Original German WWII Square Head Entrenching Tool With Carrier by Carl Krampe dated 1943 - Schanzzeug

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. The entrenching tool consists of a roughly, 13” long turned hardwood handle with an enlarged ball head for ease of handling and a roughly, 7” x 5 ¾” slightly curved, tooled steel construction shovel head. Th