new book: Rations of the German Wehrmacht in World War II

[Jim Pool]

For those that don't want the change file here is the most serious error in the book.


Page 212 change the following paragraph: The 1939 Special Allowance for Motorized Troops portion consisted of the following:

A. 1 box of mixed canned foods
B. 600 grams of Dauerbrot or 500 grams of Knäckebrot
C. 100 grams of Chocolate
D. 5 grams of Lemon powder


To read


The 1939 Special Allowance for Motorized Troops portion consisted of the following:>>
A. 1 can of mixed vegetables and meats
B. 600 grams of Dauerbrot or 500 grams of Knäckebrot
C. 100 grams of Chocolate
D. 5 grams of Lemon powder


Delete the accompanying photo and caption in the book and replace it with this:


A recreation of the 1939 special allowance for armored forces. The ration consisted of the following items: 1. Can of mixed meat and vegetables 2. Lemon powder. 3.Knäckebrot (4 Packages total) and 4. Chocolate

[Jim Pool]

We had to do a recreation of the original Batschieder Knackebrot in the book. After the book was published a collector came forward with an original carton which we have permission in any future update to the book.

[Jim Pool]

This can was captioned as being Polish in the book. As it turns out it’s a standard 200 Gram can of pork, which was corrected in the update file. When we got the can we were thrown off by the stamp R.St.14 which we hadn’t encountered before. That and the fact that our source thought it was Polish led us to the wrong conclusion. As I read the book it dawned on me that this style of can was actually discussed in the original US Army report.
13. Beef Roast. Three samples were tested.A. (Sample 1). This product appeared to be roast beef. Two cans, 4 x 4.625 inches and 3 x 2.312 inches in sizewere examined. The drained weight of the former was found to be 20 ounces and that of the latter eight ounces. The gravy was very thick and there was a great deal of rendered fat present. The product appeared to have been ground through a 1.5 inch plate. Its appearance and flavor indicated that it was a cold pack. The vacuum on the larger can was zero and that on the smaller one was approximately 4.5 (obviously a mistake probably .5 inches). The labels read as follows: Authors' notes. The information does not fit the template. 400 x 410 4288 T 135 R-F 8206 300 x 205-DIN-PAPKU000 RSTSSR 200 130


One of the things we point out is that the analysts who did the study had a difficult time reading the stamps off the cans and there were a lot of errors. Plus they tended to run the information together, but over time we were able to figure out most of the codes. Once we figured out that the can was German we tackled the R.St. 14.stamp. As it turns out, it’s simple the code for a type of galvanized or drawn steel. The can in the Ration report probably read something like this:
Bottom lid: 300 x 205(Possible the size of the “blank” used to make the body of the can)
DIN-PAPKU000(DIN PACKUNG??)
Top lid:RSTSS(R.St.?? the code for a type of galvanized or drawn steel )R 200 (Beef 200 g) 130(Either a date or manufacturers code)
The can is the same size as the one described in the report.It only had one lid and the codes are as follows:
S-36- (Pork 1936)
GW -Unknown but possible the manufacturers code or additional identifier for the steel.
R.St. 14.- code for a type of galvanized or drawn steel

[Jim Pool]

This is probably the most controversial item in the book, a wine bottle marked for the Waffen-SS. Tom and I are convinced of its originality, but were certain it might raise a few eye brows. The Army was responsible for providing rations to all branches of the military except the Navy. However when it came to local purchase and Marketenderwaren (kantine/PX) items the Army was unable to prevent the SS and LW from wandering off the range. Of course beer and wine products are categorized as Marketenderwaren. Beer and wine products were authorized as part of the soldier’s daily ration; which meant that these products were split up into normal rations, which were free to the soldier and sold through the units kantine as well. Alchohol products supplied by the Army for the Army, SS and LW are sometimes marked Wehrmacht Marketenderware. We know that the LW procured beer for their troops which are marked “Eigentum der Luftwaffe”. In the case of the SS wine everything seems to point to its originality. The BADO winery existed and the label itself is fairly standard with the exception that it was produced as a “Special” run. Nothing points to the bottle being SS except that it was purchased through the office of the Zentralmarketenderei Der Waffen SS, Berlin. Tom and I weren’t able to establish with 100% certainty that the office existed. We did find the biography of an SS soldier who worked there though. If any of the members can shed more light on this office it would be greatly appreciated. Regards Jim

[Jim Pool]

Here is the pre war picture and patent for Perga packaging which unfortunately we couldn't use in the book.

[Jim Pool]

In the book we showed a few products from August Grill a store which operated from 1912 to 1965. A large number of packaging from the store surfaced within the last 10 years. The problem was trying to figure out exactly when the packaging was manufactured. We analyzed the available facts and compared them to the packaging in order to come to some conclusions. We put the data in the attached chart. The two facts we do know:
- In 1929 the phone number for the store was 68. Other businesses in Schorndorf were also using 3 digit phone numbers.
- In 1934 the store was offering 3% Rabatts (discounts) in accordance with the Discount Act of 1933 which limited discounts to 3%. This act was not repealed until 2001.

So from the few facts we concluded that packaging with a 68 phone number were in fact wartime/pre war. Certain packages with a 68 number also carried a ships logo so we figured the ships logo was also a characteristic of wartime/pre war packaging. The ships logo was also found on packages with a phone number of SA 368 and 468. We found no packages that had a combination of the ships logo and 3% Rabatt, so we concluded the ships logo was used between 1912-Nov 1933. There were packages where the phone number 468 was used separately with either the 3% Rabatt or ships logo. So we concluded that the use of the three digit phone number was wartime.

As far as the originality of the packaging with a 2468 phone number goes, we believe they are also wartime. We compared two almost identical packages one with the phone number 468 and the other 2468. Both had the 3% Rabatt and the construction of both sacks was the same. The major difference was there were 8 stores listed on the 468 sack and only 4 on the 2468 sack. However since we had no definitive postwar packages to compare to, we can't rule out that 2468 was a postwar phone number. Regards Jim

[Jim Pool]

Here are a couple of new items I got in.First up is a nice vinegar bottle. H.Dv. 86/1 specifies vinegar as one of the condiments to be issued to soldiers during redeployments. Of course the question is how would the soldier carry it. He wasn't issued any equipment that would serve that need. This style of small bottle would certainly fit the bill. Unfortunately most of the label is missing, so I can't determine who the manufacturer is.

[Jim Pool]

Heres a nice jar obviousily made for honey. The honey comb effect is kinda neat. On the front of the jar is a stylized bee hive with little bees flying around it. I believe it was manufactured by Alwin Franz of Leipzig which used a bee hive as their logo. On the bottom of the jar you'll notice the M over V stamp. I think it denotes the firm of Muller and Co. from Vollstedt. The firm operated from 1907-1949 and is most famous for its decorative porcelain and figurines. The factory was destroyed during the war and the company re located to West Germany in 1949. They attempted to start up production in the west but failed. The logo used on their porcelain was a M over V with a crown above that. I believe they simplied the logo for their glass products. Just my thoughts.

[biscuits brown]

Jim do you know where I could locate the 1945 or 6 US army report on German rations? Is it on line?

I have quite a collection of ration related PDFs but that one I cant find. Appreciate any help.

[Jim Pool]

You need to contact the Quartermaster museum at FT. Lee Va. They have a website with contact info. Of course most of that report is incorperated in the book. I would love to know if you have any additional files on German WWII Rations. Jim

Jim do you know where I could locate the 1945 or 6 US army report on German rations? Is it on line?

I have quite a collection of ration related PDFs but that one I cant find. Appreciate any help.