The inscription reads:
“Heeresgruppe Kronpr. Rupprecht von Bayern.”
Translation:
“Army Group Crown Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria.”
1. Heeresgruppe Kronprinz Rupprecht – Historical Context:
• Formed: 28 August 1916, during the Somme rearrangement
• Commander: Rupprecht, Crown Prince of Bavaria
• Role: Oversaw multiple armies on the Western Front through November 1918
• Why on a stein? From 1917 onward, reservists and front-line troops often received or purchased “Reservistenkrüge” (reservist mugs) commemorating their service under this Army Group.
2. Dating the Stein: 1917
• The dual dates “1914 – 1917” bracket the period of Germany’s full-scale war effort, but the ending date (1917) is what pinpoints the manufacture.
• Museum and collector examples are uniformly labeled c.1917 and tied to Reservistenkrug ceremonies that year.
• Conclusion: My stein was almost certainly made in 1917 as a commemorative reservist mug.
3. Iron Cross Emblem in Blue.
• The Iron Cross (Eisernes Kreuz) was revived in 1914 as Germany’s primary military decoration for valor.
• Its placement under the “1L” mark signals both official military connection and patriotic pride.
4. Handle Hole?
• That small notch/hole at the top of the handle isn’t damage—it’s the mounting point for a hinged lid (stud or pin).
• Even steins without lids left the hole in place, a feature noted in German sources:
“Um [den Zinndeckel] besser befestigen zu können, befindet sich am Henkel des Kruges immer eine Einkerbung, auch wenn der Krug keinen Deckel besitzt.”
• In other words: the lid was likely removed or lost, but the hinge pin hole remains as evidence.
5. Material & Style.
• Stoneware body: smooth cream glaze outside, visible throwing lines inside
• Capacity mark (“1L”) incised above the Iron Cross—standard post 1884 calibration practice
• No base marks: Common on mass issued reservist mugs, which prioritized inscription over maker’s stamp.
6. Rarity of the 1914–1917 Heeresgruppe Kronpr. Rupprecht Reservistenkrug.
• Production & Survival: These “reservist mugs” (Reservistenkrüge) were issued in fair numbers to Bavarian troops under Crown Prince Rupprecht, but—like most WWI stoneware—many were broken in service or damaged or lost afterward.
• Auction & Museum Presence:
• Museum Digital lists at least one intact example in a public collection.
• Militaria/collectibles auction sites and eBay typically show dozens of Bavarian reservist mugs (various units) for sale at any time, but Heeresgruppe Kronprinz examples are notably less common than single regiment mugs.
• Market Estimates:
• At auction, you’ll see Bayern wide reservist steins (regimental types) from ~€150–€400, but Heeresgruppe Kronpr. pieces—when they appear—tend toward the scarcer end of that range.
• I’d classify my stein as “moderately scarce”: It’s not one of the rarest WWI mugs, but definitely less common than run of the mill 1 Comp. or IR 10 regimental steins.
Overall Significance
My 1917 Heeresgruppe Kronprinz Rupprecht reservist stein is a slice of frontline history: both a drinking vessel and a tangible reminder of Bavarian troops’ service under Crown Prince Rupprecht on the Western Front. The Iron Cross and dates frame the war years; the “Kronpr.” abbreviation cements the Army Group identity; and the handle hole tells us a lid once kept out mud, rain, bugs etc., while troops drank to camaraderie and survival.
As always, I appreciate and welcome your feedback.
NOTE: I forgot to take a picture of the base (no marks), which I’ll add soon.
View the collection of Jorge O. Soriano
| type | stein | material | stoneware |
| producer | mold | - | |
| designer/decorator | |||
| capacity | 1L. | ||
| design date | 1917 |
Comments
There are no comments yet. Log in to add a comment.