WWI Imperial German Army Puttees (Wickelgamaschen)
Our Puttees, known in German as Wickelgamaschen, are a standard item of footwear for the Imperial German Army during the First World War reenaction/movies/theater groups etc, replacing the tall leather marching boot in many units as the war progressed. Practical, economical, and versatile, they symbolized the shift from pre-war parade-ground tradition to the harsher realities of modern trench warfare.
Design & Construction
German puttees are long strips of wool cloth, typically about 2.5–3 meters in length and 8–10 cm in width, wound tightly around the lower leg from the ankle up to just below the knee. They are most in shades of feldgrau (grey-green) to match the rest of the uniform.
The puttees were fastened by tying off the end of the strip or securing it with a tape or hook. When properly wrapped, they gave firm support to the leg and ankle while protecting against mud, dirt, and minor abrasions.
Adoption & Use
Early in the war, German soldiers were still issued the iconic Marschstiefel (jackboot), a tall leather boot reaching almost to the knee. However, as leather shortages grew and the need for mass production increased, the German Army turned to shorter ankle boots (Schnürschuhe) worn with puttees as a practical alternative.
By 1915–16, puttees had become common issue for frontline infantry, artillerymen, and even some rear-echelon troops. They were lighter and cheaper to manufacture than full-length boots and proved serviceable in the muddy conditions of the Western Front.
Practical Advantages
Puttees offered several benefits:
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Support for the calves and ankles, reducing fatigue during long marches.
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Protection from mud and debris, easier to clean than tall boots.
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Adaptability, as they could be adjusted or replaced in the field with relative ease.
Although many soldiers disliked the time-consuming process of wrapping them, puttees became one of the most recognizable features of the late-war German soldier’s kit.
