Anyone up for a another long-winded Treatise on an obscure observation?
I would like to address the common belief that when a new model of
Pickelhaube came out, the older helmets were immediately superceded by the
newer model.
What I am proposing is this: I believe that helmets in Line Regts
were often used long past the declared issue of a newer model, due to newly
introduced models of helmets taking considerably longer to issue than is
generally accepted.
Discussion:
Case 1. My favorite German artist, is Herr Carl Röchling (1855-1920). He
traveled with the North-German confederation during the Franco-Preußen war
and his paintings are acknowledged to be some of the most vivid and accurate
of that conflict. I had the pleasure of seeing many of the original paintings on my
last visit to Rastatt in 2004, and although I was actually searching for the
proliferation of the M1867 Waffenrock in the paintings, I started to notice
that the vast majority of men in the paintings of the Franco-Preußen war,
are wearing M1860 Pickelhauben. Theoretically, the M1860 was replaced in
1867, but the M1867 are rarely depicted in Röchling's work. Why? This suggests
that while some units wore the M1867, possibly the majority wore the M1860.
The Carl Röchling painting below is of the 1. Garde-Regt. zu Fuß attack on Saint Privat 18
Aug 1870. One would expect that as the senior Regt in the Preußen army, the
1. Garde-Regt. zu Fuß would be issued new equipment first; but look at the
photo. Men are depicted wearing a mix of M1860 and M1867 helmets, when the
M1860 was supposedly replaced in 1867.
Case 2. Below is a scan of a larger photo of one of the Battalions from
Grenadier-Regt. Königin Olga (1.Württembergisches) Nr.119 which I am using
here for educational purposes from the superb reference Hermann, R, Nguyen,
J, & Bernert, R. (2003) Unifromen der deutschen Infanterie 1888 bis 1914 in
Farbe Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart.
Grenadier-Regt. Königin Olga (1.Württembergisches) Nr.119 was the premier
Regt in Württemberg. Once again one would assume that this Regt would be
issued new equipment first, but look at the photo!
http://www.kaisersbunker.com/pe/model1.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The photo was taken after 1897 as the Reich's Kokarde is visible on the
Mützen, yet the men are still wearing M1887 Pickelhauben as the unique chinstrap
is clearly visible. They are also wearing the M1871 double-breasted
Waffenrock which was supposedly worn only until 1889 when the Preußen
pattern was adopted. Yet here is the premier Württemberg Regt, some time
after 1897, wearing a helmet supposedly replaced in 1891 and a Waffenrock
supposedly replaced in 1889?
Case 3. The photo below is of the rear visor of a Model 1871 Preußen
Eisenbahn Regt (Railway) Mannschaften Pickelhaube. One of the issue dates
shown is clearly 1893. This helmet hypothetically was replaced in 1891 (if the M1887 was Infantry only), yet
it was issued to a Line Eisenbahn Regt in 1893.
Case 4. The photo below is of the rear visor of a M1867 Hessen
Mannschaften Pickelhaube. Note the unit stamp for Leib-Dragoner-Regt. (1.
Großherzoglich Hessisches) Nr.23. References state that the 1.
Großherzoglich Hessisches Garde Dragoner Regt wore a Pickelhaube with gilt
fittings until it was incorporated in the German Empire order of battle 1871
as Dragoner Regt Nr. 23 and the helmet fittings were changed to silver. The
helmet below, has of course, gilt fittings. Not silver, and it is clearly
marked DR23.
Note also the stamp of 1885. The first two numbers 18 are a
single stamp, the 8 and 5 are stamped on individually, (the 8 was stamped
upside down!) Is this date a later date stamp when the helmet was re-issued
to an infantry Regt and DR23 did receive silver fitted helmets? Or were
Squadrons in DR23 still wearing gilt fittings as late as 1885?
Summary
It is common to encounter a helmet where the issue stamp are past the date
when a newer model of helmet was introduced. In regards to new issues,
anyone who has served in an Armed Forces should be able to testify to the
lengthy procurement process for new equipment. I am suggesting that the
discussion above leads to the following three possible conclusions;
1. Issue dates do not necessarily indicate the issue of older helmets to
Landwehr, but rather that helmets in Line Regts were often used as long as
they could be used;
2. Newer models of helmets often did not arrive until many years after the
model date until adequate numbers could be manufactured; and
3. Finally, addressing the assumption that when new Regts were
raised, they received the older equipment of senior Regts, and the senior
Regts received new equipment. I believe this is not true. I believe that
existing Regts retained the equipment they had until it was gradually
replaced, and that it was actually the newly raised Regts that received the
most current equipment which would have been coming directly from
manufacturers.
