M1931 Early War Grey Canvas Bread Bag (Brotheutel 31) by RUM

M1931 Early War Grey Canvas Bread Bag (Brotheutel 31) by Richard Underwood Militaria 

This is the early model M1931 bread bag issued to German Soldiers at the start of the war.The bread bag is made of a grey colour  made of a tough canvas but the colour was found that it was to light and stood out against the feldgrau uniforms during the invasion of the low countries and so it was decided to change production to a green colour. Most of the black leatherwork is  rom off cuts from other equipment like belts as the german army did not waste anything and sewn on with heavy white cotton thread. Buttons were made early on from alloy and not painted steel like latter models.

Brotheutel 31 or bread bag was issued to every soldier in the German Army, you can find lots of variations of the bag during the war, due to fabrics available and the manufacturer of the bag. The bread bag was designed to carry the soldier’s daily rations, including the bread where it gets it name, esbit cooker and cutlery set. The soldier would also carry allsorts of other things in the bread bag like cleaning kits.

M-1931 bread bag features:

• Light grey colour
• Tough Canvas fabric
• Metal belt hook stitched onto a central strap between the belt loops.
• 2 buttoned tabs to attach to belt reinfoced with leather
• 2 metal D hooks to attach water bottle and mess tin
• 2  lower leather tabs also to secure water bottle 
• 2 rear loops to attach Bread bag strap
• black leather parts mainly used from off cuts 
• The flap is fastened on the inside by two buttons and black leather straps.
• The one compartment is also secured by a black leather strap and button

Model 1931 Early War Bread Bag by Richard Underwood Militaria.