Feldküche

WWII German Field Kitchen with cooks

For cooking in combat conditions, the Wehrmacht used various types of field kitchens: large ones for personnel ranging from 125 to 225 men, and smaller kitchens for 60-125 men. Captured field kitchens were also used. These kitchens were transported either by trailer behind vehicles or by horse-drawn carriage. Soldiers humorously called these kitchens the ‘Gulaschkanone’, which allowed them to prepare a variety of dishes. A large kettle with an insulating layer (using glycerin) was used for cooking main dishes. Later models of the kitchens included a separate kettle for frying. Additionally, these kitchens could simultaneously prepare up to 90 liters of coffee. It should be noted that the food ration for Wehrmacht soldiers included a wide variety of products – German soldiers received sausage, cheese, milk, and cocoa. Qualified cooks handled food preparation, assisted by helpers who peeled and chopped vegetables, chopped firewood, fetched water, and performed other tasks.