Trooper Regiment Garde du Corps 1912 BMM35

THE GARDES DU CORPS (REGIMENT DER GARDES DU CORPS) WAS THE PERSONAL BODYGUARD OF THE KING OF PRUSSIA AND, AFTER 1871, OF THE GERMAN EMPEROR (IN GERMAN, THE KAISER). THE UNIT WAS FOUNDED IN 1740 BY FREDERICK THE GREAT. IT’S FIRST COMMANDER WAS FRIEDRICH VON BLUMENTHAL, WHO DIED UNEXPECTEDLY IN 1745; HIS BROTHER HANS VON BLUMENTHAL, WHO, WITH THE OTHER OFFICERS OF THE REGIMENT HAD WON THE POUR LE MÉRITE IN ITS FIRST ACTION AT THE BATTLE OF HOHENFRIEDBERG, ASSUMED COMMAND IN 1747. HANS VON BLUMENTHAL WAS BADLY WOUNDED LEADING THE REGIMENT IN A SUCCESSFUL CAVALRY CHARGE IN THE BATTLE OF LOBOSITZ AND HAD TO RETIRE FROM THE MILITARY.

INITIALLY, THE REGIMENT WAS USED IN PART AS A TRAINING UNIT FOR OFFICERS AS PART OF A PROGRAM IN THE EXPANSION OF THE CAVALRY. EARLY OFFICERS INCLUDED THE RAKE AND MEMOIRIST FRIEDRICH VON DER TRENCK, WHO DESCRIBED THE ARDUOUS LIFE OF SLEEP DEPRIVATION AND PHYSICAL STRESS ENDURED BY OFFICERS, AS WELL AS THE HUGE COST OF BELONGING TO THE UNIT (THE CUIRASSES, FOR EXAMPLE, WERE SILVERPLATED AT A TIME WHEN THE PRECIOUS METAL WAS EXCEPTIONALLY EXPENSIVE).

UNLIKE THE REST OF THE IMPERIAL GERMAN ARMY AFTER GERMAN UNIFICATION IN 1871, THE GARDE DU CORPS WAS RECRUITED NATIONALLY AND ALL MEN WERE TO BE AT LEAST SIX FEET TALL. THE GARDE DU CORPS CEREMONIAL DUTY AT COURT WAS RESTRICTED TO SPECIALLY SELECTED OFFICERS, NCO’S AND TROOPERS.

FOR THIS SPECIAL DUTY A SERIES OF SPECIALLY DESIGNED UNIFORM ITEMS WERE WORN. THE REGIMENT WORE A WHITE CUIRASSIER UNIFORM WITH POPPY RED FACING AND SLIVER BUTTONS. THE WIDE COLLAR STRIPE IS SILVER WITH WHITE STITCHING. UNIQUE FEATURES OF THE REGIMENT’S FULL DRESS WORN UNTIL 1914 INCLUDED A SLEEVELESS SUPRAVESRE WITH THE STAR OF THE ORDER OF THE BLACK EAGLE ON FRONT AND BACK. THE POUCH BELT AND POUCH ARE WHITE LAQUERED LEATHER WITH POPPY RED CLOTH TRIM ,THE BELT HARDWARE AND POUCH STAR ARE SILVER. THE SWORD BELT IS WHITE LAQUERED LEATHER WITH POPPY RED CLOTH TRIM, BUCKLE IS SILVER. THE HELMET IS THE MODEL 1889 GARDE DU CORPS PARADE TOMBAK HELMET (TOMBAK IS AN ALLOY OF COPPER AND ZINC) WITH SILVER PRUSSIAN EAGLE. HELMET TRIM IS SILVER. CHIN SCALES ARE BRASS. COCKADE RIGHT IS BLACK-WHITE-BLACK. COCKADE LEFT IS BLACK-WHITE -RED. UNDERSIDE FRONT IS GREEN, UNDERSIDE BACK IS BLACK.

THE BUST IS BASED ON THE COMPLETE PRUSSIAN GARDE DU CORPS UNIFORM IN THE CRAMER MUSEUM. NO OTHER COMPLETE TROOPER UNIFORMS ARE KNOWN AND NO COMPLETE OFFICER UNIFORMS IS KNOWN. MANY MEMBERS OF THE GARDE DU CORPS WERE BURIED IN THEIR UNIFORM.