Representing the transition from the beginning of Fallschirmjaeger smock development to the style that would be standard through the west of the war, this paratrooper smock was altered from the "step in" pattern to the handier "button leg" style. Smocks with this style of modification are often associated with the veterans of Crete and North Africa, where the Fallschirmjaegers saw some of their heaviest and most famous action. This smock was produced in single-sided "Splittermuster 41" (splinter pattern, 1941) camouflage, with a series of irregular green and brown geometric shapes on a tan field, with short green "splinter" lines to further break up the pattern. A finely stitched embroidered Luftwaffe eagle (tan eagle on feldgrau backing, with well trimmed brown thread) is present on the right breast, and the left sleeve is adorned with a tan ribbon on green twill double chevron Gefreiter (PFC) patch. This type of rank patch is uncommon on a Fallshirmjaeger smock, as general regulation was not to wear the standard uniform pattern insignia with the smock, instead favoring a series of proprietary "low profile" rank insignia for smocks and flight suits. That said, such an installation is not out of character for a German trooper, as a number of Wehrmacht men skirted or broke the regulations in the name of personal flair or to mark themselves out as veterans. The front of the smock is fitted with four pockets, horizontal at the waist and diagonal at the collar, with leather-tabbed Rapid-brand zippers, and a set of gray plastic buttons. A flare gun holster, constructed from tropical style green/tan twill instead of matching camo pattern cloth, is installed on the back right hip, and a reinforced cloth loop for an entrenching tool has been added to the back left hip. Both of these features are suggestive of period-of-service upgrades. Information supplied by the consignor attribute the item to the collection of Robert Johnson, who in turn acquired it from a WWII veteran's family about 1985. Per information supplied by the consignor, this is the only known example of a rank chevron used on a fallschirmjaeger smock.