The evolution of german fieldgear 1933-1945
German Field gear 1939-1945
During the re armament of the german forces in violation of the versailles treaty, resources was abundant. The field gear was specialzied for different roles and precisely made. As the invasion of poland, and the war, started 01.09 1939 an evolution of the german soldier also started. Experience gained in the field generated changes in the field gear. As the war expanded resources started to become scarcer and production was inevitable forced to be simplified. Experience and the shortage of resources took the german soldier from a traditional and nicely dressed to the modern soldier of today. Most items are a collectors field of its own so this will only scratch the top of the iceberg. Following is a chronological setup display of the germans oldier, the links below the description gives additional information regarding the fieldgear.
The "Knobelbecher" Marchstiefel
A signature of the german ww2 soldier was their helmet, another distinct feature were their boots. Described by witnesses the sound when the "iron heel" was marching. This is a short intro to the german footwear.
Y-riemen
Kobbeltrageting med hilfstrageriemen. Skriv introen her. Legg bilde av web på siden av andre bildet. A limitedt introduction to the koppeltragestell here.
Field gear overview
Below a list over field gear added to this site.
Another item with long traditions that followed the soldiers during the entire war was the bread bag or Brotbeutel M31. It is one item that shows the evolution of field gear and the adaptation to lack of resources best. More about the m31 brotbeutel here
Feltflasche 31 und trinkbecher
Several version exists and it was made ine many varieties. The m31 canteen followed the german soldier troughout the war. Feltflaschen is a collectors field on its own. A little introduction to the m31 canteen can be found here.
Kochgeschirr 31
A low cost but efficient design, the Kochgeschirr is still in use. An important part of the german field gear during ww2. More about the kochgeschirr 31 here
Gas mask & Cannister
With the horrible use of gas as weapon in the great war, the german soldier always carried a gasmask and various gas protection equipment. Tough gas was never used in ww2, the fear of gas was always present. More about the gasmask, cannisters and protection equipment here
The Zeltbahn 31 was in use by several armed forces long after the war and the same variant is till in use. An important part of the german field gear that was not changed significantly in production or use during the wa More about tent & accessories here
The "affe"
A german tradition from the prussian army, it lived on during ww1 and ww2 before it was relieved by the gefechtsgepack and later the rucksack. Here is a short introduction to the "affe" Backpack.
The "Seitengewehr"
Seitengewehr mit seitengewehrtasche. Numerous and iconic. This is a very short introduction to the seitengewehr and its use.
The Rucksack
The culmination of evolution. The soldier startet with a ponyfur detailed backpack from the napoleonic era, trough a battlepack system and ended up with simplicity and the M44 rucksack. More about the rucksacks here
First came the Tornister, the tornister fur Y-riemen M39, then the A-frame or gefechtsgepack fur infanterie Schutzenkompanmien. An intro to the A-frame here.
K43 ammopouch
The marked suddenly got flooded by these ammopouches creating good supply and declining prices. Made for the gewehr/karabiner 43 in many varieties. A very short introduction to this pouch can be found here
Dienstglas 6x30
Th dienstglas 6x30 was intoduced to replace various earlier models as the standard binoculars. Short text about dienstglas here
Patronentasche 11
Used from the first mauser in various forms, the two K98 ammunition pouches followed the german soldier until the end of the war. Up until recently thes M1911 cartridge pouches was in abundance and not worth faking. Read more here about the "Patronentasche 11"
Entrenching tools
Skriv intro her
Medical equipment
A collectors field of its own. Not directly in the category of field gear. A variety of items exists. Here are some notes regarding medical equipment.
Pioner Oberleutnant 1939
Early in the war resources was availeable and the uniforms and equipment was made with precision and of high quality materials. This picture shows a oberleutnant with an M36 feldbluse. The soldiers was issued an model 1934 tornister wich in turn was built for their specific tasks from signaltruppen to medics. Equipment was expensive and labour demanding and reflected the traditions of the prussian army. Some of the gear followed the soldiers until the end in Berlin such as the brotbeutel and the gasmasks, altough they changed during the war. The course of war, both gained experience in combat and the soon coming lack of resources would change the german soldier the next coming years.
The german feldbluse and uniforms
Knobelbecher - the german footwear
Der Stahlhelm - The german steel helmet
Koppelschloss - the german belts and buckles
Affe - The german tornister
Mapcases and related equipment
Infantry obergefreiter 1941
This obergefreiter wears the collectornamed M41 feldbluse. The war has given experience so the soldiers marching into polen has changed when marching further east in operation barbarossa. The helmet still has its decal, but has been repainted to remove the glossy finish. The feldgrau colour of field gear has been replaced by olivegreen.. Steel has started to replace alumiumium hardware in the fieldgear. He wears 1940 dated Y-straps with alumiumium hardware. Attached is the new combat pack or gefechtsgepack. His boots has been shortened in an effort to save leather.
The german feldbluse and uniforms
Knobelbecher - the german footwear
Der Stahlhelm - The german steel helmet
Koppelschloss - the german belts and buckles
Y-straps - Koppeltragestell aus leder mit hilfstrageriemen
Affe - The german tornister
Mapcases and related equipment
Fliegerbluse
Knobelbecher - the german footwear
Flieger netzkopfhaube
Schwimmweste
Irvin & co patent fallschirm
Koppelschloss - the german belts and buckles
Above the norwegian skies 1940
This luftwaffe flieger belongs to Jagdgeschwader 5 "Eismeer" stationed at the Sola airport. Dressed for cold climate he is wearing electrical heated kanalhosen. For flight over water he is wearing lifewest and a einmannschlauchtboot. This flieger has been completed by collecting items from one particular airport over many years.
Infantry panzergrenadiere 1943
This panzergrenadier wear an M43 tunic. Resources are becoming more scarce so his tunic is just a ghost of what it was in 1936. He is wearing the M40 pants. The helmet has lost all decals and are painted with sand making a rough texture. Armed with a captured PPSH41. The a-frame is replaced by a simple made artillery rucksack. His belt buckle is made of steel and the belt shortened as supplies are getting scarcer. He wears Y-straps with steel hardware and simplified construction.
The german feldbluse and uniforms
Knobelbecher - the german footwear
Der Stahlhelm - The german steel helmet
Koppelschloss - the german belts and buckles
Y-straps - Koppeltragestell aus leder mit hilfstrageriemen
Luftwaffe on the ground 1944
This luftwaffe soldier is armed with an mp40. He wears a fully camouflage outfit wich can be turned inside out to be used as white snow camouflage. His Y-straps are made of webbing, produced for afrika/tropical climate but utilized on all fronts. On the back he is wearing an M42 rucksack. The feltspaten has been changed utilizing less leather in the production. His helmet shows the remnant of the overpainted luftwaffe eagle decal.
The german feldbluse and uniforms
Knobelbecher - the german footwear
Der Stahlhelm - The german steel helmet
Koppelschloss - the german belts and buckles
The end 1945
This panzergrenadier is wearing the new M44 feldbluse with the m44 sturmgepack attached on his back. This m44 is accepted in munich in 1945. His messkit is now made of steel and the breadbag has been simplified from those from the early stages. He is armed with the Gewehr43 rifle and a panzerfaust.
The german feldbluse and uniforms
Knobelbecher - the german footwear
Der Stahlhelm - The german steel helmet
Koppelschloss - the german belts and buckles
