Brown coloured combat Y-straps - 1945

Late war Wehrmacht Combat Y-straps (Koppeltraggestell für Infanterie). The combat Y-straps were developed in April 1939 along with the M39 backpack to replace the earlier M34 backpack with integral shoulder straps. The combat Y-straps were also utilized with other backpacks including the A-Frame Assault pack and were designed to assist in distributing the weight of the equipment carried on the load bearing waist belt to the shoulders. This is a late war pair of Y-straps, made of undied brown coloured leather. The Y-straps are nicely RB.Nr. marked and dated 1945, see photo. The straps are showing normal traces of age and usage, the the metal parts are slightly rusted. Hard to find original late war example.