Heer Tradition badge: Braunschweiger skull

[Jacques]

this traditional cap badge consists on a matt white metal "totenkopf". It was destinated to be worn on the visor cap but period pics show it worn on overseas caps, M43.

This skull take its origin on 1809 with the "Schwarze Schar" and thus was worn successivaly by different units in order to keep the tradition living. the attached genealogy is showing the units which were entitled to wear this badge.

Various manufactures exist. As it was worn before, during and after WW1, other patterns exist for pre-WW2 period.

You're welcome to show your caps or photos with this badge worn

jacques

[Jacques]

NCO of the I.R.17 wearing the tradition badge

[Guest Rick Research]

Here is the later Pour le Merite fighter ace Walter von B?low wearing it as a Hussar Regiment 17 F?hnrich circa 1914.

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[Jacques]

Here is a Reichswehr members, he is wearing the tradition badge . He is wearing on his pocked the cross of "Freikorps von Neuville". No info about the unit (I.R.17 ? or K.R. ?). the picture is dated 1922.

[Jacques]

Picture showing RKtr?ger Breidenbach wearing the Braunschweig skull on his collar.

[Jacques]

This is showing a member of the I.R.92 during the WW1.

[Jacques]

The previous pics shown the second type skull. The first one was worn until the WW1, may be later occasionally but the second type already existed.

1/ First type skull

2/ I.R.92 member

3/ H.R.17 member

[David Gregory]

Here is a group photo of a Korporalschaft at the recruit depot of Infanterie-Regiment 92 early in WW1.

[David Gregory]

And a close-up of the cap badge.

[Robin Lumsden]

Here's one of mine.

[Scowen]

Here's a picture that came in with a group of unrelated pix I picked up. Keep meaning to bung it up for sale & keep forgetting.

Cheers

Don

[Jacques]

Here is a soldier of the K.R.13