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Brotbeutel M31 – Wehrmacht Bread Bag, Mid-War Version
The Brotbeutel Modell 1931 was one of the most recognizable pieces of individual equipment carried by German soldiers during the Second World War. Introduced in 1931, the design remained in service throughout the war and was widely used by the Heer, Luftwaffe and Waffen-SS.
Its primary role was to carry the soldier’s daily food rations, which explains the literal translation of the term Brotbeutelas “bread bag.” In practice, however, it served as a general-purpose field pouch used to carry personal belongings, weapon cleaning items, utensils, tobacco, letters and other small necessities.
The mid-war version reflects the gradual simplification of German wartime production introduced during the middle years of the conflict. In this variant the bag is typically manufactured from tan-colored cotton canvas, a material increasingly used as production shifted away from the earlier feldgrau fabrics of pre-war equipment.
The construction features a large main compartment with a closing flap, two front securing straps, and metal rings and hooks designed to attach the bag to the soldier’s field belt and to support additional equipment. It was commonly worn on the belt suspension system, and soldiers often attached items such as the canteen (Feldflasche) or eating utensils to its exterior fittings.
Production was carried out by numerous German textile manufacturers, usually identified by internal maker marks and factory codes, reflecting the large-scale manufacturing required to equip millions of soldiers during the war.
Thanks to its simple design, durability and practicality, the Brotbeutel M31 remained a standard component of German field equipment until the end of the Second World War.
