kamouflage.net camouflage data

This Czechoslovakian letní maskování odev s vpleteným zeleným lýkem is patterned on the wartime Russian MKK. The Czechoslovakian Duby (Czech: 'oaks') camouflage pattern, on the other hand, seems inspired by wartime German patterns. [Image: Daniel Peterson/The Crowood Press Ltd.]

Duby
Czechoslovakia

In the mid-1950s Czechoslovakia, like many Soviet-dominated nations, adopted a camouflage suit for scouts and snipers that was patterned on the wartime Russian 'deceptive camouflage outfit' (Russian: маскировочный камуфлированный костюм, trans. maskirovochnyy kamuflirovannnyy kostyum, MKK). Like the Soviet MKK, the Czechoslovakian 'summer masking outfit with intertwining green bast' (Czechoslovakian: letní maskování odev s vpleteným zeleným lýkem) comsists of an oversized pullover smock and trousers, intended to be worn over a standard field uniform.

However, the camouflage patterns used for this reversible suit were not based on Soviet paradigms. The spring–summer side of the letní maskování odev features a predominantly green camouflage pattern, nicknamed 'clouds' (Czechoslovakian: mraky), while the autumn–winter side appears to have been inspired by SS-Leibermuster — for which reason it is frequently called Czechoslovakian Leibermuster. However, the pattern was known as 'oaks' (Czechoslovakian: duby), among Czechoslovakian soldiers.

Duby comprises black, medium green and red elements on a light tan background. The red elements have given rise to the claim that this pattern was the inspiration for Swiss Leibermuster. Indeed, the resemblance is strong enough that Czechoslovakain uniforms featuring this pattern are sometimes misidentified as Swiss.

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

camouflage data