The mighty, mighty over-boots of war, 74 years ago
Colorized photo of two U.S. soldiers from the 36th Armored Infantry Regiment, behind a Sherman tank at the ruins of Geich, near Düren, Germany, 11 Dec 1944.
Note the well-used Thompson M1A1 complete with simplified sights, M1 helmets without netting, and four-buckle U.S.-issue rubber overboots with tire-tread soles.
The boots, stock number 72-0-452, were made by a number of tire companies to include B.F. Goodrich and Goodyear Rubber Co as well as more traditional shoe companies that specialised in rubber-soled footwear such as Converse and LaCrosse and were based on the pre-war “Royal Walrus” galoshes made by the United States Rubber Company (Uniroyal), which today is owned by Michelin.
Today of course overboots, especially of the arctic type with the pressure port, are commonly just called Mickey Mouse boots.
But, if you were just now feeling cold up, here is an overbooted 9th Armoured Division technician with a little French girl on Valentine’s Day, 14 Feb 1945 to warm your black soul:
