Original Item: Only One Available. The entrenching tool was a basic item issued to all EM/NCO’s and was issued with a specific carrying case that was to be worn on the load carrying waist belt. Originally the non-folding entrenching tool utilized by the Germany army in WWII was a carryover of the WWI and Reichswehr era M1887 entrenching tool until November 12, 1938 when a new improved folding shovel was introduced to replace the earlier non-folding pattern. Although the new folding shovel proved more practical and popular with the troops, the earlier entrenching tool was utilized right up until the end of the war. The entrenching tool was a very valuable piece of kit enabling the individual soldier to dig in for protection as required and was also utilized as a close combat weapon.

This entrenching tool consists of a roughly, 14” long (including the length inside the head) turned hardwood handle with an enlarged ball head for ease of handling and a roughly, 7¾” x 5⅝” nearly flat, tooled steel construction shovel head. The handle is secured to the shovel head by dual extended steel sleeves with two large cylindrical head retaining rivets. The shovel itself may have been maker-marked long ago but is now too oxidized to be recognizable.

The second pattern carrier is black Preßstoff construction "closed back", entrenching tool carrying case. The case features a triple layered, closed back frame in the shape of the entrenching tools head. The outer edges of the frame all have heavy machine stitched seams. The top edge of the case has two leather loops designed to secure the case to the individual’s waist belt. The carrier is ink-stamped on the interior fuq 43, for Cottbusser Lederwarenwerk Curt Vogel KG, Cottbus, Wernerstrasse 62, a known maker of P08 holsters and other leather goods.

The leather securing strap on the cover is in fair shape with one of the leather tabs for the strap to slip into is ripping off. The leather is heavily worn and fragile but still present. The leather of the belt loops is very stiff so we wouldn’t recommend looping a belt through them.

This is a great WWII ersatz material entrenching tool in fair service-used shape. This comes ready for further research and display.

Presstoff (also Preßstoff or Pressstoff) is the German-language term for a type of ersatz or artificial leather used during the first half of the 20th century. Made of specially layered and treated paper pulp, Presstoff was durable and easily adapted to be used in place of leather, which under wartime conditions was rationed. First invented in the 19th century, it gained its widest use in Germany during the Second World War.

Presstoff use included but was not limited to binoculars cases and straps, horse tack, bayonet frogs, equipment belts, cap visors etc. In short, Presstoff could be used in almost every application normally filled by leather, excepting items like footwear that were repeatedly subjected to flex wear and/or moisture. Under these conditions Presstoff tended to delaminate and lose cohesion.