Jump to content
News Ticker
  • I am now accepting the following payment methods: Card Payments, Apple Pay, Google Pay and PayPal
  • Latest News

    Generals Wearing Regimental Uniforms


    Recommended Posts

    Many Prussian generals wore regimental uniforms, either as regimental 'chef' or 'ala suite'. Kaiser Wilhelm I most often wore the uniform of the First Foot Guards, with his appropriate rank insignia.

    Question: Did these regimental uniforms incorporate the general's additional four buttons below the waist seam?

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Not according to the 1911 officers' dress regulation which state the General would wear the uniform of the respective unit with the following alterations:

    Generals' trousers

    Generals red lined Paletot

    Generals' sword belt

    Litewka lapels lined in the colour of the Litwka collar patches

    Generals' helmet plume

    And of course Generals' rank insignia with the insignia of the respective unit.

    Regards

    Glenn.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    And more definitively stated in "Dienst-Vorschriften der Königlich Preußischen Armee" 1879 by Oberst Karl von Helldorff:

    "The Generals as Regimental Chiefs, Generals à la suite of Regiments, the War Minister, the Chief of the General Staff of the Army, Inspector-Generals of the Artillery and

    Engineer Corps etc, when appearing in their respective uniforms, wear the Waffenrock with only 8 buttons......."

    Regards
    Glenn

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    YES! Most standard WW1 histories show von Hindenburg wearing the Third Foot Guards regimental uniform with appropriate rank insignia; von Mackensen is most often photographed wearing the Hussar Leib Regiment uniform field gray version; the Kaiser is almost always wearing a regimental uniform, most often the First Foot Guards. Even Ludendorff wore the shoulder boards for the 39th Fusilier regiment in late war photos, after he had been named honorary chef of that regiment.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Here is General der Infanterie Alexander v. Kluck in the uniform of Grenadier-Regiment König Friedrich Wilhelm I. (2. Ostpreußisches) Nr. 3, appointed à la suite on 10 September 1910.

    Regards

    Glenn

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    The OP referenced pre-war dress uniforms, of which Glenn has provided some spendid examples.

    I can't easily upload photos but the generals in my earlier post wore the regimental uniforms described, in field gray as 'service uniforms' as well as wearing gala or pre-war uniforms. Being the 'chef' or ala suite of a regiment was a very high honor and the generals showed their appreciation by wearing the uniforms often.

    The Second World War generals did this as well. Von Rundstedt wore the regimental uniform of the 18th infantry regiment and Fedor von Bock also wore an artillery regimental uniform.

    Edited by filfoster
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    This plate by Paul Pietsch nicely illustrates the point: Two uniforms of Generaloberst (m. d. Range als Generalfeldmarschall) Bernhard Erbprinz von Sachsen-Meiningen, one, a normal Generals' uniform and the second that of the "Chef" of Grenadier-Regiment Nr. 10.

    Regards

    Glenn

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    • 1 month later...
    • 4 years later...

    Otro general con unifome regimental con 12 botones
    Creo que es Wilhelm Ludwig Karl Kurt Friedrich von Tümpling

    Tümpling - Wilhelm Ludwig Karl Kurt Friedrich von Tümpling , preußischer General der Kavallerie.jpg

    Another general with regimental unifome with 12 buttons
    I think it's Wilhelm Ludwig Karl Kurt Friedrich von Tümpling

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    On 30/07/2014 at 20:16, Glenn J said:

    Here is General der Infanterie Alexander v. Kluck in the uniform of Grenadier-Regiment König Friedrich Wilhelm I. (2. Ostpreußisches) Nr. 3, appointed à la suite on 10 September 1910.

     

    Regards

    Glenn

    Kluck.JPG

    Does anyone have more images of this beautiful uniform?

    Edited by Utgardloki
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Yes ,hard work, all hand embroidery, and with real gold or silver thread . sometimes the design was drawn directly on the cloth of the collar or cuff patch, then embroider . others the design was cut out of paper ,then embroider on and lately , applied to the collar or cuff

    Anyone interested in German embroideries must take a look of the Site The Marshall s Baton ,althoug is dedicated o the Third Reich Generals . equally contains useful data. and last but not least ,the handcraft of 3rd rReich was the same of that of the Imperial times

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Create an account or sign in to comment

    You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

    Create an account

    Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

    Register a new account

    Sign in

    Already have an account? Sign in here.

    Sign In Now
    ×
    ×
    • Create New...

    Important Information

    We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.