Author Topic: German camo for 1940 Invasion of France . Grey Brown?  (Read 3320 times)

Lovstrom

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German camo for 1940 Invasion of France . Grey Brown?
« on: April 12, 2018, 06:06:51 pm »
Hello.
This is a question for the knowledgeable people I know is here.
There is a grey with brown patches camo pattern for early war.
Is there any evidence that this pattern was used on vehicles and tanks during Invasion of France?

Thank you
Sven

Pinky

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Re: German camo for 1940 Invasion of France . Grey Brown?
« Reply #1 on: April 12, 2018, 06:18:46 pm »
The most recent research indicates that this pattern was in use during the invasion of France - the switch to plain grey was ordered after that campaign.  There is photographic evidence of a 2-colour scheme during the campaign, but most reproductions of black and white photos don't show it clearly at all.  It seems likely that many or even most vehicles were in plain grey.   
« Last Edit: April 12, 2018, 10:49:18 pm by Pinky »

ultravanillasmurf

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Re: German camo for 1940 Invasion of France . Grey Brown?
« Reply #2 on: April 12, 2018, 06:19:12 pm »
There are colour plates in German Leichte Panzer at War by De Sisto showing 7 or 8 Panzer Division in France with 38t in grey and brown.

Pinky

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Re: German camo for 1940 Invasion of France . Grey Brown?
« Reply #3 on: April 12, 2018, 09:47:46 pm »
I did some more digging.  According to Tomas Chory’s “Camouflage Colours”, the dark grey and dark brown (Dunkelbraun) camo was ordered pursuant to H.M.1937 No.340 on 12 July 1937.  However, he says that by the invasion of Poland most vehicles were in plain dark grey - mostly to save time and money.  So by the invasion of France, few were in the 2-colour scheme.  The plain dark grey was formalised in July 1940.  This conflicts with authors like de Sisto, who UVS mentioned.

ripley

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Re: German camo for 1940 Invasion of France . Grey Brown?
« Reply #4 on: April 12, 2018, 10:02:25 pm »
The debate over the two color camo has been going on for years  ::) , When clean its easy to see the color variations

But when covered in dust or dirt it all seems to blend together , hard to see in B&W pictures . Supposedly these beasts showed up in two color camo Norway 1940

« Last Edit: April 13, 2018, 07:24:43 am by ripley »