Original German WWII Gebirgsjäger Mountain Trooper M42 Wind Anorak Reversible Smock – dated 1943 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a lovely example of a rare German WWII Gebirgsjäger (Mountain Trooper) M42 Wind Anorak, the first that we have ever had! We previously had one of the wind breakers with a front closure, but this is a “pullover” style anorak, which is also reversible, with the interior made from white printed field gray material. Like the wind breaker, the anorak was intended to wear over the regular service uniform to block the wind, which unfortunately could easily infiltrate wool uniforms. By providing a solid relatively non-permeable layer, these were very effective at blocking the wind and other weather.

The wind anorak features two waist pockets, and three pockets across the chest, with an equal number on the inner side. The waist pockets can be pushed through to use with the other side. There is also a strap to go through between the pant legs to keep the anorak from being blown upwards.

There are what look to be maker and size markings on the inside of the neck closure flap, which we unfortunately cannot quite read, however at the bottom is M 43, indicating processing through the München (Munich) clothing depot in 1943.

Condition is very good, with some deterioration of the white side, which is printed or sprayed onto the fabric, making it a bit stiff and prone to wear and cracking. It looks like this example has been mostly stored in the “winter” configuration.

A lovely example of a hard to find piece of German Mountain Trooper gear, ready to research and display!

Gebirgsjäger material is among the most popular of all German WWII items. They were the light infantry part of the alpine or mountain troops (Gebirgstruppe) of Germany and Austria. The word Jäger (meaning “hunter” or “huntsman”) is a characteristic term used for light-infantry or light-infantryman in German-speaking military context.

The mountain infantry of Austria have their roots in the three Landesschützen regiments of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The mountain infantry of Germany carry on certain traditions of the Alpenkorps (Alpine corps) of World War I. Both countries’ mountain infantry share the Edelweiß insignia. It was established in 1907 as a symbol of the Austro-Hungarian Landesschützen regiments by Emperor Franz Joseph I. These troops wore their edelweiss on the collar of their uniforms. When the Alpenkorps came to aid the Landesschützen in defending Austria-Hungary’s southern frontier against the Italian attack in May 1915, the grateful Landesschützen honored the men of the Alpenkorps by awarding them their own insignia: the edelweiss. Together with the Fallschirmjäger (Paratroopers) they are perceived as the elite infantry units of the German Army.