M1931 Water Bottle
The German M1931 water bottle, known as the Feldflasche Modell 1931, was the standard personal canteen issued to soldiers of the Wehrmacht from the early 1930s until the end of the Second World War. It was introduced as part of the modernization of German military equipment during the final years of the Reichswehr and remained in service throughout the entire war. The design evolved from earlier German field bottles used by the Imperial German Army during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, particularly those used during the First World War.
The bottle had a flattened oval shape so it could sit comfortably against a soldier’s body when attached to field gear. It held roughly 0.8 litres of water and was originally manufactured from aluminium, which was lightweight and resistant to corrosion. As the war progressed and aluminium became increasingly important for aircraft production, many bottles were instead produced from painted steel, particularly from around 1942 onward.
The canteen was covered with a felt or wool sleeve that provided insulation and reduced noise when the bottle knocked against equipment. The cover also helped keep water cool through evaporation in hot conditions. At the bottom of the cover there was usually a small metal eyelet to allow moisture to drain. The bottle was held in place by a leather harness consisting of two straps that secured the bottle and allowed it to be attached to the soldier’s bread bag or field equipment.
A screw cap closed the bottle and was secured with a retaining strap so it could not be lost. Early caps were typically aluminium, but bakelite caps became common later in the war. A distinctive feature of the M31 system was the drinking cup that fitted over the top of the bottle. Early cups were made from black-painted aluminium, while later wartime examples were produced in painted steel or sometimes bakelite due to shortages of strategic metals.
Production of the M31 canteen began around 1931 and continued until the end of the war in 1945. Exact production numbers are unknown, but millions were manufactured to equip the rapidly expanding German armed forces. Every soldier required one, and additional quantities were produced as replacements for equipment lost or damaged in the field.
Manufacture of the canteen components was spread across many German factories. Bottles, cups, caps, and leather harnesses were often produced by different companies and then assembled together through the military supply system. As a result, it is common to find original examples where each component carries different manufacturer markings and dates. Metal parts were usually stamped with maker codes or initials along with production years, while leather straps were also stamped with manufacturer marks and dates.
Early-war examples produced during the 1930s and the first years of the conflict are generally of higher quality, typically featuring aluminium bottles, leather straps, and aluminium cups. As wartime shortages increased, manufacturers simplified construction. Steel components replaced aluminium in many cases, leather was sometimes substituted with webbing, and bakelite parts became more common.
The M31 canteen was used by all branches of the German armed forces, including the army, air force, and Waffen-SS. It was normally carried attached to the bread bag on the soldier’s marching equipment. Its practical design allowed soldiers not only to carry drinking water but also to use the cup for heating beverages such as coffee or soup over small fires.
Today the M31 water bottle is one of the most recognizable pieces of German Second World War field equipment. Because of the many manufacturers involved and the gradual changes in materials during the war, there are numerous variations that collectors study through maker marks, dates, and construction details. Surviving examples remain relatively common, making the Feldflasche Modell 1931 an important and well-documented item of wartime military equipment.
