This reservist's stein from 1913 represents a fascinating facet of German military culture in the Imperial era. These ceramic steins, often artistically painted and fitted with pewter lids, served as personal mementos for soldiers who had completed their active service and transferred to the reserves.
The tradition of Reservistenkrüge (reservist steins) developed in the late 19th century and reached its peak between 1890 and 1914. These steins were far more than mere drinking vessels – they were materialized testimonies of military service and expressions of camaraderie, pride, and belonging. For many young men in the German Empire, military service was a formative life experience that they commemorated with such keepsakes.
This particular stein was made for Reservist Drescher, who served on the S.M.S. Posen. The S.M.S. Posen was a battleship of the Nassau class and represented an important milestone in German naval development. She was commissioned in 1910 and was one of Germany's first major warships with turbine propulsion. The Nassau class marked the transition to modern dreadnought battleships in the Imperial Navy.
The Imperial Navy (Kaiserliche Marine) expanded rapidly under Kaiser Wilhelm II as part of Admiral von Tirpitz's naval policy. This arms buildup was part of Germany's ambitions for world power status and led to a naval arms race with Great Britain. The S.M.S. Posen embodied these ambitions and participated in several significant operations during World War I, including the Battle of Jutland on May 31, 1916, the largest naval battle of the war.
The artistic design of such reservist steins followed certain conventions. Typically, they displayed representations of the ship or unit, portraits of the Kaiser, military symbols, sayings, and personal data of the reservist. The pewter lid was often crowned with a figure – in this case, the flag of the lid figure is missing, which is not unusual for objects over 100 years old. The rich painting and considerable size of one liter testify to the importance the owner attached to this memento.
The production of these steins was a specialized craft. Numerous manufactories, especially in Thuringia and the Westerwald, produced reservist steins according to individual wishes. The ceramic steins were thrown on pottery wheels, decorated with reliefs, painted, and glazed. The pewter lids were cast separately and mounted. Depending on the features and quality, these steins could cost considerable sums – often several weeks' wages for a simple sailor.
The year 1913, when this stein was created, marks the last peacetime year before World War I. It was a time when the German Empire seemed to be at the height of its power. The celebrations for Kaiser Wilhelm II's 25th anniversary of his reign and confidence in military strength characterized the mood. Just one year later, the world would plunge into the devastating World War, from which the Empire would not emerge.
Today, reservist steins from the Imperial Navy are particularly sought-after collector's items. They document not only naval shipping and military organization but also the social-historical aspects of the German Empire: the importance of military service for male identity, the craftsmanship of the era, and the material culture of the Wilhelmine period. Steins from significant ships like the S.M.S. Posen, which fought in important naval battles, possess special historical value.
The S.M.S. Posen itself survived the end of the war and was interned after Germany's defeat. Under the provisions of the Treaty of Versailles, she was handed over to the British Navy in 1920 and subsequently scrapped. However, her name and history live on in such personal mementos, which today provide us with direct access to the life-world of naval soldiers of that time.
These steins serve as tangible connections to a vanished world, preserving the memory of individual servicemen like Reservist Drescher and the mighty warships on which they served, offering modern historians and collectors invaluable insights into Imperial German military culture and the men who served in the Kaiser's navy.
