Ankle-boots with surprise

[Gran Sasso]

After cleaning lots of mud and dried grass from the soles of this real barn-find, I was really surprised to see those markings - enjoy!

[Gran Sasso]

Instep

[Gran Sasso]

Markings on right sole...

[Gran Sasso]

... and better visible on the left sole.

[Michael Kuligowski]

dang it !!
thats some really nice M44's
great Find !!! AWESOME !!!

[besslein]

super

[Jan B]

Very nice indeed!

My knowledge on footgear is very limited, therefore I was not aware that Waffen-SS wore specific marked boots.

Could someone tell a little bit more about this? Was it common to find SS markings on the soles? Besides those stamps, are there any other points which indicates these were specific WSS? Were these markings only found on ankle-boots or also on Knobelbecher?

I've seen several supposed "SS boots & shoes" for sale, but most of them were just (additionally) post-war stamped with bogus markings to raise value.
I was in the believe that WSS in general just wore WH issue boots...

This pair on the other hand leaves no doubts at all. Great find!

Cheers

Jan

[JPhilip]

Hello,
this kind of boots is not specific to the WSS. They are a mix between german and italian low boots and were produced from 1943 until the end of the war. No idea about the marking, but the inside cloth band on upper shaft reminds me some boots produced for the WSS.
ciao!

[zeugmeister]

Da.ned ! Very Nice !!!
I`ve never seen such a stamp on Footwear before
If they were on ebay, nobody would believe that , like my tent poles...http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...ght=tent+poles

Gruß

Dirk

[kass]

In Estonia, here has came out shoes with ss markings. And I know one pair with them, in one collection right now. They are without hobnails.

K.

[francis006]

Were these markings only found on ankle-boots or also on Knobelbecher?

SS markings do exist on knobelbecher

[Gran Sasso]

SS markings do exist on knobelbecher

Indeed - at the moment I am working on a mint pair, as soon as I own them I will post some images.

[Jan B]

Thanks for the additional information guys!

I really had no idea that SS footgear was specific marked, especially late in war. I was in the believe that only early (SS VT) formations had special marked gear in general.

You would think they had other things on their mind instead of adding SS on soles of shoes and boots, just to be sure it was officially issued to WSS...but then again Germans were Germans

Cheers

Jan

[Mike TM]

Very nice , first time that I see this marking!!
Mike

[TK]

SS runes are handscratched added.


Nevertheless a nice pair of shoes.