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On 12th July 1937 (AHA/In 2 (VIII)), a new camouflage colour system was introduced. The new camouflage system consisted of Dunkelgrau (dark-grey) and Dunkelbraun (dark-brown). This was officially announced with the A.H.M. 1937, Blatt 16 from 19th July 1937, No. 340. The colours Dunkelgrau Nr. 46 (today RAL 7021) and Dunkelbraun Nr. 45 (today RAL 7017) out of Farbenkarte (colour chart) 840 B 2 RAL were first mentioned in the A.H.M. 1938, Blatt 24 from 7th November 1938, No. 687 (O.K.H., 2nd November 1938 - 728800 18 - In 2 (VIII)). In several Allgemeinen Heeresmitteilungen (general army messages, A.H.M.), in which details of the camouflage finish were specified, this new camouflage finish was designated with different names. One time it is called Gerätanstrich dunkelgrau/dunkelbraun – equipment coating dark-grey/dark-brown – (A.H.M. No. 687, 1938), than it is designated neuer Buntfarbenanstrich (Zweifarbenanstrich) – new multicolour camouflage finish (two-colour-coat) – (A.H.M. No. 105, 1939) and several times it is designated Anstrich dunkelgrau/ dunkelbraun – coating dark-grey/dark-brown – (A.H.M. No. 864, 1940 & A.H.M. No. 281, 1941). If there was a compulsory name for this camouflage system could not be clarified.
Initially, this order applied only to newly produced equipment and equipment which had to receive a new coat of paint. Equipment of the army ordnance depots, which was still painted in the three colour camouflage finish, should be delivered in its current condition. The colour Dunkelbraun Nr. 45 should be sprayed to approximately 1/3 over the base colour Dunkelgrau Nr. 46 in irregular patches. Hard colour edges should be avoided. Small surfaces should be painted only in one colour, Dunkelgrau or Dunkelbraun. If vehicles had to receive a new colour coating, the tarpaulins should retain the old colours.
Interestingly, the new colours for pontoons and rubber dinghies were specified in A.H.M. 1938, Blatt 3 from 7th February 1938, No. 70 (O.K.H., 25th January 1938 - 76a 17/121 - In 6 (IV d)), as Dunkelgrau (dark-grey) Nr. 29 (today RAL 6008) and Dunkelbraun (dark-brown) Nr. 18g (today RAL 8014) of the Farbenkarte 840 B 2 RAL. Most probably, this was a printing error.
With A.H.M. 1938, Blatt 24 from 7th November 1938, No. 687, the application of the new camouflage system was dictated for the whole major items of equipment with no regard to the condition of the old camouflage finish. According to this order, tarpaulins and protective covers should now also receive the new camouflage finish. The treatment of equipment in army ordnance depots was regulated with A.H.M. 1939, Blatt 3 from 7th February 1939, No. 105 (O.K.H., 21st January 1939 - 72/89 AG - Fz In (IV a)). The neue Buntfarbenanstrich should be applied to the equipment until 30th June 1939. It was allowed to deliver equipment with the old three tone camouflage finish until that date. This should be repainted by the troop. Beginning on 1st July 1939, only equipment with the neue Buntfarbenanstrich (dark-grey/dark-brown) should be delivered. Equipment of mobilisation units should be repainted by the troop until 1st October 1939. It is doubtful if this order was accomplished due to the outbreak of the war against Poland on 1st September 1939.
Referring to the A.H.M. 1938, Blatt 24 from 7th November 1938, No. 687, further details for the camouflage finish were specified in the Kraftfahrtechnischen Anhang – automotive annex – No. 1 (O.K.H., 20th January 1939 - 76a 18 - In 6 (IIIb)) to A.H.M. 1939, Blatt 3 from 7th February 1939. The colour coat of commercial passenger cars of higher staffs should be specified individually at the time of order. Motorcycles (inclusive sidecars) and commercial passenger cars for staffs and duty stations should receive a one colour coat of Dunkelgrau Nr. 46. Convertible hoods, seat cushions, saddle-bags etc. should be coloured in Dunkelgrau Nr. 46, too. All other motor vehicles should receive the Zweifarbenanstrich – two colour finish – of Dunkelgrau Nr. 46 and Dunkelbraun Nr. 45. Convertible hoods and tarpaulins should receive the two tone finish, too. Seats, backrest cushions etc. should receive a one colour finish of dark-grey.
Steel helmets were painted in Feldgrau Nr. 3 (RAL 6006) until 1940. Still in the A.H.M. 1940, Blatt 4 from 7th February 1940, No. 165 (O.K.H. (BdE), 27th January 1940 - 64 k 10/11. 18 - Abt Bkl (III b), this was determined. It was forbidden to oil the helmets to retain the flat character of the paint. With A.H.M. 1940, Blatt 8 from 4th April 1940, No. 428 (O.K.H. (BdE), 21st March 1940 - 64 k 10/11. 18 - Abt Bkl (III b), it was ordered that steel helmets should now be painted in Schiefergrau matt (flat slate-grey) because of camouflage reasons. This colour corresponds to today’s Schiefergrau RAL 7015.
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Sometimes, the brighter colour RAL 7016 is mentioned in connenction with the two tone camouflage finish but this colour is a primer colour for example for bridging equipment In contrast, the Luftwaffe used this coulour as camouflage coating for motorcycles, passenger cars and lorries until 20th September 1938. Vehicles of the Luftschutz - civil air defence - used this coulour until 4th May 1939. The usage of other brigther grey shades could not be proven until now just as little as the usage of cheaper white pigments for the stretching of the dark-grey colour. With A.H.M. 1940, Blatt 18 from 7th August 1940, No. 864 (O.K.H. (Ch H Rüst u. BdE), 31st July 1940 - 72/88/16 - AHA/In 2 (VIII)), it was announced that Dunkelgrau Nr. 46 should be used as the only camouflage colour for the duration of the war. This measure was explicitly justified with the saving of raw materials.
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This 
The two tone camouflage finish of Dunkelgrau Nr. 46 and Dunkelbraun Nr. 45 is clearly visible on this
Observe the clearly visible coating of dark-grey and dark-brown on this Krupp L 3 H 63 as Fernsprechbetriebskraftwagen (Kfz. 72) in this PK colour print.
The tarpaulin of this 
With the interpretation of old colour slides one must be careful. The RAL 7021 colour of this 
These 
This 