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Chapter 91 Preparation (Part 2)

"The above is called [Low-temperature environment emergency rations], and William calls it [Bruno Restaurant Specials]. Sorry, maybe you don't know that Bruno Restaurant is a cheap restaurant, and it is open in the Phil Barracks." Sergeant Carl was very talkative. While he was talking, he stirred the ingredients in the small aluminum pot with a stainless steel spoon.

"I know that restaurant, I went to dinner with a few friends before, and the chowder soup there tasted very good." Lieutenant Cyrill filled out the form for the day, then stuffed the notebook back into the cowhide map bag.

This is the twelfth day that this team spent on the Norwegian ice field. Over the past week, they have conducted multiple experiments in low temperature environments. The experimental content includes the insulation effect of winter combat uniforms, the marching speed of soldiers under extremely low temperatures, the use of conventional weapons in a minus 20-degree environment, and the actual use of military supplies and battlefield rations in low temperature environments.

Second Lieutenant Cyril joined the squad halfway. The original commander unfortunately suffered from severe diarrhea, but was sent to Narvik by an aunt Junker. Cyril, who came randomly, became the new commander of the experimental team.

Cyril knew that in Norway, there were no less than sixty experimental teams like him. The individual contents of each team may be different, but most of the experiments overlap. The commander seems to want to get accurate data. The specific reason is not the one who is qualified to query at his level.

The German army had never had a real cold-proof clothing before. The combat environment in Europe did not require special cold-proof equipment and clothing, because the Army Command felt that distributing soldiers these equipment that they didn't need most of the time was simply a luxury waste.

German soldiers usually get a set of chemical fiber-blend winter underwear, two pairs of wool-blend socks, and a warm sweater imitated by the US military. You see, the style of this sweater is completely imitated by the wealthy American Army, and even retains the V-shaped collar that Americans like. German soldiers like this standard sweater very much. They wear it in combat uniforms and then fashionablely expose the collar of the shirt.

Thanks to the indifferent head of state, the German military uniforms were extremely beautiful, but in history, with the British blockade of Europe, the materials of military uniforms became increasingly inferior. A large amount of artificial fibers and inferior animal hair replaced the original cotton and wool, and the artificial linen fabric became increasingly rougher. Four years later, the German uniforms could hardly withstand water washing. After several washings, they would be wrinkled so much that relying on ironing was useless, so those straight German combat uniforms only existed in the recorded movies.

During the middle of the war, every time the German army needed a battlefield parade, the receiving troops would usually be given a brand new uniform in order to preserve the dignity of the German army on film and not to damage the morale of the people behind them.

Here I would like to mention Rommel's African Army. This guy offended too many colleagues and his subordinates were regarded as miscellaneous people raised by a group of stepmothers, so it is not their turn to change uniforms. So in all the documentary and photos, Rommel and his African Army were covered with wrinkled uniforms. Speaking of which, the African Army's tropical cotton uniforms are really not afraid of washing. Besides, even if you want to wash, you have to have water.

However, when the African army was in trouble, everyone's life was quite sad. When the African army was eating flies and fried eggs in the desert, most of the German troops on the Eastern Front almost forgot what the eggs looked like.

The topic goes back to the German winter equipment. Apart from a summer uniform, the German soldiers were a field uniform that remained unchanged in all seasons. Except for the slightly thicker material and a cotton lining inside, it was not much different from the summer uniform in other aspects.

Due to the British material blockade, the cotton lining in the uniform was quickly changed to artificial fiber. This thing works when it is dry, but once it gets damp, it completely loses its ability to keep warm. So after German soldiers were struggling in this uniform and sweating profusely in the snow, their body temperature would drop to a state where people could not exercise normally in a very short time.

Let’s talk about the military coat that has almost become a symbol of the German army. This thing completely inherited the design of the Prussian Kingdom period. In the hearts of some high-level generals, it may have become a continuation of Prussian glory.

The problem is that this thing is only suitable for use in autumn and winter in Europe. When it comes to low temperatures of minus 30 degrees Celsius at any time on the Eastern Front, it almost does not have much warming effect. This kind of coat has more than ten styles, and the fabric materials used are also very different. Usually, soldiers get coats made of artificial linen and wool blended materials. The inner layer will be decorated with some artificial cotton or wool lining. In the winter of Western Europe, it is enough to keep warm, but when you run to the Eastern Front, you will undoubtedly freeze into a bad pen.

