dwmosher

Charles Here's the proper schirmmutze for your tunic... Dave

Hardy: A couple of "time" problems with your tunic: You have a very nice pre-war officer's waffenrock for technical services (most likely pioneer but could be several other units) which was worn up to 1914. The dull muted slip-on Baden pioneer boards are for the feldgrau felduniform, per the 1915 regulations. Prior to that, pioneer boards had just a red base underlay, and I would recommend finding a set of these for a proper display. Others may add on whether this medal combination could be possible on a pre-war uniform, but I know the wound badge was not instituted until early 1918, so I don't think it is a good fit for the loops on the tunic. Again, it is a very nice tunic. Just a thought. The pictures seem to indicate a lighter shade of blue than the dark Prussian blue usually seen. It is possible that your tunic is actually a pre-war waffenrock for the 3rd Baden Dragoon Regt. Prince Karl No. 22. Do you have any other dunkelblau tunics to compare it too? Regards Dave

Chap15: This is definately not a field chaplin's cap. The M-1914 field caps had a purple band and purple piping just above the band (no piping around the crown) and a white enameled cross between the cockades. The 1915/16 regulations allowed for the additional purple piping around the crown of the cap. The trench art is VERY cool! Regards Dave

Charles, I think you're right that M-15 collar litzen is being worn on this officer. You can see the same litzen on the officer wearing the Bluse above him and the "correct" M-10 litzen for this type of tunic on the officer to the right. Not only that, but the buttons appear to be M-15 (rimless) type. Dave

Chip Was the Flammenwerfer insignia allowed on the Friedensuniform or just on the Felduniform? Dave

For authorized insignia based on the 1915 regulations, you have to break it down between Friedensuniform and Felduniform. From what I can gather, abzeichen only on the sleeves of the Freidensuniform included the flag and standard bearers (Fahnen- und Standartentrager) on the right sleeve, prior Kaiserabzeichen on the right sleeve, lance proficiency insignia (Fechterabzeichen) on the right sleeve, signalman's insignia (Winkerflaggenabzeichen) on right sleeve and artillery sighter's insignia (Richtkanoniereabzeichen) on lower left sleeve. The remaining authorized sleeve insignia for both the Freidensuniform and the Felduniform, include the farrier's insignia (Beschlag- und Fahnenschmiedsabzeichen) on lower left sleeve, medic insignia (Sanitatsmannschaftenabzeichen) on right sleeve, Flieger unit insignia on left sleeve, the Gibralter cuff title (for 10th Jager Batln, 73rd &76th Inf Regts) on lower right sleeve, Luftschiffer steerman and machinists (Steuerleute und Maschinisten) on the left sleeve and machinegunner's proficiency insignia on left sleeve. I don't know if the semi-official insignia like the flammenwerfer and sturmbatallion worn on the Felduniform ever were allowed to be worn on the Friedensuniform, so maybe some out there have further information or have pictures showing them. Regards Dave

Chris: Freiwillige Krankenpflege. Aside from the arm band and red cross/white background insignia on the cap and collar, the shoulder boards were plain feldgrau (no piping) with silver buttons with a cross. Ranking from Sektionsfuhrer, Zugfuhrer-Stellvertreter and Zugfuhrer would be one, two, or three inverted white stripes respectively on the lower left sleeve. Regards Dave

Perhaps. Actually, I was talking about the piping color underlay on the shoulder strap. The piping on the body of the ulanka for both regiments was red. Upon further inspection, I think your boy is wearing feldgrau and the picture is post-1915. I believe the board is double-piped; red as the base and either white (most likely) or yellow as the secondary color. I see two pips; one above and one below the cyphers indicating a Rittmeister. The symbol you can't figure out below the crown is a script "A" with either a Roman numeral II or III under it. The style of the button is M-1910, so he probably wearing the M-1910 ulanka and not wearing either the Freidensuniform or Kleinerrock. Regards Dave

