H00454 SNOWSHOES. (Schneeschuh) 

BACKGROUND: During WWII the German army fielded nine Mountain Divisions with an additional six Waffen-SS Mountain Divisions. Generally speaking the Mountain Divisions were specially trained and equipped Infantry Divisions. Due to the nature of the terrain and the commonly colder climate that the Mountain Divisions were expected to serve in, special clothing, footwear and equipment was developed specifically for their use. Primarily the special equipment developed for the Mountain personnel consisted of winter warfare and mountain climbing related items, and included, skis, ski accessories, crampons, pitons, ice pick axes, snow goggles, rucksacks, snowshoes, etc. etc.. After the first winter on the Russian front other personnel besides the Mountain Troopers were also issued snowshoes on a limited basis which were distributed for the winter season, (September to April), with other winter garments and equipment and were to be returned to the units storage depot at the end of the season for reissue the following year. 

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Roughly, 17" long, 9 1/2" wide, welded, light weight, white painted, tubular steel construction snowshoes. The snowshoes have an elongated oval outer frame with four inner tubular bars running width wise and an additional two, angled, tubular bars running length wise. The two central width bars each have two small metal loops designed to attach the foot harness. The blackened leather construction foot harness with aluminum fittings consists of two separate heel straps and a three piece front strap. The heel straps each have assorted length adjustment buckling holes and are each secured to the snowshoe by two of the small metal loops. The three piece front strap has dual pronged aluminum roller buckles for attaching to the heel straps and are also secured to the snowshoe by two of the small metal loops. The front straps also have a natural aluminum stud designed for an unknown purpose. One of the heel straps on each snowshoe is well marked with an impressed, mostly illegible manufacturers markings with visible dates that appear to be, "1942", to each. The foot harness straps all appear to have been treated but are still slightly stiff. The snowshoes are in overall good condition and retain about 85% of their original, age yellowed, white paint with small areas of light to moderate surface spotting. The snowshoes have no visible markings. Scarce winter accessory.

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