GERMAN ZELTBAHN M31 TENT QUARTER & PONCHO IN SPLINTER PATTERN REVERSIBLE CAMOUFLAGE

Standard issue, water resistant, cotton drill construction, quarter shelter/poncho with the printed, geometric, splinter camouflage pattern in shades of tans, browns and greens. The camouflage pattern has a slightly lighter (spring), coloration to one side, and a slightly darker (autumn), coloration to the other side.

BEACAUSE OF LIGHTING WHEN TAKING THE PICTURES THE COLORS WILL LOOK DIFFERENT THEN ACTUAL COLORS OF THE ZELT BUT THE COLORS ON THE ZELT ARE PERFECT 

Condition excellent. Looks like it was never issued. Has RB number stamp as seen in the picture but can not make out most numbers -  ends in /0043.

Facts about German WW2 Zeltbahns:

The Zeltbahn 31 was developed and issued first in 1931 and found its origin in the square Reichswehr tent. The Zeltbahn was patented by Walter Reichert (Warei) in 1929.

It is made of a water repellent material called Makostoff and is imprinted with a camouflage pattern (developed in 1929) which is also known as Army Splinter Pattern (Heeres Splitter Muster 31).  Another phrase used was: Buntfarbenmuster ("Splittertarn")

Basically the shelter quarter was used for 2 purposes: to make a tent and as a rain poncho. However the shelter quarter could be used for a variety of purposes as explained in the official manual H.Dv. 205/1.

The shelter quarter had 2 different colours on each side.  These colours are also called Hellerer Buntfarbenaufdruck and Dunklerer Buntfarbenaufdruck.

The dimensions of the triangular shelter quarter are 250 x 200 x 200 cm.

Each side had a row of 11 aluminium, zink or steel buttons which are used to connect two shelter quarters to each other. On the base, one button and a row of 6 buttons, are used to connect a tent made of four quarters (Viererzelt).

In the middle, there is slit (also with button) for the wearer's head when used as a poncho. The head opening is aprox. 36 cm.

When a total of 4 layers are buttoned upon each other, this is when it is used as a tent and will keep the rain from pouring in from the head slit.

Variations:

The overview below will show a variety of Zelts which represents the important changes and varieties;

-  Light / dark side with aluminium hardware (shown above)
-  Light / dark side with steel / zink hardware
-  Single grommets
-  Same colour sides
-  Brown / ochre camouflage
-  Rotated buttonholes
-  Italian camouflage
-  Zelt made of 4 pieces
-  Carbon overprint
-  Open weave
-  Reduced pattern
-  Grey zelt (paramilitary organisations)