Part 9/12:
The caps also featured buttons with the national tri-color or regional insignia, such as the Bavarian blue, white, and green.
Footwear and Belts
Initially, leather boots and belts were standard, but wartime shortages forced the widespread adoption of blackened ankle boots and woven leg wraps by 1917. Uniforms were often simplistic, with soldiers frequently making do with whatever materials were available.
Personal Stories and Harsh Realities
The uniform and gear tell only part of the story. Behind the attire were soldiers enduring unimaginable hardships. One such soldier, Karl Fritz, wrote a heartfelt letter from the trenches at Verdun, describing the horrors faced: