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Polish Samodzielny Pododdzial Antyterrorystyczny Policji ('Independent Police Anti-terrorist Subdivision') sniper team training at Warsaw airport. They wear two-piece Bundeswehr Schneetarn winter camouflage suits. [Image: Barett magazine.]

Bundeswehr-Schneetarn
Federal Republic of Germany

Known to collectors as 'snowy pines', Bundeswehr-Schneetarn is an unusual two-colour winter camouflage, which features dark green 'scribbles' on a white background.

It is believed that Schneetarn was developed by the Gebirgsjägerschule (mountain warfare school) at Mittenwald, where it was trialled in 1963. Certainly hooded ponchos camouflaged in Schneetarn were initially issued only to Gebirgsjäger units. However, this pattern is so much more effective than the more widespread solid-white winter camouflage uniforms that it was soon being used by other branches of the Bundeswehr.

In time, the hooded snow-cape evolved into a two-piece camouflage set, which was adopted by Polish Samodzielny Pododdzial Antyterrorystyczny Policji ('Independent Police Anti-terrorist Subdivision' SPAP) anti-terrorist teams. It was also the basis for other winter camouflage patterns, such as the Italian arctic camouflage and Russian Klyaksa ('ink-blot').

kamouflage.net is grateful to Dan Feldkamp and Steve Grammont, for their invaluable contributions to this article.

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