What's Your Favorite WWII Era Uniform?

[Spitfire]

"The 40's were so stylish, it even made a worldwar look good..."

Just for the fun of it, what's your favourit/most stylish clothing and uniform from WWII?

Here are my favourits:

The Irvin, the 1936 pattern boots and the BD jacket (Later copied as the Ike jacket Only joking chaps, only joking)
And I know that some german uniforms were designed by Hugo Boss - but so what?
I like the more relaxed not-fitting-so-very-well-together appearance of "the Few"

 

[Fletch]

Navy AWGs

Lt. Cmdr. Gerald R. Ford, 1944.

 

[Smithy]

Definitely (and obviously) the RAF for me...

 

[KilroyCD]

Definitely (and obviously) the RAF for me...

I'm with you and Spitfire on that!

 

[leaette]

call me a collaborator....but....to me, nothing beats a dress German uniform. Shiny jackboots. Just love it.

Hubby has a black Panzer wrap (tankers uniform). And he looks amazing in it. Doesn't wear it too often though because people think it's the political uniform and he's always trying to explain that it's just a tankers uniform and it's black because of all the grease, etc.

 

[Martinis at 8]

Any combination of Pinks & Greens. Class A or B.

 

[dhermann1]

Semper Fi!

USMC Greens, with the old fashioned "salty dip" in the barracks cover. It bugs the heck out of me that there are Marines today who don't even know what that "salty dip" was all about. They pretty well stamped it out by the 70's. Anyhow, here's my Dad, Ted Hermann, with Duane Decker and Dave Pittman, all of the Leatherneck staff, in Washington in 1944.

 

[Vladimir Berkov]

Definately have to go with WWII German uniforms. I prefer the field to the "dress" uniforms, and that's where the German uniforms really shine anyway. Many nations had good dress uniforms (US, Britain, etc) but the only two who had good-looking field uniforms were the Germans and the Russians.

 

[Spitfire]

Some german uniforms vere rather stylish - but don't know about the russians!

Is this your idear of a styleicon?lol

 

[PSK123]

For me, it has to be FAFL (Free French Air Force) Service Dress.

Good for flying, and good for strutting lol

 

[DutchIndo]

I agree that the Germans had great uniforms but along with the Russians they wore their medals in the field. Tanks were known as inverted foxholes, nobody liked being around an officer. Radioman forget that ! All were bullet magnets ! Why would anyone wear medals in the field ?

 

[Josephine]

...with the old fashioned "salty dip" in the barracks cover.

What was a salty dip?

 

[Cobden]

For me, it has to be FAFL (Free French Air Force) Service Dress.

Good for flying, and good for strutting lol

As much as I can see where you're coming from, old bean, the FAFL uniform just looks a bit....1950's BOAC to me

 

[Vladimir Berkov]

Some german uniforms vere rather stylish - but don't know about the russians!

I'll admit that that Russian helmet isn't that stylish, but then again, it is still three times as stylish as the US M-1 helmet (The ugliest helmet of the war).

The genius of the Russian uniforms is that they combined simplicity with interesting colors and unique designs. The US, Brit, etc. dress uniforms could belong to any country if you changed the insignia. Russian uniforms are clearly Russian, and I think are stylish in their own way.

I agree that the Germans had great uniforms but along with the Russians they wore their medals in the field. Tanks were known as inverted foxholes, nobody liked being around an officer. Radioman forget that ! All were bullet magnets ! Why would anyone wear medals in the field ?

Well, the medals aren't as noticable as you might think. Many were flat-black or flat-silver colored anyway, and even brass medals quickly tarnish in the field. SS men often wore camo smocks over their tunics in any event.

Morale-wise, it actually makes a lot of sense to wear medals in the field. Particularly under the German system of winning medals. In the US military, you can win the Medal of Honor for one crazy-brave act. German valor medals were progressive. You would first win the Iron Cross 2nd class, then the 1st class, then the Knight's Cross, then the Knights Cross with swords, etc, etc. If you are on a battlefield and see a guy with an IC2 ribbon, IC1 medal and a Knight's Cross you can be pretty sure that guy know's what he's doing and that should should probably trust him when he tells you to do something. Contrast this with the American or Brit system where all you can see is their rank and perhaps their specialization. You have no idea how long they have been in combat, if they have been decorated, what campaigns they have been on , etc. They could be a Medal of Honor winner or some REMF for all you know.

There is also the added "I want a medal too!" incentive which should not be discounted. If you see a bunch of guys with the Iron Cross and you don't have one, it might motivate you to get such an award yourself, furthering the war effort along the way.

 

[Nick D]

I agree that the Germans had great uniforms but along with the Russians they wore their medals in the field. Tanks were known as inverted foxholes, nobody liked being around an officer. Radioman forget that ! All were bullet magnets ! Why would anyone wear medals in the field ?

I was thinking about this last night after reading this thread. Just speculation on my part, but could it perhaps also have something to do with the theatricality so prevalent in Germany during WWII?

 

[Alan Eardley]

Most stylish in WW2

No contest if they are allowed - Spanish uniforms are the most stylish.

They weren't involved in WW2 (much) so they didn't need to sacrifice style for practicality. Do N/C nations count?

Alan

 

[Spitfire]

Got any pics to prove it, Alan?
I am all blank on spanish uniforms:eusa_doh:

 

[fishmeok]

USAAF, but the RAF is a close second...
Cheers
Mark

 

[Cobden]

Another good uniform was that worn by officers of the Hungarian River Force, but I can't find any photo's online to back it up

 

[DutchIndo]

Nick, Vlad good points, when I see the footage of the Nuremberg Rallies I can see where it's not hard to get caught up in it all. Russian uniforms are practical period. The Russians did not screw around with frills. Their equipment always seem alien looking to me. Their DP MGs and their Mosins to me are un-appealing. Definately Slavic looking but it works. I was just telling a guy at work today about the Russian "Penalty Brigade". He did not believe me when I told him they made some link arms and walk across minefields !