M31 Wehrmacht Zeltbahn

A German zeltbahn was a multi-purpose, triangular piece of camouflaged canvas used by soldiers, most famously during World War II. It could be worn as a poncho for personal shelter or be buttoned together with other zeltbahns to form larger tents for two, four, or more people. Its uses also included camouflage for equipment, a groundsheet, a stretcher, or even an emergency flotation device. Its triangular shape and numerous buttons and grommets allowed for great versatility. A single zeltbahn could be pitched as a one-man shelter using a pole or stick. Multiple zeltbahns could be snapped together to create larger tents. The camouflage pattern was printed on both sides, often with different colors or patterns for different seasons, and could be used for personal camouflage or to cover equipment. It could be worn as a rain poncho to keep the soldier dry. In a pinch, it could be used as a makeshift stretcher for an injured soldier or as an emergency flotation device. It was made of a durable, water-repellent material like Makostoff or cotton gabardine.It featured a set of buttons for fastening, grommets at each corner for securing it with pegs or poles, and additional grommets and ropes for staking it to the ground.

This item:
A nice and complete M31 Wehrmacht Zeltbahn in Splittertarnmuster. Slightly used with minor damage. It's complete with all buttons and straps. Maker marked and dated but hard to read.