Fallschirmjäger bandoliers through the conflict
Over the years, German equipment has changed, whether to maximize its effectiveness in the field or to compensate for a lack of raw materials, with major developments in materials and manufacturing techniques. Paratrooper bandoliers are no exception.
The design of bandoliers first appeared in the German army during World War I. Quickly improved, the armed forces of the Fallschirm-Infanterie-Kompanie (FIK) saw the appearance in mid-1937 (first visual trace on photographs) of a new version of these bandoliers, known today as the “Army model.” This first “Army” model allowed a soldier to carry 20 clips of 5 rounds each, or 100 rounds of 98K ammunition. Made of strong canvas, their design remained archaic, but their use in the field continued over time, and it was not until 1940, during operations in Belgium and Holland in May 1940, that the bandoliers known today as the “first Luftwaffe type” appeared.
This model, quite different from the previous one, was the first model created for and used exclusively by Luftwaffe paratroopers. Its more complex and undoubtedly less economical construction allowed each ammunition clip to be stored in a pocket closed by two snap fasteners. To date, we know of several variations in its construction, even though the design remains the same. This first model was produced in khaki green and blue canvas.
Through years of research, we can now confirm that this model, used extensively at the start of the conflict (notably during Operation Merkur in Crete in 1941), remained in use until quite late in the war. A few examples were even found in Normandy.
Production accelerated as the war raged on. In 1941, two new versions of bandoliers appeared.
The second version, which retained the standard format of previous models but this time featured triangular angled flap closures and used only one snap fastener per flap instead of two on the previous model. This model, which was mass-produced and remained essential until the end of the war, was used in all parachute deployments. Made of blue canvas, it set the tone for the next model, which appeared at the end of 1941.
A simplified version of the triangular model, this third model, initially designed in blue canvas, also differed from its triangular counterpart by adopting round pocket flaps. This change protected ammunition from mud, dust, and snow during storage. The construction of the body was also different, with a single-piece design and the addition of flaps, whereas the previous models had two sewn pieces. The Ludwig Lang factory appears to have been the main manufacturer of this equipment from 1941 onwards.
Very quickly, the Luftwaffe's Splinter-B camouflage, which appeared in 1941, became the standard for several uniform items (jump smocks, grenade bags), and bandoliers were no exception. The bandoliers with round flaps appeared before 1942 on the front lines, particularly in Russia and Northern Africa. Identical to the blue model in design, it offered the added benefit of camouflage!
Then, in 1943, a final version appeared, featuring the same round flap design but in sand/mustard-colored fabric. Quite typical of the end of the war, these models were subject to raw material shortages, with the use of very different types of snap fasteners, as well as fabrics that were sometimes completely mismatched in color and varied greatly in quality. They are normally marked with an RbNr number. Their overall quality is not as good as previous versions, and their design often seems to have been rushed, omitting certain details that were visible on earlier models.
