Italy

Italy has one of the longest-standing military traditions of employing camouflage printed fabrics for concealment purposes. Although many nations experimented with camouflage schemes during the First World War, the Italians actually issued one-piece all white coveralls in significant quantities to their Alpine Troops.

The Italians also have the distinction of developing the first mass-produced camouflage pattern for military usage, the M1929 telo mimetico. This pattern continued in usage by paratroopers through WW2 and was later modified for general issue to Italian Marines and some Army personnel. Yet, following a NATO tradition of the Cold War, the majority of the Italian Armed Forces did not wear camouflage during the postwar period, instead utilizing dark olive green or other solid colored service clothing.

It is the Marines of the Batagglione San Marco that can be credited with introducing the first modern