German Reichsgendarme EM Pickelhaube M1895

RON

RON

Well-known member
Hope everyone's having a good weekend?
I recently bought this nice pickelhaube from AOK. Although it is not military per se or wartime, I couldn't resist the looks on that Reichsadler...
It is a German Reichsgendarme EM Pickelhaube marked to the 18th unit (R.G. 18) and worn mostly in the Alsace-Lorraine province post-1871.
I know some of you have this one already--I remember seeing at least 1 post with similar photos but I can't seem to find any--and would love to learn more about it... Like for instance, is this an M1895 like I'm assuming it is?
I doesn't seem there are other markings inside but I'm guessing this one served until 1915?
Here are the seller's photos until I make some of my own:
GermanReichsgendarmeUnit18EMPickelhaubeM1895a.jpg

GermanReichsgendarmeUnit18EMPickelhaubeM1895b.jpg

GermanReichsgendarmeUnit18EMPickelhaubeM1895c-1.jpg

GermanReichsgendarmeUnit18EMPickelhaubeM1895d.jpg

GermanReichsgendarmeUnit18EMPickelhaubeM1895f.jpg

GermanReichsgendarmeUnit18EMPickelhaubeM1895g.jpg


GermanReichsgendarmeUnit18EMPickelhaubeM1895e.jpg
 
Nice helmet!

Now to stir the pot – there has been significant discussion about the RG and the LG forces. I have added to the misinformation by stating rather emphatically that the LG and the RG were police nonmilitary. I am changing my position. Now this should give the "absolute school" some fodder but here is a draft of the draft manuscript for our next book.

The Landgendarmerie existed in peace-time as a kind of a special military police patrolling the countryside particularly around big garrisons. The Landgendarmerie belonged to the military and her members were considered Militärpersonen. The Landgendarmerie was overseen by the War Ministries infantry deparment (A2), officers and NCOs were recruited from the army, NCOs could sign-up with the Landgendarmerie after at least nine years of military service. Concerning their police task the Landgendarmerie was overseen by the Ministry of the Interior in Prussia, Württemberg and Bavaria. In Württemberg they were called Landjäger, in Bavaria the Gendarme-riekorps. The Gendarmeriebrigade in Alsace and Lorraine was commanded by the Imperial Governor in Straßburg. Each corps district had a Landgendarmerie-Brigade which did not have brigade strength. The Landgendarmerie were listed in the Rangliste. They were accounted and budgeted for directly by the War Ministry.
Click to expand...


ps3187 by joerookery, on Flickr
 
Very nice haube RON! just curious, what about this helmet made you break away from your M15 "obsession?" and when I say "obsession," i mean that in the best possible way! 8-)
 
Thanks for your comments guys!
Hi Joe: So you're saying that this helmet is actually military? Even better! M1895 correct? Do we know till when these served in this shape/configuration? Did they switch them to gray steel past 1915?
Hello Chris: You're right, I do try to focus on wartime toys but I also have a thing for Colonial headgear and this would be my first Reichsadler... One day hopefully I'll manage to buy me a nice East Asia Tropenhelm... :-"
 
Ronny,

I really don't know what happened to these brigades during wartime. It seems to me that they would have been raided heavily for manpower. I have never seen a gray colored helmet for any of these guys. Regularly in the LG you see a lot of older helmets that are sort of hand-me-downs.
 
Generally the Gendarmerie was active outside of the larger towns (which had their own police force). Each state organized the Gendarmerie differently. For example in Saxony the Gendarms were civil servants (Beamte) instead of members of the military. In Alsace/L. the Gendarmerie was referred to as Kaiserliche Reichsgendarmerie (a single brigade I think) because of the special status of the state.

Normally the Gendarmerie would not take over military services but they did do border patrolling. I remember reading though that specially in Alsace/L. some Gendarmerie forces provided an advance guard in the first days of the war, and actually participated in fights.
 
Gentlemen,
What would be the difference between the (regular M95 military type) spike on my helmet above, and the police type on the (otherwise same) helmet in the following link? (please scroll down towards the middle of the page) :-k
 
Great helmet Ron. I am a bit confused by the subsequent discussion due to Joe's stirring the pot. My impression was that Joe was describing LG organization, duties etc. NOT RG which is what Rons' helmet is marked to. I have always thought of RG as border guards and perhaps customs officials. Note that besides its destinctive Reichs Wappen the helme only has one kokarde...a Reichs. If we look at the interior pic, the spike seems to be a removable one ie it unscrews. Did these guys wear a parade trichter??
 
Here's a couple of French period PCs that I found on the net taken at the exact same France - Elass-Lothringen border crossing as my PC above. These clearly show German Customs officials in addtion to the same Reichsgendarmerie Wachtmeister in both photos with a helmet similar to mine:
GermanReichsgendarmeUnit18EMPickelhaubeM1895h.jpg

GermanReichsgendarmeUnit18EMPickelhaubeM1895g-1.jpg
 
RON, Nice helmet! I saw that too, after you'd gotten it (no, wasn't planning on buying it. :) )

All: Nice discussion! Very interesting.

:D Ron
 
Great helmet Ron. I am a bit confused by the subsequent discussion due to Joe's stirring the pot. My impression was that Joe was describing LG organization, duties etc. NOT RG which is what Rons' helmet is marked to. I have always thought of RG as border guards and perhaps customs officials. Note that besides its destinctive Reichs Wappen the helme only has one kokarde...a Reichs. If we look at the interior pic, the spike seems to be a removable one ie it unscrews. Did these guys wear a parade trichter??
Click to expand...
Joe, perhaps you can add some clarity to this? I thought that generally there was no imperial Gendarmerie (RG) active in the individual states. They had their own Gendarmerie (LG) which also controlled their borders. Only in the state of Elsaß/Lothringen I think the Reichsgendarmerie was established, because this state had a special status and was subordinate directly to the empire.

Robert
 
Robert,

Exactly. RG was the LG brigade in Alsace-Lorraine. The residue of these guys were funded by the military. I am still working on Saxony. Not overly clear there. But everywhere else it is as you described it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top