WW2 German D.A.K. soldier
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The WW2 German Army sent to North Africa, the Deutsche Afrika Korps.
This uniform is the uniform of a soldier in a Motor Reconnaissance Unit.
The helmet is the standard M35 pattern helmet. Originally painted in a slate grey colour the helmet has a yellow leather basket liner, and with a chin strap, which is worn over the peak of the helmet, which is tanned leather. A yellow paint has been applied to the outside of the helmet, not quite covering all the outer surface, some sections are left still showing the original grey. The yellow paint appears to have been added by using a spray gun. The Army decal of the silver eagle on a black back ground is still visible, while on the other side of the helmet a DAK palm tree and cross have been painted onto a white shield shaped backing.
The goggles on the helmet, are constructed of aluminium and perspex, with an elastic band. It is suspected they may be of Italian origin, but they lack any markings what-so-ever. The goggles were brought back to Australia by an Australian soldier, as his only souvenir of that conflict, numerous other items posted back at the time were 'lost' in the postal system at the time.
The long coat is a motor cyclists coat. It is of identical cut and design to the German Army's European version, yet it is made of a light weight, wind proof material the same colour as the rest of the tropical uniform. This coat does not have the rubberised coating like the European model. The epaulettes are made of the same material and are piped in a bronze material, this represents the Motor Reccon. unit.
The tunic is the second pattern of the Afrika Korps tunics, this is a some-what simplified pattern. It is still made of a hard wearing denim type material. There are four pockets on the front of the tunic, two at the chest and two at the waist. The pockets have simplified flaps and there are no pleats to the pocket's fronts. On the inside of the front of the skirt of the tunic is a field dressing pocket. The buttons on the tunic are an olive drab, painted metal, held onto the tunic by round spring clips. The buttons at the cuffs are a pressed material, like cardboard. The markings in the inner left side of the tunic, are in the form of an ink stamp, which identify the size of the tunic and the year of manufacture.
A waist belt of green cotton web, has a metal green painted German Army buckle. On the belt are a pair of pouches for holding the spare magazines for the MP40, including a magazine filling tool. At the rear of the belt are carried a bread bag and two water bottles, along with a bayonet. In the hand of the figure is a pair of gloves, dated 1940, in the green canvas and leather of the European type cyclists coat. The gloves have a separate thumb and index finger on each hand. The breeches are also made of a similar material to the tunic, but it is a corded cloth, similar to a Bedford cloth, but in a cotton not a wool.
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