Flecktarn: German Camouflage Pattern

Flecktarn is the camouflage pattern used in the German Bundeswehr combat uniform. The name comes from the German words fleck, meaning spot, and tarnung, meaning camouflage. It is also known as Flecktarnmuster, Flectarn or just plain Fleck.

As you might be able to guess from the name, it uses spots of colour to create a dithering effect. This dithering effect is very similar to the effect created by the latest digital camouflage patterns like CADPAT and MARPAT. It might even have been the inspiration behind their development.

It was developed in 1976, along with several other prototype camouflage patterns, to replace the Field Grey (Feldgrau) uniform in use at the time. After trialling the prototypes, Flecktarn was chosen and is used by all three groups of the Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces). It is used on their camouflage clothing and on their camouflage webbing.
Flecktarn, and variations of it, is used by many other countries besides Germany. These include Austria, Belgium, China, Denmark and Poland.

It is also popular with paintball and airsoft enthusiasts.