BACKGROUND: As with any nations military the Germans had garrisons and barracks to house and care for its troops when they were not in the field. Following the old adage that, "an army runs on its stomach", one of the major concerns and main benefits of military life was the guarantee of three "square" meals a day. When in garrison/barracks these meals were served in mess halls that had to be outfitted with enough cutlery, flatware and stoneware to serve the number of personnel stationed there.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Standard, 23cm diameter, white glazed stoneware construction mess hall dinner plate. The bottom of the plate is well marked with black, print under glaze, Luftwaffe eagle flank by the letters, "Fl." and "U.V", indicating, Flieger Unterkunft Verwaltung, (Flight Barracks Administration). The bottom of the plate also has the black, print under glaze, manufacturers name, and a date of 1937.