Original German WWII Army (Heer) Field Gear Set: Belt, Buckle, 98k Bayonet, Frog, and Ammo Pouches Original Items

Original Items: Only One Set Available. This is a wonderful opportunity to knock out multiple birds with one stone. This is a beautiful service worn, basic loadout set up for a soldier in the Heer during WWII, with a lovely patina of age. This is not a set that spent the war in a depot, but one that was used in the field, and then brought home by a USGI.

The basic German Infantryman’s webbing (the equipment by which he carries the items necessary to survive and fight), consisted of a leather waist belt with leather Y-straps that went over the shoulders. Later in the war, these were supplemented by canvas webbing ones, initially supplied to troops in tropical zones, due to their cheapness and practicality.

Attached to this were items such as ammunition pouches (which varied according to the weapon carried), a bayonet (Seitengewehr), an entrenching tool (Schanzzeug), a bread bag (Brotbeutel), a water bottle (Feldflasche), a gas mask container (Tragebusche) and possibly even a pistol and holster. Quite often, the gas mask was ‘disposed’ of, and the container used to carry personal items, extra rations and ammunition. In addition, an assault pack (Sturmgepäck) could be attached at the back using an ‘A-Frame’ and consisted of the Model 31 Cooking Pot (Kockgeschirr), a small bag for carrying additional equipment over which was placed a rolled up poncho with tent pole sections and pegs (Zeltbahnrolle), a blanket and (if necessary) the greatcoat rolled up and placed around the other items in a horseshoe shape and attached by straps.

On the march however, the Marching Pack (Marschgepäck) could be attached to the ‘A-Frame’ with the greatcoat, blanket and poncho wrapped around that instead. The Marching Pack was gradually replaced from 1943 onwards with the Model 1944 Rucksack, due its increased practicality.

This Set Includes:
-Belt and Buckle: The buckle is stamped Dr. F. & Co. / 1940 by the loop for Dr. Franke & Co., located in the city of Lüdenscheid, a city with a large garment accessories industry. This is a very nice WWII German Wehrmacht Heer (Army) EM/NCO’s Belt Buckle (Koppelschloß). It is embossed with the Heer motto GOT MIT UNS (“God with us”) surrounding a NSDAP Party Eagle. Nice fieldgrey painted steel construction box buckle with a smooth background. The buckle is in very good service worn condition, with much of the original paint intact, and some great period wear. The belt still has the leather tab, however the markings are no longer visible.

The belt is in good condition, with a lovely matured color and wear to the finish on both sides. We cannot see any maker stamp, but it is size marked 90cm, which is equivalent to about 35.4 inches. We measured the belt, and it is just under 36 inches long, so it has not been shortened. It does show signs of heavy wear and use. There is some stitching that has come undone on the buckle catch side of the belt.

-Mauser 98k Ammunition Pouches (Pair): Now this is a nice set of service used pouches. These are the “triple” ammunition pouches and are both constructed of black finished “pebble grain” leather. Both still have all of the rawhide leather separators inside the individual pockets present, and all of the straps and such are intact. The pouch with a D-ring on the back has a faint maker mark dated 1943 on the back, while the other with a rectangular ring has a later war RBNr. marking.

-Mauser 98k Bayonet With Frog: This set, while showing a lot of external wear, does not look to have been used much in service. The blade has almost all of the original finish, and still has the factory “blunt” edge. The bayonet and scabbard are a matched pair, both bearing serial number 3117 / f and are dated and maker marked 43 asw, for 1943 manufacture by the well-known maker E. & F. Hörster of Solingen, the legendary “City of Blades” in Eastern Germany.

The frog shows significant wear, most likely from weather and moisture exposure, and much of the stitching has deteriorated. There is a tear above the hole for the frog button, and the finish is mostly gone. It does not have any markings that we can see.

This is a wonderful service worn set up and comes ready to display in your Wehrmacht collections!

Specifications (Bayonet):
Blade Length: 9 3/4″
Blade Style: Single Edge with Fuller
Overall length: 14 3/4″
Crossguard: 2 2/4”
Scabbard Length: 11″