German Canteen

wehrmacht04 · Post by **wehrmacht04** » 13 Aug 2004 16:25

With what material were the German Canteens constructed of? Is it felt? or a stronger material like leather?

Thanks

Currahee

Christoph Awender · Post by **Christoph Awender** » 13 Aug 2004 16:52

The canteen and the cup was made of aluminium. The "skin" was madeof felt.

\Christoph

Langemann · Post by **Langemann** » 13 Aug 2004 16:53

The canteens themselves were constructed from either aluminum or enamled steel. Certain models of canteens for the Afrika Korps were made of impregnated wood. (they look like coconuts) The covers of the canteens were made of felt up until late '44 early 45 where they changed over to a weak cotton type substance. The impregnated wood canteens had no outer cover to speak of.

Hope this helps.

Langemann

CHRISCHA · Post by **CHRISCHA** » 13 Aug 2004 18:51

Late war, some of the canteen cups were produced from bakelite, a brittle early plastic.

wehrmacht04 · Post by **wehrmacht04** » 13 Aug 2004 22:48

Wasn't the felt a fragile material when the soldier was in battle?

Thanks

Currahee

Eden Zhang · Post by **Eden Zhang** » 14 Aug 2004 06:23

wehrmacht04 wrote:Wasn't the felt a fragile material when the soldier was in battle?

Thanks

Currahee

No, because unless someone made a direct attack on the canteen, the felt was pretty much safe.

CHRISCHA · Post by **CHRISCHA** » 14 Aug 2004 09:39

It was a much more hard wearing, coarser felt than you see used in clothing.

wehrmacht04 · Post by **wehrmacht04** » 14 Aug 2004 23:51

How many versions of the German Canteen were there?

Thanks

Currahee

Eden Zhang · Post by **Eden Zhang** » 15 Aug 2004 01:42

wehrmacht04 wrote:How many versions of the German Canteen were there?

Thanks

Currahee

As far as I know there was only one version of the bottle, but two versions of the top/cup.

landser32 · Post by **landser32** » 16 Aug 2004 16:24

Don't forget the 1 liter version used by Gebirgjager and medics. But the style is the same as the smaller M31. Also the cover on such models have a thicker felt and the addition of the much sought after "doughnut" on the rear next to the clasp. I remember reading towards the end of the war that the Germans were forced to using Italian Canteens to issue to their forces.

Landser32

zipper_mx5 · Post by **zipper_mx5** » 22 Aug 2004 15:41

Hi
as far as I remember now (I am not at home with my books) there are at least 5 or 6 different styles of canteen, based all on the same design.
The differences are given from the materials, already listed from Langeman(aluminium; enameled steel and phenolic resin, originally issued for Deutsche Afrika Korp use, that Langeman calls impregnated wood); different webbings made from leather (earlier version, both in black and brown) and canvas (light olive green the early DAK issue; bluegrey for Luftwaffe; green from midwar on) and from the shape of the drinking cup, smaller and slightly conical shaped the earlier models, bigger and wider the rest for aluminium cups, the bakelite cups (both black or reddish brown colour) were all of the earlier "conical" shape).
The external felt was open on the side for a couple of centimeters to introduce the canteen, it was closed with 3 snap on buttons. The felt was choose not only because was durable, but because, when wet, keeped the water very cool because of evaporation. The phenolic resin models did not use any cover AFAIK.
The standard water bottles were 3/4 lt. capable, while sanitat personnel were issued with bigger 1 lt. canteen, and, if I remember correctly, even Gebirgsjager (mountain troops) and Kavallerie (mounted troops) had bigger models, but about these last two I am not sure at all, now.

zipper_mx5 · Post by **zipper_mx5** » 22 Aug 2004 17:16

Just a couple of links with some good photos:

This is the standard heer canteen Feldflasche M31 in it's most common model: large black aluminium cup; brown felt cover and black leather strap
http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie ... 6113014874

For an illustration of the canteen's cover button position see:
http://www.lostbattalions.com/german33- ... keqpt2.jpg

http://www.grantsmilitaria.com/asp/sear ... allery=137
Here is the rear view of a DAK soldier, nonetheless the canteen is the standard issue M31 Feldflasche with large aluminium cup, brown felt and brown leather strap. If you notice the canvas belt specially issued to DAK troops, that is the material and colour that also the tropical issue canteens used for the canvas strap.

Here, instead, the DAK tropical issue, small conical cup and canvas strap:
http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie ... 11290&rd=1

Here you see a Luftwaffe blue gey coloured largr drinking cup:
http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie ... 6113107728
Drinking cups could be painted in german green; dark blue grey or black. The bakelite small drinking cups were never painted, being black or reddish brown, depending from different builders.

Here, hanged on the back of a german navy matrose (personnel manning coastal defence guns and emplacements had the complete standard equipment issued) you can see the canteen with the "conical" (as I quite improperly called it) bakelite drinking cup
http://www.grantsmilitaria.com/asp/sear ... allery=136

Here you can see a Gebirgsjager and his equipment.
http://www.reenactor.net/units/gjr98/4-unif-equip.html
Looks like I did remember correctly, in fact is reported at n°9:
"Flasche für Gebirgstruppen (canteen for mountain troops )--Some Gebirgstruppen were issued this special canteen, though many used the the standard M.31 Feldflasche; in about 1943 production of this large canteen was halted and the troops were simply issued in thier place. It holds about 1-liter (about 34 ounces) was of similar design to the M.31. It had a larger, round .15 liter cup painted black."

This is a peculiar model, I have the impression that this is not Wehrmacht issue but from some paramilitary formation or other corps like fire brigade or the like..green felt is not unknown in wehrmacht use but rare nonetheless, the reddish brown tinted aluminium small cup is more unique..if we only could see markings..in case anybody has infos about this model please post an answer...
http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie ... otohosting

Bye

zipper

Porsche · Post by **Porsche** » 23 Sep 2004 22:28

Hi, I've got an enamelled steel Feldflasche with what appears to have ESM 42 stamped on the neck. This looks like an early date for a steel waterbottle -Does anyone have similar dated steel bottles? The bottle has web straps and a bakelite cup which makes me think that its a late war item, but it has a 4 button felt, rather than the more typical 3 button late war issue. Does anyone have any ideas or comments?

auscraft · Post by **auscraft** » 15 Aug 2023 02:56

Sorry to raise an old subject but many USA military collectors sites say that Germany also had 1.5 & 2lt water canteens carried by medics and mountain troops? Is this true and if so were these larger bottles the same M31 types or different in looks?
I have not found anything that shows or mention these two larger sizes. I have only seen the 0.75 and 1 lt sizes myself . if possibly photos would be appreciated especially if the 4 sizes could be shown side by side for size comparison.
Ps this photo/pic of Italian medic possibly holding a canteen possibly 2lt . I suppose Germans may have utilized these but are there German issued ones

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