BACKGROUND: In 1931 the German army introduced the M31 clothing bag for issue to all EM/NCO personnel with the main purpose being the storage of non-essential personal items that weren’t deemed necessary in the field. Front line EM/NCO personnel were issued with a backpack or rucksack, which they carried themselves and a single clothing bag while EM/NCO personnel serving in rear areas were issued two clothing bags, and didn’t receive the backpack or rucksack until transferred to the front. Front line personnel’s M31 clothing bags were stored and cared for by the units supply train under the control of the units Quartiermeister, (Supply HQ unit/Quartermaster), and were exchanged for the backpack/rucksack when personnel were on furlough from the front. Of Note: Officer ranks were also outfitted with a deluxe clothing bag that was considerable larger then the EM/NCO version. Officers and certain Senior NCO’s ranks were responsible for purchasing their own uniforms and most of their equipment including the clothing bag and as a result were allotted a clothing allowance through the army’s Kleiderkasse, (Clothing Account), system. Officers had the choice of storing their clothing bags with the units supply train but more often preferred to carry it with them under the care of an assigned batman/Adjutant.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Roughly, 14 1/2" tall, 15 1/2" wide, olive drab canvas construction M31 clothing bag with, 2 1/2" deep side panels, machine stitched seams and olive drab canvas web, blackened leather and steel fittings. The bag features a fold over, top closure flap with two, stitched on, vertical, blackened leather closure straps to the obverse. The closure straps attach to leather reinforced, matte grey painted, pronged, steel, buckles which are situated on the front body of the bag. The top flap also has a horizontal, olive drab, canvas web, carrying handle, machine stitched to the top center. The bag has machine stitched side and bottom seams and the interior of the top opening has small, protective, fold over flaps to each side panel. The bag has a single, large, interior compartment. The interior of the fold over, top flap is well marked with a faint, mostly illegible, purple inkstamp that appears to be an RB number. Of Note: The RB numbers, Reichsbetriebnummer, (National factory code numbers), were introduced in late 1942 and were intended to replace the manufacturers marks on garments and equipment to conceal the manufactures name and location from the allies, to prevent bombing raids on German industrial factories. The bag is in overall very good, unissued condition with a few small picks and pulls and minimal age toning.

GRADE ****1/4                             PRICE $72.00