German Paintschemes General Question

Hello All,

Just a general question on paintschemes for German vehicles during WW II. In 1943, the basic paintscheme was changed from field-gray to sand-yellow, with brown and/or green camo patterns over top. When exactly was this change ordered and how evenly was it implemented? I assume, for example, that not all vehicles in all units were re-painted from one day to the next, but that there must have been some kind of transition period, when the old field-gray paint jobs appeared side by side with newer sand-yellow ones. Is that correct?

Any info on this would be much appreciated.

Regards,

FW

At work right now but here's a start:

http://www.warplay.com/Warplay18-Panzer%20Colors.htm

Bwf.

Thanks, Bwf,

That's already quite helpful.

Much appreciated,

FW

Quite Welcome FW, if you are looking for more detailed information on the subject,
I would suggest the Squadron/Signal pubs: Panzer Colors, vols. I,II&III, they deal
not only with color schemes, but National, Divisional and Unit markings as well as
a large selection of photos and color plates. But I must warn you, these volumes
have been out of print for some time, it may take some "digging" to find copies
that aren't "unreasonable" in price.

Regards, Bwf.

here a interesting list from the german colors 1944.
it is the color name with the color number



thx Revolver for your upload:

http://foorum.mexxoft.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=5&start=780

for RAL colors see here:
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAL-Farbsystem

Hello BwF und NSU,

Thanks for your helpful replies. That's quite a lot of good information. What I was curious about, is how these changing paint scheme regulations were implemented by front line units. In the memoirs I have read so far (admittedly not that many), this topic never came up. Reading those, and not looking at historic photographs, one could be lead to believe that German military vehicle paint schemes never changed throughout the whole war. Can you think of any references to this in memoirs/biographies/accounts by German soldiers? I can't imagine that every unit at the front started busily repainting their vehicles, as soon as some bureaucrats in far-away Berlin told them to. Wouldn't it have been more likely that old and new paint schemes were used side by side for a while; old ones fading out as vehicles were repainted or lost in combat and new ones gaining prominence with the arrival of newer vehicles from Germany, already carrying the new basic paint scheme?

Thanks again, your input is much appreciated.

Regards,

FW

Other links on the subject:

http://translate.google.se/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.panzerb%C3%A4r.de%2Fcolours%2Fwh_camo-a.htm&sl=de&tl=en&hl=&ie=UTF-8

http://www.panzerworld.net/colours

http://www.achtungpanzer.com/articles/camo.htm

Regards

Jake

Thanks to all of you for sending this helpful information.

Much appreciated.

FW