The Zeltbahn was a very flexible use device. Each soldier was issued one Zelt pannel, 1 zelt rope, two zelt stakes, and one section of the pole. The Zelt could be worn as a poncho, made into a stretcher, used as a flotation device, and many other things. One soldier's Zelt could be combined with one or more other soldiers to create tents and other shelters.  

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In some circumstances, Zelts were set up at a place and time where soldiers could improve their position for safety and comfort. One of the best ways to increase both the headroom and the useable footprint of the zelt was to build up walls with wood or other materials and place the Zelt on top. These walls were made from materials that were available locally. Some were made up of logs, straw bales, sod, and others were made of planks or boards. Of these, some were clearly taken from crates and still bear the markings of these former crates. The height of these walls ranges from a single board of a few inches to walls high enough to stand within. These walls were sometimes used in conjunction with placing them over holes which often was used to increase the height as well. The zelts themselves were used in a variety of configurations 4, 8, 16 pannels, and others. 

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These photographs were taken from a number of books,  online sources, and auction sites.  They are presented here for educational purposes.