Zeltbahn camo cover for the bike / motorbike saddle

[Mike70]

This camo cover is part of a grouping of World War Two items which I found out of the woodwork about two months ago in the town of Gorizia in Italy.
It is a camo cover for the bike or the motorbike saddle.
It is the only that I have ever seen.
I was wondering whether I could obtain some more infos on it before I would eventually put it for sale.
Thank you.

[Mike70]

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[BrunoH]

Hi,
As it's not an 'official' item (I mean, it's not a regulatory factory made, but an 'on the field made'), it's quite difficult to help you.
It seems to have a nice feeling (I mean period made) but it could have also been done after war for a moto guzzi (I'm joking).
That's all I can say, unfortunately
Best regards

[Michael Kuligowski]

its just a guessing game art this point, these fabric was widely available after war for civilian use... I remember a friend of mine found a whole jar of SS helmet cover aluminum hooks at some lady old house. He asked her - where is the rest . she said she had a ton of these rags - and was using them around the house for cleaning- - but was pulling off the hooks and springs prior to use. LOL

it could be made by some crafty soldier... or - by some boy scout in 1950's

[Mike70]

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I want to thank you for your help and for your funny comments.

As explained, this cover was found out the woodwork with several World War Two items some of which I had shown in a previous thread a couple of months ago and where there also was this spectacular M42 camo helmet from the Afrika/Italian Campaign.

Independently from many phantasy and humorous speculations, it is good to remember that in Italy there was a very cruel civil war since 1943 till 1945.
After the defeat of Fascism in april 1945, a very strong predominance of communist trends took place for a few years.
Any kind of Fascism related items would defenetly not be very much "on fashion" in that period, and if you would be wearing or using as a civilian something like that you might have been accused of having simpathies with Fascism and of having collaborated with the nazis and you would be in big trouble.
For these reasons I strongly believe that this zeltbahn camo cover has been used by the German troops for military purposes during the war in Italy in order to protect the leather saddle and for preventing the shiny surface of its leather to be noticed from far away.
Just like the German troops did with field made camo covers for helmets.
This camo cover has a wounderful patina and it has remained in an attic for 60 years.
As it is the only one I have seen in 35 years, I consider it a curious and exciting example on the craftly skills and inventiveness that soldiers had to develop in order to survive through the shortages of appropriate materials during the war.
Thank you.

[Michael Kuligowski]

Any kind of Fascism related items would defenetly not be very much "on fashion" in that period, and if you would be wearing or using as a civilian something like that you might have been accused of having simpathies with Fascism and of having collaborated with the nazis and you would be in big trouble.

Mike, I was born in Poland and raised there.. and trust me - that is untrue... any items of quality and practical use were adapted by civilians, my grandfathers shop was loaded to the limit with german tools, boxes and bikes... my uncles all wore german belts and german fur packs and canteens/messtins, also zeltbahn tens when in boy-scouts during 1950's. it was very common practice and as you can imagine we were not big fans of nazis...

and on top of that zeltbahn material was used for all kinds of priojects - usually backpacks etc.. why not saddle cover ?

believe whatever You like but its all just speculation, and considering that you are just looking to get a tap on the back in order to sell it and increase its value - thats just not cool

[kammo man]

That's it !!
I officially have seen it all now !!
This is great

It makes sense though
A waterproof cover for a leather seat
In winter sitting on a wet leather saddle can penetrate the you know what and make a days cycling a right pain
Its a cool piece for sure post war or wartime

Thanks for posting