Did soldiers pee in their boots to make marching more comfortable?

Question

According to a WWII diary, they peed in the boots before sleeping, then poured it out in the morning before they went marching the next day. Can this be? and if so, what is it in urine that makes the foot more comfortable?

Answer 1

As gross as this sounds, it might actually be true. Urine is a sterile fluid that contains urea which is used in many topical antiseptics. It may have been a field preventative for 'Trench Foot' which is like super athlete's foot. Extreme cases required amputation.