"German Leather Equipment" Topic

Every time I think I have this figured out, I see evidence to the contrary. Did Germans wear their brown leather equipment into the field, or did they blacken it?

They started the war with brown leather. Some of the second line troops did have older pattern black leather. In 1915 they were ordered to blacken all leather (some units didn't do it). Re-dying the brown to black didn't always hold up and some piece appeared black/brown. The Germans did not replace equipment or uniforms unless truly necessary.

If you wish a set time line for the color. Aug 1914 to Mid 1915 brown leather. Second part of 1915 to the end of the war black.

Well, blow me down. I thought it was brown for the entire war. Although if you slap enough dubbin and watery mud on any bit of leather it will go very dark indeed.

Well, I'm not planning on repainting my post 1915 figures right now, maybe another lockdown project:)

You aren't wrong with them being brown, the unit just didn't get to it. Mixing within a unit could also happen.If the figures are 28mm you may think about just giving them a dark mask over the brown. 15mm I would just leave them.

Thanks, guys. That clears it up.