Photos Military equipment used by civilians postwar

[NebrHogger]

With so much used gear laying around, it didn't take practical people long to find uses for it.

The German army used a lot of horse drawn wagons - these captured examples are about to be used by Soviet farmers. (The woman is a switch tender for the railroad.)

Former artillery barrels made good roof supports

There were a number of uses for the thousands of German helmets - these are being converted to "chamber pots"

This one is now a strainer

Pot for heating things like wax or lead

Scoop for cleaning toilets

Artillery case scoop or mug

Japanese rifles, many of which were sold to American surplus dealers

Old bayonets made into candle holders

Artillery tractors like this Komintern work must as well for farm implements

Same for tanks like this one being used in a logging operation

Everyone can use a fuel can - there were countless of them available after the war

Same for a "spork" to put in your lunch cooler

I'm not sure what could be done with old submarine batteries, but there was apparently a demand for them

 

[digrar]

Everyone can use a fuel can - there were countless of them available after the war
View attachment 284255

Predictably, we still call them jerry cans, or fuel jerrys, even if they're not in this pattern.