A fairly new and serviceable pair of binoculars and case were probably judged to be a perfectly acceptable substitute when standard issue binoculars were unavailable. I know from direct contact with veterans that by mid 1944 German reorganization and refitting made the best of shortages by using substitute standard items (like equipping refitted soldiers with French military compasses, and newly issued AC44 P38 pistols going into P08 luger holsters). Stamp (Technical and Equipments Field Warehouse Paris) on Jthe 11 Aufklarungs–Abteilung was converted into a Versorgunangs-Kompanie (Supply Company) with feldpost number 09426. Stamp, the 11th Reconnaissance Abteilung was further reorganized in May 1944 by absorbing the Reserve Reconnaissance Abteilung 7, and perhaps relevant to the After Cherkassy, the damaged 11th Panzer division was withdrawn to southern France near Libourne/ Bordeau for rebuilding and was reorganized with integration of the 416 Grenadier Regiment and 273 Reserve Panzer division. (the 11 Aufklarungs–Abteilung with it’s 3rd company was the reconnaissance detachment of theĪnzer division).
Rungsabteilung/Reconnaissance detachment) kompanie The case of these binoculars is marked to German Instruments d’optique Jules Huet et Cie (Jules Huet and co.Kazan Optical Mechanical Factory) binoculars were produced in early in 1944 (serial number 44077210, with the first two prefix numbers of KOMZ binocular serial numbers being the year of manufacture), and these binoculars were rather quickly captured by German forces, possibly by the 11th Panzer division at Cherkassy in Feb 1944. There is some wear where the black paint has rubbed off the metal, and the plastic is chipped around one lens, and missing around the other. They are 12x magnification, something I haven't been able to find often, and seem to still work well. There is some dust and grime on these 70-year-old lenses, but they are still fairly clear. The leather around the latch is very degraded, but the springs themselves are still quite strong. There is the remnant of a US customs stamp on the case-upside down.
The leather is crumbling somewhat and does leave some red dust behind, but probably something that could be stopped, if not repaired. Vintage French military binoculars with a leather case and strap, from at least WWII, if not further back.
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