The German Army’s mobilization for World War One in 1914 revealed a stark contrast between its peacetime appearance and the practicalities of industrialized warfare. Prior to 1910, and even to a degree afterward, the German military uniform landscape was a patchwork of state and regimental distinctions, a logistical challenge that peacetime budgets could barely sustain. This article explores the wartime changes implemented to the German field uniform between 1914 and 1916, focusing on the adaptations driven by the brutal realities of the conflict.
Before the outbreak of war, the German Army prided itself on its diverse and historically rich uniforms. The unification of Germany in 1871 had not erased the distinct identities of its constituent states. Prussia, Bavaria, Saxony, and Württemberg, among others, each maintained unique uniform colors, insignia, and regimental markings. Imagine the complexity faced by quartermasters tasked with supplying this vast array of uniform types, helmets, and equipment. Each regiment often boasted unique characteristics, commemorating past glories or distinctions with specific badges, armbands, and helmet plates. Even within regiments, distinctions existed, such as the elite Leib companies or the unique death’s head insignia worn by the 3rd battalion of the 92nd Infantry Regiment from Brunswick.
Prussian NCO in Dress Uniform circa 1912. Features include Dunkelblau tunic, black trousers with red piping, red collar and cuffs, gold lace trim indicating NCO rank, Unteroffizier rank (between corporal and sergeant), marksman’s lanyard, Gott Mit Uns belt buckle, bayonet, and company-colored bayonet knot.
The adoption of the Feldgrau (field grey) uniform in 1910 was intended to standardize field dress across the entire German Army. However, this standardization was only partial. While Feldgrau became the standard color for field uniforms, the pre-1910 parade and dress uniforms, with all their state and regimental variations, were still maintained for ceremonial duties, court appearances, guard duty, social occasions, and off-duty wear. This commitment to elaborate peacetime uniforms proved unsustainable once war erupted. The immense scale of mobilization and the urgent demands of trench warfare forced the German Army to simplify its field uniform, a process that occurred incrementally in 1915 and again in 1917.
The initial wartime adjustments began to streamline the elaborate pre-war designs. The 1910 Feldgrau tunic, while a step towards standardization, still retained features like Brandenburg cuffs and Swedish cuffs, which were complex to manufacture and not particularly practical in the field. The immense logistical strain of equipping millions of soldiers quickly exposed the inefficiencies of maintaining such elaborate uniforms. Resource constraints and the urgent need for mass production led to the introduction of simplified uniform designs.
By mid-1915, significant changes were evident in the field. The iconic Pickelhaube, or spiked helmet, underwent modifications. Initially, pre-war helmet covers featured regimental numbers in red. This changed to dark green in 1914 and was eliminated altogether in 1915 for camouflage purposes. Leather, the primary material for Pickelhauben, became scarce due to the British naval blockade, which cut off imports from Argentina. Substitute materials like felt, fiberboard, tin, and sheet metal were increasingly used for helmet production. Although Pickelhauben continued to be produced for enlisted men until the spring of 1916, the need for better head protection in trench warfare was becoming increasingly apparent, paving the way for the introduction of the Stahlhelm (steel helmet).
Bavarian Reservist circa late 1914, wearing the 1910 Feldgrey uniform with Stehumfallkragen collar, Brandenburg cuffs, leather jackboots, and carrying a quill bayonet. Uniform details include red piping, Bavarian lion buttons, and Bavarian Pickelhaube plate. Rank indicated by collar disks as Gefreiter.
The tunic itself was also simplified. The “1915 Transitional tunic” marked a departure from the complex cuffs of the 1910 pattern. Brandenburg and Swedish cuffs were replaced with simple turn-back cuffs. This simpler design was not only easier and faster to produce but also proved popular with soldiers as the wider turn-back cuffs could conveniently store military passes and identification documents. Despite the introduction of newer tunic patterns, production of the 1910, Transitional, and the later 1915 Bluse-type tunics continued throughout the war, highlighting the ongoing logistical challenges and the gradual nature of uniform reform.
The “1915 Bluse-type tunic” represented a further step towards simplification. While retaining the turn-back cuffs of the Transitional tunic, it replaced the brass buttons of the earlier models with a fly front that concealed simple buttons made of horn, wood, bakelite, or ersatz (substitute) materials as metal became increasingly scarce. By 1916, metal was a precious commodity, and its use in uniform production was minimized. The only visible buttons on the Bluse-type tunic were now made of zinc and located on the shoulder boards and pockets.
Headwear also evolved. The standard enlisted man’s Feldmütze (field cap), a visorless cap, became ubiquitous. NCOs wore a similar cap but with a small leather visor. The Feldmütze was made of Feldgrau wool with a colored band at the bottom indicating the branch of service – red for infantry, green for Jägers (light infantry), and black for artillery and pioneers (combat engineers). In late 1915, a grey canvas camouflage strip was introduced to be tied around the colored band, further adapting the uniform for the realities of trench warfare. The Feldmütze featured two buttons: the top button in black, white, and red (the national colors of Germany) and the bottom button in state colors, indicating the soldier’s state of origin.
Bavarian Soldier circa 1917 wearing the 1915 Bluse type tunic and Feldmütze. Note the fly front tunic, concealed buttons, zinc shoulder and pocket buttons, Feldmütze with camouflage strip and state/national colors, and Militärverdienstorden ribbon.
Further material changes occurred with leather accouterments. In 1915, a Kaiserliche decree mandated that the traditional brown leather boots, belts, and equipment be changed to black. Belt buckles, previously brass and silver, were now made of iron and painted black. Bavaria, however, was granted an exception and did not switch to black leather until 1916, illustrating the lingering state-level distinctions even within wartime standardization efforts.
Footwear also reflected wartime shortages. While jackboots had been standard issue, leather shortages led to the increased use of ankle boots paired with Gamaschen (puttees), fabric gaiters wrapped around the lower leg. Soldiers who provided their own ankle boots were even offered a bounty. Ankle boots became particularly popular with stormtrooper units due to their greater practicality and comfort in dynamic combat situations compared to the traditional, cumbersome jackboots.
Prussian Soldier wearing Transitional tunic, Feldmütze with camouflage strip, ankle boots and puttees, and Iron Cross ribbon. Illustrates the shift towards more practical footwear and simplified tunic design.
Beyond official uniform modifications, the later war years saw an increase in the use of private purchase items. By 1916, supply shortages meant that soldiers increasingly supplemented their government-issued clothing with privately acquired items. Corduroy trousers, popular among mountain climbers for their durability and warmth, became a common sight in the trenches. Two types of corduroy trousers emerged: straight-leg trousers and a knickerbocker-style variant that fit tightly around the calves, working well with ankle boots and Gamaschen.
Wurttemberger Soldiers circa 1916 wearing a mix of 1910 and Transitional tunics, Feldmütze with camouflage, and corduroy trousers. Illustrates the increasing use of private purchase items and uniform variations in the later war period.
In conclusion, the German uniform of World War One underwent a significant transformation driven by the pressures of industrialized warfare and resource scarcity. From the diverse and elaborate uniforms of the pre-war era, the need for practicality, mass production, and adaptation to trench warfare led to a gradual simplification and standardization of the field uniform. These changes, reflected in tunic designs, headwear, materials, and footwear, illustrate the dynamic interplay between military necessity and the evolution of the German soldier’s appearance during the Great War.
