Luft Trousers

[Willi Z.]

What exactly are these? I showed them to my father today who instantly stated "Keilhose". Are they?

[Willi Z.]

The bottoms.

[MGN]

Yes Willi,
I think your father is correct. If I read the reference books correctly the straps located at the hips and the securing straps at the feet make them a kielhose pair. From the photos they look mint and unissued.

Sent you a pm,

Michael

[Willi Z.]

Yes, they are mint and everything is complete. The markings are kinda faint. Note the slightly different shade of wool used for the strip that the buttons are sewn too.

[MGN]

I see the different piece of wool. This brings the trousers to a late(r) war date maybe around 44. Do you have a photo of the back?

Thanks,
Michael

[Willi Z.]

Rear view. One pocket. The cool thing is how the fabrics, buttons, lining, etc is EXACTLY the same as 43 dated FJ trousers.

[MGN]

Yes, this is a nice pair
Thanks for the photo,
Michael

[John Hodgin]

It appears to me, and this is no surprise, that a certain Ju 88 pilot knows his trousers. The Luftwaffe produced M 44 tunics and trousers as well.

[derspiess63]

.

[J Melvin]

I first thought that they might be an M44 pattern trouser with the belt loops. Not keilhosen as they are missing the seat reenforcement. But, Manny has cleared it all up.

[Willi Z.]

This is where I was confused. I first thought they were Fliegerhosen, and was expecting my dad to say that. But, he didn't. I agree they are not of the exact Heer M43 style. Angolia only really mentions Fliegerhose and straight leg trousers. I haven't checked the Davis books.

While my dad does not remember all the details, he does remember a number of things, so I was curious as to what his first response would be. He wore wool in school in 1942 and Russia in 1943, then trops in Greece and Italy late 43 and 44. Then back to wool when he returned to Germany in the fall of 1944. It appeared that he would be sent to a ground unit and trained in ground tactics in Braunschweig. So, he might have called these what they referred them as in that time of the war. Fortunately his unit received new aircraft and he was sent west again, until the end of the war.

So, I wonder if this was just a matter if what the troops called them at such a late date.

My FJ trouser comparision was not to authenticate them as ground troop pants, was just pointing out the features. Most mint FJ trousers seem to date from 1943 with the exact patter, color, style of buttons, rayon lining, cloth lining, etc. Will check the RBNr and see if it is the same. Only a point of interest.

I owned a pair of these a few years ago and the guys who collect Luft GD and late-war FJ were pretty keen on them. They do go well with a GD camo jacket or late water pattern FJ smock.

[J Melvin]

They are a very nice set of trousers, Willi. I missed out on a pair of them on the estand about a week ago. Gerd sold a nice set.

[John Hodgin]

As an Fj collecor, I don't keep up with these as much as I should. Were the straight legged Luft. wool trousers phased out just as the straight legged, and rare, tropical trousers? I didn't think/know this style was designed as early as Manny said. Manny, if they were to be discontinued in 39, what was intended to replace them?

Hi Jack, M 44s look very different from these.

[J Melvin]

On ground troops, the straight legged trouser remained the main issued trouser throughout the war. M43s and this style will be seen. But, they are no where near as common as the straight legged style.

[Willi Z.]

Maybe we should ad other Luft trousers to this thread. I will digout some straight leg trousers this evening and post them. Seems like an interesting topic.