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    1848: Revolution! What were the well-dressed Reactionaries Wearing?


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    Can anyone point me to a good reference on the uniforms worn by the Prussian (and French, Austrian) military forces who confronted the socialist revolutionary forces in 1848?

    Prussia had instituted a dramatic change in its uniforms in 1842.  I can find virtually nothing online to show examples of the rank insignia or uniforms themselves for this period. 

    This inquiry is prompted by my own new-found interest in this very dramatic period of history as it now echoes again in our own time, albeit in a much different way.

    I hope someone can point me to a few good reference books or better yet, museum displays or personal collections that include good photos of some actual insignia or uniforms from this period.

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    As I understand it, there was a major revision in the uniform regulation in 1842.  I can find nothing online for this. I most of all need illustrations of the officer rank insignia from this time. Can anyone supply some references or photos ?

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    From the few drawings available online, I believe the dress epaulettes for officers were virtually the same as for the 1870 time; 'banjo' shaped epaulettes, with silver or gilt crescents, no fringe for lieutenants and captains; thin fringe for majors to colonel, heavy fringe for generals. Is this the case?

    Edited by filfoster
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    1 hour ago, dedehansen said:

    Hi filfoster,

     

    Daniel Friedrich Gottlob Teichert

     

    https://www.garnisonfriedhofberlin.de/biographien-l-z/

     

    Regards

     

    Andreas

    Danke

    Teichert's portrait shows epaulettes that are to my eye, nearly identical to the 1870-1910 senior officer dress epaulettes.  Does anyone have any more information on this, please?

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    For all intents and purposes, the rank insignia of 1848 is the same as 1870 and indeed 1914, although the epaulettes were then not used for field or daily service wear. I have attached a couple of uniform plates that give a feel for the period around 1845 to 1850.

     

    Regards

    Glenn

     

    Preuss48.thumb.JPG.69377e0bc6f6b2c76a63507aae9e1a53.JPGRandel_1845.thumb.jpg.27fadebec58411ed83f8ec322045c9b8.jpg

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    GlennJ: Thank you. I had seen these also and have to agree based on these that the dress epaulettes must have been similar enough that a display using later ones would serve for an 1848 display.  Unless someone can show otherwise, that's what's planned for my uniform display of this period.  Thanks to all who have contributed! 

    Edited by filfoster
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    Thank you, 03fahnen.  The shoulder epaulettes look the same as the later ones. No idea if the ground/facing colors were regimental or Korps, as they were later.  I wonder if any examples survive in museums or private collections, particularly infantry officer epaulettes?  I haven't found any online or in this forum.

    Edited by filfoster
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