BW Boots

[FrankS]

These are the boots I was issued in 1987 when I joined the Bundeswehr. The boots are marked to be manufactured in 1983. I remember that I was the only one to be issued the older style boots. All the other ones got the new style boots with the double rivet open eyelet for the laces. I got two pair of the old style boots. The boots shown here I used almost all the time of my 8 year of service. During that time the boots were resoled. I just noticed now that the replacement heel is a size 270 while the boots are in size 285. I remember that the soles on my other pair of boots got loose after just some month of wear. The separated sole shown here happened after I used the boots after many years in storage on my attic. I think the glue hardens when the boots are not used and then break when the boots are used again. My other pair of boots which are in much better condition I had repaired with a modern style of sole. Those boots are still in use with me. This old style of boots is very stiff when new but they get very comfortable and the leather is very sturdy and long-lasting.

[Andy Coldwell]

Hello everyone!
I am a freshman here, and I'm very interested in military boots of the world.
With the scientific-research and educational purposes I wrote a series of reviews dedicated to military boots of different countries, and there are BW boots as well!

As this topic and web-site is dedicated to german boots, let me add some text and link woth full text (it's not possible now just to publish here the whole review with the images attached).

So, ...
Bundeswehr boots of 1970-1990s are very recognizable due to their traditional German design and good quality, perfect workmanship and good grip of the soles tread.

Brown-coloured boots were introduced circa 1971, having replaced high army boots of the so-called "Knobelbecher" - type, which were widely used for decades in the German army. "Knobelbecher" means "dice cup". This strange name appeared thanks to the specific sense of humor of the German soldiers. As these sturdy high boots were made of very thick and hard leather, the soldier's feet used to be clattering inside the boots very similar to the dice in a cup. The Dutch army has created quite a similar term, and even nowadays the Dutch army boots are still called "Legerkisten" or even "Legerlaarzen" ("army chests" and "army boxes" correspondingly).

The brown colour of the combat boots was widely spread in most countries of the world at that time.

In 1973, the Bundeswehr has switched to brown-coloured army boots almost completely, having left the "Knobelbecher"- type high boots only for official ceremonies, for use in German navy, air force, and for specific conditions (such as at low temperatures) as well.

From 1971 to 1975, the polyurethane outsole was not only glued, but also stitched along the edges of the outsoles. For this purpose the tread pattern of the outsole was slightly shifted from the edge of the sole closer to the center.


From 1975 to 1978 they produced the boots with the glued soles only. Since 1978, the Bundeswehr switches to black-colour boots instead of brown. Presumably, this was made due to the fact that black boots are less noticeable for the infrared sight. As a huge amount of brown boots have already been manufactured by that time, the soldiers were often ordered to repaint the issued brown boots to the newly authorized black colour by repeated applying black shoe polish.

In 1984 the army boots design was modified and lasted until the year 1993, when these boots were replaced by the new type boots called "Model 2000". Some boots, manufactured in the period 1984-1993 have been resoled with experimental soles of "Model 2000" type.


For each pair of boots the identification information (size and width, month and year of manufacture, manufacturer's code) is specifically indicated on the tongue, at the top inner side. Initially the size was specified in millimeters ("Mondopoint" system), later on - in the "European metric", e.g., 42 or 46.

http://cartalana.com/002-001.php#0001ba

To read more just use navigation arrows "to the left" and "to the right", all the pics are clickeable with right button of the mouse.

The size chart for BW boots:
http://cartalana.ru/Images/035/germany-27.png

P.S. I don't sell anything, I'm just studying and researching the interesting topic.

[Gordon Craig]

Andy,

Welcome to the forum. Always nice to have a specialist join us. Thanks for the boot information.

Regards,

Gordon

[Andy Coldwell]

Thank you, Gordon!
Some more abstracts from the boot's review:

The tread pattern of the classic German army boots, the so-called "Berghaken Profilsohlen", was very successful and well-developed. It was copied, for example, in the M-91 model Finnish Army boots.
http://cartalana.ru/Images/035/germany-14.png
http://cartalana.ru/Images/035/germany-02.png

The outsoles of German army boots were produced by many manufacturers, for example:

- "Continental" (among all the contract manufacturers of the Bundeswehr boots outsoles, this company produced the most hard and durable polyurethane outsoles, resistant to wear and tear on the typical city pavement).

- "Metzeler" - the most soft of all the outsoles, though the boots heels used to be worn out heavily on the asphalt);

- "Ir", "Tewa", "Winterberg", "Cosmoped", "SKYWALK" and the other were of medium softness (and wear resistance).

