circa 1900. Heavy pallasch, all fittings of gilt brass. Large gilded eagle basket hilt in the style of the old Prussian models of the 18th century, the crowned eagle however bearing on the breast the crowned cipher "WR II" for Kaiser Wilhelm II, all details especially finely re-engraved by hand. The grip with shagreen and silver wire binding, large thumb ring. Polished flat-back blade with struck maker's mark "Weyersberg Kirschbaum & Cie Solingen". Brown leather scabbard with gilt brass fittings, long carrying hook. Complete with attached portepee for non-commissioned officers. Length 102 cm. Only lightly worn, with beautiful patina, condition 2+.

By AKO of June 28, 1889, the Leib-Gendarmerie was reinforced by a 2nd Platoon, consisting of one officer (first or second lieutenant) from the Kürassier-Regiment Königin (Pommersches) Nr. 2, 2 non-commissioned officers and 24 men. The 2nd Platoon stood at the special disposal of the Empress. The officer was always detailed from Kürassier-Regiment Nr. 2 for one year. While initially the men were drawn from various cuirassier regiments, later the "Pasewalker" were preferentially selected. This Kürassier-Regiment "Königin" (Pommersches) Nr. 2 was commanded from the beginning of the 1st century by the respective Prussian Queen as regimental chief, lastly then Empress Auguste Viktoria.

The Leibgendarmerie designated orderly detachments in the Prussian Army which stood at the special disposal of the King. Their duties were orderly service, such as the delivery of letters and orders from the royal cabinet, the carrying and holding ready of important documents as well as the escort of Their Majesties at state visits, maneuvers and journeys. When foreign rulers stayed at court, they also performed orderly service there. Furthermore, the participation of the Leibgendarmerie in all parades of the Guards Corps and at the Kaiser maneuvers belonged to their duties. Thereby the standards of the Kaiser and Kaiserin were carried along. At the annually occurring Kaiser maneuvers, a trumpeter of the Leibgendarmerie sounded at the end of exercises the signal: “Das Ganze Halt!” The Leibgendarmerie consisted from 1889 of the 1st and 2nd Platoons with 2 x 24 sergeants. The 1st Platoon stood at the disposal of the Kaiser, the 2nd Platoon at the disposal of the Kaiserin.
The peacetime uniforms were retained by this unit until the end of the war in 1918. The Leibgendarmerie was the only German unit which was not equipped with a field-gray uniform.

This is certainly one of the rarest edged weapons of the Prussian Army; no other example has become known to us in over 35 years.

388313

Prussian Gala Pallasch Model 1893 for Non-Commissioned Officers and Officers of the 2nd Platoon of the Leibgendarmerie

This magnificent Gala-Pallasch for non-commissioned officers and officers of the 2nd Zug der Leibgendarmerie represents one of the rarest and most exclusive edged weapons of the Prussian Army. Manufactured around 1900 by Weyersberg Kirschbaum & Cie. in Solingen, this heavy pallasch combines ceremonial splendor with historical symbolism and served one of the most elite units in Imperial Prussia.

The Leibgendarmerie designated orderly detachments in the Prussian Army that stood at the special disposal of the King. Its origins can be traced to the Army-Gendarmerie formed by Allerhöchste Kabinetts-Order of February 12, 1820. By AKO of June 28, 1889, the Leib-Gendarmerie was reinforced with a second Zug, consisting of one officer, two NCOs, and 24 enlisted men. This 2nd Zug stood at the special disposal of Empress Auguste Viktoria.

The officers of the 2nd Zug were seconded for one-year tours from the Kürassier-Regiment "Königin" (Pommersches) Nr. 2. While initially personnel came from various cuirassier regiments, later the "Pasewalker" regiment was preferred. This cuirassier regiment had been commanded by the reigning Prussian Queen as regimental patron since the early 19th century, most recently by Empress Auguste Viktoria herself.

The 2nd Zug was garrisoned from July 31, 1889 until spring 1894 in the former Garde du Corps barracks in Berlin (Charlottenstraße 39-41), then from April 1, 1894 in Potsdam at Luisenplatz 9, where it remained until its dissolution in 1918/1919. The building is preserved today and houses a branch of the Mittelbrandenburgische Sparkasse.

The duties of the Leibgendarmerie included orderly service such as delivering letters and orders from the royal cabinet, carrying and keeping ready important documents, and accompanying Her Majesty during state visits, maneuvers, and travels. When foreign rulers visited the court, they also provided orderly service there. The Leibgendarmerie participated in all parades of the Guards Corps and in Imperial maneuvers, carrying the standards of the Kaiser and Kaiserin. At the annual Imperial maneuvers, a trumpeter of the Leibgendarmerie sounded the signal at the conclusion of exercises: "Das Ganze Halt!" (Everyone halt!).

This splendid Gala-Pallasch represents a special ceremonial variant of the cavalry pallasch and differs significantly from standard service weapons. Until 1890, the Leibgendarmerie carried a simple stirrup saber, after which they were equipped with the light cavalry sword Model 1889 as a pallasch. The 2nd Zug received a special gala uniform by AKO of June 28, 1889 for their ceremonial and honor guard duties in the royal palaces.

Manufactured by Weyersberg Kirschbaum & Cie. around 1900, the pallasch demonstrates the mastery of one of the German Empire's largest edged weapon manufacturers. The company was formed in 1883 from the merger of two major Solingen sword-making firms and by 1900 employed 630 workers. All fittings of the sword are made of gilded brass. The large gilded eagle-basket guard follows the style of 18th-century Old Prussian models, though the crowned eagle on the breast bears the crowned cipher "WR II" for Kaiser Wilhelm II. All details were finely hand-engraved. The grip is covered with sharkskin and silver wire binding and features a large thumb ring. The polished spine-back blade bears the stamped maker's mark "Weyersberg Kirschbaum & Cie Solingen." The brown leather scabbard is fitted with gilded brass fittings and a long carrying hook. The sword with a total length of 102 cm comes complete with an attached NCO sword knot.

During World War I, the 1st Zug was commanded to the Great Headquarters, while the 2nd Zug remained under Rittmeister a.D. von Götz und Schwanenfließ. The Leibgendarmerie and Schlossgarde-Kompanie were the only German units never equipped with field-gray uniforms. They maintained their peacetime dress uniforms until the war's end in 1918.

With the collapse of the German Empire and Prussian monarchy, the Leibgendarmerie was dissolved in 1918/1919. The Prussian War Ministry was disbanded on September 30, 1919. As an extremely rare ceremonial weapon of a small, elite household unit that ceased to exist after 1918, surviving examples possess significant collector and museum value today.