The uniforms of the Old Prussian infantry in the year 1729.

The Dessau specifications of 1729 and 1737 are princely birthday presents, namely from Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Dessau (03.07.1676 in Dessau; † 09.04.1747 there) to King Frederick William I. (reigned 1713-40).

The photos shown here come from a black-and-white photo series of the presumably last existing copy of the original, made by the artist Fresenius (1902) and last held in the Bleckwenn/Münster archive and now in the respective foundation of the Military History Museum/Rastatt of the Bundeswehr.

The aforementioned photo series probably dates from 1958 and was placed at the author's free disposal by Dr. Bleckwenn.

The photographs were taken by the photographer Gerhard Wiedemann (Berlin).

The explanatory texts following the individual illustrations are by Richard Knötel in his Mittheilungen zur Geschichte der militärischen Tracht.

For the uniforming of the Old Prussian infantry in this period reference is additionally made to the separate contribution: The Prussian Army under Frederick William I (1713 - 40) - Chapter 16 - The colorful coat (The Infantry).

With the Dessau Specification of 1729 (DS 29) we have the oldest pictorial series representation of the Old Prussian army. Besides the regimental-historical texts, which served as model and basis for all further regimental lists of the Prussian army in the 18th and 19th centuries, the Dessau Specification of 1729 also established the tradition of schematic uniform depiction, as opposed to figurative representation. The DS 29 listed, besides the cuirassiers and dragoons, 31 regiments on foot (infantry), which formed the core of the Old Prussian army.

In addition to the already mentioned regimental-historical texts, for each regiment the corresponding field sign (flag or standard) and the uniform of the rank-and-file were depicted; in the case of the infantry the coat, the waistcoat and the headgear, for the musketeer regiments (No. 1 - No. 27) the hat, for the fusilier regiments the fusilier cap. In addition to the hat or the fusilier cap the corresponding grenadier cap is also shown.

The infantry coat had a dark blue base color and in most regiments was equipped with turnbacks (also called flaps). No. 3, 5 and 21 had coats without turnbacks. The collar appears in only three regiments, namely No. 3, 6 (the King’s Regiment) and 30.

The sleeve cuff is primarily the round, closed so-called Prussian sleeve cuff, which in plain form is worn by half of the regiments; the remaining regiments either have a sleeve flap, which has red edging, or various and colored braid- and bow-trim.

The color "red" dominates the regimental insignia. Turnbacks, sleeve cuffs and collars — if present — are mostly red; only regiment No. 12 has turnbacks and sleeve cuffs that are (light) paille, while No. 1 carries these in white. No. 21 has dark blue sleeve cuffs (no turnbacks!) and No. 29 has coats that show a dark blue sleeve cuff and dark blue turnbacks.

The skirt turnbacks are consistently red, thus showing the (darker) red of the coat lining. They are generally held by a cloth patch. Some regiments have a cloth patch, others simply a button. Since the regiments are thus very similar, the principal differences in uniforming consist of differing and variously colored or patterned bow- and braid-trim.

Many regiments have a similar distribution of bows; the following trim is common in a number of regiments: two bows under the turnbacks and one bow at the waist. Added more frequently are two bows on the sleeve cuffs.

Two regiments, namely No. 22 and No. 29, have edged turnbacks.

In addition to the coat the waistcoat is also depicted, which is either red, ochre-paille or white. Twelve regiments have red waistcoats, ten regiments paille waistcoats, while the remaining nine regiments have white waistcoats. The number of buttons is 12 and 14, with the number 12 predominating. Only the King’s Regiment has merely 6 buttons on the waistcoat. Interestingly, one regiment, namely No. 10, has a waistcoat edged in white that is otherwise red. The waistcoat also bears 12 white bows (Litzen), which is exceptional. In three regiments the waistcoat sleeves are pulled over the coat sleeve (No. 21, 29 and 31).

The braids or bows are differently patterned and variously colored, yet we often find white braids or bows, or the color combination white and red.

By the way, the buttons on the coats are always yellow.

The black hat is bordered in white (yellow in the King’s Regiment).

An important regimental insignia is the hat plume, which is generally identical to that of the grenadier cap. In DS 29 the cord and tassels are in part not shown. Otherwise these are mostly colored to match the colors of the hat plume.

For the grenadier caps the shield, the wreath, the bag, the braid and the plume are to be noted as distinguishing features. Only the King’s Regiment already has a full metal shield (and likewise a closed wreath).

In the other regiments the metal fittings are backed with fabric; here again the color red predominates (also white and ochre-paille; No. 12 and 31 have a blue fabric backing). The color of the wreath is not always identical with that of the shield. Likewise the color palette of the cap bag is richer; besides red, white and paille the colors blue and yellow appear here.

For the plume of the grenadier cap see the remarks above.

The DS 29 is an important source on the uniforming of the Old Prussian army for the period from 1713 to 1740.

The manuscript reveals the change the Prussian army underwent in form and cut since the stylistic break (1718).

The following manuscript, the Dessau Specification of 1737 (DS 37), shows besides the uniform of the rank-and-file also the officer, the drummer and the non-commissioned officer.

Since for the period after 1740 substantially more contemporary sources exist than for the period before 1740, the value of these two uniform series cannot be valued highly enough.