A very important issue is the choice of a good insole. The German statutory green plastic thin-mesh insole is one of the best options for good air circulation and comfort of wear.
http://cartalana.ru/Images/035/germany-04.png
The only precaution that should be taken into account is the necessity to choose the exact size for the particular pair of boots, because the pressed and molded edges of the insoles can crumble if the size selection was wrong.

A curious fact - on some Russian-language forums the Bundeswehr "paratrooper's" and "infantry" boots are quite oftenly mixed, sometimes they are wrongly called the "corporal" boots, although the rank of corporal has never been used in the German army.

Actually, the aforementioned "paratrooper's" and "infantry" boots are quite different.

Let's consider all these boots in details.

The German "paratrooper's" boots (in German they are called "Fallschirm Springerstiefel" or "Fallschirmspringer-Schnurstiefel") have unpadded tongue, they are made of smooth black leather and feature yellow-coloured solid lining (soft padding plus thin soft "glove"-type leather) along the tibia to the top.

The "Infantry"-type boots differ from the "paratrooper's" boots (which, as we remember, featured the inner layer of cushioning material (wadding), unpadded tongue, also they lacked the counter reinforcement).
http://cartalana.ru/Images/035/germany-16.png
http://cartalana.ru/Images/035/germany-17.png

The Germans themselves do not call these boots the "infantry", preferring to call them brown or black lace-up boots.
Source: http://cartalana.com/002-002.php

Brown boots ("Die braunen Schnurstiefel"):
Variant 1 - there outsoles are stitched and glued:
http://cartalana.ru/Images/035/germany-18.png


Variant 2 - glue-fixed outsoles:
http://cartalana.ru/Images/035/germany-19.png

The tongues of these boots are padded, as different from the bootlegs. This is not "paratrooper's" boots, but the ordinary Bundeswehr boots!

Black boots ("Die schwarzen Schnurstiefel"):
Variant 1: "Der Glattleder-Schnurstiefel" (Smooth leather lace-up boots):
http://cartalana.ru/Images/035/germany-20.png

Variant 2: "Genarbtes Leder, durchgeschnurt" (Grain leather, lace -through boots (without hook clamps)):
http://cartalana.ru/Images/035/germany-21.png

Variant 3a: "Genarbtes Leder, Schnurung mit Haken (Grain leather, lace-through boots with hook clamps):
http://cartalana.ru/Images/035/germany-22.png
http://cartalana.ru/Images/035/germany-08.png

Variant 3b: "Genarbtes Leder, Schnurung mit Haken und neuer Sohle" (Grain leather, lace-through boots with hook clamps and new type outsoles):
http://cartalana.ru/Images/035/germany-23.png

All these Variants (1, 2, 3a, 3b) are what we call the "infantry" boots. This is not "paratrooper's" boots.
Thus, the "paratrooper's" boots have undergone few changes: new tread outsole + hook clamps in some later models.

Source: http://cartalana.com/002-003.php

[Gordon Craig]

Andy,

Thanks again for your tutorial. It will take me some time to digest these comments. At first glance it is difficult to see the differences that you point out. Perhaps with some persistence I can learn to tell the differences. Also, I am far away from home and can not go through my boots for comparison purposes.
A comment. Have you done any research on the early "dice cup" boots that you can post? There has been some discussion on this forum about this type of boot with and without the strap and buckle at the top. I'd be interested in reading your comments on these.

Regards,

Gordon

[Andy Coldwell]

Andy,

Thanks again for your tutorial. It will take me some time to digest these comments. At first glance it is difficult to see the differences that you point out. ... Have you done any research on the early "dice cup" boots that you can post?

Thank you, Gordon,
In my humble opinion the differences between the different types of "Schnurstiefel" are quite obvious (colour, presence and absence of stitching on the sole, type of leather (smooth or pebbled grain one), absence or presence the adjustment hooks in the lacing system), moreover, there is clear marking with the date of manufacture on the boot's tongue.
So, welcome to check out your supplies of BW boots!

What about the "Knobelbecher" type of high boots, I just mentioned them as the predecessors of the boots under my consideration.
There are many kinds of military boots, and it's almost impossible to study them all.
My point of interest are the boots of Europe and North America from the 1960s to the end of the 20th century.

However, I wrote reviews about South-African and Argentinean military boots as well. But I haven't done any special research dedicated to the "Knobelbecher" type boots.

