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Craft Beverage
‘dry’ All-Kansas regiment).”
During the American occu-
pation of Germany in 1919
when the rules regarding con-
sumption of beer and wine
had been unofficially loosened,
Charles MacArthur, 149th Field
Artillery Regiment, related
that in his [cannon] battery’s
stop in Bittenburg, “we ran
into real German beer, a little
watery for the famine in grain.”
Another discovery was made
in Bittenburg: eierkuchen,
or German waffles. “With a
helmet full of flour and a little
corn syrup any hausfrau could
produce an elegant set of waf-
fles.” Evidently, the waffles
reached such an esteemed
place that “the very name of
eierkuchen was transferred to
From the papers of Captain Clarence J. Minick, anything that looked appetizing, especially young
361st Infantry, 91st Division the following order women.”
was found: “Headquarters 3rd Battalion, 91st
Division, Sarrey, France, July 24, 1918. Extract A Captain Biggs related that the clothing worn by
General Order No. XXI. 1. “The following regula- German civilians seemed serviceable, but that the
tions for the government of troops billeted in Sarrey “shapeless, heavy shoes” was a noticeable feature.
are hereby published for the guidance of all con- Much of the material was ersatz [substitute], made
cerned: (a) Cafes will be open to troops for sale of of paper products. Beer was plentiful at 20 to 30
light wines and beers during the following hours: pfennings a glass, but “of a poor grade,” as was the
1:30 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. 6:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. wine.
Absolutely no drinking of other intoxicants will be
permitted and all cases of intoxication will be sum- As part of the agreement for the occupation of
marily dealt with. Wine or beer purchased in cafes Germany after the signing of the Armistice on
will be used on the premises and not carried away November 11, 1918 was one unpopular require-
in bottles or other receptables.” ment that all dram shops be closed except during a
few hours of the afternoon and early evening. The
At the Battle of St. Mihiel, France, September sale of any intoxicant except beer and light wines
1918, this report of the 353rd Infantry Regiment, was prohibited.
89th Division Intelligence Section related:
A printed announcement of a “Reunion and
“In the evening of September 13, the Regimental Smoker” party for the 77th Division’s MP
observers established an O.P. [observation post] on Company on October 25, 1919 at the 77th Division
the high ground south of Xammes. While occupying Association Club House in New York City. states
this O.P. the observers lived on the fat of the land. that “they will organize an American Legion Post
An abandoned German commissary in Xammes fur- and there will be a keg. Organized by Francis N.
nished bread, honey, butter, jam, gold-tipped ciga- Bangs.” Captain Bangs was in the MP Company,
rettes and cigars – from the well-kept German gar- 77th Division, AEF.
dens in the vicinity came a variety of vegetables –
and crowning all, German beer, wine and schnapps A postcard with an inscription, described the
were on tap in former Boche (German) bars (for the outdoor tables in Bourges where the French
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