Post by kingkaiser on Sept 22, 2011 17:50:12 GMT -8
Here's a page from a website that discusses WWI German toiletry items:
lagrandeguerre.cultureforum.net/t13458-hygiene-du-soldat-allmand
Here's another page from that website that discusses WWI German smoking items:
lagrandeguerre.cultureforum.net/t13557-raucheriana-du-soldat-allemand
Unfortunately, this website is in French. However, there are nice photos with what appears to be fairly detailed descriptions. Those of you that are fluent in French might find these interesting.
Unlike UK soldiers, German soldiers were not issued a "toiletry roll" or "holdall". They were issued only a bar of soap, a toothbrush, and a towel. Most of their personal kit was made up of whatever they bought on the civilian market----they were expected to be self reliant. Apparently, many kit items sold on the civilian market were targeted for the soldier-buyer. The soldiers were supposed to keep their personal kit in a simple bag, stowed in the tornister. When in garrison, the items were supposed to be kept in a wooden box, stored in their locker.
Sewing kits, similar to the "housewives" or "hussifs" carried by UK soldiers, also appear to have been private purchase items. I don't have any information regarding boot cleaning and polishing gear. These items may also have been privately purchased. In addition to boot brushes, soldiers were also expected to have clothing brushes.
Rifle cleaning supplies were issued. However, soldiers were not issued a complete cleaning kit. Rather, the components of the cleaning kit were divided up among 3-4 soldiers, much in the same way that zeltbahn gear was divided up. I haven't seen an example of a complete original GEW98 cleaning kit.
If anyone has photos of original personal kit items, particularly issued items, please post them. I think it would be interesting to find out exactly which kit items were issued, as well as which kit items were expected to be taken into the field.
lagrandeguerre.cultureforum.net/t13458-hygiene-du-soldat-allmand
Here's another page from that website that discusses WWI German smoking items:
lagrandeguerre.cultureforum.net/t13557-raucheriana-du-soldat-allemand
Unfortunately, this website is in French. However, there are nice photos with what appears to be fairly detailed descriptions. Those of you that are fluent in French might find these interesting.
Unlike UK soldiers, German soldiers were not issued a "toiletry roll" or "holdall". They were issued only a bar of soap, a toothbrush, and a towel. Most of their personal kit was made up of whatever they bought on the civilian market----they were expected to be self reliant. Apparently, many kit items sold on the civilian market were targeted for the soldier-buyer. The soldiers were supposed to keep their personal kit in a simple bag, stowed in the tornister. When in garrison, the items were supposed to be kept in a wooden box, stored in their locker.
Sewing kits, similar to the "housewives" or "hussifs" carried by UK soldiers, also appear to have been private purchase items. I don't have any information regarding boot cleaning and polishing gear. These items may also have been privately purchased. In addition to boot brushes, soldiers were also expected to have clothing brushes.
Rifle cleaning supplies were issued. However, soldiers were not issued a complete cleaning kit. Rather, the components of the cleaning kit were divided up among 3-4 soldiers, much in the same way that zeltbahn gear was divided up. I haven't seen an example of a complete original GEW98 cleaning kit.
If anyone has photos of original personal kit items, particularly issued items, please post them. I think it would be interesting to find out exactly which kit items were issued, as well as which kit items were expected to be taken into the field.
