Chip

Thomas, I am not seeing where an AKO is mentioned on that page of Kraus. It is in Volume I, not II. All it says is a Vfg., which does not necessarily indicate that an AKO existed. Normally, Kraus gives a footnote if an AKO is indicated. Chip

Regarding the Pickelhaube skull, Kraus says that it was the "braunschweigischen Muster", but gives no source to verify his statement. Chip

Thomas, Thanks for the additional photo with the straight pins. I think that is very telling. It could be possible that the studio provided that "prop", as it was, as you have indicated, taking photos of this unit on a regular basis and the Dunkelblau uniforms being brought to the studio more than likely would not have had a gray patch sewn on. That might account for the odd shape of the skull that does not conform to the normal issue skull. Pure conjecture of course. I am now aware of three original skull patches in the States and they all are dead ringers for the "issue" pattern patch. I have a copy of the 1977 Klietmann article around here somewhere. There is a photo of an officer's helmet with the skull that supposedly was a "Probe" piece, or at least came out of the collection of the Zeughaus in Berlin. There were such things as officer's "Probestücke", so it could be a legitimate piece, but I don't recall seeing the actual tag. According to Kraus again, the skull was authorized by a Vfg., not an AKO. But he also refers to Klietmann's article as the source of this information. Chip

You can definitely see that the uniforms in the studio photos are Dunkelblau, when you see the second shot. The contrast is better. It appears to me that the patches were just loosely applied for the photos, as the shadows indicate that neither was sewn down around the edges. I would not have thought that this gray patch was authorized for wear on the old uniform. At least, I have never heard of any regulations. Do you know any more about this Thomas? Another thing I was wondering about is that Klietmann discussed a "Flammenwerfer Pickelhaube" with a skull and bones on the Gardestern. Neither of these photos exhibit this. According to Kraus, the Pickelhaube skull was authorized in June 1916, one month before the sleeve patch. Chip

With the Brandenburg cuffs, I would assume he is infantry. The sleeve chevrons indicate the rank of Feldwebel Chip

I can't see them either. I suggest if you post from the actual jpegs or from a free hosting service. Chip

Thomas, Yes, what a shame to lose this photo! I think everyone has had this happen. The same thing happened to me with a lot of rare shoulder straps. They made it to the States and then disappeared. Is this patch being worn on the old Dunkelblau uniform or the M15 Friedensuniform? It is difficult to tell, but given the pre-war style overcoat, it may be an early uniform as well. I have never seen this insignia being worn on the old Bunterock. Chip

Being an uniform and gear guy, what I find very interesting is the special MG shovel and carrier. About 3/4 the size of the regular infantry spade, it sported a handle only about 3 inches long. The leather carrier was similar to the carrier for the infantry shovel, only with a sewn-on loop for the bayonet to be pushed through. I have never seen it in a photo anywhere near this late date and had assumed that it had be dropped about the time that the special M01 single clip MG cartridge pouches were discontinued (1916). Thanks for showing this photo Hardy! Chip

With the exception is the second cockade, everything else, including the crown on the boards, appears to be normal. The second cockade may be a personal preference or have something to do with his Reserve/Landsturm status. This may have made more sense than having a "Landwehr" cross on a national cockade! This same outfit (less the second cockade) is shown in "Das Deutsche Heer", Band III, plate 170a. Chip

Sometimes you just gotta wonder. :banger:

Thomas, Thanks for the observation. Taking into account that the cap is a Württemberg one, there does not seem to be a connection to the Prussian Gd.Res.Pi.Rgt. The markings have always intrigued me. Chip

Not an sleeve insignia, but has anyone seen this skull before? It is in form similar to a stickpin. The cap is marked inside, "St.B.XIV" for a unit marking and also has a Bekleidungs-Amt stamp of "B.A.XIII 1916". The cap was only lightly worn, so I am guessing the insignia is a postwar addition. The cap was brought back to the U.S. with this skull already on it. Chip

The shoulder strap cypher is that of the 95th (EG). Could we have some close-ups of the other two visible straps? Chip

Nice job Hardy! :cheers:

Chris, What are the "right" officer's boards for it? What are you wanting? Chip

Chris, What a ridiculous comment from this person. Of course you can make your pioneer whatever you like. Some people have a lot of nerve. I think the Brits have an apropriate response, "Pi.. off!"

Micha, That depends on what you want to accomplish. If you want everything, you have a long row to hoe. My suggestion would be to stick to tunic straps, as they are more representative of the normal soldier. When the blue/black overcoats were replaced with the gray patterns before the war, the overcoat straps became just like the tunic straps except for the backing material. Chip

Micha, That would have been correct for the tunic, but that is not what you have. You won't see these old pattern overcoat boards in most references. There was an equivalent overcoat example for each tunic pattern strap, only with a blue/black body and piping in the color of the Waffenrock strap. Besides, you don't need any books, you have us! Chip

I think the last pair are private purchase boards from the old blue/black overcoat. These boards were piped in the color of the tunic board. So this would be an example from the Grenadier Regiment König Karl (5.Württ.) Nr.123. Chip

Chris, An interesting new form of this "battalion" document. The soldier on the document changes in small ways, depending on the type of unit and sometimes rank. This one has no collar Tresse. Chip

Chip

Chris, With the September 1915 regulations all pioneer officers wore the Doppel Kappelenlitzen. Generally, there were only three Litzen styles. There was the double Litzen (as you have shown) with the two colors of cord, there was the "old Prussian" pattern that was worn by some of the Garde infantry units (also with gold or silver cord), the "old Prussian" pattern with gray cord (Füsilier Rgt.80 only), and the Einfache Kappelenlitze(single)that was worn by some Grenadiers and Flieger troops.

Chris, Wasn't this the case with our friend from the Rohr battalion? I seem to remember that after he recovered from his wounds he was sent to Rheinmetall and never went back to the field. Chip

Chris, You are correct. These are rather generic M15 officer's Litzen. This type had either matt-gold or matt-silver cord in the place of the Spiegel. The color of the cord corresponded to the color of the Litzen on the previous pattern officer's Waffenrock. Chip

Kraftfahrtruppen, Telegraphentruppen (three battalions only), Feldgendarmerie, Leibgendarmerie and Veterinary officers. Chip