Imperial German Grenadier Regiment 9 Graf Gneisenau Leutnant Shoulder Board

An original Leutnant’s silver-cord shoulder board (Schulterstück) of Grenadier-Regiment Nr. 9, the Colbergsches Grenadier-Regiment “Graf Gneisenau” (2. Pommersches) Nr. 9 (Colberg Grenadier Regiment “Count Gneisenau,” 2nd Pomeranian, No. 9). The reverse carries a collection label reading “Fig. 6.4 – G. R. 9.” A gilt “9” numeral on flat braided silver cord, without rank stars, denotes a Leutnant.

The board is built of flat braided silver cord worked in the herringbone pattern and turned at the rounded head, with a gilt “9” numeral applied to the lower field. The underlay is largely concealed in the provided images and appears white. No rank star is present. A vertical button slit is worked at the head, the reverse is faced in cream cloth, and the squared base terminates in lightly frayed cord ends.

Grenadier-Regiment Nr. 9 was the Colberg Grenadier Regiment, distinguished with the name of August Neidhardt von Gneisenau, the reforming general and chief of staff who, alongside Scharnhorst and Blücher, shaped the Prussian army of the Wars of Liberation. The regiment carried that honour-name as one of the more tradition-laden formations of the Pomeranian establishment, and the numeral “9” identifies it.

The numeral “9” identifies the regiment, and the absence of a rank star denotes the grade of Leutnant.

Condition is good. The silver cord retains good braid definition with the expected tarnish, and the gilt numeral is secure. The collection label is intact on the reverse, and the base shows lightly frayed cord ends in the manner normal to the unfinished tuck end. No restoration is evident in the provided images.

A numbered officer’s board of a grenadier regiment bearing the honour-name of Gneisenau carries the added historical cachet of one of Prussia’s great military reformers, and the clear regimental numeral and secure grade make it a sound representative piece for a grenadier or named-regiment collection.