Windbluse der Gebirgstruppen

This summer while I was metal detecting my way through a forest where a gebirgsjäger unit lived for a year and a half I spotted a shed which looked like the next gust of wind would knock it over. The roof was half caved in and a wall was missing.

Like a moth to a dim porch light I was drawn ito it. I peeked in where it was no longer a wall. It was a right mess of old rotting stuff and nature doing its best to take over the place.

On the wall a stiff old jacket hanging on a nail caught my attention. At first glance it could be any old hunter jacket, but when I saw the white inside its hood I knew I had found gold.

Hanging less than a meter from the missing wall and being exposed to all sorts of insane polar weather I was amazed that it had survived. Studying the mess in the room I realized the wall must have been missing for several years already.

The inside of the hood got tattooed from the rusty nail.

It was of course a gebirgsjäger anorak that was hanging on the rusty nail. It had probably been there since the early sixties judging by some of the other rubbish laying around. I checked around and found two more items from the war time, a Kriegsmarine dinner plate, and a woolen hat.

I brought it home and gave it a good brushing to get rid of mouse droppings and old dust. It was in very good condition. I found a little rust on the metal fittings, but other than being well worn there were no holes or mold. Not even missing a button.

The anorak is probably a late model as the buttons were all of pressed paper. It is reversible with a summer- and winter side. The fabric on the white side was rubberized to make the anorak wind- and waterproof, and it is showing more wear than the green side.

I searched every inch of it but have not been able to spot any ink stamps from the manufacturer.

This find was definitely one of the very best, not only of the season, but my entire collecting career, and will look very good on a mannequin together with some equipment and gear.

Thanks for reading. Have a great week.