Hessian Shako

R

reservist1

Member
Unusual photograph.

http://cgi.ebay.com/German-WWI-Hessian-Shako-belt-Buckle-Rifle-88-Photo_W0QQitemZ6622363385QQcategoryZ13965QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Reservist1
 
Extremely unusual R1. Does anyone have an explanation for this soldat wearing a Hessen M15 shako??? Landwehr?? Brian
 
Saw a Hessian Landwehr pc recently, who was wearing an M1860 Schako which had a large Landwehr Kreuz on the front. Only recognized him as a Hessian by his belt buckle.
 
This arrived today. The controversy if you just tuned in is Hessian Shako??? Were there any Hessian Shakos? This one looks like an M15 type wappen. The back is blank.

Hessian_Shako.jpg

Hessian_Shako_1.jpg
 
Yes, well I was the high bidder on that for a few days ........ :angry8:

Oh well........ :pale:

I can find no reference to explain this. Hessen Landwehr (Landsturm?) appear in photos wearing a M1860 Tschako with a HUGE EK on the front as George said, no round plate underneath, almost Hussar Busby size it seems. This is the third photo I have seen of a Tschako with a Hessen Wappen. In most cases, you can see that Hessen buckle as George mentioned. I think it is very difficult to say if it is grey M15 or brass pre-war.

Great photo Joe, not very common to find. :thumbleft:
 
A great picture at any rate Joe. I lusted after it as well when I spotted it on ebay. Imagine what one of these shakos would sell for today??? Without fotos such as these, everyone would probably think it was faked!! Hmmmm...I think some wise collector guru told me one time that if it is not shown in the original fotos then there is no proof that it actually existed???? Brian
 
Thanks guys! I'm just glad we have this forum to share this. We only know half the puzzle. We know someone wore this shako. We do not know who or what unit. The idiot should have mailed it and made it easy on us!!!! There is no date and he does not have landsturm bn numbers on his collar. Any good ideas?
 
A guess..... 18th Train Bn.

I believe the Hessian Train Bn. wore a shako until about the turn of the 20th century when the shako was replaced with a standard spike helmet.

The photo is pretty clearly early war time. When the German army mobilized there were many new companies formed and added to existing units. Train Bns. would have seen a large influx of personnel because during peace time Train units were kept at greatly reduced troop strength levels. The reason the fellow is wearing the shako could just be the result of there not being enough helmets to go around for all the new personnel and someone decided to take shakos out of storage and put them to use until standard helmets were acquired.

Like I said, just a guess.

Reservist1
 
Tony brought up huge crosses. I think this is a picture but more questions arose. I do not know the date and no it was not mailed.
Hessianshakocross_1.jpg

These shakos have a large back visor and either a field badge or a cockade. So maybe before 1897? Does anyone know what the post office shako looked like?
Hessianshakocross_2.jpg

On these 2 guys (and the middle guy above) you can see an odd collar device.
Hessianshakocross_3.jpg


So I'm all ears ---- Hessian Landsturm from 18??????
Hessianshakocross_4.jpg
 
joerookery said:
Does anyone know what the post office shako looked like?
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Really this is no joke. My notes indicate the IR 236 Used post office hats and uniforms.......
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That is why I did not understand your question Joe, all post office officials as far as I know, from all contingents wore a Schirmmutze, not a Tschako. Where did you read that IR 236 Used post office hats and uniforms? This seems absolutely bizarre? Post office caps are blue with bright orange band and piping, tunics were like Litewkas. Seems very odd?
 
Where did you read that IR 236 Used post office hats and uniforms?
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First of all my error it should be RIR236. The next statement will encourage everyone to throw rocks at me. I don't know!
In my notes I have some items about uniform anamolies in several RIRs. I did not indicate where the heck I got this from. I know I'm an idiot on this but I just do not know. I wish I did!

My notes say RIR 236 had all kinds of different equippment on mobilization that they took to the field. Police and fire helmets were the mainstay and Post office and railroad provided the greatcoats. I can back this up with nothing.
 
Saw a Hessian Landwehr pc recently, who was wearing an M1860 Schako which had a large Landwehr Kreuz on the front. Only recognized him as a Hessian by his belt buckle.
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Joe, the Hessian Landwehr soldier I mentioned earlier was wearing a schako identical to these two Landwehr soldiers. These fellows are not Hessians by the appearance of their belt buckles. Some one help me out if I have it wrong, but having seen this type schako only once in a color photo, I believe the oval shield behind the Landwehr cross was in the State colors(?). I noticed a very nice example in the live auction that ended recently (that was mentioned in another thread), the colors were red the inner color and gold the outer color, I assume for Baden.




The crosses in your latest pc are new to me, I may not have taken a notice before, but I believe this is the first time I saw this type of plate on a Landwehr schako.
 
George I know nothing about those evil shakos but I a being drawn in. Look at the guy on the left and where is his right hand??? Coat is a bit big and at his age he won't grow into it.
 
HA! Never noticed the righthand before, only that he had a lot of stuff in both mantel pockets.

Some day I would like to have one of these schakos in my collection. I wonder what might the next type of Landwehr schako we all come across be, the combinations sometimes seem endless!

Geo
 
Wyliecoyote said:
I wonder what might the next type of Landwehr schako we all come across be, the combinations sometimes seem endless!
Geo
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I have "harvested" some of the photos from you guys, I did not think you would mind, so I could start a thread on Landwehr Tschako here>>
http://pickelhaubes.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=10588#10588
 
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