BACKGROUND: The M31 mess kit was officially introduced on March 23^RD 1931 and was based on the WWI M1910 mess kit but was a slightly smaller version with a reduced capacity of roughly one and a half liters. The M31 mess kit was constructed in two parts with a small removable, shallow, top lid which could serve double duty as a plate or a frying pan and a larger, deep bottom compartment that could be used more as a bowl or pot. Originally the M31 mess kits were manufactured in aluminum but later as the aluminum was required for other more critically essential items the mess kits began to be manufactured in steel although aluminum mess kits continued to be manufactured and utilized. Regulations prescribed the assorted manners in which the mess kit was to be carried with the most common form being to secure it to the bread bag suspended from the load carrying waist belt although other methods were also utilized. When issued the mess kit came accompanied with a leather strap designed to secure it to the individual. The SS-FHA, SS-Führungshauptamt, (SS-Operational Headquarters), and the SS-WVHA, SS-Wirtschafts und Verwaltungs Hauptamt, (SS-Economic and Administration Department) were the two organizations responsible for supplying and maintaining all personnel of the SS. The SS-FHA was responsible for issuing the initial equipment, supply and maintenance of weapons and ammunition, and the supply of technical equipment and transport vehicles. The SS-WVHA, was responsible for issue of clothing and personal equipment items as well as rations including horse and pack animal fodder and personal fuel items. The RZM, Reichzeugmeisterei, (National Equipment Quartermaster), was officially founded in June 1934 in Munich by the NSDAP, Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, (National Socialist German Worker’s Party), as a Reich Hauptamt, (State Central Office), and was based on the earlier SA ,Sturm Abteilung, (Storm/Assault Detachment), Quartermaster’s Department. The functions of the RZM were not only to procure and distribute items to Party formations, but also to approve chosen designs and to act as a quality control supervisor to ensure items manufactured for the Party met required specification and were standardized. Starting in late 1934 items manufactured for the SS came under the quality control of the RZM and were marked by the appropriate RZM/SS approval marking. In 1943 the Waffen-SS assumed full control over their uniform item production and no longer fell under the authority of the RZM. Following the old adage that, an army runs on its stomach, the M31 mess kit must be considered one of the most important of all personal equipment items. Of Note: Regulations authorized each combat soldier a daily food ration which was most commonly prepared in the field by a units mobile field kitchen and distributed to the front line troops but this wasn’t always possible in combat situations. As a result, front line combat soldiers were to be supplied with assorted canned rations and some bread to be carried individually in the event that food from the field kitchen couldn’t reach their positions.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Standard issue, 1.7 liter capacity, field-grey painted, kidney shaped, tooled, aluminum and steel construction mess kit. The kit is roughly, 6" tall, 6 1/4" wide and 3 1/2" deep, with a removable top lid which serves double duty as a plate or frying pan. The removable top lid has a rivetted on, hinged, fold back steel handle with a raised lip to the bottom edge which secures the lid to the bottom of the mess kit body. Both the top and bottom edges of the hinged handle have raised, horizontal, strap retaining bars with central cut-outs. The obverse body of the mess kit has three, small, impressed, vertically aligned, horizontal lines designed to measure 1/2 liter each. Each side of the mess kit body has a small, rivetted on, vertical, carrying handle mount with an extended, closed loop to secure the swivel, wire carrying/suspension handle. The wire carrying/suspension handle features a semi-circular indentation to the top center allowing it to be suspended over a fire. The interior of the kit and the top lid are both in natural aluminum. The kit is in overall good condition with a couple of small dings and dents but it only retains about 20% of its original age and usage darkened field-grey paint. The hinged steel handle is well marked with the impressed manufacturer’s initials and date, "L & SL 40", and the carrying/suspension handle side mounts are both well marked with the impressed RZM logo within dual circular borders to one and non-runic, "SS", and the manufacturer’s numerical code and date, "46/36", to the other indicating an unknown manufacturer in 1940.

GRADE ***                             PRICE $510.00