Kriegsmarine personal box (or ditty box)

[captain cookies]

Hi: Au revoir:,
After a very long absence (: Ennuyé I come to present you my last acquisition. It is about a box has personal effects of the kriegsmarine. These boxes were appreciated by the submariners for their small size. They put it personal objects (documents, knives and forks(ranges) etc.). These boxes are not easy to find especially in this state. The originality of this one is that it would have belonged to a submariner. I let you see the photos which will be more explicit : RÉ:

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The iron rounding to padlock the box unfortunately was to saw. Why? We can imagine everything (a thief, died of the soldier etc.).
Box found to Lorient on the base of submarine. However I am not sure that the writing Lorient is original.

[michiel01]

nice box you have! Had some work as you said, but still in nice condition.

this WW1 postcard shows them "in use".

[JustinG]

Nice, So you were able to track down and confirm that this Busse Sailor was in the Submarine branch of the Kriegsmarine?

Very nice indeed.

Regards,
JustinG

[captain cookies]

Re,
Thanks for your reactions.
I have not made searches on this sailor yet. Nevertheless I think that this sailor did not make a commitment in the submarine branch but was affected to it later (what explains U added briefly on the identification plate).
Thesis lifted in particular on this site:

http://www.passionmilitaria.com/t829...oat-de-lorient

Kind regards, XC

[John R.]

This is not a ditty box although often mistaken for one.

It is a shoeshine kit box.

I have discussed this before here:

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...ight=shoeshine

John

[compressore]

unpractical ?

Hi John,

I have seen this discussion but I wonder why a shoe-polish kit should be stored in such a "bulky" box instead of a more small bag ?
And than fixed outside on the seabag ? Very unpractical, at least in my opinion. Get stucked everywhere in transport.
Are there period photos ?

Regards
Christian

[km-spain]

Hello, this one is a Putzkasten, a utensil box, included in the soldbuch (entry number 18 for the feldgrau uniform and 43 for the blue) as part of the issue equipment provided to junior NCOs and enlisted men to accommodate small utensils, also as John said the shoe cleaning materials.

[captain cookies]

Hello mister Robinson,
I think that you are mistaken. I said well personal box. Free in the sailor to put that he wants inside ( included shoe polish). It falls well I am going to be able to show him to you by a visual proof.
Below dumped by objects of the everyday life of the submarine u-534 refloated and exposed to Bremont in England (notice the contents of the upper right ditty cubicle):

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And the iron hook serves well to put it a padlock.
I remind you that km was rather overliberal at the level of the regulation. We can say thus never with certainty what was inside.
Finally it is only my opinion.
Thank you for your reactions.

[compressore]

So officially used as "Putzkasten" and inoffically as storage for small personal items.
This explanation makes very much sense.
And I love this foto...more of those? Where it is exhibited?
Regards
Christian

[captain cookies]

Hello,
excuse I the exhibition is situated in Birkenhead:

http://sous.marins.musees.free.fr/in...bretagne/u-534

[John R.]

Of course a sailor could stow what he wanted in such boxes, but as I mentioned, it is documented within a photo on pages 142 and 143 of Showell's book.

I have the book but not with me right now. Sometime in the future I will scan the page.

John

[John R.]

The point being made is not what this box was used as by a particular sailor, but what it was issued as by the KM.

John

[Norm F]

Of course a sailor could stow what he wanted in such boxes, but as I mentioned, it is documented within a photo on pages 142 and 143 of Showell's book.

I have the book but not with me right now. Sometime in the future I will scan the page.

John

Here it is.

[John R.]

Thanks Norm.

[captain cookies]

Hi,
As mentioned in a book in French as a personal box. I'll have you found the pages. So who to believe ? ? I think the best and make their own opinion with the help of these. Thank you for sharing.