World War II Personal Equipment: Land Warfare


Figure 1.-- The most obvious piece of World War personal equipment was the helmet which can also be considered an uniform item. The steel helmet is a piece of equipment that first appeared in World War I. And the various styles are the single most important piece of equipment which can be used to identify soldiers. The German Stalhelm was first issued as standard equipment during the middle of World War I. It was by far provided the most effective protection in both World Wars. There were slight modifications over time. This photograph was probably taken before World War II in the late-1930s. Note the side-mounted horn-like ventilator lugs above the insignia and the insignia in national colors. These insignias varied before the NAZIs seied power. During the pre-War NAZI era, he national color insignia was fairly standard. The insignia than varied during the War. A reader writes, "Notice the boy is wearing light colored woolen Knee socks. They appear to me to be very thick (I could be mistaken). I assume they were hand knit." We are not sure about that. We are sure that the boy's sweater was hand knotted. Also notice his father knitted gloves. They might also be hand knitted, but that was much more complicated than knitting socks and sweaters. We do not know if the Wehrmacht issued knitted gloves to soldiers or if they had to provide them their selves. Given the subsequent disaster in the Soviet Union, it is an interesting question.

World War II soldiers in addition to weapons were issued with a range of equipment. This mean items issued in combat environments, but often not part of the standard uniform. Here there is some crossover with the soldier's uniform. The most obvious piece of World War personal equipment was the helmet which can also be considered an uniform item. The steel helmet is a piece of equipment that first appeared in World War I. And the various styles are the single most important piece of equipment which can be used to identify soldiers. All the major combatants had different styles. These helmets were in several instances the same as World War I (Britain, France, and Germany). Two countries introduced entirely new styles (Soviet Union and United States). Other imprtant pieces of personal equipment include basically the same as World War I. Another imprtant item was webbing including various types of load carrying items such as belts and suspenders. It was important for the soldier to carry a range of items , but thirthat his hnds be free to handle his weapon. The web belt was an especially important innovation. It was not entirely new in World War II, but became standard issue durin the War. Webbing in World War II tended to replace leather items commonly used by soldiers through World War I. Webbing was less expensive and more useful for a range of purposes. Particularly important items to carry in the field were haversacks/packs, canteens, ammunition carriers of different types, pouches, and cannisters. Many of these items had holders whih could be attched to the webbing, especially the belt. We note a lot of German trrops carrying cylindrical cannisters. This seems an item especially characteristic of the Germans. Banoliers were also used. Other imprtant pieces of personal equipment included entreching tools and gas masks. These items primatily refer to armies operating on land, but were commonly adoped for the airforces and navies as required.








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Created: 6:45 PM 12/26/2016
Last updated: 6:45 PM 12/26/2016