Description
Physical description
Support straps
Three black leather straps fitted to a central leather padded metal 'O' ring that fits to the small of the wearer's back. Two straps fit over the man's shoulders, beneath his epaulettes and have metal hooks at each end that engage through the 'D' rings that are fitted to the back of the ammunition pouches. The shorter backstrap has a metal hook device that is passed under the waistbelt and secured. Fitted to the shoulder braces are a pair of secondary straps that have open metal buckles, and these, together with metal 'D' rings that are attached to the rear shoulder of the 'Y' straps engage the webbing canvas 'A' frame combat load carrying pack. All five straps are fully adjustable for comfort.
History note
Second World War period German Army personal equipment. The M1939 belt support equipment braces with auxiliary straps (Koppeltraggestell mit Hilfstrageriemen) were part of the personal equipment system that included the M1939 'A' frame combat load carrying pack (Gefechtsgepaeck fur Infanterie Schutzenkompanien - see EQU 3985). Prior to that date a more rigid pack with integral carrying straps was the traditional means by which a soldier carried his personal equipment in the field; but when in action he carried only ammunition in forward pouches, a canvas breadbag with rations and other small essentials with waterbottle and mess tins attached. The weight on the waist was considerable, therefore the M1939 system enabled gas mask tin, mess tins and zeltbahn shelter quarter to be attached to the 'A' frame and then to the 'Y' support straps, thus balancing the weight more evenly on the shoulders, back and waist. Originally issued only to infantry companies the issue spread to other arms and, from June 1941, permission was granted for motorcycle riflemen, with bicycle units from March 1943. Other versions existed, without the auxiliary straps and 'D' rings of the older M1911 mounted troops' pattern, but these were issued to officers, cavalry and paratroops.