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Let's talk about Tornister backpacks. I am under the impression that most collectors find them rather mundane, and almost nobody include them in a collection display. Most collectors have one or two of them, in their collection but they mostly seem to end up packed away in a box or a closet instead of being in an open display. It's a shame really, because these are really quite interesting, and can make a really good and colourful display. I do have a few variants of these in my collection. Let's have a look.

They are copying these too now but I like the look of this one because you have two different buckle centres if you look closely (see highlighted areas). When they copy such items they tend to use two the same, nice score! Perhaps you can salvage a striker system from a similar civilian item, I can keep my eyes open! Best Rich

......But anyway. There is still plenty of room in this little backpack, and I was thinking about the german invasion of Norway in April 1940. There was still lots of snow here, and temperatures were in many places below freezingpoint. let's add on a few more garments. I am adding a Schlupfjacke 36 (Wehrmacht issue sweater), one pair of wehrmacht knitted gloves, another pair of socks, a M34 sidecap, a "schlauchschal" tube scarf, a sports shirt and a pair of Wehrmacht sport shorts. Everything is being packed carefully into the different compartments here Now it looks to be bulging(ly) full. But we're not done yet. The blanket and the tentsheet still needs to be rolled up and attached to the Tornister. There. Now, that is a fully packed German ww2 Tornister Let us have a last, overall look at what I managed to fit in this Tornister. I must admit that I am actually quite impressed myself, of how much stuff it was possible to fit into this rather small backpack...

So far so good. But what about the contents of the Tornister? Let us have a look at the original Wehrmacht Packing list, shall we? Here are a couple of variants of the "Gepäckter Tornister" that I have come across. Lets go trough this in english, starting from the top. In the lid of the Tornister: 1. Washing and sewing kit. 2. Underwear and towel On the outside of the Tornister Mantelrolle In the main compartment of the Tornister: 1. Socks 2. Messkit 3. Right and Left Shoes - packed inside the shoes; shoe polish equipment 4. Gun cleaning kit (RG34) 5. Meat conserves 6. Tent rope Ok. So now we know what SHOULD be packed in there, let's see if we can re-create this. In the next few pictures here, I have tried to re-pack the Tornister after original instructions. These items pictured here are NOT some sort of reenactor stuff, but all original ww2 issue items from my collection. So here is what we are going to see if we can fit into the Tornister: First a pair of Wehrmacht issue woolen socks Then the Shoes. The shoes that I have chosen to pack, is a pair of german sportsshoes from the 1930's/40's Very similar to the Reichswehrmodel M30 Sport shoes. I did try to fit a pair of M37 Schnurschuhe - lace up low boots, but these would absolutely not fit into the tornister, as they were too long / high in the ancles area to fit together in there. Anyway, I tid pack up a box of original shoepolish, a original issue brush and polishing cloth pads inside the shoes, and placed them in the Tornister: Next, we see the M31 messtin placed in the messtin-pocket inside the Tornister: Now there should be a hermetic can of conserved meat. At the time that I took these pictures, I had not yet found a original can of german ww2 meat conserves for my collection. But I do have a few original and unopened hermetic cans of bread conserves in my collection, so I did use one of these instead. Each can contains 400 grams of bread. ( quite possible still eadible? ) On a side note - What I should have used, was this Wehrmacht-can for meat conserves in the Tornister. I got hold of this unused can, after the tornister-pictures were taken: Anyway. Here's the can of Bread and RG34 (Reinigungsgerät 34) gun cleaning kit in place inside the backpack. I've also packed the undershirt (Leibwasche), soap, razorkit, towel, sewing kit and washingcloth in the lid-compartement. Here's the sewingkit. it's marked with "Militär-nahzeug drgm" wich translates to military sewing kit drgm (- Deutshes reich gebrauchsmuster - wich is a german reich patented pattern) The shaving kit is also a original ww2 item, Rotbart - wich translates into redbeard in english. Everything is packed in the Tornister here, and compartments are closed: This is what should be packed into the Tornister, according to the packinglists that I have seen.

Let's try to mount the tornister. For the M39 we need the Y-straps first. And the A-frame, with Gasmask and messtin mounted: And the M34 Tornister:

Here is a M34 wich has been modified, and had it's integrated carryingstraps replaced with M39 hooks for the Y-straps instead.

There were quite some variations to the Tornisters themselves, and both the M34 and M39 models were also issued in fur-less versions. Here is a 1940 dated furless M39 Tornister from my collection:

The M39 Tornister, was part of a major update to the soldiers equipment, and was implemented in 1939. The new system was a more versatile equipment type, wich could be used in different variations, and would allow the transport of more equipment in the Tornister. The main difference was the introduction of the Y-straps and the A-frame (Sturmgepäck) The Y-straps was to be worn on the field uniforms at all times, and was used as extra relieve for carrying the weight of the standard equipment on the combat uniform. (Taking the strain of the internal carrying straps and the belt hooks on the combat tunics) The introduction of the Y-straps ment that there was no more use of the integrated carryingstraps on the Tornister. Instead the Tornister was issued with (adjusteable) leather flaps with hooks, to hook them onto the D-rings on the Y-straps. Here is a very nice, 1940 dated M39 Tornister. The first thing you notice, when telling the difference on a M39 versus M34, is that the M39 has a leather strap with stud-button mounted on the lower parts of the outside lid of the Tornister. This leather strap is there to secure the A-frame to the Tornister. And of corse, the lack of carrying straps, replaced with hooks for attaching to the Y-straps instead. The M39 Tornister, also has D-rings attached to the top of the Tornister. These are for hanging the hooks of the A-frame. The M39 Tornister also have the loops for the button-on Mantelriemen - equipment straps. It does MOSTLY look like the M34 Tornister on the inside, but it does no longer have the integrated pocket for the messtin inside, The messtin was now to be worn outside of the backpack, mounted on the A-frame. This Tornister is in more or less un-used condition, and I do have a matching 1940 dated Y-strap from the very same factory for it: ..And with the A-frame with pouch and messtin, Wehrmacht blanket and a tentsheet mounted on the outside:

The German army issued or used mainly two main types of tornisters. The M34 and the M39. Let's look at the M34 first. The M34 Tornister came with detacheable and adjusteable integrated carrying straps This particular M34 model Tornister is in nicely used condition made in 1938 and has the nametag of an Unteroffizier attached. I have stiffened it up with strips of cardboard inside, to help it keep a nice shape. At the bottom of the Tornister, there was a small strap with a flat metal hook (also detatceable and adjustable in length), for securing the tornister to the soldiers belt. The Tornister was also issued with three leather straps ( Mantelriemen) wich were to be buttoned on to the tornister, and the solider could strap on a coat, blanket tentsheet etc. to the outside of the tornister. There are different leather loops around the Tornister, to attach these straps to: The short part of the leather straps are to be threaded trough the little leather hemps or loops, and buttoned together. This way the straps will stil be hanging on the Tornister, even thou the straps are opened for attachin or removing equipment from the Tornister, Inside the Tornister, there are different compartments. This is the compartment or pocket for the messkit or the Kochgeschirr/Essgeshirr The inside "belly" of the Tornister, can be closed up with three small adjusteable leather straps. This way, you don't have to empty the tornister to reach the stuff that is packed in the bottom. There is also a closeable compartment inside the lid of the Tornister as well