BACKGROUND: All EM/NCO personnel were issued three leather straps designed to secure the rolled greatcoat to the backpack, etc.. The straps came in two different patterns with one pattern designated, "Mantelriemen für Fusstruppen", (Greatcoat straps for Foot troops), which had an additional auxiliary strap and the other pattern designated, "Mantelriemen für Unberittene der Berittenen Truppen", (Greatcoat straps for unmounted personnel of Mounted Troops), without the inclusion of the additional auxiliary strap. Both patterns of these straps were to become popular for a wide variety of uses. Of Note: Luftwaffe personnel initially utilized brown leather accoutrements but during the war the leather items were generally blackened.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Roughly, 20 5/8" long, 3/4" wide, blackened leather construction strap with a matte grey painted, steel, pronged, roller buckle and a leather retaining loop to one end and seventeen corresponding buckling holes to the other end. The strap has a separate, stitched on, auxiliary strap with a single stud hole positioned near the buckle end. The main strap has a leather reinforced, corresponding, natural steel stud for the auxiliary strap. The reverse of the main strap is well marked with faint, impressed manufacturer’s name, location and date that appears to be, "Carl Hepting & Co. Stgt-Feuerbach 1941". The reverse of the main strap also has the deeply impressed initials, "RLM", indicating, Reichsluftfahrtministerium, (National Ministry of Aviation). The strap is in overall excellent condition with minimal chafe wear and the leather is still quite supple.

GRADE ****1/4                             PRICE $36.00