Fieldgrey Uniforms and Parts, 1908-1918

[Fritz]

A pair of rear tunic buttons (belt hooks) worn on the M.1915 Bluse or blouse as per the regulations of September 1915. The Bluse had at the front concealed buttons, the only insignia buttons were on the shoulder straps with a company number, the side pockets and the two over the rear vents, serving as belt hooks. These were made of zinc galvanised steel, and were finished in either grey for the previous silver colour, or brown for the previous copper bronze colour.

This set of buttons was obtained from a militaria dealer in the antiques passage in the centre of East Berlin (formerly Clara-Zetkin-Straße) in early 2006. As they are in the grey colour, they can be attributed to either 1.Foot Guards, Garde-Füsilier-Regt., 5. Garde-Regiment zu Fuß, or Garde-Pionier-Bataillon, but as the Garde-Füsilier-Regt. was stationed nearby, it is probable that they can be attributed to this regiment

N.B.: The 1915 tunic or Bluse is often incorrectly referred to as "Feldbluse" in collectors' circles. This latter term only applies to uniforms of the Weimar period and Third Reich. In official period literature this was the "Bluse". The "Bluse" replaced the previous "Waffenrock".

The 1915 pattern buttons had a brown or grey finish in place of the previous gold or silver metal colours, Tombak / Nickel

[Chip]

There were no numbered company buttons proscribed for the Bluse.  The 18mm shoulder and hip pocket buttons were to be of the new universal crown buttons.

[Chip]

Above it states that the Bluse had company numbered buttons on the shoulders. I was pointing out that this was not the case.  Also, the fieldgray and graugrün pattern tunics for enlisted men (foot troops) were the authorized by the Kaiser in 1907 (by A.K.O.) and were codified a few months later by a Kriegsministerium order. There was no 1910 enlisted pattern.  The officer's model was introduced in 1910.

[Chip]

The universal rimless crown buttons were proscribed with orders October 21, 1915. Shoulder and hip pocket buttons continued to be 18mm wide. 

[Chip]

4 hours ago, Fritz said:

There are also examples of the M.15 bluse with the old model buttons, these being brown or grey lacquered iron.

Yes, and I have shown such a Bluse in another thread. It is a 1916 dated Bavarian Bluse with lion buttons, instead of the authorized universal rimless crown buttons.

[Chip]

It is my contention is that the Bavarians just continued to use their hardware stocks on hand for the Bluse in 1916. Once this stock was depleted, they commenced with the use of the universal buttons decreed on March 1916. I have a second Bavarian Bluse dated 1917 and it has the universal crown buttons.

I would enjoy seeing your Bavarian Bluse if you are inclined to show it.

[Fritz]

I intend to do this eventually, when I get around to it. At the time of manufacture these were intended to be fitted with a collar braid (for all Bavarian uniforms) with the so-called "Aschinger"-Muster (this was not an official title), this tunic has no trace of this ever being applied, and as stated before no further insignia, just the buttons to shoulders, hip pockets and above the rear skirting, and of course the side-hooks, all original fitted. There are also no shoulder loops, generally the new model shoulder straps were sewn not into the seams but adjacent to the seams, on some examples they were sewn into the shoulder seams, as with pre-war uniforms, but this can be judged as the exception. The collar is of course, fieldgrey and not resedagrün as with the Prussian examples. The universal buttons were proscribed as from January 1916, which however came into effect much later. Interesting to note, at the time of purchase by a friend of mine, original Soldbuch and Militärpaß were both in the rear pockets, but the dealer did not want to sell these, unfortunatley we only got  mere glimpse of these documents. I often wonder where they ended up, that was 1968.  I later purchased the tunic from the friend of mine. Have also a matching field cap by an Augsburg manufacturer, undated, probably 1915.

Here is a photo I took around 20 years ago, unfortunatley not too clear. The shoulder straps - F.A.R.63, are only added for the picture, the longer skirting is clearly visible, the field cap has the Reichskokarde missing, these were removed as from 9. November 1918, since rectified. There are no loops fitted.

