The outbreak of World War One in 1914 forced a dramatic shift in the German military’s approach to field uniforms. Prior to the war, the German Army was renowned for its diverse and elaborate uniforms, a complex tapestry reflecting the numerous states and regiments that comprised it. This article explores the wartime modifications to the German field uniform from 1914 to 1917, focusing on the infantry uniform and the pressures of war that necessitated these changes.
Before 1910, the German military uniform landscape was a patchwork of colors, styles, and distinctions. Each German state maintained its unique uniform characteristics, from color palettes to belt buckle mottos, and a vast array of badges and helmet plates. This intricate system served to commemorate regimental histories and distinctions. For example, the 92nd Infantry Regiment from Brunswick showcased internal variations, with the 3rd battalion adorning a silver death’s head on their helmet plate, a distinction absent in the 1st and 2nd battalions. Even after the introduction of the Feldgrau (field grey) uniform in 1910 for the entire German army, these state and regimental variations persisted, primarily for parade dress, ceremonial duties, and off-duty wear. This peacetime luxury of diverse uniforms, however, proved unsustainable under the immense pressures of war.
Alt text: Prussian Unteroffizier in Dunkelblau dress uniform, circa 1912, showcasing pre-war elaborate military attire.
The pre-war German uniform, exemplified by the Dunkelblau (dark blue) dress uniform, was a testament to this complexity. A Prussian Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) from around 1912 would be seen in a Dunkelblau tunic with black trousers featuring red side stripes. Red accents marked the hatband, standing collar, and Brandenburg cuffs. Gold lace trim on the collar and cuffs denoted his NCO status, while the absence of collar discs specifically identified him as an Unteroffizier, a rank between corporal and sergeant. His marksman’s lanyard with a single acorn indicated basic marksman qualification. The brass belt buckle, a design dating back to 1847, prominently displayed the Prussian crown and the motto “Gott Mit Uns” (God is With Us). Completing the ensemble was a bayonet with a bayonet knot, whose colors indicated company affiliation, a detail echoed by company numbers on shoulder board buttons.
Alt text: Prussian Einjährig-freiwillige (One-year Volunteer) in blue uniform, circa 1903, representing pre-WWI officer training pathway.
Another example of pre-war uniform variations is seen in the uniform of a Prussian Einjährig-freiwillige (One-year Volunteer) from around 1903. His blue uniform featured a red standing collar. Black braid on white shoulder board piping was unique to Prussian One-year Volunteers. This system allowed young men from financially stable middle-class families to serve a reduced term of 12 months, at their own expense, to become reserve officers. After this service and further training, they could achieve a reserve lieutenant’s commission, enhancing their social standing within the rigid German societal structure.
Alt text: Bavarian reservist in 1910 Feldgrau uniform, 1914, displaying early WWI field uniform with Pickelhaube and quill bayonet.
As war loomed in 1914, Bavarian reservists were called to service, donning the standard 1910 Feldgrau wool uniform. This uniform still retained elements of pre-war designs, such as the red-piped Brandenburg cuffs, the uncomfortable Stehumfallkragen (stand and fall collar), and heavy leather jackboots, unchanged since 1870. Red piping also lined the outer seams of the Feldgrau trousers. Bavarian units were distinguished by buttons featuring the Bavarian lion instead of the Prussian crown, and a Pickelhaube (spiked helmet) with Bavarian state insignia. This reservist, identified as a Gefrieter (lance corporal) by collar discs and lack of NCO lace, carries an obsolete quill bayonet, notable for its long, thin blade. His three-section leather ammo pouches held ninety rounds, with more ammunition carried in his pack. The iron belt buckle, painted field grey, displayed the Bavarian crown and motto “In Treue Fest” (In Loyalty Steadfast).
Alt text: German soldier in mid-1915 with Pickelhaube helmet cover and 1915 transitional tunic, showing wartime uniform simplification.
By mid-1915, the realities of war began to enforce uniform modifications. The iconic Pickelhaube was now often seen with a canvas cover, initially intended to display regimental numbers in red, then dark green, and finally omitted altogether for camouflage. Leather shortages, exacerbated by the British naval blockade, forced the use of substitute materials like felt, fiberboard, and even metal for helmet production. While Pickelhauben continued to be produced for enlisted men until early 1916, the Stahlhelm (steel helmet) was on the horizon. The soldier pictured is wearing the 1915 Transitional tunic, a simplified design that replaced the elaborate pre-war cuffs with simple turn-back cuffs. This practical cuff design was popular amongst soldiers as it provided a convenient place to store military passes. Despite the introduction of new tunic styles, the 1910, Transitional, and the later 1915 Bluse tunics were all produced concurrently throughout the war. Notably, this soldier still wears a pre-war brass and silver belt buckle and is equipped with the shorter, ‘butcher’ bayonet, a wartime adaptation.
Alt text: Bavarian soldier circa 1917 in 1915 Bluse tunic and Feldmütze cap, illustrating late-war material scarcity and uniform changes.
The 1915 Bluse tunic, exemplified by a Bavarian soldier around 1917, represents further wartime simplification. It retained the turn-back cuffs of the Transitional tunic, but replaced the brass buttons with a concealed fly front and simple horn, wood, or ersatz buttons due to metal scarcity. Visible buttons were now limited to zinc shoulder board and pocket buttons. This soldier wears the standard Feldmütze (field cap), a visorless hat, with a camouflage strip concealing the infantry red band. The Feldmütze featured two buttons: the top button in German national colors (Black, White, Red) and the bottom button in Bavarian state colors (White, Blue, White). His belt buckle is now iron, painted black, reflecting the 1915 order to switch from brown to black leather gear and painted buckles, though Bavaria lagged slightly, adopting black leather in 1916. The ribbon on his tunic signifies the Bavarian Militärverdienstorden (Military Service Order), worn in ribbon form in the field for safety.
Alt text: Prussian soldier near front lines wearing Feldmütze, 1915 transitional tunic, and ankle boots with Gamaschen, showcasing practical field uniform.
A Prussian soldier, pictured near the front lines, showcases the practical adaptations of field uniforms. He wears the Feldmütze with camouflage strip, the 1915 Transitional tunic, and ankle boots with Gamaschen (puttees). Ankle boots became more common due to leather shortages, with soldiers sometimes providing their own lace-up boots for a bounty, a style favored by stormtroopers. He retains a brass and silver belt buckle and carries a bayonet, as German soldiers were consistently armed, even off-duty. The ribbon in his buttonhole is the Prussian Eiserne Kreuz II Klasse (Iron Cross 2nd Class), worn as a ribbon in the field.
Alt text: Wurttemberg soldiers in studio portrait, circa 1917, featuring corduroy trousers, Feldmütze caps, and a mix of 1910 and 1915 tunics.
A group of Wurttemberg soldiers, members of the newly formed 248th Regiment (post-1916), illustrates further deviations from standard issue. Some soldiers wear dark brown corduroy trousers, a popular private purchase item that supplemented increasingly scarce government supplies. Corduroy trousers, favored by mountain climbers, became popular in trenches. They wear Feldmützen, 1910 and 1915 tunics, and brass and silver belt buckles with the Wurttemberg motto “Furchtlos und Treu” (Fearless and True).
In conclusion, the evolution of the German military uniform during World War One reflects the immense pressures of prolonged conflict. From the elaborate and diverse uniforms of the pre-war era, necessity drove simplification and adaptation. Material shortages, the need for battlefield practicality, and the sheer scale of the war effort transformed the German soldier’s appearance, moving from the colorful and ornate to the functional and austere Feldgrau of the trenches.
© 1997 Ralph Reiley – All rights reserved
