German WW2 Italian Camouflage Zeltbahn

Strictly speaking, Italy did not use a triangular "Zeltbahn" (which is the specific German word for a triangular shelter half). Instead, the Royal Italian Army (Regio Esercito) used the Telo Mimetico Mod. 1929, a square-shaped camouflage cloth/shelter half that functioned similarly as a poncho and tent. However, German forces extensively used captured Italian Telo Mimetico fabric and manufactured triangular German-style Zeltbahnen out of it later in the war.

After the capitulation of the Italian army in 1943 their camouflage printing rollers and uniform/equipment stocks were captured and brought back to Germany. It was then that the first Zeltbahnen of captured Italian camouflage material (Telo Mimetico) where produced.

This example is triangular in shape and is a very nice and bright zeltbahn made out of captured ItalianTelo Mimetico camouflage material.

The condition of this zeltbahn is used but good and the colours are still very bright and vivid. There are some light traces of wear and a small amount of paint stain but not detracting at all. It has most of the original buttons and grommets. Most Telo Mimetico fades really fast due to the ink used by the Italians, this sample however is still very bright and vivid. These zeltbahns were used by the Army , Luftwaffe and Waffen-SS in the last stages of the war.

Four Zeltbahnen buttoned together made up a small pyramidal tent which served as a shelter for four soldiers.

Triangular in shape, It measures approx 1.8m x1.8m. it has eyelets and buttons around the edges and a buttoned head hole.

This example has the Italian cotton mill manufacture markings on the reverse side along the seam.

Shows some service use and some usual wear.

Code: 4622