BACKGROUND: Accurate intelligence and secure lines of communication are crucial elements to all armies in the field and during WWII each division in the German Army had an integral Signals unit. The Signals unit were usually of Battalion strength and generally consisted of a Headquarters Company, a Radio Company and a Telephone Company. The Signals personnel utilized a wide variety of radio receivers, field telephones and associated communications equipment in all theatres of operation. The Feldfernsprecher 33, (Field Telephone 33), was the standard issue field telephone used by the German military during WWII. The induction magneto F33 field telephone was powered by a 1.5 volt dry cell battery and could be used as a wire communication set and a remote communication set in conjunction with the Tornister Funkgerät d2, and the Tornister Funkgerät b1 and F, (Portable Radio sets models d2, b1 and F).

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: The roughly, 21cm tall, 27cm wide, 9cm thick, molded, mottled brown bakelite construction telephone housing case has a fold back top lid with a screwed on, magnetic sheet metal, horizontal bar hinge to the reverse and a screwed on, magnetic sheet metal, panel with an inset pressure closure clip to the obverse. Nice complete example. The alloy and bakelite crank handle is included. Dated for 1944, manufacture marked for "Prüftaste" and Wafen Amt marked. Shows the expected period use and wear with a section of the handset body missing.