Litewka Rank Insignia

[The Prussian]

Here I have a nice photo of an Unteroffizier of the Staff, I. or II.Btl./ Inf.Rgt.78 in Osnabrück.

Note the Litewka for soldiers and NCO´s, with the Unteroffizier´s chevron, worn only upon Litewkas

Edited February 5, 2015 by The Prussian

[Chip]

Andreas,

 

I had not seen that before. Was this discontinued at some point? I don't remember ever seeing this on a Litewka before.

 

Chip

[The Prussian]

Hi Chip!

This Litewka is a M1892. As far as I know, it was replaced in 1899. In 1900 the Litewka had pockets. This Litewka was worn between 1892 and 1899. BNecause of the both covades the photo was taken between 1897 and 1899

[Chip]

Andreas,

 

I don't suppose they got rid of the M1892 Litewka right away after 1899, so I still wonder how long this Ärmelabzeichen was worn.

 

Chip

[The Prussian]

Hi Chip!

We have different "Litewka´s key features"

 

1893: Litewka with red red collar-patch, covered buttons. In that time the rank-chevrons came out:
Gefreiter: One white chevron (with a coloured line for the state), made from "Borte"

Unteroffizier: One chevron from Tresse

Sergeant: One Unteroffizier chevron and a Gefreiten-Chevron above

Fähnrich and Vizefeldwebel: Two chevrons

Feldwebel: Three Chevrons

1900: Litewka with four visible pockets

1903: Litewka with two visible pockets

The "Pietsch" says, that at 7.6.1894 the rank insignias were the same as at the Waffenrock. Only the Feldwebel held his three chevrons.

That doesn´t fit to my pichture, because he has two cocades.

I assume he wears his old Litewka around 1897/98

[Chip]

Thanks Andy. I never thought to look in Pietsch. I was used to seeing the post-1894 insignia (same as the Waffenrock) and was unfamiliar with the earlier chevron system.

 

Chip

[The Prussian]

Like me... I always forget to look into Pietsch. By having a huge library one don´t know which jewels are in the shelf...

Edited February 7, 2015 by The Prussian