The Uniforms of the Infantry of the German Imperial Army - 1871 – 1914. Part X - Bavaria (without Jägers)

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 (IR Nos. 1 - 12).

The third part is devoted 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 special uniform features, referred to certain (non-Prussian) traditions (e.g. IR 92 - Brunswick - or the Baden, Hessian and Mecklenburg units).

In further contributions the Saxon, Württemberg and Bavarian (as here) infantry are presented, which in peacetime belonged to relatively autonomous contingents.

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

Bavaria formed in the Imperial Army, with its 3 army corps (I–III), a self-contained contingent with numerous peculiarities. In 1914 there were 24 Bavarian infantry regiments, including the (Life) Infantry Regiment in Munich. This one had guard detail. Photographer: Ludwig Müller/ Munich.

There existed 24 Bavarian infantry regiments (Infantry Life Regiment and regiments Nos. 1 - 23).

The infantry regiments counted 3 battalions; only the 22nd and 23rd infantry regiments had only two battalions. A company was commanded by a captain.

The difference between the Bavarian infantry and the rest of the infantry of the German Imperial Army becomes clear. The external appearance was shaped above all by the light-blue base color of the tunics and trousers and by the distinctive headgear.

Until 1886 the Bavarian infantry wore the classic Raupenhelm. Its predecessor was introduced around 1799.

The Raupenhelm – also called helm – had a leather chinstrap and a rim around the peak. The chinstrap was held by lion heads. As ornament it bore the crowned L. The emblem was made of brass. The Life Infantry Regiment also wore yellow fittings on the Raupenhelm.

Non-commissioned officers had – even in the Life Infantry Regiment – smooth lace. The typical black-lacquered leather helmet bore as emblem the Bavarian coat of arms – held by two lions – with the motto ribbon: IN TREUE FEST.

The spiked helmet (Pickelhaube) in Prussian style had replaced the Bavarian Raupenhelm in 1886. The Bavarian variant long retained the archaic form with a cross-leaf fitting and a square peak; officers kept this version until 1914.

From 1914 (February) a noticeably smaller version of the helmet ornament was introduced. Otherwise the fittings were always yellow, except on the Life Infantry Regiment.

The Bavarian officers wore helmets of the older pattern, i.e. with a square front peak. The coat of arms occupied almost the entire front of the helmet. The sixfold fluted point sat on a cross-leaf which was fastened to the helmet body by star screws.

Peaked caps were worn by the ranks only off-duty; on duty they were worn only by officers or by non-commissioned officers with the rank of sergeant major.

The brass box lock had a nickel-silver plate with crown and the inscription: IN TREUE FEST.

Some regiments had monograms on the shoulder straps, such as the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 6th and 10th infantry regiments.

From 1892 the infantry wore light-blue Litewkas, which from 1893 received stand-up collars and light-blue shoulder straps with yellow embroidered numbers. In 1896 bright red collar patches were added. The non-commissioned officers' lace on the collar is clearly visible. This continued until 1901 around the upper edge of the stand-up collar.

Front right a Bavarian general with a helmet with plume of white, blue-lined feathers. The helmet had silver fittings and arched scale-chains.

Also noteworthy is the particular silver collar embroidery visible here.

The Bavarian paletot corresponded in cut, by the way, to the Saxon model.

Center: non-commissioned officer. Officers and non-commissioned officers had white gloves made of cloth or leather. If ranks wore such gloves with dress uniform, they were privately owned. On duty, from 1878 gray-marbled mittens were prescribed in cold weather.

The knapsacks with the strapped-on mess kit are clearly visible. From 1887 the Bavarian infantry wore the empire-standard knapsack model, which for ease was additionally secured by auxiliary carrying straps hooked into the front cartridge pockets. An infantryman at the front holds the canteen in his hand, to which – as here – a tin cup could be attached. The glass canteens were replaced in 1892 by ones made of aluminum. From 1876 the Prussian models were used as cartridge pouches.

Since the early days of the uniforming of the Bavarian army (from 1670) the base color blue (from 1799 light blue) was characteristic for the infantry until 1914. Cap, tunic and trousers were light blue; trim stripes, piping, collars and sleeve cuffs with patches were bright red.

Drummers and horn players – there were no crossed-flute players – were marked by swallow's nests trimmed with yellow braid.

By the way, the Bavarian signal horns did not bear an applied coat of arms.

The music master was the head of the music corps, ranked higher than the sergeants and essentially wore a uniform like the officers, i.e. without lace. From 1908 the tunic featured shoulder boards with special braid trim. The distinctive waist sash is also clearly visible.

The lyre consisted of a lyre-like frame with vertically arranged two-row metal plates, played with a metal or wooden hammer. It was an impressive show instrument, here fitted with attached Bavarian state coats of arms. Far left: B- and F-tuba.

In front a staff officer, far right an adjutant with a special adjutant's sash worn over the right shoulder to the left hip. Two officers wear field sashes.

The buckle of the field sash was, depending on the button color, silver or gold. It showed the royal crown and had a laurel wreath as border ornamentation.

Light-blue saddle cloths were used. These had a bright red (for the Life Infantry Regiment: white) trim stripe.

The saddle fur was used only for parades from 1890; from 1910 it was completely abolished.

The soldiers are armed with the Gewehr 88. This rifle was adopted in 1888 as the service weapon of the German Army. The designation derives from the year.

For the Gewehr 71/84 the soldier still carried 30 cartridges in each of the two front cartridge pockets and 60 cartridges in the rear one. Thus a total of 120 cartridges were available.

With the smaller cartridges of the new model there were more, namely a total of 170.

The Life Infantry Regiment (foundation day: 16.07.1817) had white vertical lace on the plain sleeve cuffs. The cuffs were edged in white. The shoulder straps showed a crown on yellow cloth.

The field cap was made of light-blue cloth with bright red trim stripes and the same piping around the rim of the top.

The buttons on the tunic of this unit were nickel for the ranks and silver-plated for the officers and bore an embossed crown. On the coat the buttons were plain. Photographer: B. Dittmar/ Munich. Photo taken 1895.