Standschütze Bruggler

[Lost Skeleton]

I just finished watching a Nazi propaganda film from 1936 entitled Standschütze Bruggler. Ostensibly, a right of passage narrative recounting the transformation of "Toni Bruggler" from boy to hero (played out against the backdrop of the Alpine War), the film also strives to promote German-Austrian solidarity two years before Anschluß. In the rousing finale, German Alpine troops (presumably Bavarian) come to the rescue of the beseiged Tiroleans at the commencement of a big Italian push.

From a production standpoint, the costuming was extremely accurate. I don't know whether anyone can confirm this, but the Germans apparently wore Edelweiss on their Helmet covers. Attached are a few image captures.

Chas.

 

[Rendsburg]

Hi Chas,
Yes, they are with edelweiss on the covers.
Otto

 

[Tony without Kaiser]

I don't know whether anyone can confirm this, but the Germans apparently wore Edelweiss on their Helmet covers.

Based only on the film Chas? I have never seen a photo of any tradition badge being worn on an Uberzug, nor have I ever seen this mentioned in any reference?

 

[Lost Skeleton]

Hi Otto:

For the purposes of the film, it is unquestionably Edelweiss. To rephrase, can anyone confirm WW1 German mountain troops officially wore the Edelweiss badge on Pickelhaube Überzüge? The design is quite similar to the version worn on Bergmützen.

For that matter, did the Germans actually wear Pickelhauben in the Alps?

Certainly, the uniform and period photograph collectors should have an opinion.

Chas.

 

[Lost Skeleton]

Hi Tony:

I was typing when your reply appeared. Likewise, I have never seen any evidence supporting this. Perhaps, the wardrobe director merely thought it would look impressive. The Wehrmacht did not adopt the badge until May 1939, so it is not a question of revisionism.

I know some of us have accoutrement bearing film and theater property department stamps. Standschütze Bruggler offers a glimpse at how these were utilized.

 

[Glennj]

Tony, Chas,

Kraus (volume 1, page 246) states that the Edelweißabzeichen was worn on the helmet "on the left hand side above the cockade". Presumably on the Überzug? I don't recall seeing any photograph of this insignia in use on the helmet but will check the history of the Infanterie-Leibregiment which served in the Tyrol in the summer of 1915 and other A-H histories of the period.

The only personnel I have seen wearing the Pickelhaube at this time in the alps were people of the status of Generals Krafft von Delmensingen and Ritter von Tutschek.

Regards
Glenn

 

[Lost Skeleton]

Thanks, Glenn:

The text appears on page 243 of the English edition of Kraus, but indicates the abzeichen was "worn on the left side of the cap, on the cap band."

I would appear a "Spielfilm," even if it's German, can be prone to the same artistic license as its Hollywood counterpart. Every German in Standschütze Bruggler can be seen wearing a Pickelhaube (otherwise, they would look just like the Austrians).

Chas.

 

[Glennj]

Chas,

the text regarding the Mütze is on the same page in the German language edition of the recent Kraus. I was referring to the earlier Biblio Verlag two volume Kraus on uniforms. He mentions in that both the helment and the Mütze.

Looking through the ILR history and other stuff, it appears that the ILR wore in the main a peaked Feldmütze during the summer 1915 fighting in the Dolomites.

Regards
Glenn