Imperial German Dragoon Regiment 3 von Derfflinger Oberleutnant Shoulder Board

An original Oberleutnant’s silver-cord shoulder board (Schulterstück) of the Dragoner-Regiment “von Derfflinger” (Neumärkisches) Nr. 3 (Dragoon Regiment “von Derfflinger,” New March, No. 3). The reverse carries a collection label reading “Fig. 7.4 – DR 3 von Derfflinger.” A gilt crown above an interlaced cypher identifies the regiment’s chief, and a single gilt rank star fixes the wearer’s grade at Oberleutnant (first lieutenant).

The board is built of flat braided silver cord worked in the herringbone pattern, turned at the rounded head, and shot through with fine soul threads (Seele). It is mounted on a red wool underlay that forms the full backing across the reverse. The lower field carries a gilt crown above an interlaced gilt cypher, with a single gilt six-pointed rank star (Stern) below. A vertical button slit is worked at the head for attachment, and the squared base terminates in cut cord ends.

The regiment was one of the Prussian dragoon regiments distinguished with the name of a celebrated historic commander — here Field Marshal Georg von Derfflinger, the cavalry general who rose from humble origins to command the army of the Great Elector of Brandenburg in the seventeenth century. As dragoons, the regiment served as light cavalry for reconnaissance, screening, and mounted action, and the bearing of a historic honour-name placed it among the more tradition-laden formations of the mounted arm.

The crowned monogram is an interlaced cypher beneath the crown; the specific letters are not cleanly resolved in the provided images and are therefore left unattributed. The crown marks the regiment as one held under a royal chief, and the single star is the rank distinction of an Oberleutnant.

Condition is good. The silver cord retains strong braid definition with the expected tarnish, and the gilt crown, cypher, and rank star are present and secure. The red underlay is sound, with some wear and old staining toward the base and reverse, and the collection label is intact. The base shows cut cord ends in the manner normal to the unfinished tuck end. No restoration is evident in the provided images.

Dragoon regiments bearing a historic honour-name such as “von Derfflinger” carry added cachet within cavalry collecting, and a complete officer’s board with crowned cypher and an unambiguous rank star sits well above a plain strap in desirability. The secure regimental and rank attribution make this an attractive representative piece for a Prussian cavalry or named-regiment collection.