Imperial German Infantry Regiment 145 Ensign Shoulder Board Crowned Cypher

An original ensign’s (Fähnrich) silver-cord shoulder board (Schulterstück) recorded to Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 145 (Infantry Regiment No. 145). The reverse carries two collection labels reading “Fig. 7.4 – KIR 145” and “Fig. 7.4 – Ensign, IR 145.” A gilt crown above an interlaced royal cypher identifies the regiment’s chief, and the absence of rank stars is consistent with the ensign grade.

The board is built of flat braided silver cord worked in the herringbone pattern, doubled and turned at the rounded head. It is mounted on a light blue underlay. The lower field carries a gilt crown set above an interlaced gilt cypher, with the Roman numeral “II” below the monogram. The reverse is faced in cream cloth and retains the cloth securing tongue at the base together with the button slit at the head. No rank stars are present.

The Fähnrich, or ensign, was the senior officer-aspirant grade of the Imperial German Army — a young man who had passed his examinations and awaited his commission, permitted to wear the officer-pattern cord board of his regiment but without the rank stars of a commissioned officer. The board thus marks a specific and transitional point in the path to a commission. The light blue underlay reflects the regimental distinction, and the two-colour, or dual, underlay system recorded for this group corresponds to the 1915 reform under which a second underlay colour was introduced to identify regiments more precisely in the field.

The crowned monogram is an interlaced royal cypher surmounted by the crown and carrying the Roman numeral “II” beneath; the specific letters and the monarch 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.

Condition is very good. The silver cord is bright with strong braid definition and only light tarnish. The gilt crown and cypher are present and secure. The light blue underlay is clean, the cream backing is sound with the securing tongue intact, and both collection labels are present on the reverse. No restoration is evident in the provided images.

Ensign boards are encountered less often than those of commissioned officers and represent a distinct grade within the officer-aspirant pathway, of particular interest to collectors who assemble rank-progression sets. A crowned-cypher board carrying the 1915 dual-underlay distinction also appeals to those who follow the development of Imperial uniform regulation, making this a sound and somewhat uncommon representative piece.