Polish 'wz. 89 Puma' winter bechatka jacket

Puma, wz.89, "Frogskin," was the last camouflage pattern adopted by the Polish People's Republic. Produced and issued in 1989, it saw service in both the communist and modern Polish Armed Forces until 1993 when it was replaced by wz.93.

However, the history of Puma is more interesting than that. The reason it was developed and issued towards the end of the communist era in Poland is that the Polish army used the identical "Mora" pattern, which was also used by various "security" groups and the Militia, including the notorious ZOMO. After the events of the 1980s, "Mora" became associated with police brutality and the communist security apparatus. The Polish Army needed to change the pattern to avoid the bad stigma and to distinguish its soldiers from the Militia and ZOMO.

Puma was initially planned to be the next big thing in the Polish army with its "futuristic" camouflage. The pattern was promoted at expos and other places. There's a Polish urban legend that suggests the pigment used in Puma was bought from East Germany and that it was a deliberate act of sabotage or ill-will, which, of course, might just be a humorous exaggeration.

Interestingly, many of these jackets were sent in large numbers, over 3000, to the Afghan government in 2010, and they were probably worn by someone out there.

• Detachable liner.
• Perfect for some work outside in cold. 
• Unissued condition.