Wartime Chess Sets
Here I group four types of sets:
- POW sets,
- chess sets for the armed services of the major countries,
- civilian sets showing the pauperty in materials, finish and designs from those days,
- modest sets from the immediate WW I or WW2 aftermath.
POW set
Most likely made by an Austrian or Russian POW in camp, this set sports the typical Austrian/Eastern opposite coloured bishops tops. The pieces are simply whittled from what were obviously sections of a rectangular perfiled pine stave. Quite an accomplisment are the knights - the kings stand 50 mm high. |
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Austrian POW
These very strange pieces have an unmistakeable Austrian cut - and the simple execution points to a POW environment. There is no steeple, hallmark of Austrian and actually all good chess sets. Pieces are light hardwood, unfelted, contained in a makeshift board/box - king stands 73 mm.
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Twine rolls
In prison, a war and even more a concentration camp, people had to make do with what material they cd lay their hands on. In this case, it must have been twine rolls somebody collected. whittling some of them into shape. This set also includes a handpainted board on thin linen.... |
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Blocky chessmen
Without a lathe, but plenty of building wood this is the most logical form to choose - there are many POW or prison sets like this one. The king stand 61 mm, and this set includes a simple board box. |
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Block style 2
This set is made with much more care - the opposite colour bishops tops, rounded pawns and a more elborate knights head. On top of that, the bottom of the pieces has a lead disc glued to it and a felt - this might have been a postwar improvement by the owner after release from camp. |
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Soldiers set
Similar sets were sent to german soldiers at the front - this is the civilian version. A nine men's morris board is printed on the back of the chessboard. The pieces are wooden squares with the circular chess symbol printed on front, rear side natural. The cubic form helps to keep them arranged inside the box - but round-disk sets were also made.  |
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Carton set
Touchingly sparse carton set from hard times, civilian version. Carton disks, carton box, carton board. Two extra pawns, to complete the setup for nine men's morris, very popular in Germany formerly. Probably issued during the 2. WW. |
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Modest childrens set
Very modest childrens set, most likely from Spain in the 40ies. A simple cardboardbox, board printed on the bottom, tiny crudely turned chessmen in natural and lilac, a little illustration showing children on piedestals like chess pieces! Kings stand 33 mm, pieces are hard to distinguish. The design is underwritten - E. Girona.
Turned set
Turned set, from postwar days most likely, in ash or similar wood - kings corss is stuck into the turners hole on top. nicely polished, king stands 63 mm. |
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Smooth pocket set
Very smoothly finished small chessmen, which have a quite modernist look to them - actually it is a mini-compendium with draughts stones, and a board with nine-mens morris imprinted on the rear. But on the bottom of the rough wood case a dedication is pencilled, with the date of 1.2.1940! Certainly prewar WW2, made in Germany. |
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