WWII GERMAN PARATROOPER - CAMO PARACHUTE
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World War Two provided a sporing board for a wide variety of new inventions and improvements
on existing technology. Perhaps one of the areas of most notable advancement was the
field of aviation. Gone were the days of slow flying multi-wing airplanes. The aircraft
of the day were much faster, more maneuravable and better armed.
The new breed of aircraft left its mark in large scale dog fights executed over the European
continent. But the new machines were not relegated to air combat exclusively. They were
going to play a huge role in supporting ground troops.
WWI was known for trench fighting. Year after year trenches were built into a stalemate
where neither side could advance to take ground. The aircraft brought about a new concept.
The idea was to insert troops behind enemy lines. These new breed of soldiers would have to
be touigh. They needed to be self suffucient in view that they would be surrounded from
moment one. The
paratrooper was born.
This new way of fighting required the development of specialized equipment.
This is a WWII German Luftwaffe paratrooper camouflaged parachute. In this photo it
can be seen fully extended. The total length of it is approximatelly 13 feet. The
parachute is
constructed
from silk and is painted with light greens and browns
to create a camouflaged pattern that would make it easier to hide once in the ground.
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(bottom-left photo) The parachute strings have been bundled together. The distance between
each string is 12.75 inches. There are a total of 28 strings and each is numbered
individually. (bottom-right photo) The top of the parachute is an open circle to let the air
go through. The strings all meet at the center of the opening.
The parachute has several
markings
stamped with black ink.
As it can be seen in the following pictures; the number 28 indicates the 28th string of the
parachute. Additional markings include: GER Nr. G-20144, Wark-Nr. 6409988.
Also notice the black stiching employed in the construction. Located to the left of the
string are markings indicating the serial numberof the device.
STATIC LINE CONTAINER
The parachute was folded into the the bag who had the static line attached to its lower section. The bag is constructed of a
light canvis material. The photo on the right shows the interior of the bag.
The back of the bag has been stamped with the production number and a date which reads 1941. The picture on the right shows the
snap located on the upper region of the bag.
This page is a recognition and identification guide for WWII German paratrooper items. Multiple
detailed photos of a specific sample are provided. Descriptions point out clearly defined points
that should be noted.
One of the most commonly asked questions is "How much is my WWII German collectible worth?". A price
guide is included here to address this question. The value of the parattrooper items is reviewed
over a period of several years. A trend can be observed. The present worth of the German
artifacts in the collector's market is illustrated.
This service is provided free of charge to the visitor/enthusiast courtesy of
MilitaryItems.com,
a company dedicated to the preservation of military history and to providing quality military
antiques and collectibles to museums, institutions and the general public.
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Unfortunatelly, the main hook for the static line has been cut. A separate metal item can be seen attached to the static line. The picture on
the right displays how the line is secured to the bag itself.
This WWII German paratrooper item may be currently being
reproduced. It is becoming more difficult to
be able to tell the fake ones from the real ones because the quality of the reproductions is improving.
The collector must become familiarized with the construction style and materials employed in the
manufacturing of this item. Attention to the details is critical in order to be able to determine
the authenticity of the paratrooper items.
If you have an interest is seeing other paratrooper collectibles of the Third Reich, you can do so by going
to our WWII German paratrooper
identification guide. Where we cover insignia, field gear, head gear and many other items.
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