Switzerland

Swiss Splinter

Official Name
Zelteinheiten 1901

Years Used
Late 1930s - 1955 (?)

Used By
Army

Known Items
Shelter Half and Tent Pole Bag

Notes

In the late 1930s the Swiss issued their first camo pattern in the form of a shelter half using the existing Zelteinheiten 1901 design. It appears they did not redesignate the item when it changed from mono-color to a Splinter type pattern, very similar to the famous German Zeltbahn 31. The pattern is printed on both sides and appears to be identical.
Some sources state the Swiss were producing items for the Nazis and they made a close copy of it for themselves. True or not the two items are distinctly different. The most noticeable feature of the Swiss item is its square shape instead of the triangular shape of the German zeltbahn. A more subtle difference is additional perpendicular yellowish rain strokes on the Swiss model (sometimes faded and difficult to see). See picture on the right for a detailed shot. The shapes are also slightly different with the Swiss pattern having green lines connecting the dark green shapes to the light green background.

Date stamps from examples I've seen on German eBay (there are TONS of them available) seem to indication that production was from the 1930s to 1945. Perhaps production continued on after this time frame, but it seems odd that all the examples I've seen are from early 1940s and never post 1940s. One would think that if production continued into the 1950s that such examples would be just as commonly seen. If not more common.

Extra Info
None at this time

**Swiss Splinter**
Official Name	Zelteinheiten 1901
Years Used	Late 1930s - 1955 (?)
Used By	Army
Known Items	Shelter Half and Tent Pole Bag
Notes	In the late 1930s the Swiss issued their first camo pattern in the form of a shelter half using the existing Zelteinheiten 1901 design. It appears they did not redesignate the item when it changed from mono-color to a Splinter type pattern, very similar to the famous German Zeltbahn 31. The pattern is printed on both sides and appears to be identical. Some sources state the Swiss were producing items for the Nazis and they made a close copy of it for themselves. True or not the two items are distinctly different. The most noticeable feature of the Swiss item is its square shape instead of the triangular shape of the German zeltbahn. A more subtle difference is additional perpendicular yellowish rain strokes on the Swiss model (sometimes faded and difficult to see). See picture on the right for a detailed shot. The shapes are also slightly different with the Swiss pattern having green lines connecting the dark green shapes to the light green background. Date stamps from examples I've seen on German eBay (there are TONS of them available) seem to indication that production was from the 1930s to 1945. Perhaps production continued on after this time frame, but it seems odd that all the examples I've seen are from early 1940s and never post 1940s. One would think that if production continued into the 1950s that such examples would be just as commonly seen. If not more common.
Extra Info	None at this time

Splinter/Sumpfmuster

Official Name
(?)

Years Used
mid or late 1940s - 1957

Used By
Army

Known Items
Reversible Helmet Cover

Notes

This colorful reversible helmet cover for the Swiss M18 helmet was used until the adoption of Alpenflage in 1956. Both sides of which were inspired by WWII German patterns. One side is a unique Splinter pattern, while on the other side a very muted Sumpfmuster without rain strokes. The foliage bands are interpretations of the pattern, not an exact replication. Even more interesting, the patterns themselves appear to vary quite a bit from example to example. The cover comes in two main forms; drawstring and hooks or drawstring only.

Extra Info
None at this time

**Splinter/Sumpfmuster**
Official Name	(?)
Years Used	mid or late 1940s - 1957
Used By	Army
Known Items	Reversible Helmet Cover
Notes	This colorful reversible helmet cover for the Swiss M18 helmet was used until the adoption of Alpenflage in 1956. Both sides of which were inspired by WWII German patterns. One side is a unique Splinter pattern, while on the other side a very muted Sumpfmuster without rain strokes. The foliage bands are interpretations of the pattern, not an exact replication. Even more interesting, the patterns themselves appear to vary quite a bit from example to example. The cover comes in two main forms; drawstring and hooks or drawstring only.
Extra Info	None at this time

Early Alpenflage (aka "Leibermuster")

Official Name
(?)

Years Used
1956 - 1960s (?)

