Imperial German Uhlan Regiment 7 Baden Oberleutnant Feldgrau Shoulder Board

An original Oberleutnant’s field-grey shoulder board (Schulterstück) of the Ulanen-Regiment “Großherzog Friedrich von Baden” (Rheinisches) Nr. 7 (Uhlan Regiment “Grand Duke Friedrich of Baden,” Rhenish, No. 7). The reverse carries a collection label reading “Fig. 7.4 – UlR 7 – 1st Lt.” A gilt “7” numeral together with a single gilt rank star identifies the regiment and fixes the grade at Oberleutnant (first lieutenant).

The board is built of field-grey (feldgrau) braided cord — the subdued service pattern that replaced the bright silver dress cord for active wear from 1915 — turned at the rounded head and carrying a gilt “7” numeral with a single gilt six-pointed rank star (Stern) on the lower field. It is mounted on a golden-yellow underlay, and a vertical button slit is worked at the head. The squared base terminates in cut cord ends.

Ulanen-Regiment Nr. 7 bore the name of Grand Duke Friedrich of Baden and served as a Rhenish lancer regiment within the XXI Army Corps. The uhlans were the lance-armed light cavalry of the Imperial Army. This board is the field-service counterpart to the regiment’s bright dress board, its muted construction reflecting the wartime shift to subdued insignia as the demands of the front required less conspicuous uniforms.

The numeral “7” identifies the regiment and the single gilt star marks the Oberleutnant’s grade.

Condition is good and consistent with field service. The feldgrau cord is intact with good braid definition, lightly soiled as expected for a service-worn board, and the gilt numeral and rank star are present and secure. The golden-yellow underlay is sound, and the collection label is intact on the reverse. The base shows cut cord ends in the manner normal to the unfinished tuck end. No restoration is evident in the provided images.

Field-grey officer boards of named lancer regiments are sought by collectors of wartime and field-uniform material, and the documented Oberleutnant grade together with the regiment’s Baden honour-name makes this a sound representative piece, and a natural field-service companion to the regiment’s dress board.