The economy in war torn Europe was shit. Even before the war ended, people traded stuff rather than currency. Like instant noodles are the de facto currency in some prisons today, nylon stockings were as good as money back then. Same with cigarettes. So if they didn't need it to survive in the rubble, they could trade it for food with a well meaning local.
this post was submitted on 01 Apr 2026
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Nylons also had the practical advantages of being lightweight and not taking up much space. They were a very well thought out choice.
Nylons if worn under the uniform do a great job of keeping you warm and prevent chaffing.
This is the one I was looking for. Many years ago I worked construction and these big burly dudes who hated gay people at the time and likely hate trans people today all wore them under their clothes in the winter.
There's a popular magazine where I live that has a section for reader submitted "hacks" and it's kind of infamous for how many of them utilize nylons in some shape or form.
I'm quessing it's not for any single purpose but rather a light and multifunctional item.
When I was a kid we had this magazine for kids, Kamrat-posten, and they explained you could do a lot of things with a nylon, you could, apparently, use it as a fan belt if your cars fan belt broke, and other things I don't remember.
On a side note, what I do remember is their survival kit for kids (like for going into the forest) included condoms, super good if you need to carry water apparently.
Unlubricated condoms are very effective for waterproofing things.
And preventing teen pregnancy I guess.
I'm sure there were good reasons that others have noted, but I find there is usually a good reason as well as a real reason for all human choices, and when it comes to nylon and WWII, it's hard not to think of the DuPonts and their influence in the early military-industrial complex.
Who knows in what smoke-filled boardroom some wonk was instructed that "nylons will be part of procurement for survival kits, your job is to figure out why"? I speculate here, but it would be fully in character for them.
Giving her nylons could turn a hardcore nazi woman into an Allied collaborator in about 5 seconds.
They can help prevent chafing and blisters. They're a good base layer under thermal underwear. They can keep some insects, leeches, and other parasites from biting.
US Soldiers in Iraq commonly requested family members send pantyhose in care packages.
For a pretty good weekend in Vegas.
Could be part of a water filter or used as mosquito netting but it doesn't hurt to have something worth trading if you end up in a populated area too. They're lightweight, multi-purpose and valuable in the kind of place where a damaged bomber might make an unexpected landing.
Nylons would be too tight for mosquito netting.
But my first thought was a prefilter for water.
I don't know how well this would work but was thinking that it could be stretched over a rigid structure or cut and sewn into useful places. If nylon stockings are what I have and mosquito netting is what I want, I'll figure out a way to do it.
It was an easy way to get your dick wet in post war Europe.
Trade good. Cheaper than gold.
Tourniquet?
Edit: found this: https://sofrep.com/news/nylon-stockings-were-once-used-to-win-the-war/
It's paywall for me, but there is an archive link.
Hey now, don't kink-shame downed pilots. It's just the way they like their lovin'
Sauce: pielot
first guess, lightweight portable water filtration
For anyone who might not know, using nylons won't give you potable water. But they can be used to filter out larger sediments before boiling.
You could use the nylons to hold filtration material.
My probably very incorrect guess is to hide syphilis signs.