Hobnailed shoes - civilian or ???

[Stepdale]

Hello All,
I got these several years ago directly from under the floor of a house being remodeled in the former Sudetenland. There was a wide mixture of military, political and civilian stuff in there, all from the TR era. Shoes are not my area of expertise, so wanted to see if anyone knew if these could have had a military or political use, or are they civilian? They are unmarked except for a number 5 on the toe plates.
Thank you,
Dale

[Stepdale]

2nd photo

[Stepdale]

Last photo

[Soldat de Fer]

Hello
Well , they are not military but most likely civilian , are they German ? the toes and heels plate look German made to me , they look pretty well made and from a very good leather grade . They actually look like a pair of mountaineer boots and IMO , that is what they are .
Would still be good for a display.
Regards
P-Y

[Stepdale]

I'm pretty sure they're German, just not sure if they're military or not. I tend to believe they're civilian for hiking or skiing.

[kass]

IMO they are hand made hiking/skiing shoes using German army hobnails and irons. Can You please post closeups from the area(corner) where the heel meets sole in the shank area and insole? Thanks.
K.

[John Huff]

Post war civilian is my vote!

[Stepdale]

I'm sure they're not post-war, as everything in the group they were with was pre-May 45.

Kass, I'm not quite sure what exactly you want pictures of, but I took some more today and will try to post them soon.
Dale

[Stepdale]

Kass,
Some more photos for you. Not sure if they're what you wanted or not.
Dale

[Stepdale]

heel where it joins the sole

[Stepdale]

instep

[Johnny R]

boots

These are 1930s-1950s circa commercial ski boots hobnails are a strange addition. Not issue but could have been used?

[kass]

If some other stuff were pre 45 that does not mean everything with them has to be also prw 45. IMO after war shoemaker (up to 1950-s) made.
Sloppy stitching and leatherwork indicates handmade job.
K.

[Stepdale]

Kass,
I meant that they were hidden under the floor and that eveything with them was pre-1945 (photo albums, letters, military uniforms, etc.). It was obviously a Sudeten German family that hid their things there when the Czechs kicked them out of the Sudetenland right after the war. I have talked to Germans whose families were expelled after the war, and some of them told me it was very common for them to bury things or hide them, hoping they would still be there when they returned (they didn't know it would be 45 years before they could come back).

Either way, I believe you when you say they are civilian. The area they came from is in the mountains, so I imagine the owner just used them for hiking or skiing.

Thanks for all your help.
Dale

[Daniele C]

They could be used bby german troops or GJ by the look and good possibility that they re period imo