German “mle 31” mess kit with inscription in cyrillics

The mess kit was part of the German soldier’s pack and, along with the breadbag and the field bottle that go with it, made the silhouette of a German soldier easily identifiable. The lower part of the mess kit served as a receptacle, and the upper part (with a handle) as a plate. This mess kit was used by a soldier of Russian origin; it is engraved in cyrillics (the soldier’s surname and first name). Indeed, Gold sector (Ver-sur-Mer/Arromanches) was manned by the 441st “Osttruppen” (troops from the east serving in the German army), comprising Cossack-Ukrainians. This mess kit certainly belonged to one of these men.