Both before and during World War II, German vehicle camouflage colours went through a lot of changes. Some of these changes are better documented than others, and some are hardly known as all. A lot of myths are still in existance, however an upcoming book from Thomas L. Jentz and Hilary L. Doyle dedicated to German camouflage colours will hopefully kill all of these myths once and for all. It has been in progress for several years now, which alone goes to show just how complex the entire topic is. Below is a brief outline of the official camouflage colours and patterns from 1922 to 1945. These colours were mainly used for armoured fighting vehicles (tanks, self-propelled artillery, armour personel carriers, armour cars and so forth). Trucks and other soft skinned vehicles were also affected by the overall principles, however it was for example not uncommon to see trucks which hadn't been repainted according to reglations after their first issue.
Between 1927 and 1937-07-19, German tanks were painted in the Buntfarbenanstrich pattern, which consisted of RAL Nr.17 Erdgelb-matt, Nr.18 Braun-matt and Nr.28 Grün-matt. This pattern was sprayed in a wavy pattern, with a different pattern for each vehicle. The borders should be either feathered, or drawn up with one to three cm. wide stripes of RAL Nr.5 Schwarz-matt.
On 1937-07-19, it was ordered that all the camouflage pattern should be Dunkelbraun Nr.45 and Dunkelgrau Nr.46, spray with feathered edges. The vehicles painted in the former Buntfarbenanstrich shouldn't be repainted in the new pattern unless they had to be repainted anyway. On 1938-11-07, it was ordered that all vehicles should be painted in the new pattern by the troops. In addition, it was specified that the pattern should consist of a base coat of Dunkelgrau Nr.46 with one-third of the base colour covered by Dunkelbraun Nr.45.
On 1940-06-12, it was ordered that units would be issued paint, rather than having to buy it from the suppliers, and that only Dunkelgrau would be issued. On 1940-07-31, it was ordered that all tanks should only be painted in Dunkelgrau Nr.46. This was in order to save paint. Dunkelgrau Nr.46 was renamed Dunkelgrau RAL 7021 on 1941-02-10.
On 1941-03-17, it was ordered that all vehicles in Africa should be painted Gelbbraun RAL 8000 and Graugrün RAL 7008, with the base colour being Gelbbraun RAL 8000 with one-third of the base colour covered by Graugrün RAL 7008. The edges should be feathered. The areas to be painted with Graugrün RAL 7008 was not to be painted with Gelbbraun RAL 8000 first, though. Small items shoudl be painted in only one colour. On 1942-03-25, it was ordered that Braun RAL 8020 and Grau RAL 7027 was to be used in stead of the current colours in Africa, once stocks of Gelbbraun RAL 8000 and Graugrün RAL 7008 ran out. The pattern was to be the same. All four colours were matt.
It is sometimes seen that vehicles in Europe in this time period are sometimes seen with a two-colour pattern, even though it wasn't authorized. The commonly accepted explanation is, that these are vehicles which were meant to be send to Africa, but for one reason or another were never send.
On 1943-02-18, it was ordered that all vehicles were to be painted in a base coat Dunkelgelb nach Muster (except for small equipment pieces, which were to retain the former colours). Over this, a camouflage pattern of Olivgrün (an RLM colour), Rotbraun RAL 8017 and Dunkelgelb nach Muster consisting of stripes was to be applied by the maintenance sections, according to the terrain. For this purpose, the paint was delivered as a paste, which could then be thinned with most liquids, and applied. Dunkelgelb nach Muster was later re-named Dunkelgelb RAL 7028, and Olivgrü was re-named Olivgrün RAL 6003.
On 1944-08-19, it was ordered that the tanks should be painted at the factories, in order to achieve more standardized patterns. The pattern used, called Hinterhalt-Tarnung, consisted of a base of Dunkelgelb RAL 7028, with Olivgrün RAL 6003 and Rotbraun RAL 8017 stripes. On top of this pattern were added small dots of all three paints.
In mid-September 1944, the tanks were were left in the red primer as the base coat, with only limited camouflage applied by the factories. On 1944-10-31, this order was expanded to include that both Dunkelgelb RAL 7028, Olivgrün RAL 6003 and Rotbraun RAL 8017 should be applied in limited amounts over the red primer, and that Dunkelgrau RAL 7021 could be used in stead of Dunkelgelb RAL 7028 is no Dunkelgelb RAL 7028 was available. There is no evidence that Dunkelgrau RAL 7021 was ever used, though.