[Fritz]

Here is a very good example of a 1915-dated  M.15 Bluse, almost identical to my example, which has been fitted with the older style fieldgrey buttons, these being in brown painted iron, replacing the same pattern previous tomback buttons. I assume these are all original fitted to the tunic, they are very correctly fitted as shown in the photo.  My own example (B.A.IX.1916) had no exteral buttons, and these I replaced with the type shown here. The tunic depicted had Gardelitzen on the collar, which were removed after 1918 and a stamp of K.B.A.G. Note the typical resedagrün collar, the Bavarian issues had a fieldgrey non-contrasting collar. Interesting to note, there are no shoulder loops on this example, or removed?
These tunics are priced well in excess of 2.500 or 3.000 Euros nowadays, and seldom without moth damage.
Last photo shows the 18mm M.1915 buttons fitted to hip pockets and shoulders, brown lacquered (tomback colour).

Here, no loops for shoulder straps, as found on most surviving examples.

 

[Chip]

Once again, an early dated Bluse with buttons left over from the previous pattern simplified Rock. As with my previously mentioned Bavarian Bluse, dated 1916 with lion buttons, stocks of the earlier buttons were used until supplies were exhausted. This is, more commonly seen on Bavarian jackets, so thanks for posting this. 

[Fritz]

Another example with the old style buttons, zink coated iron with a bronze brown or light grey finish - here for a Gefreiter, Württemberg, 1915 dated to 124. R.

 

 

[Chip]

The shoulder loops (Laschen) for the Bluse were authorized in 1917. These loops do appear on Blusen dated 1916. It is unknown how this would happen other than these loops would have been added to unissued tunics on hand in the Bekleidungsämter.

[Fritz]

Laschen is not the correct word, should be Schlaufen (loops), Laschen are the long strips behind the shoulder pieces, which go through the loops.
My Bavarian example (1916)  has no loops, but both original shoulder /lion) buttons are in place, also the shoulder seams never seem to have been opened. Will post some pictures in due course. The tunic has very light wear and the previous owner found all the papers in the back pockets - Soldbuch + Militärpaß, unfortunately, he sold these separatly. Most 1916 shoulder straps never have any lash at the back, and were apparently sewn directly flush with the shoulder seam. The 1915 greatcoats always had shoulder loops, at least the later examples, my example is dated 1918, and has the large crown buttons.

[Fritz]

Fieldgrey Halsbinde / Kragenbinde, as worn around the neck under the collar of the tunic. The tunic was never worn without this, it protected the tunic collar from dirt and grease, as this could not be laundered as shirts and underwear.
The Kragenbinde, correctly worn, was visible by about 10-15 mm above the collar. The peacetime version was black, usually with a white inner.

 

[Fritz]

Transferred from a previous topic

From my photoarchive -  Bavarian Infantry Officer tunic in fieldgrey. The rank is Hauptmann, the shoulder straps in the Bavarian colours and in the matt world war version, have a red underlay for the Bavarian 2nd Armee Korps or 2nd Reserve Korps. There is a matt gilt cypher as a Roman "II". Not quite sure of the significance, but definitely infantry because of the "Brandenburg cuffs" worn by such. Could well be an Offizier zur Disposition on the staff of the II. Armee-Korps, or a Reserve Officer in such, has however the rank of Hauptmann with 2 pips. This is a relatively lightweight gabardine type material with the regulation red piping, the buttons have the Bavarian lion pattern in a matt bronze finish. The tunic can be dated as between 1910 and 1915, as after September 1915 almost all infantry generally had a white piped underlay to the shoulder boards. Has only relatively light wear for age. There are also four loops to upper breast for a long medal bar. Have not been able to research this so far, there could be several possiblities as to the wearer. Purchased from Chris Farlowe around 1971. With correct Bavarian officer belt (Feldbinde) on pebbled brown leather belt complete with both loops and the buckle with a matt grey finish. The cap is not quite matching, as it has the Prussian cockade. All fieldgrey uniforms are now rare to find. They were already very rare in the early 1970s. Purchased from Chris Farlowe in Islington, Autumn 1971

With the "II" I had previously considered several possibilities, that which was mentioned, but also Offizier zur Disposition im II. Bayr.Armee-Korps, Offizier der Landwehr im II. Reserve-Korps, Offizier im Bezirkskommando II (Würzburg), etc
(internet photo)

Waffenrock, Bavarian 20. Infanterie-Regiment Prinz Franz. Shoulder pieces from
Infanterie-Regiment 174 were on the tunic as found

Bluse M.1915, dated and stamped BA IX, 1916

Bavarian 3. Feldartillerie-Regiment, 1916. Shoulder pieces are from another regiment,
just for photo display

