Wehrmacht Personal Equipment 1938-1940: Enlisted Men:

** Note that straps have deliberately been made over length to allow for the differences in component dimensions in various kits and figure sets. It is recommended that a thin piece of masking tape is used in order to ascertain the required length of items marked ‘cut to’. It is also recommended to study reference photographs closely to note the position of each item.

1. Collar patches: 1940-on.
2. Sleeve rank chevrons: 1940- (Gefreiter/Obergefreiter/Stabsgefreiter).
3. Sleeve rank stars: 1940-on (Obersoldat).
4. Shoulder straps: 1938-39- (Soldat/Soldat (NCO Candidate)/ Soldat (Officer Candidate 2nd Class)/Obersoldat (Senior Private)/Gefreiter/Obergefreiter/Stabsgefreiter).
5. Pouches for gas sheets. These came in several colours and finishes.
5b. Thickening components for items #5. Dependant on colour, attach one each to back face of each single part (#5) ensuring coloured face is outwards. *Care is advised.
6. Karabiner 98k (Kar98k) cartridge pouches.
6b. Thickening components for items #6. Dependant on colour, attach one each to back face of each single part (#6) ensuring coloured face is outwards. *Care is advised.
7. Maschinenpistole 38 (MP38) and Maschinenpistole 40 (MP40) magazine and equipment pouches. These came in several colours and finishes.
7b. Thickening components for items #7. Dependant on colour, attach one each to back face of each single part (#7) ensuring coloured face is outwards. *Care is advised.
7c. Auxiliary pouch for MP38/MP40 pouches. Attaches to left side of pouch bank.
7d. Thickening components for items #7c. Dependant on colour, attach one each to back face of each single part (#7c) ensuring coloured face is outwards. *Care is advised.
8. Collar patches: 1938-39.
9. Helmet decals (left & right).
10. Tunic buttons (with spares).
11. Sling for Maschinengewehr 34 (MG34).
12. Eisernes Kreuz (Iron Cross) medals.
13. Infantry assault badges.
14. Wound badges.
15. Vertical back strap (for equipment (shoulder) harness))- cut to required length. Attach to figure before waist belt and equipment (shoulder) harness is attached.
16. Sleeve rank stars: 1938-39- (Obersoldat).
17. Eisernes Kreuz (Iron Cross) ribbons- cut to required length.
18. Sleeve rank chevrons: 1938-39- (Gefreiter/Obergefreiter/Stabsgefreiter).
19. Attachment hooks (for belt).
20. Shoulder straps: 1940-on (Soldat/Soldat (NCO Candidate)/ Soldat (Officer Candidate 2nd Class)/Obersoldat (Senior Private)/Gefreiter/Obergefreiter/Stabsgefreiter).
21. Waist belts and buckles- cut to required length. Attach unbuckled end to figure, then wrap round and join bucks at the front.
22. Equipment (shoulder) harnesses.
23. Breast eagles.
24. Karabiner 98k (Kar98k) slings, with buckles and attachments (to right of slings marked *). Cut slings to required length. Some allowance has been made for the sling to loop back on itself where required.
25. Maschinenpistole 38 (MP38) and Maschinenpistole 40 (MP40). Cut slings to required length. The closing clips are marked *. Some allowance has been made for the sling to loop back on itself where required.
26. Auxiliary side belt for shoulder harness (one per side).
27. Helmet liners. Place liner in helmet and fold segmented sides down. Some kits come with ‘filled’ helmets so these will need to be hollowed out first.
28. M1931 field flask and drinking cup straps, buckles and loops. Cut strap to required length before placing attachments.
29. ‘X’ strap for entrenching tool holder and bayonet.
30. Mess tin closing fasteners.
31. Attachments for mess tin carrying handle. Place one on each side of tin.
32. Tent quarter straps. Cut strap to required length.
33. M1930 gas mask carrying canister locks and pull straps.
34. Helmet straps (unfastened). Cut straps to required length.
35. Helmet straps (fastened). Cut strap to required length.
36. M1931 Bread bags (Brotbeutel 31).
37. M1931 bread bag carrying straps and buckles. These were often looped around the helmet with the bag being carried on the rear of the belt by means of attachment hooks.
38. Slings for M1930 gas mask carrying canister. Cut to required length.
39. Belt attachment straps for bread bags. Use in conjunction with #19. See separate illustration for placement.
40. Attach to front flap on bread bag. See separate illustration for placement.