Used By
Army

Known Items
Shelter Half, Tent Pole Bag, Shelter Hood/Bag

Notes

In 1956 the Swiss fielded a variant of a very late WWII German pattern know as Liebermuster. The resulting Swiss pattern is commonly known as Alpenflage. Switzerland is the only country to officially adopt such a pattern, although West Germany did experiment with it in the form of a suit produced in Belgium during the 1950s. Some sources also cite Czechoslovakia as using this pattern (see Czech Amoeba), but I personally don't see them as being directly comparable.
The initial items appears to have been limited to a new shelter half system to replace the aging Zelteinheiten 1901. This included a new trapazoidal shelter design with detachable hood, which also acted as a bag for the shelter, and tent pole bag. Both of the latter itmes were also in Alpenflage material. Interestngly, the design of the set is practically identical to 1956 German Amoeba and 1956 Belgian Moon & Balls sets made just over the border along the German side of Bodensee (Lake Konstance). I'm sure there is some connection.

These items apear to have been replaced by a heavy ruberized nylon shelter/poncho sometime in the late 1960s or early 1970s.

Extra Info
None at this time

**Early Alpenflage (aka "Leibermuster")**
Official Name	(?)
Years Used	1956 - 1960s (?)
Used By	Army
Known Items	Shelter Half, Tent Pole Bag, Shelter Hood/Bag
Notes	In 1956 the Swiss fielded a variant of a very late WWII German pattern know as Liebermuster. The resulting Swiss pattern is commonly known as Alpenflage. Switzerland is the only country to officially adopt such a pattern, although West Germany did experiment with it in the form of a suit produced in Belgium during the 1950s. Some sources also cite Czechoslovakia as using this pattern (see Czech Amoeba), but I personally don't see them as being directly comparable. The initial items appears to have been limited to a new shelter half system to replace the aging Zelteinheiten 1901. This included a new trapazoidal shelter design with detachable hood, which also acted as a bag for the shelter, and tent pole bag. Both of the latter itmes were also in Alpenflage material. Interestngly, the design of the set is practically identical to 1956 German Amoeba and 1956 Belgian Moon & Balls sets made just over the border along the German side of Bodensee (Lake Konstance). I'm sure there is some connection. These items apear to have been replaced by a heavy ruberized nylon shelter/poncho sometime in the late 1960s or early 1970s.
Extra Info	None at this time

Alpenflage (aka "Swiss Leibermuster")

Official Name
Tenue d'assaut 1957 (TASS 57) / Kampfanzug 57 (KAZ 57)

Years Used
1957 - 1990 (?)

Used By
Army

Known Items
Heavy Jacket, Heavy Trousers, Helmet Cover, AFV Coveralls, Backpack, Shelter Half, Tent Pole Bag, Shelter Hood/Bag, Plastic Rain Poncho, Plastic Rain Jacket, Frag Vest

Notes

Although it might appear that all Alpenflage patterns are the same, that is not the case. I have noted no less than 7 (seven) distinctly different patterns. The variations appear to be item related, which hints that when new items were introduced so were new, slightly modified patterns. The most noticable difference is between the light weight Kampfanzug 83 model and everything that came before it.

he initial items consisted of jacket, trousers, The long standing uniform design looks to be based on early BH Splinter uniforms. However, the Swiss design utilizes a uniquely brilliant system for combining pants, jacket, and backpack into an integrated system for holding all the soldier's combat gear (ammo, canteen, bayonet, etc.). The tradeoff is, of course, that it is VERY heavy compared to typical uniforms. While a normal uniform design allows the soldier to simply unbuckle his equipment and drop it, the Swiss soldier had to manually unload all pockets or stirp off the uniform itself. Even then he was still left with a much heavier (and hotter!) uniform than others. This is most likely the reason that after 30 years or so the Swiss Army adopted a light weight, more traditional cut uniform. I have a ton of stuff in this pattern; flak vest, winter pants & jackets, summer pants & jackets, tanker jump suit, hats, backpacks, shelter quarter bag, plastic rain poncho, and helmet cover.

became available to the public in the mid 1990s. Prior to this a full suit could fetch upwards of $500 due to few being available because of Swiss government restrictions. Now a set can be bought in any number of places for well under $30. Sometimes it isn't good to be the first to have something!