Of course, in the process of research I use to find some info about the military footwear which is not in the focus of my attention.

To say briefly, the WWII German military boots, which were used in Wehrmacht and SS troops, has no adjusting straps with buckles.
These elements appeared after the war, in the newly created Bundeswehr.

Below I am going to provide some additional info:

Marschstiefel (Marching Boots) M1866
The M1866 Marschstiefel, were also known as Infanteriestiefel , but Frontsoldaten themselves would call them "Knobelbecher" (Dice-shakers). Prior to 1910, Marschstiefel were dyed black, but with the issue of the new field uniform in 1910, boots and other leather gear were issued in the natural brown leather. However, wartime realities caused a return to prescribing that boots and leathers be dyed black in 1915.
http://www.ir63.org/tp-images/1uidMarsch-2.jpg
The total height of the infantry boot was between 14" and 16" and the shaft was constructed from two part parts with seams on the sides. Two 4.7" (l2cm) long straps were attached inside the boot on the sides to function as pulls in order to get them on. These straps were made made from Gurt (fabric) or other materials as of 1916 (leather). The sole of the boot contained between 30 and 45 hobnails. The 1.2" (3cm) high heel was reinforced with steel, a bit like a little "horseshoe". Later in the war, leather shortages let to the demand for heels to be manufactured from several layers of wood. Initially only troops in the Heimat were equipped with these economy boots, but later on they also appeared with front line troops. The model 1866 boots were used well into the Reichswehr period.
http://www.ir63.org/tp-images/RI.gif
Marschriemen (Boot tighteners)
http://www.ir63.org/tp-images/Marschriemen.gif
Marschriemen are ...a type of strap that encircles the ankle with a auxillary strap that runs under the sole in the arch in front of the heel and it has a buckle adjustment. This strap, Marschriemen, tightens around the ankle and keeps the boot in place.
http://www.ir63.org/marschstiefel.html

In the book "The German Army 1939-45 (1): Blitzkrieg" we can read: "The traditional black leather hobnailed marching boots, nicknamed Knobelbecher – “dice-shakers” – were 35-39 cm high from heel to ankle. They were shortened to 32-34 cm on November 1939 to save material".

These highboots had no adjustable straps with buckles.

As long as the classical "Knobelbecher" marching boots with high shafts were distributed and used, the Stielhandgranaten could be worn inside the boot: http://www.bergflak.com/images/H41.jpg
Source: the review "Stielhandgranate 24" http://www.bergflak.com/m24trsp.html

Sometimes the Germans used to wear inside the boots shafts the other useful things as knife or handguns, as can be seen in war chronicles like newsreel "Die Deutsche Wochenschau".

West German Army (Bundeswehr) "Knobelbecher" Boots - Post WWII
http://www.hotboots.com/bootinfo/knob1.jpg
Knobelbecher Boots, sometimes also called "Jackboots" (see explanation below), became famous during World War II. These boots were worn by the German Infantry. They are made of sturdy black leather, and are about 12" high. They got their name from the dimple on the side of the boot by the ankle which looks like a leather dice cup. The word "Knobelbecher" means dice cup because the boots would develop that characteristic dimple when broken in.

VARIATIONS OF THE KNOBELBECHER BOOT
The standard version of the Knobelbecher in World War II had a leather sole with hobnails and horseshoe heel. There were many variants during the war, especially when leather became scarce. Many were made with rubber half soles instead of leather.
The East German version of the Knobelbechers were of very poor quality and style. They remain widely available in surplus stores at very low prices but experts say they are not worth having at any price.

The German Navy versions of these boots, called the "Seestiefel", are distinguished by a pebble grained leather which is more supple than the Army version which is very stiff.

There is also a variant which was used by border guards. On that version the strap at the top is fastened using a snap behind the buckle.

Officers wore higher, finer versions of the boot which were like riding boots. The watch battalion, a ceremonial guard, wore a slightly dressier version of these with a leather sole, taps, and heel horseshoes. Border guards, the Navy and some other organizations had variants of these, including shearling lined versions for winter wear. The Lutfwaffe (Air Force) had some versions with side zips and shearling lining.

http://www.hotboots.com/bootinfo/knob1.jpg

I think there might be "Knobelbecher" Boots with adjustable straps and buckles in the times of WWII, but in restricted use (cavalry, motorcycle signalmen, etc..), but this was not an ordinary practice in general.

Almost all the acceptable pairs with straps are post-war highboots.

