Garrison Danzig/Langfuhr. The ensemble for an approximately 10-year-old boy in “enlisted rank” consists of original parts manufactured in “child quality” around 1910, which were partially repaired and in two cases supplemented.
The body of the busby is made of rigid cardboard with a black paper covering, externally the busby is covered with black fibers imitating the sealskin of the regulation busby. At the front is the regulation death's head skull, above it the regulation silver-plated bandeau with the motto “Mit Gott für König und Vaterland” in the special form for the Leib-Husaren. Regulation curved scale chains on rosettes, on the right the regulation Reich cockade. The leather backing and the clasp of the scale chain were supplemented. The chin strap appears to be a period manufacture, but could also have been supplemented. Complete with an original regulation parade plume, the field sign a new manufacture. Inside with black lacquered sweatband and red cloth lining, in the crown a paper vignette of the maker. Size approximately 50.
Attila of fine black cloth with white braiding, as well as silver-plated barrel buttons and rosettes in “child size,” on the shoulders the cords for enlisted men. Inside with black cloth lining, on the collar the label of the maker “Arnold Müller, Berlin...”.
Dolman / enlisted men's pelisse from the same maker of fine black cloth with white braiding, “frosted” silver-plated rosettes and barrel buttons and white-gray fur trim. Inside with light gray lining.
Parade bandolier as a manufacture for children. The bandolier of leather, white lacquered, with black cloth backing. The cartridge box a special manufacture for children, however with regulation lid with applied Guard star.
Sash for officers of the hussars. Silver braid with black stripes, complete with the leather closure, the silk backing detached. The tassels were renewed (!).
Black lacquered belt with sabretache. The sabretache itself was replaced with black lacquered leather. The original was certainly made of papier-mâché and had broken over the last 120 years. The overlay “FWR” was thereby transferred to the new sabretache.
The child's breeches a manufacture of the 1940s/50s of black fabric. The braid sewn on subsequently. At the seat of the breeches the seam opened to be able to put the breeches on the mannequin.
Black lacquered leather boots in size 29/30. Manufacture around 1910, however relacquered.
Complete with the white officer's gloves in child size as well as the lion's head saber for children. This with attached Wehrmacht sword knot. Additionally a stand for decorative display of the uniform.

A very beautiful ensemble, which to our knowledge is unique on the market!

The uniform ensemble was manufactured around 1910. Probably for the son of a wealthy officer in the 1st Leib-Husaren-Regiment Nr. 1. In the turmoil of the last days of the war the ensemble reached the West from East Prussia, whereby individual parts were probably damaged and supplemented in the 1950s. New manufactures are the breeches and the sabretache, the sash and partially the busby were supplemented, the boots were relacquered.

444711

A Complete Children’s Uniform of the 1st Leib-Husaren-Regiment Nr. 1 – A Unique Testimony to Imperial German Military Culture

Among the rarest categories of Imperial German militaria, few objects carry the evocative power of this ensemble: a complete children’s hussar parade uniform made in the style of the 1. Leib-Husaren-Regiment Nr. 1, the famed Prussian Death’s Head Hussars. Manufactured circa 1910 in “children’s quality” for a boy of approximately ten years old, it was produced by various makers including Arnold Müller, Berlin, whose label is documented in both the Attila and the Dolman. This was a bespoke private commission — a luxury item reflecting the deeply militarized society of Wilhelmine Germany, where approximately 20 million Germans wore some form of uniform.

The Regiment: From Black Hussars to Death’s Head Hussars

The 1. Leib-Husaren-Regiment Nr. 1 was founded on 9 August 1741 by King Friedrich II of Prussia, initially designated the “Regiment schwartze Husaren” (Black Hussars Regiment). The regiment’s famous Totenkopf (death’s head) emblem, worn on the Pelzmütze and caps, originated from Friedrich II’s adoption of the skull symbol in 1741, earning the regiment its popular name “Totenkopfhusaren” (Death’s Head Hussars).

