I completed a long study of German occupation of West Africa around 1900-1915, a study that may be considered a catalyst leading up to World War 1. Long story short... the German Army military campaign against the aboriginal peoples did not go as smoothly as anticipated; chasing enemy soldiers into the desert, capturing of enemy soldiers; problems with the prison system, malnutrition and so forth. The effort and push was constituted around the Schlieffen Plan.
With such a large push into enemy territory, there wasn’t enough suitable supplies to sustain the effort. Horses could not be sustained for long distances. There was a need for better nutrition and needed adjustments to keep prisoners alive and the German Army sustained. These assessments were made by Wehrmacht doctors.
One of the ration components in their ration kit circa 1900 + was Zwieback bread. It’s not in U.S. Rations of course, as members are aware. Are these biscuits ration components in current use in other active armies?
Zwieback bread
Re: German Army ration: 1900
Posted: Sun May 31, 2020 4:10 pm
by Smitty
Likely similar to ww2 zwieback which shares no resemblance to modern day crackers of the same name.
We could get a discussion going, Smitty. I don’t think the bread fits into the category of a “cracker,” however, like the large items in US MRE’s. Could be wrong.
Bake it two times "removes" all moisture out of the bread so Zwieback lasts "for ever" and make it very, very crisp. I still eat it today
See German (child´s version) of "How it´s made"
Re: German Army ration: 1900
Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2020 11:53 am
by Smitty
You guys really are getting hung up on my use of cracker here. The article boys. That’s my point. Modern is not likely historical.
Re: German Army ration: 1900
Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2020 7:27 pm
by jfko6
Having read the article, it’s clear some things got lost and the authors are not 100% certain what they looked like or, packaging used, but may be close to the truth.
The example I used was a remote section in Africa. You can imagine the difficulty for items to remain extant.
Some pastries from France never change form. Some foods become a derivative of an ancient custom.
It’s fortunate for us the Zwieback wasn’t lost forever.
Base visit May, 2020. Bread and macaroni with sauce.
Re: German Army ration: 1900
Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2020 6:20 pm
by jfko6
Zwieback
Surprised to find Zwieback bread at my local commissary.
Zwieback bread
Zwieback bread
Re: German Army ration: 1900
Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2020 7:18 pm
by Smitty
But now you need to find the period correct style
Re: German Army ration: 1900
Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2020 5:11 am
by norge
the Canadian IMPs did have a similar bread in th rations back in the mid 1990s.
it was packed 4 slices in a plastic poch if im not wrong.