German Alpine Rucksack

Though each rucksack appears to have been previously issued, they remain in good condition and ready to continue service. As they have been issued, some of the rucksacks show signs of wear and tear, with some even showing evidence of being repaired in the field by soldiers, which provides a unique historical aspect for those pieces.

An interesting aspect regarding the German alpine rucksack is the fact that the NATO Stock Number (NSN) is printed on the interior pocket. An NSN is a 13-digit numerical code that identifies all standardized materials of supply that are recognized by NATO countries. The NSN for the German alpine rucksack is 8465-12-323-9348, which identifies it as a feldgepaeck, or what I assume translates loosely to "field pack." The "8465" identifies it as a piece of individual equipment in a category that includes an array of packs and bags while the "12" signifies that the piece is from Germany. The remaining digits signify its item number.