SkipperJohn
Well-known member
By 1813 Prussia had enough of Napoleon Bonaparte and during the War of the Sixth Coalition the Prussians fought back. The Prussians referred to their part in the Sixth Coalition as the “Befreiungskriege” or the Wars of Liberation. A new National Pride had broken out and Frederick William III, who involved Prussia in the disastrous Fourth Coalition, needed to answer this new wave of patriotism. The Landwehr was first formed in Prussia by a royal edict of 17 March 1813. The Iron Cross and the Prussian motto “Mit Gott Fur Koenig und Vaterland” were also first adopted at this time. All men, not already serving in the army, between 18 and 45 years of age, and capable of bearing arms, were called into service for the defense of the country. On 21 April 1813 a further royal edict formed the Landsturm. The Landwehr adopted a leather and oilcloth Tschako bearing the new iron cross emblem which incorporated the new motto and the date, 1813. This eventually developed into the Landwehr oilcloth Schirmmutze which became familiar during the Great War. This is an extremely rare version of the original 1813 Landwehr Tschako:
This Tschako is made of leather which is varied in thickness. The crown is made of thick, hard leather as is the visor. The headband is made of thick leather as well, but is much more supple. The entire Tschako is tightly covered with oilcloth.
Overall this Tschako is rather homely in appearance. It seems that it’s purpose was strictly utilitarian.
The crown is thick leather and is very hard.
The upper portion of this Tschako is fully padded with layers of woven leather straps. This padding is about 6cm thick. This was said to provide “Schutz gegen Saebelhiebe” or protection against saber cuts. There is leather sewn on the inside of the Tschako that covers the woven leather straps. The padded upper portion is sewn to an extremely wide headband, 8.5cm.
The Landwehr Kreuz is 63mm and is non-magnetic. It is silver in color, probably nickel, and is held in place by bent posts. The posts cannot be seen because they are in the padded portion of the Tschako; however, a part of one post is visible and it is round with a diameter of about 1.5mm. The cross does not appear to have ever been removed from the Tschako.
A portion of the original oilskin had become stuck to the Landwehr cross and had separated from the Tschako at some point in it’s lifetime when the cross got bent or became dislodged.
A leather liner is sewn to the inside of the Tschako. There does not appear to have been an inner linen liner sewn to the leather liner. Apparently the head rested on the lower padded portion of the upper crown.
The liner shows wear and original stitching.
The stitching around the inner woven leather strap cover has never been touched.
The Tschako measures 6" tall when sitting on a flat surface. It is shown with a M1910 Saxon Schirmmutze and a M1895 Prussian Pickelhaube for a size comparison.
What this Tschako lacks in beauty is more than made up for in it's rarity.
The Landwehr existed in Germany until the end of World War II; but this guy started it all:
A few notes about collecting from this period:
100 years after the Napoleonic Wars ended centennial celebrations took place throughout Europe. Germany was no exception. There were parades, festivities, and reenactment groups that celebrated the end of hostilities. These festivities occurred during the heyday of Pickelhaube manufacturing. Many uniform items were reproduced during this period which were collectively called "Centenar Anfertigung" or centennial copy, and many were very accurate. These copies have confused collectors for years. There is a market for Centenar Anfertigungen but the difference in cost between a centennial copy from 1913 and an original item from 1813 is substantial, to say the least. Here are a few things that I have learned that may help anyone interested:
1. Tongued liners were used on Napoleonic pieces apparently as early as 1810 but they did not look like the liner in a M95 Pickelhaube. The tongues were often cut in a triangle and were often of different widths. They were not uniform in appearance. If the liner looks like a model 1895 liner it's probably an Anfertigung.
2. The leather on original pieces was not tanned in the same fashion as leather was tanned in 1895. It is darker and not as refined.
3. In 1813 they made a Tschako that looked like a Schirmmutze. In 1913 they made a Schirmmutze that looked like a Tschako.
