From the collection 1871 - 1914
The German Imperial Army
The Reichsheer refers to the land forces of the German Empire. It consisted primarily of the Prussian army and the contingents of the other federal states incorporated into it. The Bavarian, Saxon and Württemberg militaries had a special status and their own institutions. This section presents the organization and structure and, in particular, the varied…
What would you like to explore?
114 contributions in the archive
Discover this collection
Current Articles
Kriegsgeschichte
The Imperial Navy - Photographic Reminiscences of the Summer Voyage and the World Cruise of SMS Viktoria Luise in the years 1909 - 1910.
Original photo collection, probably of a deck petty officer of SMS Victoria Louise.
Uniformierung & Ausrüstung
Uniforms and Equipment of the Old Army - Cavalry - Hussar Regiments - Hussar Regiment von Schill (1st Silesian) No. 4
The Hussar Regiment von Schill (1st Silesian) No. 4 had its founding date on 15 November 1741.
Uniformierung & Ausrüstung
Uniforms and Equipment of the Old Army - Cavalry - Hussar Regiments - Hussar Regiment Graf Goetz (2nd Silesian) No. 6
The Hussar Regiment Graf Goetz (2nd Silesian) No. 6 had its founding date on 21.11.1808.
Uniformierung & Ausrüstung
Uniforms and Equipment of the Old Army - Cavalry - Hussar Regiments - Hussar Regiment Fürst Blücher von Wahlstatt (Pomerania) No. 5
The regiment's founding day was January 16, 1758.
Uniformierung & Ausrüstung
Uniforms and Equipment of the Old Army - Cavalry - Cuirassiers - The Officers' Helmet
The helmet of the officers of most line cuirassier regiments was made of bright-polished steel. The scale chains and their rosettes were gilded.
Uniformierung & Ausrüstung
Uniforms and Equipment of the Old Army - Cavalry - Cuirassiers - The Overcoat and the Officers' Cloak
In progress.
Historical context
About this collection
The historical background of the following focus leads directly into the Age of Imperialism. After the victory of the North German Confederation and the southern German states allied with it in the Franco-Prussian War, the German Empire was founded. The founding of the Reich took place on 18 January 1871 in the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles. Under Prussian dominance, a German nation-state was thus created for the first time. The new German Empire consisted of a total of 25 federal states, and from their troop contingents the Reichsheer was formed as an armed force. Its organizational and uniform history as well as its internal life and first armed deployments in the German protectorates and during the so-called Boxer Rebellion are discussed below. The presentation is limited to peacetime up to 1914. The later development of the Reichsheer and also the introduction and development of the field-gray uniform (1907 - 1918) can be found in the focus on the First World War. However, the Imperial Navy is also considered here, including its development and activities in the First World War.