Interesting photo..

[Dave 16th]

A friend on the CIA forum posted this pic..could any one shed some light on why these FJ chaps would be in jackboots and M35's.
The photo is Holland 1940. Cheers Dave.

045_onderwater_002.jpg (209.15 KiB) Viewed 4536 times

[Ernst]

I am no FJ expert, but I will put my initial thoughts out here for public scrutiny. Could these men have a possible link to the FIK/FIB. I know by this stage that unit had been absorbed into the LW. But in my mind that might explain the kit used. Or maybe it is something less imaginative and more along the old equipment shortages line... Anyhoo I am sure somebody more knowledgeable on the subject than myself will put something more concrete to this.

Regards
Ernst

[Heinz O. Kaufmann]

Found this info from this site: http://www.waroverholland.nl/index.php? ... o&pid=4412

German transport near Rotterdam - may 1940

A platoon of German Fallschirmjäger, but fitted with the regular Heer boots. These men may have been fitted out with boots after regrouping at the 11th, for regular FJR had no such boots on. It may also have been soldiers from the 2nd Batt of the 2.FJR, who had not finished jumpschool yet, and were flown in by regular landing.

Possibly this truck load was on its way to Dordrecht, and part of the Gruppe De Boer that headed for the southeast of the city. The truck is faced into the direction of Dordrecht, and since indeed this outfit moved itself around on commandeered Dutch trucks, it seems likely to presume this picture was taken before or during the transport.

[Heinz O. Kaufmann]

Found couple more pictures:


http://www.waroverholland.nl/index.php? ... o&pid=4413
M35 helmet and jumpsuit


http://www.waroverholland.nl/index.php? ... o&pid=4497
M35 helmet that seems to have LW eagle on it


http://www.waroverholland.nl/index.php? ... o&pid=3910
Not sure, but he seems to wear jumpsuit and M35 helmet

[Hoffman Grink]

Bottom picture the man on the pill box is wearing a gummikradmantel fastened around his legs. This is what they are designed to do. Luftwaffe ground troops often had M35/42 etc.
AS for the OPs question - FJ were not always committed to an airborne role. There were never enough FJ Helm to go around and so regular stalhelms were issued. The Marschstiefel question is interesting - I can only offer conjecture until someone produces documented fact. - he conjecture is - jump boots issued for jumping - Jackboots for ground ops - What we have to remember is that a soldier does not own his kit. Just like today's Army - when you leave it "should" be handed back in. So pr-op I can only imagine that this unit were called to stores, required to hand in their lace up boots and take issue of jackboots. For one I would prefer the ease of use of slip on footwear operationally. I know I do when re-enacting. Good find Dave - good photo showing a realistic spread of equipment and weapons. Reenactors don't carry enough grenades.

[Franz repper]

Tom G had some photos of FJ early war in Marschstiefel and I think that they were Issued them as well as the Jump boots , Later war with shortages why issue two different types of boot you can only wear one pair at a time

[Salacious Crumb]

Pre war every Fallschirmjäger had Marschstiefel, M35 helmet and Viertaschenrock for formal and ceremonial purposes like a funeral.

[Hans Gowert]

i have hundreds of photos of early and pre war FJ wearing jackboots and M35 helms. FJ jumped into Bjornfjell with M35, dombas with jackboots.

Marched into Prague wearing jackboots and fought in poland in jackboots

The picture shown to me is nothing special , its a reguler site seing FJ wearing jackboots and M35's .