History

The Marching Boots were the standard footwear of the German soldier and, like the steel helmet, became symbolic of the German army. However, during the later years of the war the leather shortage made it a necessity to distribute ankle boots with canvas gaiters instead. The gaiters were introduced on August 8, 1940.
The boots were made from blackened leather.

To combat very cold weather on the Eastern Front the soldiers used overboots made from compressed and molded felt, a felt and leather combination, or thick layers of plaited straw.