M37 Lowboots – Mixed materials – February 1944
Eversince 1937, Soldiers in the German army received a pair of Schnürschuhe (lowboots) next to their issue pair of Knobelbecher(Jackboots). They where first only meant as a part of the Drillichanzug(a offwhite uniform for basic training made of linen HBT) but as the war progressed the Schnürschuhe saw action on the front. They where meant to be worn with Gamaschen(Gaiters) to overlap the boots with the trousers.
The Schnurschuhe are always made following a certain army design. they close with a set of 5 eyelets and 4 speed lace hooks. Later in the war the 4 speed lace hooks where omitted and replaced by 4 eyelets. The sole consists of 3 major components; the heel, the base sole and the front half sole. The heel is constructed of a series of stacked leather pieces and has a steel heel iron. The base sole is slightly curved and stretches from front to back. It is both stitched and nailed with wooden pegs. The Stitches normally run in a “hidden stitch” left and right of the wooden pegs. The front half sole was affixed with wooden pegs and carries a number of steel hobnails. Though most boots come out of the factory untanned, the sides of the soles where always blackened. The soldiers where ordered to blacken the boots until it was discontinued in 1943.
This is the textbook German m37 lowboot. There are off course variations, especially later in the war.
Sole length: 28 1/2
Sole width: 4
Lot number: –
Maker: 3440
Month: 2
Year: 1944
Material: Mix from blackened leather and unblackened leather
Notes: This pair of lowboots is interestingly made out of mixed leather. The reinforcement on the back is made out of smooth unblackened leather, the middle part of smooth blackened leather. The front part of these low boots is made out of unblackened leather with the rough side out. The lower part of the heel is made out of rubber marked in a pattern with =*WILOP*=. These 1944 made lowboots still have 4 speed lace hoops which mostly where replaced by 4 eyelets later in the war.
Please note these articles are for reference only and not for sale!
FJM44 collection