The German coats were very majestic and handsome, and were classic designs until the 21st century, but this style was passed down from the age of flintlocks. At that time, everyone lined up to die generously, and only timid cowards would lie in the mud.

This problem actually exists in all European armies. The army of each European country is equipped with a beautiful military coat. It seems that everyone regards the coat as an army tradition, and does not consider whether this thing is still suitable for the ever-changing war model.

So German soldiers wore this cumbersome costume and staggered forward in the knee-deep snow. The coat soaked in snow water would become heavier than the rifle in their hands, and then frozen into a hard shell by the cold temperature, so that you could easily stand it in the snow and then put on a steel helmet to attract the attention of Soviet snipers.

Apart from the 35-type coat, the German army did not have stronger cold-proof equipment at this moment. Instead, there was a rabbit leather jacket. However, because the purchase quantity was limited, it was only for some mountain troops. Compared with the conventional infantry in the plains, the mountain troops' cold-proof equipment was indeed better. They had special mountain short windbreakers, which would be fed with sheepskin linings inside. They would also purchase some warm clothing by themselves. As long as they were willing to spend money, the material was not a problem. These guys were trying their best to pick a few edelixir flowers.

After all, the Germans were still too poor and the military expenses were never enough. The German equipment seemed to be very advanced, but compared with the Second Empire and even the Prussian era, both workmanship and materials were simply incomparable.

By the middle of the war, Germany gradually began to lack raw materials, so the soldiers on the front line received a large number of inferior goods made of alternative materials. Especially food and clothing, these logistics supplies that should be paid special attention to were directly related to the operations and morale of the front line. However, the Nazi senior executives seemed to be trapped in a nightmare and always ignored this.

Many cold-resistant clothing had to wait until 43 or even 44 to start equipping the troops. The German army on the Eastern Front had already suffered heavy losses and the Soviet army began to enter a large counterattack. At that time, even if the front-line soldiers were given one set of dragon scale armor, they would probably not be able to stop the torrent of armor on the opposite side.

Finally, it’s time to talk about the feet. German soldiers, like American soldiers, have a pair of notorious blended socks. Germany is dyed beautiful German gray, which is particularly easy to absorb water. If you can’t think of a way to dry it before going to bed at night, you will definitely be able to go to the trench.

When encountering the low temperature environment on the Eastern Front, the problem becomes even more serious. Sweaty socks are close to the skin of the feet. When encountering the low temperatures from the outside, soldiers will soon suffer from frostbite. On the front line with harsh medical conditions, this is a life-threatening problem, because rotten wounds can easily turn into gangrene. In the battlefield ambulance center, there is no second treatment plan at all.

The German soldiers had a pair of marching boots that made all European infantry jealous. The original style continued the standards of the Prussian era and could cover the entire calf. However, in order to save materials in 1939, Hitler ordered a piece to be cut off, which was ten centimeters less, and the beautiful boots were turned into inappropriate mid-tube boots.

The reason why the German army equipped marching boots was that the roads in early Germany were as garbage as Russia. When the snow melted and autumn rainy seasons, the mud on the road could reach the calves. If short leather shoes and leggings were equipped like the French army, the military pay the soldiers received was not enough for their shoes to buy.

Although it made people blush when talking about the reasons, long boots eventually became the tradition of the Prussian army, and the Soviet Union in the east was even more exaggerated. The bad road conditions led to almost everyone in Russian men at that time having a pair of long leather boots, and shoemakers were the most popular business.

Although the German military boots are handsome, they are not as warm as imagined in extreme cold. Especially when standing in the trenches for a long time, the soles of the boots with anti-slip steel nails will take away the last bit of warmth on the soldier. If you encounter sweaty military socks again, the taste will be extremely sour and refreshing.

However, now the Germans have a new head of state, and he will not allow his soldiers to fall into that tragic situation. The German army's new winter equipment test is currently in the polar region of Norway, and is in full swing.

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