BACKGROUND: Each Division in the German Army of WWII had Divisional Support units which included a medical unit that normally consisted of two companies, a mobile field hospital and two ambulance platoons. Within these medical units EM’s and Junior NCO’s with basic medical training acted as medical orderlies or stretcher bearers under the command of Doctors with Officers ranks. The German army also maintained static hospitals in the rear areas for those with more severe wounds and those with the most serious injuries that would require long rehabilitation times would be sent to a hospital in their home military recruiting district within Germany. Generally the German field units preferred to care for their own wounded as much as possible as a convalescents transferred to a rear area static military or home military district hospital could potentially be dispatched to a new unit on their recovery. As a result most of the Divisional medical support units maintained a generous supply of medical equipment and accessories to provide the most favorable "in-house" care as possible. Among the medical equipment and accessories were specific medical pouches for EM/NCO’s Kragenträger, (stretcher bearers), and Sanitäts, (Medical personnel), and additional pouches for medical Officers.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Sanitatsoffiziertausche model 1938, early war issue tan/brown leather case. The case measures approximately 9cm x 20.5cm x 28cm and is maker and WaffenAmt marked. It is also dated for 1940. One "D" ring is missing along the side for the attachment of the lid.