[Andy Coldwell]

Dear colleagues and forum members,

I have read the pages of this topic and I see, that sometimes people can't identify exactly the boots they have. On the market I've seen plenty of boots of different countries which were sold as "German boots"...

Because German boots are cool and of good quality!

For several years I made my researches in the field of military boots and I'd like to share the results, which are composed in the form of reviews.

Serious parts of my reviews are German boots - for moderate climate and for jungles, for arid deserts and for urban environment.


The content with all the reviews can be freely accesed by the link:

http://cartalana.com/002-content.php

Let's study and research together, let's find mistakes (if available) and improve our knowledge, at least one can check the "unknown" boots with this list and get a grip what boots are in the hands.

Here is brief list of reviews available, if there are some questions, comments and proposals, let's consider them together and find the Truth!

- Canada= CADPAT-TW (Temperate Woodland) Camouflage Combat Boots;

- Austria = Army Boots (Bundesheer Kampfschuh);

- Germany = (Bundeswehr) Boots for:
- "Paratroops" and "Infantrymen";
- Hot and Arid Climate, Sandy-Colored (Wüstenstiefel der Bundeswehr - Kampfstiefel) by"Baltes"
- Hot and Humid Tropical Climate, Black and Green (Bundeswehr Tropenstiefel - Kampfstiefel)
- Police and Special Forces Boots by "Baltes"
- Black Lace-up Boots Variant 1: With Smooth Leather (Die Schwarzen Schnurstiefel Variante 1: Der Glattleder-Schnurstiefel)
- "BW Kampfstiefel Typ 2000" ("Bundeswehr Type 2000 Combat Boots");

- East Germany = (GDR) Boots for Paratroopers of NVA and the Ministry of State Security (Sprungstiefel des NVA und Ministeriums für Staatssicherheit der DDR);

- Israel= Military Boots of Israeli Defense Forces (IDF);

- Norway = Norwegian Military Boots M/77 ("Støvel Marsj M/77"), "Desert" Boots, Winter "Booties" - the "Støvel Overtrekk";

- Finland = Finnish Military Boots M91, M05, Black Boots for Hot Climate and Rubber Boots;
of Finland Army;

- Sweden = Swedish Military Boots Model M/90, Boots for Summer (Model 01) - "Sommarkänga 01", Military Boots (from the 1940s to Model M/59 Boots);

- Italy = Boots for Paratroopers (Scarpe Militari: "Anfibi" da para);

- Switzerland = Military Boots (Kampfstiefel 90 (KS90));

- Denmark = Danish Army Boots Model M/58, "Desert" Boots, "Jungle" Boots Model M/94, YDS Gore-Tex® Boots by LeBOCK, WinTherm Insulated Patrol Boots (LeBOCK Patruljestovle WinTherm), Danish Military Boots (Militærstøvler): "Special Force®" and "JOLLY® Explorer GORE-TEX®", Model M03 boots (JOLLY® Explorer);

- France = "Rangers" (BMJA 65 or BM65), French Army Boots of First Half of the 20th Century (Models 1917, 1919, 1941, 1945, 1950), French Military boots BMJA Mle 52 - "Rangers marrons", French military desert boots (hot climate boots) (Brodequins Zone Chaude Armée Française), "Pataugas" - canvas and rubber boots of the French army ("Pataugas" - les chaussures de brousse de l'armée française);

- Belgium = Military Boots (from late 1960s to mid-1990s), "Jungle" ABL Boots, "Desert" ABL Boots;

- Netherlands = Military Boots Model M90 (M400), Mountain and Ski Boots of the Dutch Armed forces, Dutch Military Boots of Models M/57, M/66, Dutch "Desert" Boots Model M92,
Dutch Green Summer Boots (a Version of M92 "Desert" Boots), "Jungle" Boots of the Netherlands, Model M93;

- South African Military Boots;

- Argentinean Military Boots of the Falklands War Times (1982);

- Poland = Military Boots ("Opinacze"), Polish Army "Jump" Boots of Model 919/MON, "Szczury" ("Rats") - "Desert" Boots of Poland (Model WZ.920/P), Tactical Boots "GROM" (Trzewiki "GROM") of Poland, Polish Army Winter Boots Model 933/MON (Buty (trzewiki) zimowe vzor 933/MON), Polish Military Boots Model 928/MON with GORE-TEX® Membrane;

- Greece;

