The Uniforms of the Infantry of the German Imperial Army - 1871 – 1914. Part V - Brunswick

The first part of this series deals generally with the uniforms of the Prussian infantry - 1842 – 1914.

The second part addresses the distinctive features of the uniforms of the Guard and Line Grenadier Regiments (No. 1 - 12).

The third part is dedicated to the Prussian Line Infantry Regiments (Musketeer/Fusilier Regiments).

In further parts, the peculiarities of those units are treated which were incorporated into the Prussian army (after 1866) or which, through particular uniform features, linked to certain (non-Prussian) traditions (as here Brunswick).

In additional contributions the Saxon, Württemberg and Bavarian infantry are presented, which in peacetime belonged to relatively autonomous contingents.

The series concludes with contributions about the Jägers and Schützen and about the machine-gun detachments formed from 1901.

This unit (IR 92) originated from the legendary Black Corps founded by Duke Friedrich Wilhelm of Brunswick in 1809 and displayed numerous uniform-related peculiarities. The regiment was incorporated directly into the Prussian army by the convention of 18.03.1866, but nevertheless asserted several special provisions for itself.

The officer's coat also had a cornflower-blue collar and cuffs and featured braid and flat-cord trim (also on the back). The chest was, however, adorned with only five (square black) cords and silk-wrapped toggles and rosettes in the manner of hussars.

The officers wore a silver sash with two blue-silver stripes and an officer's saber of a special pattern. The tassels of the whip were only tucked in at the front and not entwined.

For undress and off-duty wear the cap shown here was carried following the Austrian model. Photograph 1866. On the cap a round national badge was worn, which had a center piece of blue velvet and a gold-embroidered W.

The photo still shows the so-called Polrock worn until 1886. This had ten black cords on the front; collar and sleeve cuffs of Polish style were cornflower-blue.

The caps predominantly display two cockades. Until the introduction of the Imperial cockade (1897) the Prussian cockade was worn on all caps. Soldiers of other nationalities wore – as here – additionally the cockade of their home province.

The Brunswick infantry originally wore the shako, which had a black plume without a funnel. The officers' shako was covered with cloth. The national emblem was light blue-yellow.

As decoration, on the front of the shako the III Battalion (Fusilier-(Life-)Battalion) carried a death's head with a PENINSULA ribbon. The shako trim for the ranks was made of tin.

The affixed death's head is clearly visible. In the 3rd Battalion, instead of the star, the nickel-silver death's head with bones and Peninsula ribbon was worn. The death's head had already been the distinctive feature of the Black Corps. From 1912 it was adopted by the entire regiment. The plume was black.

After the introduction of the Prussian uniform, the usual heraldic eagle with the band: Mit Gott für Fürst und Vaterland was carried on the pickelhaube. On the eagle sat the clearly visible nickel-silver star with the Brunswick order cross and the Peninsula ribbon.

From 1886 the typical Prussian tunic was introduced, but the Polrock was still worn.

On the cap band of the visor cap the Brunswick state cockade was worn. This was blue with a yellow ring.