Unknown - German Water Bottle Markings

[AlecH]

Bought this water bottle at the weekend from a German flea-market. The neck has stampings I've not seen before - WWE 334 - Arbeitsgau 29. Only reason I bought it was the marking, think it may be a R.A.D. water bottle due to the Arbeitsgau 29 stamp but I'm not sure. The WWE 334 stamp is a mystery to me. Any information appreciated.

[Wagriff]

It's an RAD canteen and the Gau 29 refers to Bayreuth (Bayrischer Ostmark). The WWE 334, I imagine, must be the manufacturer's code. There is an Augustin Prager listed for RZM 334, but this may not be him, of course.

[AlecH]

Thanks Wagriff for the post, without a doubt your right concerning the Arbeitsgau 29. As much as I know, the three manufacturers stamped letters usually represent - first two manufacturers initials -third where produced, could be Esslingen, Essen or another place name beginning with E. The numbers usually are production year, here its a bit of a mystery as there are three numbers 334. Perhaps another collector may have come across this type of format and post the appropriate information. Again thanks for the help.
Regards

[Gary Ashbridge]

Hi Alec, I am most interested in this water bottle as it dates from March 1934, thats the 334. It is from the Labour Service or A.D. before it became the R.A.D. in June 1935. I am trying to currently put a book together on the subject and would love to see more photos of this water bottle or perhaps buy it from you. Here's hoping, Gary.

[AlecH]

Hello Gary,
Your information is welcome. From what I read Arbeitsdienst organization was a short-lived group. I picked this one up at the flea-market with a felt jacket, leather straps and clip. The water bottle was a tat to big for the felt jacket - the clip buttons won't go together, tried to fit it in a couple of other wehrmacht jackets, same result. I can only assume they were issued without jackets ? would you happen to know, one way or another ?
I'll certainly be happy to post more photos of the water bottle, give me a couple of days. I intend keeping this one, if I decide to sell it, I'll give you first refusal. Again thanks for the help. Regards

[AlecH]

More pictures, you can see the normal size felt jacket is too small, neck thread size is 1mm bigger than the standard wehrmacht bottle.

[Gary Ashbridge]

Thanks for posting the extra photos. I would expect the water bottle to have a capacity of 0.75 Litres as this is the type used by the NSDAP and the same as design as the army model 1907. All the later RAD water bottles I have are this type. But maybe that this so early it is of a higher capacity. I would expect the cover to have brass poppers but it is difficult to see from your photo what you have. Is the cap marked with anything? I am also surprised to hear that the thread size is different as I have about 40 water bottles and I am sure they are all the same size thread. If you are after a waterbottle that all fits together I am more than willing to swap as I would like to have this bottle so much. Just a bit of history for you - the F.A.D. (Volunteer labour service) was announced by the German government in 1931 and it was for any organisation to take part but no political insignia could be worn or teaching of political doctrine was allowed. One of the big organisations to take part was the Stahlhelm, but also the Nazi run V.z.U among others like Catholic groups. After Hitler took power in Jan 1933 the unified Labour Service (A.D) was formed. By mid 1933 only the Stahlhelm and the V.z.U. were allowed to run camps and then by August 1933 only the V.z.U. were left and the Stahlhelm were absorbed into the NSDAP. In 1934 the service changed its name to the National Socialist Labour Service (N.S.A.D) before changing its name once again to the Reich Labour Service (R.A.D.) in June 1935. So as you can see it was just one service with just lots of name changes.
Let me know if you want to swap.

[AlecH]

Hi Gary,
Dealing with the points raised in your last post - the poppers / clip buttons are made of steel without MM. The cap also has no markings at all. My gut feeling is the piece is a made up one - the jacket and bottle don't belong together. I tried the cap on a number of wartime water bottles, its a loose, sloppy fit on them.
Usually I don't sell or swap pieces, obviously your a dedicated Feldflasche collector, in this case I'm prepared to let it go - could you sent a list of what you would swap for it. Hope your not in North America, the post takes ages.
A side note - a year or two ago on the forum I posted a A.D marked Zeltbahn / Poncho its still there, although some of the pictures have been scrambled in the forum's last update. I don't know how to give a link, but its still there if you want to track it down.
Regards

[Gary Ashbridge]

Hi Alec,
I sent you a private message but I am not sure if you got it. Iam very interested in the A.D. zeltbahn. I found it on the forum but as you know I cant view it. Any chance of re photographing it? I am picking up a few water bottles this weekend and will have one to swap with yours. I will try again to contact you privately if you never got the first message.
Thanks
Gary

[Gary Ashbridge]

Hi Alec,
I have a couple of water bottles for you to look at. I sent you a private message but don,t know if you got the message. Please contact me.
thanks
Gary