4. The Centenar Anfertigungen were produced for reenactments, festivities, celebrations, and parades. They were not produced for actual combat. The most telling part of the Tschako mentioned above is the padded upper portion that protects against saber cuts. This speaks volumes towards originality. Copies would have no reason to incorporate this padding.
5. Copies were often over-exaggerated in size or features. It is true that Napoleonic pieces are very large but many copies are even larger. This is shown in a postcard from 1913 showing a reenactment group. I especially like the 3' wide tricorn being worn by the guy on the left.
John
This Tschako is made of leather which is varied in thickness. The crown is made of thick, hard leather as is the visor. The headband is made of thick leather as well, but is much more supple. The entire Tschako is tightly covered with oilcloth.
Overall this Tschako is rather homely in appearance. It seems that it’s purpose was strictly utilitarian.
The crown is thick leather and is very hard.
The upper portion of this Tschako is fully padded with layers of woven leather straps. This padding is about 6cm thick. This was said to provide “Schutz gegen Saebelhiebe” or protection against saber cuts. There is leather sewn on the inside of the Tschako that covers the woven leather straps. The padded upper portion is sewn to an extremely wide headband, 8.5cm.
The Landwehr Kreuz is 63mm and is non-magnetic. It is silver in color, probably nickel, and is held in place by bent posts. The posts cannot be seen because they are in the padded portion of the Tschako; however, a part of one post is visible and it is round with a diameter of about 1.5mm. The cross does not appear to have ever been removed from the Tschako.
A portion of the original oilskin had become stuck to the Landwehr cross and had separated from the Tschako at some point in it’s lifetime when the cross got bent or became dislodged.
A leather liner is sewn to the inside of the Tschako. There does not appear to have been an inner linen liner sewn to the leather liner. Apparently the head rested on the lower padded portion of the upper crown.
The liner shows wear and original stitching.
The stitching around the inner woven leather strap cover has never been touched.
The Tschako measures 6" tall when sitting on a flat surface. It is shown with a M1910 Saxon Schirmmutze and a M1895 Prussian Pickelhaube for a size comparison.
What this Tschako lacks in beauty is more than made up for in it's rarity.
The Landwehr existed in Germany until the end of World War II; but this guy started it all:
A few notes about collecting from this period:
100 years after the Napoleonic Wars ended centennial celebrations took place throughout Europe. Germany was no exception. There were parades, festivities, and reenactment groups that celebrated the end of hostilities. These festivities occurred during the heyday of Pickelhaube manufacturing. Many uniform items were reproduced during this period which were collectively called "Centenar Anfertigung" or centennial copy, and many were very accurate. These copies have confused collectors for years. There is a market for Centenar Anfertigungen but the difference in cost between a centennial copy from 1913 and an original item from 1813 is substantial, to say the least. Here are a few things that I have learned that may help anyone interested:
1. Tongued liners were used on Napoleonic pieces apparently as early as 1810 but they did not look like the liner in a M95 Pickelhaube. The tongues were often cut in a triangle and were often of different widths. They were not uniform in appearance. If the liner looks like a model 1895 liner it's probably an Anfertigung.
2. The leather on original pieces was not tanned in the same fashion as leather was tanned in 1895. It is darker and not as refined.
3. In 1813 they made a Tschako that looked like a Schirmmutze. In 1913 they made a Schirmmutze that looked like a Tschako.
4. The Centenar Anfertigungen were produced for reenactments, festivities, celebrations, and parades. They were not produced for actual combat. The most telling part of the Tschako mentioned above is the padded upper portion that protects against saber cuts. This speaks volumes towards originality. Copies would have no reason to incorporate this padding.
5. Copies were often over-exaggerated in size or features. It is true that Napoleonic pieces are very large but many copies are even larger. This is shown in a postcard from 1913 showing a reenactment group. I especially like the 3' wide tricorn being worn by the guy on the left.
John