In 1808, the regiment was divided, creating the 1st and 2nd Leib-Husaren regiments. On 7 May 1817, the 1st regiment moved to the Danzig garrison, and on 7 May 1861 it was officially renamed 1. Leib-Husaren-Regiment Nr. 1. The regiment’s garrison at Danzig-Langfuhr (today Gdańsk-Wrzeszcz, Poland) served as its home base through peacetime and wartime alike, with the regiment fighting in numerous campaigns from the Silesian Wars through World War I, including engagements at the Marne, Arras, Riga, and in Finland.

The regiment counted among its most distinguished members Kaiser Wilhelm II as regimental chief, Crown Prince Wilhelm, who became regimental commander on 15 September 1911, and Generalfeldmarschall August von Mackensen, who was personally given command by Wilhelm II in 1893 and later served as brigade commander of both Leib-Husaren regiments.

The Ensemble in Detail

This uniform comprises all components of a children’s hussar parade dress. The Pelzmütze (fur cap) features a hardboard core with black paper overlay, covered externally with black fibers imitating seal fur. Its red cloth interior lining, black lacquered sweatband, and manufacturer’s paper vignette are intact. The front displays the regulation Totenkopf beneath a silvered bandeau bearing the motto “Mit Gott für König und Vaterland” (“With God for King and Fatherland”) in the distinctive curved form specific to the Leib-Hussars that accommodated their large Totenkopf emblem. The Prussian Reichskokarde is positioned on the right side, and regulation domed chin scales on rosettes are fitted. The cap is approximately size 50 and comes complete with an original regulation parade plume.

The Attila is crafted from fine black cloth with white braiding, silvered toggles and rosettes in children’s size, with enlisted rank shoulder cording. The matching Dolman (enlisted Pelz) by the same maker features identical fine black cloth with white cording, “frostily” silvered rosettes and toggles, and white-grey fur trim. The Attila is lined in black cloth, the Dolman in light grey.

The parade bandolier is a bespoke children’s production with a white-lacquered leather body on black cloth backing. The cartridge box carries the Gardestern (Star of the Black Eagle Order) on its lid. A black lacquered belt with sabre pouch bearing the “FWR” monogram (Friedrich Wilhelm Rex) completes the waist appointments. The officer’s sash in silver braid with black threading, white officer’s gloves in children’s size, black lacquered leather boots (size 29/30), and a children’s lion-head sabre round out the ensemble.

Notably, the uniform displays a hybrid character: while the base uniform (Attila, Dolman) represents enlisted rank (Mannschaftsdienstgrad) distinctions, the ensemble incorporates officer elements — the sash, white gloves, and lion-head sabre — reflecting the mixed status of an officer’s son.

Cultural Context: Children’s Uniforms in Imperial Germany

Such children’s uniforms were individually tailored private commissions ordered by wealthy officer families. They were typically worn for formal family occasions, military parades, photographic sittings, and social events. The practice of dressing officers’ sons in miniature uniforms was widespread in Imperial Germany from approximately 1900 to 1914 and powerfully illustrates the pervasive military ethos of Wilhelmine society.

Survival and Post-War History

The ensemble was manufactured circa 1910 during the regiment’s peacetime garrison period at Danzig-Langfuhr, in the final years before the Great War. The regiment was dissolved in spring 1919 in Danzig following demobilization. Its traditions were carried forward by the 1st Squadron of the 5th (Prussian) Mounted Regiment (Reiter-Regiment) in Belgard during the Reichswehr era of the 1920s and 1930s.

This specific uniform ensemble survived the chaos of the final days of World War II, when it was evacuated from East Prussia to western Germany. Individual components were damaged during this upheaval. In the 1950s, repairs and replacements were carried out: the trousers and sabre pouch were newly manufactured, the sash was supplemented, portions of the Pelzmütze were restored, and the boots were re-lacquered. Despite these interventions, the ensemble retains extraordinary documentary value as a rare surviving example of Imperial German children’s military dress — described as unique on the market.