Tropical Y-straps - 1939

[YoZh]

ok

Actually the German Troops started arriving in N.Africa around the Spring of 1941. They were well underway in developing and even producing some tropical uniform items for anticipated use in hot climates (Africa or elsewhere) during 1940. Many know a lot more about this area than I do, however I believe that the developemnt of tropical uniforms and equipment actually started in 1939....this is not to say that those Y straps are is made in 1939 however.

hi!
ok, its Your IMO.
Thank You

[MilitaryCollect]

I also agree that Mark's set in post 4 is an example of the very first tropical Y strap design produced. Perhaps the all web design was unique to certain makers, but this design has been verified as used in North Africa in early 1941.
Regards,
John

OK, Thanks John. Nice straps!

C.

[NZMark]

Marcin,
If you can at some stage post a photo of the rear of the leather disc and it's stitching it would be informative. This set is a neat little anomoly and worth a bit more exposure.
Regards,
Mark.

[marcinkappa]

Hello Mark,
I`ll ask for extra photo the owner of this set. It can take a while ... but I`m sure it is worth of waiting

[marcinkappa]

Meanwhile, I would like to show another interesting thing about tropical Y-straps - also from polish collection.
This is a photo of trop. Y`s, despite the fact that they are a little bit damaged, one thing is very rare: BROWN color leather back tab. Real and originally sewn Are they very early ones or strictly for luftwaffe ?

[marcinkappa]

I`ve just got more pictures of the #1 Y-straps. I`m wonder if someone is available to state for 100% if the rear is resewn or is not resewn.
These Y`s are green olive, so it could tell that they are the early ones.

[NZMark]

Thanks Marcin,
The stitching looks period from your excellent photos. The hardwear is typically ordnance grey, which was universal. The colour of the webbing is still in what I catagorize as the tan area (olive/tan, brown/tan, yellow/tan etc). Date wise - who knows? The use of the earlier leather is of great interest, but we'll never know a precise manufacture date.
Nice straps, though
Mark.

[marcinkappa]

Yes, I also think that the stitching is original. And you`ve right, the color is more olive/tan, not olive/green like on early tropical fieldgear.

What is interesting, if we say that on early stages of war in 1940 Germans started producing tropical fieldgear just like Your fully webbed Y`s (olive/green), and we could state that all variants of webbed Y`s with leather back tab started producing in 1941, the theory with "old stock" would be even more misteriuos and less possible This tab dated 1939 would have to remain in stock fo 2 years ....

So maybe was so, or maybe this Y`s are the proof that Germans started producing them in parallel with fully webbed Y`s also in 1940 (1939 is rather out of a question).