On 1944-12-20, it was ordered that the base coat should be Dunkelgrün RAL 6003, with a hard-edged pattern of Rotbraun RAL 8017 and Dunkelgelb RAL 7028.
There were two interior colours in use. The first, and most videly used, was Elfenbein RAL 1001. This was by far the most suitable of the two, because of the light colour. The other was Graugrün RAL 7008, which gave a rather dark interior light. Some equipment was left in the black colour they received at the factory. During 1944, an oder was given to leave the intorior with the primer.
The inside of hatches and other interior that would be visible from the outside of the tank was usually painted in the exterior colour, however there are plenty of photographs that show the interior colour.
Even though the colours used by Germany was standadized, and didn't vary much from one manufacturer to another, there could be slight differences in the colour. This could be a result of the way the paint was applied, especially in those cases where the colour was applied in the field. Using preserved equipment to study colours can be difficult, as the paint may have altered during storage. For example, Dunkelgelb RAL 7028 had a tendency to turn darker with age.
If attempting to study colours based on photographs, there are far too many variables to be taken into account to make it possible to determine anything with any certainty. This is especially true for black and white photographs, where both angle and weather conditions apply, but where the type of film can also greatly affect the representation of colour. With black and white photographs, it is for example impossible to determine if a certain grey tone is Dunkelgelb RAL 7028 or a bright pink colour. We may guess, sometimes more qualified than others, but that's all it is then - guesses.
Colour photographs aren't a certain source of tone either. Aside from the angle and weather conditions (which, even today, with high-tech cameras, can show very different tones of colour on the same vehicle on the same day), the colour may change over time on the photograph itself.
The only way one can be sure of a colour is if they have access to the vehicle itself, which retains the original paint job, and which has been stored away from light, heat and air for the last 60 years. Sometimes such vehicles are found in swaps, but the colour quickly alters once they have been dug up. Some countries also has very strict rules regarding the export of artifacts, and thus the vehicles are left out in the rain. One vehicle with a near-perfect whitewash and markings was for example allowed to stand outside and rust away, because of beaucracy.
Because Dunkelgrau RAL 7021 presented a very stark contrast against snow, OKH decided to provide the troops with white paint to paint the equipment during the winter. The paint was water-soluble, so that it would run off the equipment when the first rain started to wash away the snow. To prevent having to re-paint stencils, tactical numbers and unit emblems, these were often left without whitewash.
Because of the large distances the whitewash had to be transported, and relatively small supplies of whitewash, several vehicles only received whitewash sparingly, if at all. Some units had to be creative, using chalk or even sheets to provide some kind of camouflage. Stacked snow on the vehicles was also used. Some of these interim solutinos were obviously better than others, also depending on the conditions. For example, where a solid shite cover would blend in very well against a snow-covered field, an iregular pattern would be more suitable against a wood, where the trees would be left uncovered with snow.
Although Germany didn't use camouflage netting or tarpulins on any great scale, they can still be seen on a few photographs. Some of these are definately German army issue, as they are seen on pre-front photographs, however others may simply be captured netting and tarpulins.
Especially until 1943-02-18, the dark colour of Dunkelgrau RAL 7021 and Dunkelbraun Nr.45 could make it difficult for the vehicles to blend in properly, however while driving, a lot of dust or mud (depending on weather conditions) would quickly cover the vehicles. Although mud would have to be removed from movable areas, it could still provide a camouflage effect, and has even been seen intentionally smeared over vehicles. In Africa, some of the Dunkelgrau RAL 7021 painted vehicles were even painted with such mudpaint, made from desert sand and water.
Especially in the latter part of the war, Germany used a lot of foilage as camouflage, to blend in with the natural suroundings. Branches, small trees and even hay was used to disguise the vehicles, sometimes with better results than others. As the war progressed, and the German troops were retreating, large piles of pre-cut branshes were sometimes arranged at roadsides, for crews to help themselves.
All contents written by Christian Ankerstjerne unless stated otherwise