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Uniforms and Equipment of the Old Army - Cavalry - Cuirassiers - The Officers' Koller

Illustration: Officers, possibly of the Regiment of the Gardes du Corps or of the Guard Cuirassier Regiment, at the Döberitz training ground in 1908. Photographer: Franz Tellgmann/ Mühlhausen.
Illustration: Officers, possibly of the Regiment of the Gardes du Corps or of the Guard Cuirassier Regiment, at the Döberitz training ground in 1908. Photographer: Franz Tellgmann/ Mühlhausen.

The cuirassier officers also wore the koller.

This was made of white satin or duffel or kersey or Eskimo.

It was a skirted coat with fifteen hooks and eyes, so it was not fastened with buttons.

The collar was cut in a curved shape, flatly rounded at the front. It was of the base cloth but had colored collar patches. These were not to occupy more than 3/8 of the total width of the collar.

The aforementioned patches, the Swedish sleeve cuffs, the facings at the sleeve and back seams as well as at the pocket welts, and the lining under the epaulettes showed the respective regimental badge color.

While the koller of the ranks had braid trimming down the front, on the collar and on the sleeve cuffs, the officers' koller displayed a patterned braid here.

This was gold or silver, depending on the color of the respective buttons.

The braid showed two silk stripes in the corresponding badge color.

The braid was to be applied to the koller so that 0.3 cm of the base color remained visible at the sides.

The yellow or silver buttons were domed.

The koller had a white skirt lining; the lining of the sleeves was light-colored.

In Cuirassier Regiment No. 1 the collar patches, cuffs, epaulette holders/lining were of velvet.

In this unit the skirt lining was also made of black cloth.

When mounted, the skirts were allowed to be hooked up, but not during parades.

Highly decorated staff officer of the cuirassiers. Original KAB.
Highly decorated staff officer of the cuirassiers. Original KAB.
Staff officer from the Cuirassier Regiment von Seydlitz (Magdeburg) No. 7 (Halberstadt/ Quedlingburg). Photographer: Wilhelm Thieme/ Halberstadt.
Staff officer from the Cuirassier Regiment von Seydlitz (Magdeburg) No. 7 (Halberstadt/ Quedlingburg). Photographer: Wilhelm Thieme/ Halberstadt.
Cuirassier officer of a line regiment in service dress. Original studio photograph. Around 1900. Photographer:
Cuirassier officer of a line regiment in service dress. Original studio photograph. Around 1900. Photographer:
Officer of the heavy Landwehr cavalry in the uniform of the cuirassiers. Studio photograph around 1880. Photographer: E. v. Flottwell/ Magdeburg. The heraldic eagle on the helmet displays the Landwehr cross. Since 1858 the Landwehr cavalry wore the corresponding uniform of the line cavalry regiments of the standing army.
Officer of the heavy Landwehr cavalry in the uniform of the cuirassiers. Studio photograph around 1880. Photographer: E. v. Flottwell/ Magdeburg. The heraldic eagle on the helmet displays the Landwehr cross. Since 1858 the Landwehr cavalry wore the corresponding uniform of the line cavalry regiments of the standing army.

Source: Clothing regulations for the officers and medical officers of the Royal Prussian Army (Berlin 1906).

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