Original German WWII 1939 Large Medical Surgical Tool Set by AESCULAP – U.S. Capture Original Items

Original Item: Extremely Rare German WW2 medical surgical set manufactured by the well known and respected medical company AESCULAP of Tutlingen. This is a portable set for the Lazarett field hospitals, suitable to be used in field conditions, at the battlefield. The set goes into a metal carrying container, with folding handles on the sides. Inside on the lid has the original list of contents, printed in Gothic German letters. This set is called Sammelbesteck but the outer case is from a Hauptbesteck, both cases are identical as shape and slots, only the markings on the lid are different. The paper is dated 1939 on the inside of the lid and the metal box is dated 1944.

Most interestingly is that this set was captured by the U.S. Army and a full translation of the contents was glued over the German paper sheet on the inside of the case lid. The outside of the case is also marked to the U.S. surgeon that used it on the battlefield, which reads-

DR F.S. BABB

This extensive steel surgical instrument set contains a wide range of the equipment an army surgeon may have needed at a German field hospital. Some of the instruments, such as the amputation knives and saw, are for specific tasks. Other instruments, such as the forceps for clamping bones, arteries, and intestines, have a more general use. The kit is labeled with the German word Hauptbesteck and the date. Hauptbesteck translates as “main cutlery”, “cutlery” being another word for surgical instruments. The use of steel for the case as well as the instruments ensured that this equipment could be sterilized easily.

In the container there are metal trays and metal boxes, full of instruments – for a great variety of medical and surgical cases. There are slots with the outline of the instruments on the bottom of the trays. The trays contain a great deal of surgical instruments many still in grease, there are boxes with all sizes of glass syringes, Direct blood transfusion set, various ENT and ophthalmologic instruments and many more. For a detailed list of contents, look at all the photos.

This is an excellent set, a centerpiece for your collection, extremely rare to find original, semi-complete, large surgical set. Please look closely at all the photos to see the great condition and the rich content of this exceptional, museum quality set.

Dimensions: 20.5” x 12.5” x 6.5″.

This is an extremely rare and highly collectible set with a wonderful history offered in very good condition.