Hi there. I have a few questions this backspace. After doin research I believe it is a Luftwaffe backpack. However, I am also wondering if the fallschirmjager paratroopers also used them? I know as well during the end of the war that the Germans use anything’s they could get their hands on, so possibly these were handed out to the Wehrmacht as well? Made in 1942 by Johann Schaeuble Kuppenheim. Any info helps, thanks.
You can always try. If you Mean jumpin the plane you would be jumpin with your hands forward and wait for the parachute opening.
......the Germans were well known for documentation/organization/etc....they usually would mark all of their equipment with such things as RZM tags,waffenamts, etc ..are there letters or numbers, a tag, etc on it? here's an example of an RZM tag: Reichszeugmeisterei - Wikipedia
I have a number of WW2 German rucksacks in my collection and I'm led to believe that the blue version that you have was used by Luftwaffe aircrew. I've never heard of them being used by German Fallschirmjager. Non of my rucksacks are RZM numbered or waffenamt stamped but they do have the makers name and year of manufacture on the piece of leather that both shoulder straps attach to. I will bring them out of storage and check their markings.
Here are my rucksacks/backpacks. Only one of the larger blue backpacks is marked and was made in 1940 by the same manufacturer as the one you have (Johann Schaeuble of Kuppenheim, Germany). Two of the smaller artillery backpacks are also marked, one having an RB No and the other having undecipherable lettering and a 1943 date stamped in to its leather.
....so it appears the RB numbers were used '''similar''' to the RZM codes--label and document the equipment? they ''usually'' marked their equipment RB Number List | Eagle Relics
Thanks for the info. Hi there, bronk7. I looked all over the backpack and there does not appear to be any other markings besides the one in the picture. No RZM, or anything. My dad bought it off a guy who found it at a flea market in Germany, interesting stuff. The only other thing left in the backpack was this, which is pretty sad. Don’t know why.
..roger that..if no markings, etc, I would question the authenticity of it ...what does Jagd44 think?
I see these backpacks for sale at militaria shows all the time and have no reason to question the WW2 authenticity of the one you have. They are quite common, and depending on condition, usually fetch a price of 50 - 80 GB pounds. The metal hooks on my 1940 dated backpack have the marking D&C which indicates they made by Dransfeld & Co from Menden in North West Germany. The company produced a lot of metal objects for the German military during WW2 ranging from helmet liner rivets to belt buckles and gun sling buckles. The straps also have numbers on each of them to aid symmetry when fastening Note the mispunched hole that still has the scrap leather centre piece still in place
Your very welcome but remember, you might not stop at buying just one... as my collection demonstrates! Next one on my want list is a Gerbigjager backpack.
..you 2 have got me interested in packs now....I'll have to research these..differences/etc ..I like it....your ''everyday''/''simple''/etc equipment ...thanks...
You have a similar line of thought as me. My collection mainly comprises of German militaria, especially personal equipment. I find it interesting that an item could have travelled with the same person for years on and off the battlefield.