Original Item: Only One Available. Much like the German “Zeltbahn”, French forces introduced a camouflage poncho that could be combined with others to form a shelter, though in this case it is square, and forms half a shelter. We also assume that more than two can be combined to form a larger shelter. Also unlike the camouflage ponchos used by other countries, the French used a multi-color geometric camouflage pattern that was screen printed onto the fabric, not one applied by rollers. The result was that it was less durable, and also colors screened on more heavily would bleed through to the other side.
This is a lovely example of a 1940 dated French M-1935 pattern shelter half / poncho, with a lovely faded look. As far as we can tell all of the buttons are present and original with maker marks, though oxidation has made the markings a bit hard to read. It even has an intact but faded maker mark, which looks to show 1940 manufacture in the city of Rouen, France. We unfortunately could not entirely make out the name of the maker, so we have done our best:-
LEHEUBYEUX
R
—–
40
ROUEN
A lovely example of a hard to find French WWII Camouflage Poncho / Shelter half, ready to add to your collection!