Several color variations exist. I am sure some of this is due to color batch matching and cloth type, but I doubt this explains everything. I've broken down the colors into three major types, which are pictured above in order:

Pink
Tan
Brown

Extra Info
None at this time

**Alpenflage (aka "Swiss Leibermuster")**
Official Name	Tenue d'assaut 1957 (TASS 57) / Kampfanzug 57 (KAZ 57)
Years Used	1957 - 1990 (?)
Used By	Army
Known Items	Heavy Jacket, Heavy Trousers, Helmet Cover, AFV Coveralls, Backpack, Shelter Half, Tent Pole Bag, Shelter Hood/Bag, Plastic Rain Poncho, Plastic Rain Jacket, Frag Vest
Notes	Although it might appear that all Alpenflage patterns are the same, that is not the case. I have noted no less than 7 (seven) distinctly different patterns. The variations appear to be item related, which hints that when new items were introduced so were new, slightly modified patterns. The most noticable difference is between the light weight Kampfanzug 83 model and everything that came before it. he initial items consisted of jacket, trousers, The long standing uniform design looks to be based on early BH Splinter uniforms. However, the Swiss design utilizes a uniquely brilliant system for combining pants, jacket, and backpack into an integrated system for holding all the soldier's combat gear (ammo, canteen, bayonet, etc.). The tradeoff is, of course, that it is VERY heavy compared to typical uniforms. While a normal uniform design allows the soldier to simply unbuckle his equipment and drop it, the Swiss soldier had to manually unload all pockets or stirp off the uniform itself. Even then he was still left with a much heavier (and hotter!) uniform than others. This is most likely the reason that after 30 years or so the Swiss Army adopted a light weight, more traditional cut uniform. I have a ton of stuff in this pattern; flak vest, winter pants & jackets, summer pants & jackets, tanker jump suit, hats, backpacks, shelter quarter bag, plastic rain poncho, and helmet cover. became available to the public in the mid 1990s. Prior to this a full suit could fetch upwards of $500 due to few being available because of Swiss government restrictions. Now a set can be bought in any number of places for well under $30. Sometimes it isn't good to be the first to have something! Several color variations exist. I am sure some of this is due to color batch matching and cloth type, but I doubt this explains everything. I've broken down the colors into three major types, which are pictured above in order: Pink Tan Brown
Extra Info	None at this time

Alpenflage (aka "Swiss Leibermuster")

Official Name
Tenue d'assaut 1982 (TASS 82) / Kampfanzug 82 (KAZ 82)

Years Used
1983 (?) - 1990 (?)

Used By
Army

Known Items
Shirt, Trousers, Ball Cap

Notes

Starting in the mid 1950s the Swiss employed a variant of a very late WWII German pattern, know as Liebermuster. Switzerland was the only country to officially adopt this pattern, although West Germany did have some suits produced in Belgium during the 1950s as a trial.
The Swiss pattern, commercially known as Alpenflage, became available to the public in the mid 1990s. Prior to this a full suit could fetch upwards of $500 due to few being available because of Swiss government restrictions. Now a set can be bought in any number of places for well under $30. Sometimes it isn't good to be the first to have something!

Several color variations exist. I am sure some of this is due to color batch matching and cloth type, but I doubt this explains everything. I've broken down the colors into three major types, which are pictured above in order:

Pink
Tan
Brown

The long standing uniform design looks to be based on early BH Splinter uniforms. However, the Swiss design utilizes a uniquely brilliant system for combining pants, jacket, and backpack into an integrated system for holding all the soldier's combat gear (ammo, canteen, bayonet, etc.). The tradeoff is, of course, that it is VERY heavy compared to typical uniforms. While a normal uniform design allows the soldier to simply unbuckle his equipment and drop it, the Swiss soldier had to manually unload all pockets or stirp off the uniform itself. Even then he was still left with a much heavier (and hotter!) uniform than others. This is most likely the reason that after 30 years or so the Swiss Army adopted a light weight, more traditional cut uniform. I have a ton of stuff in this pattern; flak vest, winter pants & jackets, summer pants & jackets, tanker jump suit, hats, backpacks, shelter quarter bag, plastic rain poncho, and helmet cover.