[Fritz]

x

Helmet cockades (Landeskokarden):
Infanterie-Regiment Bremen (Hanseatisches) No.75
Infanterie-Regiment Hamburg (2.Hanseatisches) No.76
Infanterie-Regiment Lübeck (3.Hanseatisches) No.162, officer

Shoulder pieces M.1915 for a Leutnant, Infanterie-Regiment 76, typical broad version ca. 1916
The uniform was as per the Prussian regulations, the helmet plate was the normal Prussian heraldic eagle, the cockade was the only individual national identity in the case of these regiments. Militärkonvention with Prussia, dating from 1867. Prior to this each of the Hanseatic States had their own Bürgerwehr or Bürgergarde. During the Napoleonic Wars they had formed a joint Hanseatic Legion. Since 1871 these regiments belonged to the IX. Armee Korps, with headquarters in Altona.

Various cockades and buttons, German States, mostly Prussia, the first two, top left, are Deutsches Reich, worn above the Landeskokarde. The example with a red Maltese cross is for an officer of I.R.76

Mecklenburg-Schwerin, cockades and rank buttons

Mecklenburg and Oldenburg

Baden, Landwehr or Landsturm

Saxony, cockade, Rank buttons:
Gefreiter, toned Silver
Sergeant/Feldwebel, Bronze (toned gold colour)
Emblem for Officer bandelier, Artillery, etc.

Bayern, Sergeant - Feldwebel, pre-war quality

Bavaria, cockades and buttons

[Gildwiller1918]

Regarding the loops for the shoulder boards, most of the shoulder boards seen today are the sew in type. Very few examples of the slip on type are seen today, do you know which was more prevalent? I think the slip on type would be better as they could be easily removed or changed as needed, versus the sew in type. Just curious. 

[Fritz]

The slip on type was with the fieldgrey 1908 uniforms. The peacetime other ranks' uniforms had the shoulder straps stitched into the shoulder seams, straps could not be changed at random, as in principal the whole uniform would have to be altered, however, this was also done if necessary. Tailors were flexible in those days, otherwise a new uniform would be required.
A different case with peacetime officer uniforms, on whose tunics, both epaulettes and shoulder pieces were worn, these were attached by loops and the strips behind the shoulder board, and changed as required. Epaulettes never remained on the tunic, they were removed after wear and returned to their storage box.
On the transitional fieldgrey uniforms of early 1915 onwards, the shoulder straps were sewn on to the uniform, flush with the shoulder seams, thus no loops, there are also exceptions to this, with stitiched into the seams or otherwise, depending on the individual uniform.

The 1908 pattern shoulder insignia with lashes (left)

and for Füsilier-Regiment Prinz Heinrich v. Preußen (left)

 

Here, the 1915 pattern, stitch-on and stitch in

[Fritz]

Various buttons and cap cockades.

Various cockades and also a cockade and collar button from Württemberg

On old card mounting with some changes, some inscriptions no longer relevant

[Fritz]

[Fritz]

Some of these were mounted on card a very long time ago, from an old collection

From an old manufacturer's stocks, were never on a uniform, 29mm, Tombak

[Fritz]

 

[Fritz]

Two very rare uniforms, most of which I still have in my collection, these photos taken around 1978.

Field grey uniform. Helmet cover with stencilled numbers, J.R.171
Waffenrock M.1907, marked to Kgl. Bayer. 20. Infanterie-Regiment, 1915, shoulder straps
are from J.R.174. Trousers are of a darker green, almost crimson coloured piping.
Equipment from various sources, one pouch set is of waxcloth, quite rare, and has a bullet or
shrapnel hole to one side, not noticeable in photo. The tunic came from Chris Farlowe for 35 pounds in 1973.

Bluse M.1915, 3. Bayerisches Feldartillerie-Regt., 1916, stamped. Shoulder pieces are from
F.A.R.33, not matching. Reithose, fieldgrey, undated, gasmask and equipment as before.
To the side, a 75mm shell case, marked Schneider, 1916. The bluse was purchased by a friend of mine from Tony Oliver for 8 pounds in 1968, which I then later got.

[Gildwiller1918]

Very nice uniform groupings, hold on to those, as they are getting even harder to find today.

[Fritz]

I have most of the parts. The cloth cover I no longer have, the trousers, breeches and shellcase are gone.

[Gildwiller1918]

Understandable, but the remaining items are still impressive.