BACKGROUND: Combat Engineer personnel were issued assorted specialized equipment designed to meet their needs as the spearhead troops tasked with destroying enemy obstacles and creating forward defensive positions for their own troops in the face of the enemy. Besides the engineer’s assault packs, explosive tool kits, cross-cut field saws were a long handle shovel and pickaxes as opposed to the short entrenching tools issued to regular infantry personnel. When issued the long handle shovels and the pickaxes came with specific carrying cases and an additional separate leather tab designed to secure them to the load carrying waist belt. 

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Brown leather construction tear dropped shape, combat engineer’s long handle shovel and pickaxe belt support tab with a natural aluminum fitting. The tear dropped shaped tab is roughly, 18cm tall and 8cm wide at the bulbous bottom end tapering down to 1 1/2" wide at the top end. The top end of the tab is folded to the reverse and machine stitched down creating a belt loop with an inserted, opened triangular, natural aluminum attachment ring to secure the tools carrying case. The obverse of the tab is well marked with deeply impressed manufacturers name, location and date, "RICHARD EHRHARDT POESSNECK 1937" and also the stamped number "K36". The tab is in overall excellent condition with light chafe wear and light age and usage toning. Unique combat engineer’s accessory.