$895.00
SHOULDER BOARDS – OFFICER – KRAGENSPIEGEL
This is a fine pair of kragenspiegel (collar insignias) for a German General’s tunic. They are a squared shape with a slight “lean.” The background is red felt with gold bullion embroidery. A corner of one kragenspiegel shows wear to its red backing, allowing the lining underneath to show.
Each kragenspiegel measures 2” x 3 ½.” Due to the condition problem noted above, these are value-priced.
SHOULDER BOARDS – OFFICER – KRAGENSPIEGEL
This is a fine pair of kragenspiegel (collar insignias) for a German General’s tunic. They are a squared shape with a slight “lean.” The background is red felt with gold bullion embroidery. A corner of one kragenspiegel shows wear to its red backing, allowing the lining underneath to show.
Each kragenspiegel measures 2” x 3 ½.” Due to the condition problem noted above, these are value-priced.
In stock
SHOULDER BOARDS – OFFICER – KRAGENSPIEGEL
This is a fine pair of kragenspiegel (collar insignias) for a German General’s tunic. They are a squared shape with a slight “lean.” The background is red felt with gold bullion embroidery. A corner of one kragenspiegel shows wear to its red backing, allowing the lining underneath to show.
Each kragenspiegel measures 2” x 3 ½.” Due to the condition problem noted above, these are value-priced.
$50.00
When I began the description of this item, I was unsure in which category to place it. While it is a decoration’s ribbon for, it also is a decoration’s ribbon that was specially cut for wearing in a tunic’s buttonhole. The ribbon was sewn into the tunic buttonhole to show that the man wearing it had won both the 1914 Iron Cross 2nd Class and the Bavarian Military Merit Cross 3rd Class with Swords.
It could really dress up your tunic!
When I began the description of this item, I was unsure in which category to place it. While it is a decoration’s ribbon for, it also is a decoration’s ribbon that was specially cut for wearing in a tunic’s buttonhole. The ribbon was sewn into the tunic buttonhole to show that the man wearing it had won both the 1914 Iron Cross 2nd Class and the Bavarian Military Merit Cross 3rd Class with Swords.
It could really dress up your tunic!
In stock
$1,495.00
One of the most honored positions within any regiment was the assignment to carry and maintain its regimental standard. All of the European armies (including Germany) had a fascinating tradition in regimental standards. In Germany, regimental banners or standards were authorized and issued by the König, or Kaiser. It had a true history of pageantry to it. In addition to the actual standard/banner, regiments brandished flagpoles adorned with streamers proclaiming the year of the regiment’s establishment, the regiment’s collective battle honors, and brass identification rings. Depending on the regiment, the pole might even have been topped by a Grand Cross of the Iron Cross. The men fought with great pride under these flags. For a regiment to lose its flag in battle was a horrible event. It rained dishonor on ALL the men attached to the regiment, from its regimental commander down to the lowliest private. The man assigned to maintain and carry the regimental banner (Fahnenträger) was highly-regarded by his officers and NCO’s. He bore the standard, carrying it in a special case when it was not unfurled. He was expected to protect the banner with his life. The sight of the banner waving, even in battle, was a rallying point for the regiment’s men. If the color bearer fell during battle, another man immediately snatched-up the banner to show that the regiment was still in the fight. Naturally, a man so honored as to carry the regimental colors was awarded a special sleeve patch designating him as the regimental color bearer (Fahnenträger). As you can see, the number of color bearers in the German Army was very limited, as was this very special sleeve patch. The patch was intended to have been worn on the pre WW I dunkel-blau (dark-blue) tunic’s sleeve. It measures 5″ x 3 ½,” and is in the shape of a shield. It sports a pair of crossed regimental flags, beautifully done in yellow, white, and black thread. Between them is a crown from the Kingdom of Württemberg made of yellow, white, and red thread. König Wilhelm II’s yellow royal cypher appears at the patch’s bottom. It is very elegant and quite rare. [As an aside, regimental banners are greatly prized by collectors. Prices BEGIN at $20,000 for these beauties, when they come on the market. I have seen examples fetch in excess of $50,000. They rarely become available. Many of them were taken to Russia at the end of WW II, and were not released until thirty to forty years after its end]. This is an amazing piece of history and far rarer than a Prussian example.
