Original Item: These are the WW2 era "T" handled Full Size Entrenching Shovels as used by WW2 German Infantry & Artillery Units and often seen strapped to the sides of Tanks and other Military Vehicles.

These have the classic characteristic "Round" noses of the period, see "Uniforms and Traditions of the German Army 1933-1945" by Angolis and Schlicht, page 191. Blades are heavily painted so no apparent markings are visible but classic in the WW2 design. Recently released from eastern European military stores. Fewer than 10 available. See photo of this shovel on page 93 of the excellent reference book Fighting Men Of WW2- AXIS FORCES, Uniforms, Equipment & Weapons.

A little history of the German Military Shovel: The spade has been in use in Germany for centuries as a digging tool as one can see in the trademark of the famous, centuries-old German beer, Spatenbrau. The blade of a spade tends to be narrow with straight sides and a straight front edge. It is generally intended for digging where the soil is a compacted mass and must be cut through. The shovel, in contrast, has a broader blade with a rounded or semi-pointed tip and is intended to be used on loose material, such as sand, coal, or loose soil. Both blade shapes have been used for military purposes in Germany and other European countries for centuries. Engravings of the great age of sieges, the 17th and 18th Centuries, show spades just about indistinguishable from the ones offered here.