During World War II, the German military, particularly the Wehrmacht and the Waffen-SS, employed several camouflage patterns for uniforms, equipment, and vehicles. One of the most iconic patterns was the "Splittertarnmuster" or "splinter pattern," characterized by irregular geometric shapes in various shades of green, brown, and tan. Other patterns included the "Sumpfmuster" (swamp pattern) and the "Platanenmuster" (plane tree pattern). After World War II, West Germany (Bundeswehr) and East Germany (National People's Army) developed their own camouflage patterns. West Germany introduced the "Flecktarnmuster" (splinter pattern) in the 1970s, featuring small, multi-colored dots on a green background. East Germany used the "Strichtarnmuster" (rain pattern), characterized by vertical stripes in various shades of green and brown. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, Germany continued to develop new camouflage patterns for its military. The Flecktarn pattern remains in use by the Bundeswehr, with variations for different environments such as woodland, desert, and urban settings. In recent years, the Bundeswehr has also adopted the "Tropentarnmuster" (tropical pattern) for use in hot and arid environments.