One of the most honored positions within any regiment was the assignment to carry and maintain its regimental standard. All of the European armies (including Germany) had a fascinating tradition in regimental standards. In Germany, regimental banners or standards were authorized and issued by the König, or Kaiser. It had a true history of pageantry to it. In addition to the actual standard/banner, regiments brandished flagpoles adorned with streamers proclaiming the year of the regiment’s establishment, the regiment’s collective battle honors, and brass identification rings. Depending on the regiment, the pole might even have been topped by a Grand Cross of the Iron Cross. The men fought with great pride under these flags. For a regiment to lose its flag in battle was a horrible event. It rained dishonor on ALL the men attached to the regiment, from its regimental commander down to the lowliest private. The man assigned to maintain and carry the regimental banner (Fahnenträger) was highly-regarded by his officers and NCO’s. He bore the standard, carrying it in a special case when it was not unfurled. He was expected to protect the banner with his life. The sight of the banner waving, even in battle, was a rallying point for the regiment’s men. If the color bearer fell during battle, another man immediately snatched-up the banner to show that the regiment was still in the fight. Naturally, a man so honored as to carry the regimental colors was awarded a special sleeve patch designating him as the regimental color bearer (Fahnenträger). As you can see, the number of color bearers in the German Army was very limited, as was this very special sleeve patch. The patch was intended to have been worn on the pre WW I dunkel-blau (dark-blue) tunic’s sleeve. It measures 5″ x 3 ½,” and is in the shape of a shield. It sports a pair of crossed regimental flags, beautifully done in yellow, white, and black thread. Between them is a crown from the Kingdom of Württemberg made of yellow, white, and red thread. König Wilhelm II’s yellow royal cypher appears at the patch’s bottom. It is very elegant and quite rare. [As an aside, regimental banners are greatly prized by collectors. Prices BEGIN at $20,000 for these beauties, when they come on the market. I have seen examples fetch in excess of $50,000. They rarely become available. Many of them were taken to Russia at the end of WW II, and were not released until thirty to forty years after its end]. This is an amazing piece of history and far rarer than a Prussian example.
In stock
$150.00
This is a One-Year-Volunteer’s arm chevron from the Kaiserliche Marine. As we have chronicled elsewhere, the One-Year-Volunteer (OYV) entered the German military service on a different program from the men doing two-year mandatory service. After most men completed their two-year service, they entered the reserves. They only were called to active service when additional man power was needed. This was the situation, of course, when WW I began. Most reserves were called back to active duty. Returning to the OYV, when entering the military, they essentially paid all of their own expenses. That is, the government did not pay for their equipment (uniforms, headgear, etc.). They were expected to supply their own gear, just as officers did. Since these men provided their own gear, they were allowed a certain amount of latitude in their uniforms and headgear. Men who enlisted in the OYV program were generally from the German middle class or higher. They had more money to spend on their uniforms than say farmers who came into the service. Many OYV’s bought their uniforms and headdress from the same purveyors that the officers did. They were allowed to mimic many officers’ headdress characteristics. For example, they were not allowed to purchase a pickelhaube EXACTLY like an officer’s, but they could get VERY close. At least ONE of the details had to be different from an officer’s. It is common to see a silk liner and officer’s leather liner on an OYV’s pickelhaube. This was one of the extra allowances that OYV’s were allowed to make. They also were allowed to wear a special trim on their shoulder straps that clearly indicated they were an OYV, not a normal enlistee, or even an NCO. I cannot state with authority that Navy OYV’s wore the trim on their shoulder straps. This device, however, serves the same purpose. It was worn on the sleeve. Each “V” shaped arm measures 3 1/2.” Woven into the patch is a design of red, black, and white. This is the first time that I have run across one.
This is a One-Year-Volunteer’s arm chevron from the Kaiserliche Marine. As we have chronicled elsewhere, the One-Year-Volunteer (OYV) entered the German military service on a different program from the men doing two-year mandatory service. After most men completed their two-year service, they entered the reserves. They only were called to active service when additional man power was needed. This was the situation, of course, when WW I began. Most reserves were called back to active duty. Returning to the OYV, when entering the military, they essentially paid all of their own expenses. That is, the government did not pay for their equipment (uniforms, headgear, etc.). They were expected to supply their own gear, just as officers did. Since these men provided their own gear, they were allowed a certain amount of latitude in their uniforms and headgear. Men who enlisted in the OYV program were generally from the German middle class or higher. They had more money to spend on their uniforms than say farmers who came into the service. Many OYV’s bought their uniforms and headdress from the same purveyors that the officers did. They were allowed to mimic many officers’ headdress characteristics. For example, they were not allowed to purchase a pickelhaube EXACTLY like an officer’s, but they could get VERY close. At least ONE of the details had to be different from an officer’s. It is common to see a silk liner and officer’s leather liner on an OYV’s pickelhaube. This was one of the extra allowances that OYV’s were allowed to make. They also were allowed to wear a special trim on their shoulder straps that clearly indicated they were an OYV, not a normal enlistee, or even an NCO. I cannot state with authority that Navy OYV’s wore the trim on their shoulder straps. This device, however, serves the same purpose. It was worn on the sleeve. Each “V” shaped arm measures 3 1/2.” Woven into the patch is a design of red, black, and white. This is the first time that I have run across one.
In stock