WW II German Luftwaffe Grouping

These items would be carried during WW II by Luftwaffe ground troops. By mid war German ground forces needed all the troops they could get in order to replace those killed or wounded. Soldiers were taken from the Luftwaffe (air force) and given training to now fight as infantry. A Luftwaffe infantryman would have a belt with one or two ammo pouches for a K-98 Mauser rifle, a breadbag for carrying personal items, a gas mask cannister with a gas mask inside, and a gas pouch secured to the cannister by means of a strap, a steel helmet, such as the M-35, and a paybook with his photo and military records. This particular paybook belonged to a soldier who was a vehicle driver. It is interesting to note that the red inspection stamps in the upper right corner of the page end in September of 1944, three months after D Day. He was most likely captured or killed. Also shown is a ribbon bar,worn in place of the actual medals awarded. In this case there are ribbons for the Iron Cross 2nd class, War Service Cross 2nd class with swords, and Luftwaffe 4 and 12 year long service awards.