I would like to address the common belief that when a new model of
Pickelhaube came out, the older helmets were immediately superceded by the
newer model.
What I am proposing is this: I believe that helmets in Line Regts
were often used long past the declared issue of a newer model, due to newly
introduced models of helmets taking considerably longer to issue than is
generally accepted.
Discussion:
Case 1. My favorite German artist, is Herr Carl Röchling (1855-1920). He
traveled with the North-German confederation during the Franco-Preußen war
and his paintings are acknowledged to be some of the most vivid and accurate
of that conflict. I had the pleasure of seeing many of the original paintings on my
last visit to Rastatt in 2004, and although I was actually searching for the
proliferation of the M1867 Waffenrock in the paintings, I started to notice
that the vast majority of men in the paintings of the Franco-Preußen war,
are wearing M1860 Pickelhauben. Theoretically, the M1860 was replaced in
1867, but the M1867 are rarely depicted in Röchling's work. Why? This suggests
that while some units wore the M1867, possibly the majority wore the M1860.
The Carl Röchling painting below is of the 1. Garde-Regt. zu Fuß attack on Saint Privat 18
Aug 1870. One would expect that as the senior Regt in the Preußen army, the
1. Garde-Regt. zu Fuß would be issued new equipment first; but look at the
photo. Men are depicted wearing a mix of M1860 and M1867 helmets, when the
M1860 was supposedly replaced in 1867.
Case 2. Below is a scan of a larger photo of one of the Battalions from
Grenadier-Regt. Königin Olga (1.Württembergisches) Nr.119 which I am using
here for educational purposes from the superb reference Hermann, R, Nguyen,
J, & Bernert, R. (2003) Unifromen der deutschen Infanterie 1888 bis 1914 in
Farbe Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart.
Grenadier-Regt. Königin Olga (1.Württembergisches) Nr.119 was the premier
Regt in Württemberg. Once again one would assume that this Regt would be
issued new equipment first, but look at the photo!
http://www.kaisersbunker.com/pe/model1.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The photo was taken after 1897 as the Reich's Kokarde is visible on the
Mützen, yet the men are still wearing M1887 Pickelhauben as the unique chinstrap
is clearly visible. They are also wearing the M1871 double-breasted
Waffenrock which was supposedly worn only until 1889 when the Preußen
pattern was adopted. Yet here is the premier Württemberg Regt, some time
after 1897, wearing a helmet supposedly replaced in 1891 and a Waffenrock
supposedly replaced in 1889?
Case 3. The photo below is of the rear visor of a Model 1871 Preußen
Eisenbahn Regt (Railway) Mannschaften Pickelhaube. One of the issue dates
shown is clearly 1893. This helmet hypothetically was replaced in 1891 (if the M1887 was Infantry only), yet
it was issued to a Line Eisenbahn Regt in 1893.
Case 4. The photo below is of the rear visor of a M1867 Hessen
Mannschaften Pickelhaube. Note the unit stamp for Leib-Dragoner-Regt. (1.
Großherzoglich Hessisches) Nr.23. References state that the 1.
Großherzoglich Hessisches Garde Dragoner Regt wore a Pickelhaube with gilt
fittings until it was incorporated in the German Empire order of battle 1871
as Dragoner Regt Nr. 23 and the helmet fittings were changed to silver. The
helmet below, has of course, gilt fittings. Not silver, and it is clearly
marked DR23.
Note also the stamp of 1885. The first two numbers 18 are a
single stamp, the 8 and 5 are stamped on individually, (the 8 was stamped
upside down!) Is this date a later date stamp when the helmet was re-issued
to an infantry Regt and DR23 did receive silver fitted helmets? Or were
Squadrons in DR23 still wearing gilt fittings as late as 1885?
Summary
It is common to encounter a helmet where the issue stamp are past the date
when a newer model of helmet was introduced. In regards to new issues,
anyone who has served in an Armed Forces should be able to testify to the
lengthy procurement process for new equipment. I am suggesting that the
discussion above leads to the following three possible conclusions;
1. Issue dates do not necessarily indicate the issue of older helmets to
Landwehr, but rather that helmets in Line Regts were often used as long as
they could be used;
2. Newer models of helmets often did not arrive until many years after the
model date until adequate numbers could be manufactured; and
3. Finally, addressing the assumption that when new Regts were
raised, they received the older equipment of senior Regts, and the senior
Regts received new equipment. I believe this is not true. I believe that
existing Regts retained the equipment they had until it was gradually
replaced, and that it was actually the newly raised Regts that received the
most current equipment which would have been coming directly from
manufacturers.
