite mattocks (all previous things was kept in the 1931 Model battle pack) and two strap to fix the poncho when it was rolled.

Scheme of an unfolded Zeltbahn. See the 30 bellboys (of each side), 30 eyelets and 9 orifices with metallic ring, that in 1943-45 period were reduced to 5, removed the 2 small ones of each angle of the base. Also existed models that presented up to 5 accessory metallic rings.

Basic position of the Zeltbahn.

Form of use to ride.

Form of use to march.

Form of use to drive bicycles.

Artillery allotment dressing the Zeltbahn in march style, these seems to be of the first models by the light coloration of the bellboys and eyelets, which would indicate that they were made in magnesium.

Patrol of a Luftwaffe Soil Unit dressing the Zeltbahn and over it the base reinforced with leather; all seem to be placed in the factory. Although the bellboys and eyelets seem painted in white, this is simply the effect of the zinc oxidation.

Detail of an extremely delayed Zeltbahn, exhibiting the same "blasting" coal black overprint that the Leibermuster of 1945, that was the last camouflage for the Wehrmacht and the Waffen-SS. The coal black element absorbent of the light was introduced because the appearance of infrared images equipment that denied the effectiveness of the previous patterns. This unit lacks of manufacturer seal and it never had eyelets, indicating that probably was left without finishing when finished the war.

Here see the tonalities changes, according to the manufacturer or the year of printing (this is possible to be observed in diverse color photos in which the change of tonality from a Zeltbahn to another one is appraised).

Way to roll the Zeltbahn.

Here is the disposition of the Zeltbahn rolled and hooked in the accessory harness of the “Y” harness, below the kettle.

This photo illustrates how the Zeltbahn 31 were used when raining or to hide. The Zeltbahn of the right is a rare unit in which a side is printed entirely in brown tones; the reverse has normal coloration.

"Spring" side of the Zeltbahn of the SS, which shows three different schemes: in the left panel an Eich-Platanenmuster scheme, on the bottom an Eichenlaubmuster scheme and the right panel the Platenenmuster scheme.

"Autumn" side of the Zeltbahn of the SS that shows the schemes referred in the “spring” side plus a Rauchtarnmuster scheme in the reinforcements of the edges.

Scheme of an unfolded Zeltbahn. See the 30 bellboys (of each side), 30 eyelets and 9 orifices with metallic ring, that in 1943-45 period were reduced to 5, removed the 2 small ones of each angle of the base. Also existed models that presented up to 5 accessory metallic rings.
Basic position of the Zeltbahn.	Form of use to ride.
Form of use to march.	Form of use to drive bicycles.
Artillery allotment dressing the Zeltbahn in march style, these seems to be of the first models by the light coloration of the bellboys and eyelets, which would indicate that they were made in magnesium.	Patrol of a Luftwaffe Soil Unit dressing the Zeltbahn and over it the base reinforced with leather; all seem to be placed in the factory. Although the bellboys and eyelets seem painted in white, this is simply the effect of the zinc oxidation.
Detail of an extremely delayed Zeltbahn, exhibiting the same "blasting" coal black overprint that the Leibermuster of 1945, that was the last camouflage for the Wehrmacht and the Waffen-SS. The coal black element absorbent of the light was introduced because the appearance of infrared images equipment that denied the effectiveness of the previous patterns. This unit lacks of manufacturer seal and it never had eyelets, indicating that probably was left without finishing when finished the war.	Here see the tonalities changes, according to the manufacturer or the year of printing (this is possible to be observed in diverse color photos in which the change of tonality from a Zeltbahn to another one is appraised).
	Way to roll the Zeltbahn.
Here is the disposition of the Zeltbahn rolled and hooked in the accessory harness of the “Y” harness, below the kettle.	This photo illustrates how the Zeltbahn 31 were used when raining or to hide. The Zeltbahn of the right is a rare unit in which a side is printed entirely in brown tones; the reverse has normal coloration.
"Spring" side of the Zeltbahn of the SS, which shows three different schemes: in the left panel an Eich-Platanenmuster scheme, on the bottom an Eichenlaubmuster scheme and the right panel the Platenenmuster scheme.	"Autumn" side of the Zeltbahn of the SS that shows the schemes referred in the “spring” side plus a Rauchtarnmuster scheme in the reinforcements of the edges.