M31 Kochgeschirr

the kochgeschirr model 31 has, as much of the fieldgear, its roots in the 1910 production from ww1. It is a simple construction made out of 2 mainparts and saw wide use in different forms postwar.  The basic design was unaltered during the course of the war but the finish and materiales changed during the war. The main parts are a pot and a pan. The pan has a handle that also make it possible to lock the two parts. There is a loop at the top and bottom of the pan making it possible to attach the KG31 to equipment. The feature of two loops made it possible to secure it to e.g the M31 breadbag without the KG31 bouncing when moving.

The KG31 hada verastile use. It was both a food container and a stove. It was often used to collect rations from a field kitchen or it could be used to heat food/beverage over an esbit stov or bonfire. Lower picture shows the thre rations markings found on early Kochgeschirr.

Carrying the kochgeschirr

An Model34 tornister with a kochgeschirr in the designated pocket. SOme early tornister had loops at the back of the tornister for fastening the KG31.

The early version

Above is a RFI38 marked KG indictaing production by Rudolf Fissler KG, Oberstein. This company still exists today making cookware and messkits. The markings are found between the rivets for the handle on the lid and the sides where the handle is attached. SOme are unmarked and some have the markings concealed in the paint. This early version is feldgrau in the paint. It is produced completely out of aluminium. It also has the three ration markings in the front (concealed by the handle). One ration is 50cl in volume.

Olivegreen finish around 1941

As with breadbags and other fireld equipment, the field grey colour is replaced by olive colour. We can also see that steel replaces the use of alumium in hardware as metals are getting scarcer. This is a "Rfi41" marked kochgeschirr from the same factory as the fieldgrey above. The carrying wire is now made out of steel. The producers used what they had and it is difficult to pin a date of changes in materials.

Steel mid/late war

Around 1942 the Kochgeschirr of steel appears. The production has been simplified with the carrying handle fastened to welded metal. Steel exposed to weather and acid in food would start to rust very quickly so it is coated with a red paint. This specimen is marked with the year 1943 and maker seems to be "Z.pstz" indicating production by Zieh, press und stanzwerk schwarz & co in Halle. 

Late war aluminium

Aluminium Kochgeschirr marked "HW?43" a production not identified without scratching the paint as the last letter is concealed. A messkit with much of the paint present. The underside of these messkits, if used, should be scratchy or without paint. Using them scracthes the paint and the heat from a esbit stoves burns the paint. Too many are in "excellent" conditions.

Late war aluminium SMM44

ALuminium kochgeschirr marked "smm 44"  indicating production by sud deutsche metallwarenfabrik  Mussbach. This is also a well known producers of canteens for the german military. These metallwarenfabrik was, as the name indictaes, manufacturer of severeal metal hardware for the war industry. e.g Sieper und sohne, a well known buckle producer, also made mess kits.