Benjamin Boster

It is known as Kanban in Japan and Gunbang in South Korea, meaning dry bread, and is still sold as a fairly popular snack food in both countries.

Canned kanpon is also distributed in Japan as emergency rations in case of earthquake, flood, or other disaster.

A harder hardtack than kanpon, called katapon, is historically popular in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan as one of its regional specialty foods.

In Korea, Gunpang, hardtacks, mixed with Bilsatang, star candy, as a medley, is considered a popular snack.

Hardtack, baked with or without the addition of fat, was and still is a staple in Russian military rations, especially in the Navy, as infantry traditionally preferred simple dried bread when long shelf life was needed.

Called galeta in Russian, it is usually somewhat softer and more crumbly than traditional hardtack, as most varieties made in Russia include at least some fat or shortening, making them closer to saltine crackers.

One such variety, Khleipska amryetskia, or army crackers, is included in Russian military rations.

Other brands enjoy significant popularity among the civilian population as well, both among campers and the general populace.

In Genoa, hardtack was and still is a traditional addition to a fish and vegetable salad called capon magro.

In Germany, hardtack is included in every military ration, and colloquially known as Panzerplatten, army plates, or Panzerkechse, army cookies or tank cookies.

Due to conscription for many years, a large part of the male population knew about them from their service, and thus they became somewhat popular even in civilian use.

The company that makes them also sells them unaltered to the civilian market.

They are said to have many properties, some jokingly assigned, such as the ability to combine them with standard issue shoe polish to create a flammable device, or to glue them onto vehicles to increase their armor protection.

In Poland, hardtack wafers, known by their official name, Suchare specjalne, SU-1 or SU-2 special hardtacks, are still present in Polish Army military rations.

In military slang, they are jokingly called Panzerwaffe, tank or armor wafers.

A pun on Panzerwaffe, the Wehrmacht armored motorized forces.

The German words Panzer and Waffe mean tank or armor and weapon, respectively.

They are also popular among civilians and are a common part of a meal in some regions.

Hardtack remains popular today in Papua New Guinea.

The Lay Biscuit Company, which is the most commonly found and popular brand in that country, makes multiple varieties of hardtack.