Mr. Bean
Active member
Hi all,
I am working on a research project - in relation to a book that currently writing. I am studying German feldmützen in the term of their manufacturers stamps.
Based on the data that I collected and known to me examples, I strongly believe that all pre-war (M1895) as well as early feldgrau examples (M1907/10), which were manufactured up to 1914/15 were manufactured in German prisons, penitentiary facilities or fortress jails - Strafanstalt, Zivilstraf, Festungs-gefängnisse.
In bellow table I included examples of some Strafanstalt stamps and dates that were found on field caps.
Full list of the prisons - manufacturing sites could be find in "Dienstanweisung an die Bekleidungsämter". One that I attached below is from 1897. As you can see each army corps had assigned specific prisons. The later version from 1904 had some changes and additions to that list. I am not sure what was the situation in Saxon AK - XII and XIX as well as Wurt. A.K XIII and Bavarian Korps.
In addition every AK had assigned Festungs-gefängnisse, I manged to found stamps of these (on pre 1914 field caps).
F.G.Rst - Festungsgefängnisse Rastatt
F.G.Grdz - Festungsgefängnisse Graudenz
Manufacturing field caps in prisons was very profitable due to very cheap labour and in my opinion capacity of all prisons, penitentiary facilities or fortress jails was enough to cover all army demands - before 1914. The size of the German army at the beginning of 1914 was around 663,000 of soldiers. Situation drastically changes when war started, the demand for uniforms (including field caps) was enormous. The Strafanstalt (prisons) continued manufacturing as it was before the war (I came across some examples from 1915 and 1916). However big demand forced German army to increase suppliers.
From 1914 large number of individual and private suppliers as well as craftsman, welfare centres, etc. started manufacturing field caps to cope with increasing war demands. The effect of that is large number of new field caps manufacturers such as: (Mützenmacher, Mützen-fabrik, Hut-fabrik, Handwerkskammer and individual Kürschner). I have never ever seen any stap of private manufacturer (just mentioned) on field caps made pre 1914.
My theory only applies to Mannschaften (Other ranks) field caps - Krätzchen type of headgears. I know Schirmmütze has its own rules - most of them were private purchased.
Would like to hear what you think about that.
Maybe somebody have additional information or data to confirm my theory or point me in the right direction.
Best wishes,
Milosz
I am working on a research project - in relation to a book that currently writing. I am studying German feldmützen in the term of their manufacturers stamps.
Based on the data that I collected and known to me examples, I strongly believe that all pre-war (M1895) as well as early feldgrau examples (M1907/10), which were manufactured up to 1914/15 were manufactured in German prisons, penitentiary facilities or fortress jails - Strafanstalt, Zivilstraf, Festungs-gefängnisse.
In bellow table I included examples of some Strafanstalt stamps and dates that were found on field caps.
 Strafanstalt Luckau 1 1909 |  Strafanstalt Sonnenburg 1911 |  Strafanstalt Siegburg 1912 |
 Strafanstalt Rheinbach 1914 |  Strafanstalt Celle 1907 |  Strafanstalt Lüneburg 1912 |
Full list of the prisons - manufacturing sites could be find in "Dienstanweisung an die Bekleidungsämter". One that I attached below is from 1897. As you can see each army corps had assigned specific prisons. The later version from 1904 had some changes and additions to that list. I am not sure what was the situation in Saxon AK - XII and XIX as well as Wurt. A.K XIII and Bavarian Korps.
In addition every AK had assigned Festungs-gefängnisse, I manged to found stamps of these (on pre 1914 field caps).
F.G.Rst - Festungsgefängnisse Rastatt
F.G.Grdz - Festungsgefängnisse Graudenz
Manufacturing field caps in prisons was very profitable due to very cheap labour and in my opinion capacity of all prisons, penitentiary facilities or fortress jails was enough to cover all army demands - before 1914. The size of the German army at the beginning of 1914 was around 663,000 of soldiers. Situation drastically changes when war started, the demand for uniforms (including field caps) was enormous. The Strafanstalt (prisons) continued manufacturing as it was before the war (I came across some examples from 1915 and 1916). However big demand forced German army to increase suppliers.
From 1914 large number of individual and private suppliers as well as craftsman, welfare centres, etc. started manufacturing field caps to cope with increasing war demands. The effect of that is large number of new field caps manufacturers such as: (Mützenmacher, Mützen-fabrik, Hut-fabrik, Handwerkskammer and individual Kürschner). I have never ever seen any stap of private manufacturer (just mentioned) on field caps made pre 1914.
My theory only applies to Mannschaften (Other ranks) field caps - Krätzchen type of headgears. I know Schirmmütze has its own rules - most of them were private purchased.
Would like to hear what you think about that.
Maybe somebody have additional information or data to confirm my theory or point me in the right direction.
Best wishes,
Milosz
