Item Description
Original Item: Only One Available. Drinking water was transported to front line trenches in petrol cans. It was then purified with chemicals. To help disguise the taste, most water was drunk in the form of tea, often carried cold in soldier’s individual water bottles. In extreme circumstances, soldiers might resort to boiling filthy water found in shell holes. Drinking polluted water could lead to diarrhea and outbreaks of dysentery.
This drinking water can is not a fuel can but was meant to transport potable water to the frontlines, though not always. Water is always an issue in warfare, especially for elements that are closed off and isolated, many times in a landlocked environment without access to fresh water. These cans were most likely at times filled with already boiled or sanitized water for the troops.
This can is in wonderful condition and does show signs of many years of faithful use. The body still retains an array of colors and layers, more than likely multiple coats of paint since the war. The top of the latching functional lid is the stamp Ritter Aluminum and D.R.P. ang but no date is present that we could find. The maker marking on this indicates pre-wwii manufacture by Heinrich Ritter of Esslingen. The other markings indicate that it is a registered design with the German trademark office.
There is denting present but no “real” damage. Comes more than ready for further research and display.
- This product is available for international shipping.
- Eligible for all payments - Visa, Mastercard, Discover, AMEX, Paypal & Sezzle
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