The son of the family owned tailor company has examined the smock and explained the history of its production.

In 1935 Italy invaded and annexed Ethiopia to make it part of the Italian colony Italian East Africa. Due to this invasion a trading embargo was imposed on Italy. Italy became short of many raw materials, a.o. of cotton for the production of clothing.

This particular tailor company in Torino imported a shipment of hemp from the U.S.A., where hemp was a.o. used for the production of uniforms.

According to the tailor the total quantity of hemp imported was enough to produce approximately 200 – 250 smocks.

The smocks were produced conform the SS-Tarnjacke Model 38 version. Made in the Italian pattern camouflage M1929 telo mimetico cloth (1929 model camouflage pattern). Vertical breast pockets with flaps.

These smocks were a.o. employed by the SS-Polizei Division in Partisan warfare in Northern-Italy later during the war. Samples seem to have been worn on the Normandy battle front and in the Ardennes as well, probably by soldiers transferred from Italy to these battle fronts.

This particular SS-Tarnjacke was found on an attic near Stuttgart recently. It is made from hemp and an SS-Tarnjacke Model 38 in Italian M1929 camouflage pattern. It is in a used condition and shows signs of battle. Obviously the soldier got wounded at his arm as the sleeve shows a large blood stain. He must have held his arm up in front of his chest as there are also some bloodstains on the front side of the smock around his chest.

On the inside of the smock there is an ink marking “Mazzonis” and “42”. On the inside of the cuff there is a marking “Mazzonis – Torino – Americano - Canapa”.

According to the tailor the word “Americano”, stands for the origin of the raw-material used.

This must be one af the rarest SS-Tarnjacke still existing now-a-days, taking into account the very small number of between 200-250 originally produced!

Used condition 2. A small hole to one sleeve. Signs of wear. Size M-L.