Bulgarian Old Communist Paratrooper Camouflage Jacket Uniform Rare communist camouflage paratrooper coat jacket. Such jackets were worn by the elite communist paratrooper officers and landing troops. The coat is characterized by the so called “splinter” pattern designed as the German WWII camouflage pattern. The jacket's model can be dated to the beginning of the 1960s. This is the first camouflage made especially for officers. This model looks in a more modern and universal way compared to the camouflage overalls used by the time it came to be used. The model was made in limited quantity, as only high ranking military personnel wore it. By the 1980s no other camouflage equipment of this kind had been fabricated.

The coat has a thick winter lining made of wool as well as a collar. Both are removable. Thus the coat can be worn in colder and warmer days. The back part of the waist is elastic so that the coat fits perfectly to the body. The jacket has removable shoulder boards, two chest flap pockets, two hand and two zip pockets, with zippers at both the right and left side of the pocket. The latter detail is typical for the jackets of the special units. On the inside of the paratrooper jacket can be noticed the black stamp of the producer as well as the year of fabrication. The camouflage was made in the communist army plant: “H.Botev” located in the town of Kalofer: this is what reads in the stamp, as well as: "19 I B 63g". The latter indicates 1) the year of production: 1963 and 2) size: 1. The jackets we have are either made in 1963 or in 1964. The sizes we offer are M, and L - Please, write us to specify the size you need .

The jacket is in excellent condition. When worn during missions, it is to be accompanied by a leather helmet: as the one you can see in one of the photos. We can supply you with both.

Bulgarian Camouflage History The camouflage uniforms in the Bulgarian communist army are rare to find and are intended to be used at training demonstrations by paratroopers, landing troops and some high-ranking officers. The first camouflage uniforms used in the Bulgarian communist army are the camouflage coveralls M1953 with a splinter pattern. After the Warsaw pact there occurred the necessity of modern camouflage uniform for the special forces and paratroopers. For that purpose, at the beginning of the 1960s there was sewn a very small number of camouflage uniforms like one of the jacket models we offer. The pattern is of the splinter type, and the model was employed for a short time only. In 1968 there was introduced another coveralls model intended for paratroopers, intelligence staff and border guards. This type of coveralls is characterized by the so-called “frog” pattern. At the same time there started to be employed another camouflage coveralls:

with yellow (rain like) pattern, imitating the DDR uniform. These coveralls were the only available camouflage uniform up to the 1980s. In 1986, according to the army trend at the time, there was introduced a camouflage uniform of 2 parts: jacket with pants with the splinter pattern. This uniform was to serve the needs of the elite forces when necessary but it was not that widely employed in the Bulgarian communist army either. On the small labels indicating the size of the jackets one can notice sometimes the year of fabrication: 1987.

BULGARIAN WINTER CAMOUFLAGE UNIFORM M90, model 1990

winter model of Bulgarian camouflage uniform splintern pattern, model 1990 the first model used in Bulgarian army after communism.

Here is what the set comprises: - cap summer type size: EU59/US 7 3/8- the shirt has two breast and one inside pockets. It is of XL size. Sleeves are long (64 cm/ 25,2 inches), but they can be rolled up and fixed shorter by the sleeve buttons. - pants have side waist straps that can be regulated. The pants have two hand pockets, two side and two rear flap pockets. There are two side pockets at the bottom of the legs. The pants have a waist belt that can be regulated. Size: L- XL

The waist girth max. is: 104 cm/41 inches. It can be reduced by means of the built-in belt. The full length of the pants is 113 cm/44,5 inches. The inseam is 81 cm/ 32 inches. - belt is made of strong textile material

- the jacket has two breast - and two hand pockets. There is a hood, hidden in the pocket on the jacket's collar. On the waist is placed an in-built lace-belt. The same lace is also present in the lower part of the jacket. At the end of the sleeves are placed zips and buttons to regulate their size. chest measurement: 116 cm/45,5inches; sleeve is 66 cm/26 inches Size: XL, suitable for person 175 - 177 cm tall

Lining for the jacket and for the pants. You can see them among the photos provided. The lining is made of thick cotton material and can be removed. The lining of the pants has an elastic cord for the legs. The jacket lining is set by means of zip. The lining collar is soft and made of wool, the lining has a big, inside pocket.

More info on BULGARIAN CAMOUFLAGES: "The Bulgarian Splinter or Forest pattern was developed in an attempt to give its Special Forces members a better uniform (than all green) and to make them noticed among Warsaw Pact countries. Initially only Officers and Special Ops units until the 1980's received this pattern. By 1994 all Officers wore camouflage and by 1999 all soldiers on active duty wore camouflage. The pattern was copied from the German WW2 water/splinter pattern of the

Luftwaffe FalschirmJager paratroops that trained Bulgarian Paratroops till 1944. The remaining Splinter uniforms from 1944, from the elite paratroop units were the basis for this design. Not wanting to be mocking of a Fascist era the pattern was edited to shorten the geometric shapes. The first trials were crude and resembled East German rain patterns made for Bulgaria. The Second trials had the colors not touch each other and gave a distinctive Bulgarian 'squiggle' to the rain drops to make it unique among so many Warsaw pact rain camo patterns. Some shades are light colored while others are dark. This has to do with the type of cotton used and the dye process. The thicker the cotton the darker the base green is. However, it was policy that in the 1980s the shade was to be a light tan base color and by the early 90s a light green color, and by 1997 it was changed to a dark green base color. The browns are sometimes a purplish color as well, this is due to, once again, poor dying techniques. These uniforms are typically given to other countries or used for other purposes than military. There are also Grey based color backgrounds without raindrops and with very light brown colors. These were a trial pattern for Paratroops that never was issued but some uniforms found their way into supply anyways and were issued to Air Force maintenance personnel and Navy security. The Frog skin / Rain pattern camouflage from Bulgaria was developed in the 1970s in an attempt to make a uniform that the NATO allies could not recognize. With this new pattern Bulgarian Paratroops would invade an 'aggressor' area. This pattern was never official and thus "secret". IT was issued first to Paratroops, then Chemical Warfare troops then a few found their way to the border patrol (not border guard). It was formally disbanded upon the new democratic government around 1991. The pattern is still used in other equipment however. The original fabric was printed in East Germany and sewn in Bulgaria. The machines were then moved to a small city outside the capitol, Sofia, where more were indigenously made. This Pattern is rare and should any have emblems or Bulgarian markings they are even more rare. " text found on Chris Remy's web page

Camouflage uniform in size suitable for 176 cm. tall / 75-85 kg weigh. Summer coat-shirt with 2 pockets and engineer-infantry insignia + pants with 2 pockets-Red infantry beret with cockade patch-Steel combat helmet, size 59 (M to L)-Stout leather belt about 125 cm. long-Aluminum water canteen 1L-Belt pouch with 2 pockets for hand grenades -Belt pouch for water canteen-Belt pouch for ammunitions

1953 made. They are 6 pockets for equipment, 2 of them are cases for gun magazines.Perfect stuff for your collection