BACKGROUND: Each Division in the German army, and the Waffen-SS, had an organic Pionier, (Combat Engineer), battalion that consisted of personnel specially trained in destroying enemy obstacles, creating forward defensive positions, bridging and assault tactics. As a result Engineer, personnel were issued with assorted specialized equipment designed to meet their needs as the spearhead troops. Besides the long handle shovels, picks, axes, saws, wire cutters and explosive devices there was also a specific Combat Engineer’s assault pack. The Pioniersturmgepäck, (Engineer’s Assault Pack), was introduced on March 27^TH 1941 and consisted of a central back pack and two attached side packs designed specifically for the unique engineering assault equipment and essential items. The central backpack was designed to hold two, three kilogram, (6 pounds, 2.6 ounces), explosive charges, a mess kit and additional personal or essential items. The left hand side pack was designed to hold two, three kilogram, explosive charges and eight, five round, 7.92mm caliber, K98 rifle ammunition clips while the right hand side pack was designed to hold one, three kilogram explosive charge, eight, five round K98 ammunition clips and a gas mask. The Combat Engineer’s assault packs were only issued to one in five Engineers in a divisional Engineer battalion and personnel equipped with this pack replaced the standard issue K98 ammo pouches with the side packs. Of Note: As the spearhead troops, personnel serving with an Engineer unit, generally experienced higher casualties rates then standard units. This example is the right hand side pack.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: The roughly, 9" tall, 8 1/4" wide, 3 1/2" thick, olive drab canvas construction right hand side pack with steel, alloy and canvas web fittings features a fold over top flap with two, small, machine stitched on, metal tipped, vertical, web closure straps with dual, corresponding, slotted, steel, securing fittings. The top edge of the obverse body of the pack has dual, corresponding, raised, rivetted on, steel bars similar to the modified closure on the M35 dispatch cases. For secure closure the raised steel bars are inserted through the slotted fittings and the straps are in turn inserted through the raised bars. The front body of the pack also has an additional gas mask compartment with a fold over top flap with a single, machine stitched on, metal tipped, vertical, web closure strap with a corresponding, slotted, steel, securing fitting and an underlying, rivetted on, steel bar as on the top opening flap. The gas mask pocket also has the addition of six alloy grommets with an inserted cord drawstring and a rubberized interior. The left side panel of the pack has four, small, vertically aligned pockets with fold over top flaps with a single, pale grey/green, magnetic sheet metal, snap closure to each, designed for the K98 ammo clips. Two of the snaps have broken. The reverse of the pack has two, machine stitched, vertical, canvas web, belt loops and a stitch outline where an additional, horizontal strap designed to attach it to the left hand side pack has been removed. The interior of the pack has one large central compartment with dual, small, fold over, canvas side panels to protect the contents. The reverse of the fold over top flap has a faint, illegible, black inkstamped marking. The pack is in overall good condition with light age and usage toning, a couple of small picks and pulls and light to moderate surface spotting to some of the steel fittings.

GRADE ***1/4                             PRICE $655.00