Original German WWII Afrikakorps DAK Tropical Tan Uniform Shorts by Johann Möller with Faded Size Markings

Original Item: One-of-a-kind. In early 1941, the German military began their conquest of southern Europe. Due to the warmer climates of these areas, the German Army needed to equip its troops with a more suitable form of dress, and replace the standard wool based feldgrau uniforms. The new "tropical" uniforms were lighter in weight, and dyed in colors ranging from light tan to dark olive. After the liberation of Africa, they continued to be worn during the summer, and during the Italian campaign.

This is a lovely set of DAK tropical tan uniform shorts, which could be worn with the various different tropical uniform tunics and shirts, which could be long or short sleeves. There are many period photographs documenting shorts being worn with long sleeved shirts during the North African campaign. Sometimes the tunic would be tucked in, or simply worn over the shorts. There is no indication of the branch on the shorts, so these could have been used by the Heer Army, the Luftwaffe Air force, or even the Kriegsmarine Navy.

The shorts are in very good lightly used condition, showing some staining, wear, and dirt from light service and decades of storage. They have a button fly front closure with four "hidden" buttons with two larger buttons that go through to the interior. There is also an integral web belt inside the waist of the shorts, which has a metal slider buckle on the left side. One of the buttons on the fly is missing, but all of the other buttons are intact. The interior has a partial light tan canvas lining with an intact hanger loop on the back, and there are still faint size and maker markings on the inner left side, which read:

80 (?)      86
---     ---
114     100
JOH. MÖLLER

The shorts feature vertical slash waist pockets on both sides, as well as button closed flap pockets on both sides of the seat. There is an MER2 marking on one of the pocket linings, which we assume is a supplier marking for the fabric.

A great pair of DAK shorts, ready to add to your collection!

Approximate Measurements:-
Waist: 15"
Inseam: 9"

History of the German Africa Korps

The Afrika Korps or German Africa Corps (German: Deutsches Afrikakorps, DAK was the German expeditionary force in Africa during the North African Campaign of World War II. First sent as a holding force to shore up the Italian defense of their African colonies, the formation fought on in Africa, under various appellations, from March 1941 until its surrender in May 1943. The term "Afrika Korps" is pseudo-German (so-called "cod-German"), deriving from an incomplete German title. The German term referred solely to the initial formation, the Deutsches Afrikakorps (DAK), which formed part of the Axis command of the German and Italian forces in North Africa. The name stuck, with both news media and Allied soldiers, as the name for all subsequent German units in North Africa. The unit is known for having been commanded by Field Marshal Erwin Rommel.

The dry climate of Africa proved to be an issue with much of the standard leather field gear that the German Army usually used. It would dry out and crack quickly, and become unusable. To deal with this, the standard field gear such as belts, Y-straps, A-frames, bayonet frogs, and other items, were issued in special tropical web versions.