"Affe" Tornister 1942 with pre-war Czech straps

[CWP]

I bought a new Tornister today. It is the model with the shoulder straps. Once there was a pouch for the mess kit inside, but it has been removed.

[CWP]

The entire tornister is made with a mix of black and brown leather. It is named on the back and used, just how I like them!

[CWP]

It's maker marked and dated 1942 in the usual place.

[CWP]

The straps caught my attention. They are different from any others I have seen. For one thing, they have these odd ventilation holes. The hardware and rivets are different from the standard. But the age and wear matches the pack. And inside, the hardware that attaches the straps looks un-messed with- it's a bit corroded and frozen in place. It looks like these straps have always been there. But what are they?

[CWP]

Here's the answer: one of the straps is marked with the Czech rampant lion and dated 1936. Has anyone ever seen the Czech pack that uses these straps? I think these were captured straps from stock that were put on this pack before it was issued. Or could these pre-war straps have been put on after the war, when the Czech military used a lot of German gear?

[CWP]

Are these clips also Czech? They appear to be zinc. Has anyone else ever seen anything like this? All honest comments and opinions greatly appreciated, thanks!

[Brad Posey]

Chris,

Very interesting. I also picked up a tornister today in Grimma (which is near the infamous POW camp Colditz - near Leipzig). This pack, of course, has nothing to do with Colditz, but I thought it was neat to visit the castle after the flea market.

Anyway, Here are pics of my tornister. It was made in Zeitz in 1940, the straps in Offenbach in 1937, but on the inside is an ink stamp of a rampant lion with the date 1937 and the number 42. I do know if the lion represents Czech Republic or not, but this is strange since this stamp pre-dates the stamp in the leather on the pack.

I have several tornisters with shoulder straps that have the aluminum buckles and clips as yours does and in my opinion these buckles are 100% German. Your straps do look different than any of those on my pack and I would assume are not German.

I have a lot of paperwork from a Czech family with school and military records and after the occupation by the German army most of this paperwork either turns from Czech into German or is in both languages and is also often stamped with the Reichsadler. So, I am sure there was also some mixing of military equipment during this time.

So, I guess we each picked up an interesting pack today. I also would be interestted in any info anyone else may have on this subject.

Brad

[Brad Posey]

Back

[Brad Posey]

Shoulder Straps - Offenbach 1937

[Brad Posey]

Makers stamp on the back with ink writting from the former owner. Zeitz 1940

[Brad Posey]

Here are the strap ends which I have seen on a lot of this type tornister with shoulder straps.

[Brad Posey]

And, here is the ink stamp with rampant lion - 1937 and 42. I have no clue about this. This stamp is on the inside of the top flap.

[CWP]

Brad that is really, really cool. I think your 1940 tornister is made using captured fabric from some sort of Czech uniform or equipment item from 1937. I love it! Thanks for posting the photos. I see that the clips on your pack are the same as mine. The very ends of the straps on my pack show some empty stitch holes. I think that the original Czech clips on my pack were replaced with German ones at the factory when the straps were recycled and put on the new pack. I really like your tornister, it is super.

[Brad Posey]

Chris,

I am not sure what the lion stamp on mine is all about, but yours certainly is a German pack with german hardware. Only the leather straps have been replaced by something else (Czech ?).

If there is interest I can post pics of some of the different tornister straps/strap ends I have. Quite a few can be found with WW I straps and or WW I era BA or Bekleidungsamt stamps inside yet the manufacture date is during WW II which means that surplus or spare parts from WW I were used to make packs during WW II.

Unfortunately I do not think tornisters are as collectible as other type packs. I still like them and they display nicely with a blanket and Zeltplan straped on.

Brad

[CWP]

Brad, I love tornisters. I think they are extremely interesting. If you are able, please start a new thread and post some details of your tornisters. I have 14 tornisters and can post them in the same thread as time permits.