[ithacaartist]

Here's a Facebook post by some gun named Hunter Allen. Enjoy!

"Fascinating image. Trenches, especially on the Western Front, were infested with millions of rats. They fed on human corpses. During the harsh conditions of WW1, soldiers often lacked proper winter clothing and supplies, so nothing usable was wasted, not even rats.
Trench rats were killed to help control diseases like Trench fever, but their small pelts were also put to use: when dried, rat skins were light, soft, warm, and easy to cure in the field.
Soldiers sometimes collected them in bulk to stitch into makeshift fur, creating gloves or fingerless mittens for warmth, using them as patches or linings to repair worn-out uniforms, or even bartering them for tobacco, food, and other small comforts"