German World War II Camouflage Patterns

German World War II camouflage patterns formed a family of disruptively patterned military camouflage designs for clothing, used and in the main design during the Second World War.

The German names used for the plane tree, palm, and oak leaf patterns are not those that were used in the German armed forces but were invented by postwar collectors of militaria.

German Name	English Name	Date	Note	Collection
Splittertarnmuster (Buntfarbenmuster)	Splinter pattern ("Colourful pattern")	1931	Being the first German camouflage pattern, it was initially used in Zeltbahn groundsheets for the Wehrmacht branches. The pattern is also known as Splinter A	https://www.gearhomies.com/collections/ca006-splittertarnmuster-buntfarbenmuster-colour-pattern
Luftwaffe- Splittertarnmuster	Luftwaffe splinter pattern	1941	German Air Force variant of Splittertarnmuster; also known as Splinter B.
Platanenmuster	Planetree pattern	1937–1942	Used by the Waffen-SS. Spring and autumn variations, first dotted camouflage pattern	https://www.gearhomies.com/collections/ca008-platanenmuster-german-world-war-ii-camouflage-patterns-1?from-dashboard=1
Rauchtarnmuster	Blurred Edge pattern	1939–1944	Used by the Waffen-SS. Summer and autumn variations[
Palmenmuster	Palm tree pattern
Beringtes Eichenlaubmuster	Oak leaf pattern B	1942–1945
Sumpftarnmuster	Swamp pattern
Erbsenmuster	Pea dot pattern	944–1945	Used by the Waffen-SS. Based on Eichenlaubmuster	https://www.gearhomies.com/collections/ca002-german-world-war-2-wwii-erbsenmuster-pattern-pea-dot-camo
Leibermuster	(named after the Leiber brothers)	1945	Bold irregular pattern. Designed to absorb infra-red. Designed to replace all previous patterns.	https://www.gearhomies.com/collections/ca0013-german-world-war-2-wwii-leibermuster-camo