Small historical reminder:
After the Italian surrender in September 1943, The German forces fighting in Italy retreated and took most of the Italian army stocks of food, uniforms, equipment, weapons and ammunition. Then In 1944/45 repurposed Italian goods are a commonly seen in the German army, at all fronts and all units!
Not much to say except that this example of capture Mess kit is just gorgeous! It had probably two owners, Nevinny then Wurtz. Nice wear! Perfect mess kit in size and shape indeed! It could be German…
Hereafter my final collection of re-issued Italian M30. They are not so rare, and it goes from 30€ to 80€ (total) depending on shape. Without paint they are very cheap.
And now some pictures taken from books, mainly books relating of the late hours of the war. And obviously it seems that this model is the one “last ditch” mess kit as we can see it only in use in 1945 till the last day in all units of the German army. Probably because the German production of field gear slowed down dramatically in 1945. I’m sure that after the war the need of the population for cookware was so big that even unfinished German M42 model taken from devastated factories was welcome.
It is difficult to imagine a German soldier wearing an unfinished mess kit unpainted and without a handle !! Maybe you have pictures to share. Welcome.
I finish with a picture of my AEMA 44 M42’s collection.
After the Italian surrender in September 1943, The German forces fighting in Italy retreated and took most of the Italian army stocks of food, uniforms, equipment, weapons and ammunition. Then In 1944/45 repurposed Italian goods are a commonly seen in the German army, at all fronts and all units!
Not much to say except that this example of capture Mess kit is just gorgeous! It had probably two owners, Nevinny then Wurtz. Nice wear! Perfect mess kit in size and shape indeed! It could be German…
Hereafter my final collection of re-issued Italian M30. They are not so rare, and it goes from 30€ to 80€ (total) depending on shape. Without paint they are very cheap.
And now some pictures taken from books, mainly books relating of the late hours of the war. And obviously it seems that this model is the one “last ditch” mess kit as we can see it only in use in 1945 till the last day in all units of the German army. Probably because the German production of field gear slowed down dramatically in 1945. I’m sure that after the war the need of the population for cookware was so big that even unfinished German M42 model taken from devastated factories was welcome.
It is difficult to imagine a German soldier wearing an unfinished mess kit unpainted and without a handle !! Maybe you have pictures to share. Welcome.
I finish with a picture of my AEMA 44 M42’s collection.
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