WW2 German Map Case (Mapcase) Reference Thread

[Aaron]

Unfortunately I know very little about mapcases, but there appears to be trends in production and a few main types used. The prewar patterns will usually be smooth brown leather with a full length cover and a tab slide buckle. Early patterns appear to switch to pebbled leather and keep the same type and number of pouches but have a shortened front cover presumably to save leather. We also see the introduction of the typical roller buckle. Midwar patterns are mostly identical to early patterns but with the removal of the small square pouch on top of the slide-rule pouch on the left side. The latest versions appear to revert to a full length front cover and re-introduce the additional pouch, and include a full length shoulder strap instead of the adjustable belt loops all previous versions have. I have only seen mapcases referred to as "M35" but I have no clue if this is just a collector/reenactorism that is all too common.

I will continue to update this thread as I acquire more map cases, feel free to contribute, preferably by using the same types of images and descriptions.

 

[Aaron]

Dated 1936, marked for official supply company for the state of Bavaria (Landes Lieferungsgenossensch, Bayern), supple smooth brown leather, excellent condition minus small scratched area.

 

[Aaron]

Marked L.B.A.(S.) (Luftwaffe Bekleidungs Amt Sonneberg) which means Luftwaffe Clothing Office Sonneberg, LAGO (Landesliefergenossenschaftern) which means trust of statewide supply companies, illegible individual maker Wes...len W.-Barmen, dated 1939, intact supple brown leather with no issues.

 

[Aaron]

Illegible maker's mark and no visible date, intact supple leather, standard black mapcase, one leather loop's sewing is starting to fray but is intact, front pocket contains original eraser depicting soldier with a trumpet, name written on inside of flap.

 

[Aaron]

Dated 1942, intact supple leather, standard black mapcase, one leather cover flap's sewing is disconnected but is intact, made by Otto Breitschuh Eisleben. Has two lose d rings attached to the belt loops, presumably to fasten to clips for some sort of improvised shoulderstrap.

 

[Aaron]

Marked RB-Nr. 0/0833/0011 for Hans Römer, Neu-Ulm (Bavaria), and produced some time from 1943-1945, intact supple leather, standard black mapcase, late no-roller buckles, one leather cover flap's sewing is disconnected but is intact. Includes very good condition mapcase protector that appears to be made of presstoff.

 

[Scharf]

Bump to this thread, stay tuned I'll have an interesting late war one to share!

 

[Hambone]

Pic sticky for reference!

 

[Waffenmeister44]

Very nice mapcases, I will have to get my pre war M35 Luftwaffe smooth leather one out tomorrow and take some photos, The leather has cracked making the leather look rough in texture but in places it is quite smooth.

 

[Waffenmeister44]

My "Luftwaffe" smooth leather mapcase, it was dyed black at some point in the field because of dye spillage on the inside (Not pictured, too hard of an angle to photograph). Imo these aren't "luftwaffe" only as the famous photo album of "Waffen SS in the West" shows multiple NCO's with Brown ones in this same variant. This one also is missing the rollers on the buckle, presumabley fell/broke off? Also barely visible is a manufacturers stamp and the date 1935 in the 4 image attached, above the flash. It's a nice honest piece which I like.

 

[Frank F.]

Got one of those.

 

[Scharf]

Hey Aaron, here it is, late unmarked map case with seldom seen pebbles.

 

[Waffenmeister44]

Hey Aaron, here it is, late unmarked map case with seldom seen pebbles.

Hey Scharf! Is your map case made of presstoff?

 

[Scharf]

Hey Scharf! Is your map case made of presstoff?

Humm, good question, I would have said leather but I should probably investigate. Not home at the moment so I'll check once I get back!

 

[Aaron]

This is a common late commercial grade leather, seen on ammo pouches and other equipment items.

 

[KroniK]

Marked WILHBRAND HEIDELBERG 1937
Having LBA(S) and a Flak unit

 

[CanadianAR]

Here’s one I have.
Captured in North Afrika , by I presume a Canadian as was found here. Dated May 12, 1943, basically when the Afrika Korps capitulated. Luftwaffe unit marked to a heavy flak battery. But this unit marking seems to correspond to his earlier deployment.

Joseph Moll, Goch, 1937

Although technically Luft, it looks right at home on my faded Heer Dak set up.

I know the binos aren’t right. Lol

 

[Scharf]

Really cool mapcase, thanks for sharing!

 

[Scharf]

Hey Aaron, here it is, late unmarked map case with seldom seen pebbles.

From my understanding, these were made by the Otto Koberstein Lederfabrik. They are often marked with the rbnr 0/0295/0005.