The
short shovel used by the German Army was called Kleines Schanzzeug,
which can be
translated as small entrenching tool. Its design was basically unchanged
since the 1880’s.
The
blade measured aprox.14,5 cm wide by 18,5 cm length. The complete length
of the shovel was
aprox. 55 cm.
The blade was riveted to the
unpainted wooden handle.
The rivets in this case have worn off (or have been filed off)
The blade is stamped with a
manufacurer code what looks
like a triple K in a circle,
the date 1943,
and an H (Heer)
Any information on the manufacturer
would be
most welcome !!
The carrier
for the E-tool was made of a leather, formed like the blade, with a rim on
the front.
The back piece and front piece were sewed together with ab opening at the
bottom so that the blade
slides between the 2 pieces of leather.
The
E-tool is then secured by a leather strap (aprox. 38 cm) which is wrapped
around the handle.
Also the
leather strap was used to secure the bayonet, or sometimes even a steel
handgrenade
model 24 can be seen in pictures
The belt loops are also sewn between the back piece and the rim.
Differences can be found , as
there are so called "open back" carriers and "closed
back" carriers.
The one shown below is a closed back type
On the left a detail shot of the buckle
Until 1938 the carriers were entirely
made of leather, but after '38 the carriers often
were made of artificial leather.
Late war models are made of black or tan pressed cardboard also called Press-stoff
or
Ersatz Leder (replacement leather).
The belt loops and securing straps however are allways from real leather.
The one shown here is a 1943 Press-stoff type with manufacturers stamp and WaA stamp.
Below , the side view of the
Entrenching tool is shown.
clearly visible is that the handle is pointing outward, as to prevent the
wooden handle
from hindering the Soldier who is wearing the Entrenching tool.
Below an example of the hard to find tan Press-stoff carrier.
The real leather belts are clearly visible.
On the left the manufacturer stamp
bdt, year 44
and a WaA 136
The maker mark stands for :
Salewa, Lederwarenfabrik
G.m.b.H.,
München, Thalkirchnerstraße 47.
Another section will concentrate on the Folding entrenching tool.