Danish Army Webbing Systems M/45-50 and M/45-59

Danish Army Webbing M/45-50 and M/45-59

Overview M/45-50 M/45-59

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The Danish M/45-50 and M/45-59 Webbing Equipment

A very short introduction

© Photos and text: M55q 2019.

m55q.militaryequipment@gmail.com

Without delving into too much detail about Danish foreign politics of the Cold War, it is important to remember that Denmark initially bound itself to a British sphere of interest. In the first decade of the Cold War Denmark aligned itself with Great Britain within NATO, bought a substantial amount of old British World War Two equipment, and planned on a number of future acquisitions. The reason for this is straight forward. Great Britain had since the late 1800s been the most important market for the agricultural surplus of Denmark (butter and bacon), and Britain had show itself during World War Two and immediately after as a ‘friend’ of Denmark and Danish political and economical interests. Hence it was no surprise that following the end of World War Two Denmark choose to support the British occupational forces in Northern Germany with a substantial number of troops. Since the Danish soldiers were part of the British forces they were supplied with surplus British uniforms and webbing from the war.

Keeping with this initial choice the Equipment Commission tasked with procuring and developing new load bearing equipment for the infantry of the Danish army contacted the London based company Mills Equipment Company Ltd. The Danish army had found the British 1937 Webbing Equipment wanting. Especially the entrenching tool and water bottle.

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Glossary

Haerens Materiel Kommando (Army Materiel Command)

Danish M/45-50 Webbing Equipment | Oppakningssytem M/45-50
Danish M/45-59 Webbing Equipment | Oppakningssytem M/45-59

Danish Military Pattern M/45-50 web gear set. The Danes used this gear (modeled after the British Pattern 37) from right after WWII to the late 50’s. Some of the early pouches were made by British companies for the Danish government and are marked MEC. Most of the gear has the early Danish government FKF markings vs the later HTK markings.