BACKGROUND: The standard issue M31 haversack, commonly referred to as the "bread bag", was based on the M1887 haversack and was adopted by the Wehrmacht as well as a wide variety of uniformed and non-uniformed political and paramilitary organizations in 1931. The main variation in bread bags used by political and para-military personnel as opposed to Wehrmacht personnel was the color. The bread bag was designed to carry rations, eating utensils and other assorted personal items. The M31 bread bag was originally issued with a removable carrying strap although regulations dictated that the bread bag was to be worn suspended from the equipment belt. This resulted in the bread bag carrying strap seldom being used for its original purpose though it was utilized for a wide variety of improvised functions. Production of the bread bag carrying straps was discontinued sometime during the war. In late 1940 with the impending German entrance into the North African campaign the standard leather fittings on the M31 bread bag were altered to canvas web fittings for longer wear in the tropical climate and the coloration was modified to a khaki/green shade.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Dual-ply, khaki/olive canvas construction strap with khaki/tan web reinforced steel friction clips to either end. The two part strap has a rectangular, sliding, steel, length adjustment buckle, and a separate rectangular, steel, joining clip. The strap has stitched seams to each outside edge.