German Wehrmacht Soldier's Multi-Game Set
Labeled Dame - Mühle - Schach (Checkers, Nine Men's Morris, Chess), circa 1938–1943.
Images
Specifications
| General Information | |
|---|---|
| Artifact | German Wehrmacht Soldier's Multi-Game Set |
| Label Title | Dame - Mühle - Schach |
| Date Range | Circa 1938–1943 |
| Region of Origin | Germany |
| Games Included | Schach (Chess), Dame (Checkers), Mühle (Nine Men's Morris) |
| Materials | Cardboard, paper, wood |
| Estimated Box Size | Approx. 9.25 × 5 × 0.5 inches (estimated) |
| Condition | Complete set; moderate age wear |
Historical Summary
Wartime Use
Compact game sets were common personal items in barracks life, field posts, and later in POW camps. They provided morale support and a familiar routine in environments defined by waiting, limited privacy, and long idle periods. They were often included in leisure and welfare packages supplied by organizations such as the Wehrmachtbetreuung. This example is built from simple, lightweight materials, reflecting practical wartime manufacturing and easy transport.
Game Components
- Schach (Chess): 8×8 two-tone foldable cardboard board with flat round wooden discs using stamped or stenciled iconography for the pieces.
- Mühle (Nine Men's Morris): fold-out printed paper board with the traditional three-square layout and node points, using plain counters.
- Dame (Checkers): played on the same 8×8 board using the same plain counters as Mühle.
Dating Note
The decorative Gothic style on the label is consistent with German commercial presentation before and during the early war years. It is commonly noted that this style began to phase out after 1941, supporting the 1938–1943 date range for this set.
Collector Notes
Soldier-carried leisure items like this are useful display pieces because they add a human-scale layer to a uniform or equipment grouping. Completeness matters. Original counters, boards, and the labeled cover are often separated over time, so intact sets are more desirable for collectors.