Original Items: Very Few Available. In 1870 the Prussian Military issued the first “iron ration” into the military (during the German-French war). This was a pea soup concentrate called (in German) “Erbswurst” due to its shape like a sausage (“Wurst”). It has been in production for almost 150 years but was discontinued in 2018.

These Iron Rations are all sealed with their original packaging and are dated from the late 1980’s. The label states that each ration contains 6 Compact Biscuits each containing 3 tablets. The consumption period for these biscuits was 36 months. Compressed biscuits are crispy, non-absorbent and soft. Due to the high temperature and high pressure sterilization and disinfection during puffing, it is suitable for long-term storage and transportation. This is essentially the equivalent to hardtack.

Hardtack (or hard tack) is a type of dense biscuit or cracker made from flour, water, and sometimes salt. Hardtack is inexpensive and long-lasting. It is used for sustenance in the absence of perishable foods, commonly during long sea voyages, land migrations, and military campaigns. Along with salt pork and corned beef, hardtack was a standard ration for many militaries and navies from the 17th to the early 20th centuries.

As these rations are well past their consumption dates, we recommend that you do not eat this ration. These are merely being sold as novelty/display items.

Comes more than ready for further research and display.