Another find at the S O S 2 Garde Regt zu Fuss
- Thread starter KAGGR#1
- Start date
Steve,
I have never seen the detail on the Imperial German or Prussian Flagpole top until you posted this photo. Yours is fantastic. Are the Battle Honor from 1866 typical on most Imperial German Flags that fought in the different wars up to the First World War? If so, how far do such honors go back to, to Frederick the Great or further?
Thanks,
Johh
I have never seen the detail on the Imperial German or Prussian Flagpole top until you posted this photo. Yours is fantastic. Are the Battle Honor from 1866 typical on most Imperial German Flags that fought in the different wars up to the First World War? If so, how far do such honors go back to, to Frederick the Great or further?
Thanks,
Johh
KAGGR#1
Well-known member
John ;
Nice to see you at the S O S .
Sorry that we did not have more time to talk .
Thanks for your interest in my flag
Flags are another world and IMO the most important thing that a regiment
could have
The flag is from the 2 Garde Regt. zu Fuss / I Batl . The regiment was one that
was under the personal Command of Kaiser Wilhelm II . This is shown on the
long red parade Banner on the flag pole .This is an old regiment and one of the few
German regiments that fought in the War of 1812 .The wooden flag pole that you
see is the same one carried onto the battlefield in 1812 .The Germans consider
the flag pole as the most important part of the total flag . As the silk flags
wore out over the years and the silk flags were replaced with newer flags .
When the new flag was placed on the pole a silver ring was nailed into the
pole with the year date that it was replaced .In the case of this flag it was
replaced under Kaiser Wilhelm II
The top on this flag is one of the very few Grand Cross of the Iron Cross 1813
There is debate as to If they are considered Grand Cross or not
but at any rate there were only 50 + of them awarded to the Regts / Batls
that were in combat in that war
A lot of the Imperial flags were looted by the Russians at the end of WWII
and taken back to Moscow and trooped in their Victory Parade when they
remain today .
The pole has 2 silver sleeves that were made and nailed into the pole
were the pole suffered battle damage .Engraved on the sleeves are the date
that the damage occurred and the location .
Also nailed on the pole is the unit ring which named the regiment and the Batl.
reference the silver plague below the pole top .This was a battle in 1866
where one of the streamers received battle damage . These are rare to find
on a flag pole .The unit saw action again in the Franco -Prussian War .
So the unit would have been awarded the 1870 Grand Cross of the Iron Cross
but it already had the 1813 . In these cases the flag was given a long black
parade banner which has one side of the 1870 Iron Cross attached to the
two long arms of the banner .
There was also a streamer given to each unit that fought in the
Franco -Prussian War of 1870 -71 .There is a special battle honor bar
on these for each battle the unit was in .There are called the 1870 K D M
I do have an 1870 Iron Cross pole top that I can send you photos of
if you want to see.
P M me and send me your email address and I will send you some photos
Kaiser Wilhelm I stated that he wanted a set of books written and published
in the 1890's that told the story of every flag of the standing regiments / Batls
at that time . Every detail of every flag is written
There are 4 vols to the set and I have them
Steve
Nice to see you at the S O S .
Sorry that we did not have more time to talk .
Thanks for your interest in my flag
Flags are another world and IMO the most important thing that a regiment
could have
The flag is from the 2 Garde Regt. zu Fuss / I Batl . The regiment was one that
was under the personal Command of Kaiser Wilhelm II . This is shown on the
long red parade Banner on the flag pole .This is an old regiment and one of the few
German regiments that fought in the War of 1812 .The wooden flag pole that you
see is the same one carried onto the battlefield in 1812 .The Germans consider
the flag pole as the most important part of the total flag . As the silk flags
wore out over the years and the silk flags were replaced with newer flags .
When the new flag was placed on the pole a silver ring was nailed into the
pole with the year date that it was replaced .In the case of this flag it was
replaced under Kaiser Wilhelm II
The top on this flag is one of the very few Grand Cross of the Iron Cross 1813
There is debate as to If they are considered Grand Cross or not
but at any rate there were only 50 + of them awarded to the Regts / Batls
that were in combat in that war
A lot of the Imperial flags were looted by the Russians at the end of WWII
and taken back to Moscow and trooped in their Victory Parade when they
remain today .
The pole has 2 silver sleeves that were made and nailed into the pole
were the pole suffered battle damage .Engraved on the sleeves are the date
that the damage occurred and the location .
Also nailed on the pole is the unit ring which named the regiment and the Batl.
reference the silver plague below the pole top .This was a battle in 1866
where one of the streamers received battle damage . These are rare to find
on a flag pole .The unit saw action again in the Franco -Prussian War .
So the unit would have been awarded the 1870 Grand Cross of the Iron Cross
but it already had the 1813 . In these cases the flag was given a long black
parade banner which has one side of the 1870 Iron Cross attached to the
two long arms of the banner .
There was also a streamer given to each unit that fought in the
Franco -Prussian War of 1870 -71 .There is a special battle honor bar
on these for each battle the unit was in .There are called the 1870 K D M
I do have an 1870 Iron Cross pole top that I can send you photos of
if you want to see.
P M me and send me your email address and I will send you some photos
Kaiser Wilhelm I stated that he wanted a set of books written and published
in the 1890's that told the story of every flag of the standing regiments / Batls
at that time . Every detail of every flag is written
There are 4 vols to the set and I have them
Steve
Steve,
Thank you for the detailed information on the Imperial German Army granting Battle Honors and the various forms bestowed to units based upon previous war service. I knew about the silver bands on battalion and regimental flagstaffs representing other battles and wars a unit fought. However, I didn't know about the symbolism of the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross on unit colors. Look for a pm with my email as I would like to see the 1870 Iron Cross pole top.
Best regards,
John
Thank you for the detailed information on the Imperial German Army granting Battle Honors and the various forms bestowed to units based upon previous war service. I knew about the silver bands on battalion and regimental flagstaffs representing other battles and wars a unit fought. However, I didn't know about the symbolism of the Grand Cross of the Iron Cross on unit colors. Look for a pm with my email as I would like to see the 1870 Iron Cross pole top.
Best regards,
John
Naprawiacz
Well-known member
Steve this is a fantastic item,congratulations! Greetings.
Wojtek
Wojtek
SkipperJohn
Well-known member
Wonderful find!
John
John