| It is impossible to create a one-stop comprehensive | | | | As a result of this, it is impossible to declare a basic |
| source regarding all World War II uniforms and | | | | combat uniform for World War II. Variations of all |
| equipment, even for one nation, let alone only the | | | | types exist, and can be seen in the European |
| major nations (Great Britain, Germany, Canada, the | | | | Theater of Operations. By D-Day, the M-1941 Field |
| United States, the Soviet Union, and Japan). Because | | | | Jacket was predominantly seen, along with the full |
| the war was fought around the world, many | | | | wool uniform (see above) and/or a mix match |
| variations in uniforms and equipment existed. | | | | (depending on the unit and how it was supplied) with |
| Shirt"> ButtonAs a result of financial cutbacks to the | | | | HBT parts of clothing. The M-1943 uniform was also |
| United States Army during the inter-war period, the | | | | issued to paratroopers, just in time for Operation |
| standard uniform combined elements of both the | | | | Market Garden in Holland, September 1944. |
| basic dress uniform and the basic field uniform. By | | | | As the Allies pushed eastward, photographs show |
| combining the uniforms, it was thought that time and | | | | evidence of more M-1943 jackets being worn, due to |
| money could be saved. The “Class A” or | | | | the high rate of replacements cycling in to replace |
| dress uniform consisted of an olive-drab (OD) wool | | | | dead and wounded soldiers. For example, browsing |
| garrison cap, olive-drab wool trousers, an olive-drab | | | | through photographs of the Battle of the Bulge, one |
| wool shirt with a khaki cotton tie, a wool olive-drab | | | | finds photographs of soldiers wearing only the M-1941 |
| four button tunic, and russet brown Type I service | | | | Field Jacket, the M-1941 Field Jacket with the heavy |
| shoes. The “Class B” or garrison uniform | | | | wool overcoat, and the M-1943 Field Jacket. Officers |
| consisted of the above, minus the tunic. | | | | can be seen wearing the M-1941 or M-1943 with the |
| The basic field uniform consisted of the basic wool | | | | officer's overcoat, a khaki and lighter version of the |
| uniform, without a tie, and with a field jacket. | | | | enlisted heavy wool OD overcoat. |
| Footwear consisted of a basic low quarter tanned | | | | The dress uniform varied at different periods and |
| leather shoe used with heavy canvas leggings. Soon | | | | places during the war, as well as varying by a soldier's |
| after the start of the war these shoes, which were | | | | rank and status in the military. Earlier in the war, |
| also used as part of the Class A dress uniform, were | | | | virtually all soldiers (officers and enlisted men) wore a |
| replaced with a similar "roughout" version made from | | | | four pocket tunic modeled after the Royal Air Force |
| leather with a suede finish. Later in the war these | | | | tunic worn by the British RAF. While officers had a |
| shoes were in turn replaced by a higher boot with a | | | | darker, finer made tunic with cut pocket flaps, the |
| buckled ankle flap that replaced the unpopular canvas | | | | enlisted men wore general issue tunics with square |
| leggings. Although other uniform parts were in use, | | | | pocket flaps; partially due to the fact that enlisted |
| the basic wool uniform saw the most use and had | | | | men generally did not have access to custom made |
| the greatest functionality, being able to keep the | | | | uniforms. The "earlier" uniform also included a Sam |
| soldier warm in the winter with its insulation and cool | | | | Browne belt. The shirt and trousers of the "earlier" |
| in the summer with its breathability. | | | | uniform consisted of the basic mustard wool uniform |
| A second and less common uniform, the Herringbone | | | | (as mentioned earlier). The uniform also included |
| Twill (HBT) uniform was made up of heavy cotton | | | | polished russet brown shoes (Type I), and an |
| weave. Initially it was meant to be worn over the | | | | overseas cap. |
| basic wool uniform to provide greater warmth, but it | | | | The "later" uniform (focusing on the European |
| proved to be better suited for hot weather climates | | | | Theater of Operations) consisted of the famous Ike |
| than the wools and was more often than not used | | | | jacket with the above mentioned uniform parts. In |
| by itself under these conditions. It was also issued in | | | | some cases (generally in the case of an officer), |
| training as “work fatigues”. | | | | trousers were substituted with a chocolate brown |
| Because combat was unpredictable, supply and | | | | colored trouser. Also, as GI's were issued "combat" |
| circulation in all theaters of the war gave some | | | | boots later in the war, it became the fashion to wear |
| soldiers (usually in the rear) more than enough | | | | the boots polished with the trousers bloused, or |
| amenities while giving men near the front barely any. | | | | tucked, into the boots. |