Kleines Spaten für Infanterie (short infantry shovel) mit
mit Spatentasche (short shovel carrier)

As the Great War devolved into sustained trench warfare, entrenching tools became more and more important. The Schanzzeug (entrenching tool) that the ordinary Infanterie Soldat carried was the Kleines Spaten für Infanterie (short infantry shovel). The Kleines Spaten had a straight handle with a ball shaped end. The blade was square shaped and usually had one edge sharpened to make it into a very deadly weapon.

Original Kleines Spaten with bent ears.

The Kleines Spaten came in two basic patterns, the "folded ear" and "bent ear". Surviving examples of each show dates before and during the war, so it appears they were both produced and issued concurrently. Either pattern is acceptable for use in IR63. Many European countries for many years during and after the war produced shovels of nearly an identical size and design, so locating a Kleines Spaten for use in IR63 is fairly easy, but there are a couple of key details some may not have that will need to be avoided: the blade must be of a two-piece design that clamps the blade to the handle and held together with (5) rivets, and the handle should not be tapered and shall have the bulb on the end as shown.

Original Kleines Spaten with folded ears and original Spatentasche

Photo from Johan Somer's Imperial German Field
Uniforms and Equipment 1907-1918.

Above: Shovel and bayonet set as worn on the belt.

The Kleines Spaten was issued with a bare wood handle (ie. no varnish). Regulations stated the wood should be oiled periodically to keep the wood from becoming dried out and brittle. The metal blade was also expected to be kept rust-free and in serviceable condition. Access to dry sand to scrubbed into the surface will remove rust, a light coat of the same oil for the wood could protect the metal between uses. Dings and bends should be hammered or ground out to keep the blade effective. Members of IR63 are expected to maintain their Kleines Spaten in the same fashion as you most likely WILL use your Kleines Spaten at events.

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