Bundeswehr field blouse from the Afghanistan mission

A uniform is more than just clothing. It also contributes to the protection of soldiers. One factor here is its camouflage capability. For countries with a warmer and drier climate than Central Europe, the Bundeswehr introduced a lighter version of the field blouse in tropical camouflage. This pattern for desert areas is based on the regular three-color camouflage print, but consists of brown and green patterns on a sand-colored background.

This field blouse was worn on deployment in Afghanistan in 2014. The Bundeswehr’s deployment in the Hindu Kush as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) was the first multi-year combat mission in the history of the Bundeswehr. The Bundeswehr took part in the mission in 2002, and from 2008 the stabilization mission developed into a combat mission. German soldiers increasingly became part of armed conflicts and targets of attacks. In no other mission have more Bundeswehr soldiers died.

It is often only during actual deployment that it becomes clear whether an item of clothing needs improvements. Soldiers therefore frequently make changes to their uniform during deployment. These can serve to improve the functionality of the uniform or pieces of equipment or to individualize them.

A local tailor replaced all the press studs on this field blouse with Velcro fasteners and added pockets to the sleeves. The wearer had these changes made because he often had to wear a bulletproof vest as part of his job in a transport platoon. The pockets underneath the vest could not be used and buttons were considered uncomfortable. He also feared that all the hard materials underneath the vest could drill into his body if he was blown up by a booby trap or suicide bomber. This concern was not unfounded. By the end of the ISAF mission, 22 German soldiers had been killed by booby traps and suicide bombers.

The Bundeswehr has implemented these requirements for the uniform during deployment in the combat shirt, which no longer has any buttons in the chest area and has larger sleeve pockets. Despite the end of the ISAF mission in December 2014, the Bundeswehr is preparing its equipment for further, possibly prolonged deployments, which may include combat.

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(short) stories from the depot

Unfortunately, many objects cannot currently be shown in the exhibition for conservation reasons. Here you will find unusual objects and exciting stories of special pieces from the depot