Short handled pioneer shovel – Pressstof pouch – AB&C 1940
The German Pioniertruppen or Pioneer troops where equipped to accomplish many different tasks. Where it laying mines, building (or demolishing) bridges, removing obstacles or constructing earth re-inforcments; the Pioneer troops carried all sorts of necessary equipment. They had a variety of different tools such as long spades, saws, explosives, detonators, and wire cutters.
The Drahtschere or wire cutters came in two variants. A short handled type and a long handled type. The short one was merely designed for the Gruppenführer or NCO and the long one was designed for Pioneer use. Both came with a specialized carrying case. The short wire cutters came in a case made out of leather or Presstoff, and the long handled wire cutters came in a canvas pouch with leather loops and a leather or Presstoff reinforcement at the bottom. The handles of both the short and long wire cutters are insulated with pressed paper with bakelite end caps.
Type of tool: short handled pioneer shovel
Markings: AB&C and unreadable markings on the cover
Maker: AB&C indicates production by A. Bredt & Co., Witten
Year: 1940
Materials: Ersatzmaterial, pressstof
Notes: These short handled shovels where what the pioneers carried into the field, the long handled shovels have the same blade but are originally meant for vehicles. One of the rarest pieces of pioneer equipment to find all complete!
