Wehrmacht (Heer) Tropical Combat Rucksack (Rucksack). During the war the early M34 and M39 Affe backpacks were found to be too expensive and time consuming to produce which resulted in the production of a wide variety of less expensive canvas construction combat rucksacks and backpacks. With the impending German entrance into the North African campaign, tropical uniforms and equipment were quickly developed and issued in time for 'Deutsches Afrika Korps', this included canvas web construction rucksacks. The rucksack is executed in green, ‘heavy-duty’ cotton and has a rounded fold over top flap. The metal D-rings on top of the flap are still present. The rucksack is nicely maker marked by the company of 'Ernst Melzig' from Liegnitz and dated 1942. Nice early tropical rucksack in very good, mint and unissued, condition!