- Czechoslovakia;
- Czech Republic = Military Boots (since January 1, 1993), Czech Military Boots for Desert and Jungle, Czech Army "Jungle" Boots Model 95 (AČR boty vz95), Black "Jungle" Boots of AČR (Czech Armed Forces), Czech Military "Pilot" Boots for Summer;

- Hungary;

- Slovakia = Military Boots, Slovakian Summer Boots "Kanady Silga S07058";

- Estonia = Combat Boots (Eesti Kaitseväe saapad), Estonian Black Combat "Desert" Boots (Eesti Kaitseväe saapad - must kõrbesaabas) Samelin model 598;

- USA = American Military Boots (Mildew & Water Resistant, DMS, Speed-Lacing, Black Combat Boots), Early U.S. "Jungle" Boots: M-42 and M-45 ("Okinawa Boots"), US "Jungle" Boots of the Vietnam War Era, US "Jungle" Boots with "Vibram®"-type out-soles, US "Jungle" Boots with "Panama"-type out-soles, Black U.S. "Jungle" Boots, Speed-Laces, "Panama"-type out-soles.

[Gordon Craig]

Andy,

Thanks again for the time and effort put into your explanation on boots. I have some pairs of boots that I bought a long time ago as "German WWII" well before the internet, which could belong to anyone. Once I get home I'll take photographs and perhaps you can identify them for me.
There is more interest in boots on the DDR sub forum than there is on the BRD side.

Regards,

Gordon

[Andy Coldwell]

Gordon,

I will try to do my best to help you or somebody else in identifying any boots, according to my level of knowledge and competence!

Thank you, yesterday I studied the posts on GDR sub-forum.

[Klaus1989]

There is also a variant which was used by border guards. On that version the strap at the top is fastened using a snap behind the buckle.

Hi,
interesting post, but I must disagree with this statement. The boots with snap on strap were for DRK (possibly ZB, THW, etc. also?). They are sometimes wrongly offered as "BGS" on ebay.de.

BGS Knobelbecher fastened same as Bundeswehr. The difference of BGS boots is the narrower toe and slightly different soles. Toe caps are also not often present on later examples. Early BGS boots appear to have some variation in toe shape and some look almost like Bw boots, but I have only seen very early ones in period photos and not in person, so is hard to tell.

Regards
Klaus

[Andy Coldwell]

Thank you, Klaus, for interesting corrective information!

I must say that the statement: "There is also a variant which was used by border guards. On that version the strap at the top is fastened using a snap behind the buckle" is actually not mine - this info was taken from the site:
http://www.hotboots.com/bootinfo/jackboot.html

I checked out my post and found the following technical error: I had to indicate the source of information, but I mistakenly made "Ctrl+V" of the previous link:
http://www.hotboots.com/bootinfo/knob1.jpg
again, i.e. twice.

Sorry for that!

Knobelbecher boots were not the point of my researches (which dedicated to laced boots), I just found and added some info to discuss according to Gordon's question in post #95 on this page .

I am ready to discuss the details of my military boots reviews, if there will be any comments.

Regards,
Andy

[Andy Coldwell]

With all the focus on all manner of other uniforms and equipment, I have not seen anything on boots !

So please feel free to post your pics / details of any BW boots - all periods here.

Regards

Steve 82

Hello everybody!

I have got a pair of 1950-60s high boots with "Druckknöpfen verschlossen" on the "Demokratenschnalle" - i.e. the fastening system on th etop of the boots.

Any comments and/or suggestions about these jackboots and their fastening system?

Thanks in advance!!!

[Klaus1989]

Hello everybody!

I have got a pair of 1950-60s high boots with "Druckknöpfen verschlossen" on the "Demokratenschnalle" - i.e. the fastening system on th etop of the boots.

Any comments and/or suggestions about these jackboots and their fastening system?

Thanks in advance!!!

this model was issued to civil organisations like DRK, THW, ZB, etc. Sometimes they are marked with the organisation, but not always. Soles probably from 60s. The 50s examples i have seen had same soles as early BGS boots (wavy tread pattern).

Klaus

[Andy Coldwell]

this model was issued to civil organisations like DRK, THW, ZB, etc. Sometimes they are marked with the organisation, but not always. Soles probably from 60s. The 50s examples i have seen had same soles as early BGS boots (wavy tread pattern).

Klaus

Thank you, Klaus!

I managed to find some ink markings inside the inner front sides of these boots:

year like 19&7 70 and "Th. Baltes" inside the foursquare stamp.

The "Druckknöpfen verschlossen" bears the manufacturer's name: "HAANIA".