As Rick stated, it would be a lot easier with a name. Whoever he was, his rank was that of a Rittmeister and from the cypher on the shoulder strap he was from either Ulanen-Regt. Kaiser Alexander III. von Russland (Westpreussisches) Nr. 1 or Ulanen-Regt. Kaiser Alexander II. von Russland (1. Brandenburgisches) Nr. 3. Can you show a complete picture of this officer? The piping on the ulanka (white for UR1 and yellow for UR3) could further help in determining which regiment he was with. Regards Dave

As Chip said, Photos of navy Bluses are not that common, but not that rare either. Here is a nice shot of an Oberfeuerwerksmaat in a feldgrau Bluse. Regards Dave

Definately field artillery, but the rank is a Gefreiter (senior private) and I believe the number is a "73" not a "13", making this lad from 1. Masurisches Feldartillerie Regiment Nr. 73, garrisoned at Allenstein, part of the XX.AK. My first notion is that he is wearing the M-15 feldgrau Friedensuniform, but the date is too early? If he is in fact wearing his pre-war dunkelblau uniform, the shoulderstraps would be pale blue with red bomb and numbers. If he is in fact, wearing the M-1915 uniform, the shoulderstraps would be in golden yellow, with red bomb and lnumbers. Re-check the date on your photo. Regards Dave

1. Badisches Leib-Grenadier-Regt. Nr. 109, XIV. AK garrisoned in Karlsruhe. It appears that the NCOs in the middle are not from that regiment, based on the Brandenburg cuff and lack of litzen. Most appear to be wearing the feldgrau Friedensuniform, which would date the photo to post late-1915. Looking at the older equipment and age of the soldiers, they are most likely a reserve unit. See if you can get a close-up of the helmet plate on the soldiers at the ends. Dave

Chip: Just got back from vacation and saw your reply. Thank you for your comments. I also thought there would be more interest in the tunic, based on the content of this thread. Regards Dave

Chris: This may be of interest. This is the M-1915 bluse which was more than likely worn by Maj v. d. Groeben as the comander of Batln. 1 shown above (although he is wearing a M-1910 waffenrock in the photo). Although the tunic is not named, there are very few candidates except him, based on the ribbon bar spacing and rank. There are no photos of v. d. Groeben in the JB7 war history, so this photo of him is very much appreciated. Regards Dave Close-up of ribbon bar spacing and shoulder board insignia

Charles: Very interesting rank and insignia on a very scarce tunic! Congratulations! Dave

JR 189 was created as part of the 187 ID in June of 1916. The Division fought both in the east (Rumania) and in France before demobilizing in November 1918. Your boy is wearing a "simplified" M-1907/10 waffenrock. Regards Dave

Paul: IMO, there definately some problems with this helmet. First, the wappen (plate) should indicate "Furst" vs. "Konig". Second, for post 1880s EM helmets, there should not be threaded posts but rather soldered loops, especially with the metal gommets provided on the shell. Third, from the picture of the back of the plate, there appears to be much less detail than in the front. If this is true, this is a galvono copy using copper which has been "aged". Keep in mind, an original plate is a stamping so the detail should be pronounced on both sides. As far as the rest of the helmet, it appears that the shell was original, but I have my doubts on the liner and front visor and spike. Sorry Dave

A couple more...

I don't know, Chris...that would be a lot of window decorations! Here are a few of pics of his non-navy collection.

My Central Powers addition...

A couple more...

Rick If these help...

Based on the recent posts by Chris concerning Bavarian jaeger items, I thought there might be some interest in this. This is a beautiful M-1910 Bavarian jaeger officer's waffenrock and schirmmutze from a friend's collection. The rank is for a full colonel, so perhaps it would be identifiable. Regards Dave

Stogie: Whats up with the reversed collar litzen for Stengel? Seems to be a glaring oversight by he and his tailor...

Some more prisoners (presumabley Brits) marching to the rear.