Extra Info
None at this time

**Alpenflage (aka "Swiss Leibermuster")**
Official Name	Tenue d'assaut 1982 (TASS 82) / Kampfanzug 82 (KAZ 82)
Years Used	1983 (?) - 1990 (?)
Used By	Army
Known Items	Shirt, Trousers, Ball Cap
Notes	Starting in the mid 1950s the Swiss employed a variant of a very late WWII German pattern, know as Liebermuster. Switzerland was the only country to officially adopt this pattern, although West Germany did have some suits produced in Belgium during the 1950s as a trial. The Swiss pattern, commercially known as Alpenflage, became available to the public in the mid 1990s. Prior to this a full suit could fetch upwards of $500 due to few being available because of Swiss government restrictions. Now a set can be bought in any number of places for well under $30. Sometimes it isn't good to be the first to have something! Several color variations exist. I am sure some of this is due to color batch matching and cloth type, but I doubt this explains everything. I've broken down the colors into three major types, which are pictured above in order: Pink Tan Brown The long standing uniform design looks to be based on early BH Splinter uniforms. However, the Swiss design utilizes a uniquely brilliant system for combining pants, jacket, and backpack into an integrated system for holding all the soldier's combat gear (ammo, canteen, bayonet, etc.). The tradeoff is, of course, that it is VERY heavy compared to typical uniforms. While a normal uniform design allows the soldier to simply unbuckle his equipment and drop it, the Swiss soldier had to manually unload all pockets or stirp off the uniform itself. Even then he was still left with a much heavier (and hotter!) uniform than others. This is most likely the reason that after 30 years or so the Swiss Army adopted a light weight, more traditional cut uniform. I have a ton of stuff in this pattern; flak vest, winter pants & jackets, summer pants & jackets, tanker jump suit, hats, backpacks, shelter quarter bag, plastic rain poncho, and helmet cover.
Extra Info	None at this time

T90 (aka "M90")

Official Name
Tenue de camoulflage 90 / Tarnanzug 90

Years Used
1990 - Current

Used By
Army

Known Items
Field Jacket, Shirt, Trousers, AFV Coveralls, Hat, Helmet Cover

Notes

The replacement for Alpenflage is officially designated Tarnanzug 90, though often incorrectly called "Tarnanzug 92", "M92", or "Kampfanzug 92". The pattern itself is similar to Alpenflage, but with NATO "standard" colors. The above scan is not from a genuine issued uniform since, like Alpenflage, the Swiss government does not allow them to be surplused. Very few items in this pattern have made it into the collector's market. However, sometime in the mid 1990s a commercial copy, supposedly made by a genuine contractor, was released in the form of shirt, trousers, and cap. It was quite expensive at the time and is of constructed reasonably closely (though not exactly) to the real items. The cloth is probably the same as for issued items.

Extra Info
None at this time

Official Name	Tenue de camoulflage 90 / Tarnanzug 90
Years Used	1990 - Current
Used By	Army
Known Items	Field Jacket, Shirt, Trousers, AFV Coveralls, Hat, Helmet Cover
Notes	The replacement for Alpenflage is officially designated Tarnanzug 90, though often incorrectly called "Tarnanzug 92", "M92", or "Kampfanzug 92". The pattern itself is similar to Alpenflage, but with NATO "standard" colors. The above scan is not from a genuine issued uniform since, like Alpenflage, the Swiss government does not allow them to be surplused. Very few items in this pattern have made it into the collector's market. However, sometime in the mid 1990s a commercial copy, supposedly made by a genuine contractor, was released in the form of shirt, trousers, and cap. It was quite expensive at the time and is of constructed reasonably closely (though not exactly) to the real items. The cloth is probably the same as for issued items.
Extra Info	None at this time