BACKGROUND: In late 1940, with the impending German entrance into the North African campaign, tropical uniforms, footwear and equipment were quickly developed and issued in time for DAK, Deutsches Afrika Korps, (German Africa Corps), personnel’s arrival in Tripoli in February 1941. Eventually these tropical items would be issued to personnel serving in southern areas of continental Europe. The tropical footwear consisted of a olive/khaki canvas and brown leather construction knee high, lace up boots and short lace up ankle boots as it was determined the canvas would wear better in the tropical climate.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: A pair of third pattern, multi-piece, olive/khaki canvas and brown leather construction knee high, lace up boots are roughly 39cm tall from the top of the heel to the top of the back calf section. The calves of the boots are constructed in olive/khaki canvas with a central vertical brown leather reinforcement spine to the reverse. The foot and interior ankle portions of the boots are constructed in three brown leather panels with a large leather forward foot and interior ankle panels and a smaller, brown leather heel panel. The boots have a front vertical opening with an internal protective dust flap and six pair of black enameled, lower metal lace up eyelets followed by ten pair of lace up metal hooks with an additional pair of eyelets to the top edge. The boots have stacked leather heels and forward soles with toe plates. The interior top edge and the vertical front opening are trimmed with a strip of brown reinforcing leather. The matching pair of boots are both dated 1941 and marked to interior and sole with manufacturer name SCHULZE & ULBRICHT of ROSSWEIN. Both also ink stamped to interior lining with same number "1439". Size 28 1/2.