Short handled wire cutters – Ersatz pouch
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: Drahtschere – Short handled wire cutters
Markings: VWB H1940
Maker: Unknown
Year: 1940
Materials: Ersatz type pouch made from cloth
Notes: –
