Chamber piece, 1913. Manufactured in fine peacetime quality, complete with all fittings. The helmet shell is nickel-plated steel with tombac fittings featuring an angular front visor tapered at the front and an angular curved rear visor also tapered in the center. Applied garde star with enameled black eagle in the center, domed scale chains of tombac on button 94, both cockades. Complete with applied parade eagle with raised wings in gilt tombac, with screwed-on crown. Interior with black laced leather lining, stamped inside the lining "B.A.G. 1913", the helmet shell stamped "C.E. Juncker 1913", the front visor green, the rear visor black lacquered. Size 55. Worn helmet in original condition, condition 2.

This helmet comes from the legendary collection of Wolfgang Schulze von Mertschinsky, this helmet is also illustrated in the reference book by Jan K. Kube "Militaria der deutschen Kaiserzeit - Helme und Uniformen 1871 - 1914" from 1977. This is the first helmet we have been able to offer in over 30 years of business activity, we are not aware of any other original. Undoubtedly the rarest helmet of the Prussian Army.

The Leibgendarmerie designated orderly detachments in the Prussian Army which were at the special disposal of the King. Their duties included orderly service, such as delivering letters and orders from the royal cabinet, carrying and keeping ready important documents, as well as accompanying His Majesty on state visits, maneuvers and travels. When foreign rulers were at court, they also performed orderly service there. Furthermore, participation of the Leibgendarmerie in all parades of the Guards Corps and in the Kaiser maneuvers was among their duties. The standards of the Kaiser and Kaiserin were carried along. At the annual Kaiser maneuvers, a trumpeter of the Leibgendarmerie blew the signal at the end of exercises: “Das Ganze Halt!”. The Leibgendarmerie consisted from 1889 of the 1st and 2nd platoons with 2 x 24 sergeant majors. The 1st platoon was at the disposal of the Kaiser, the 2nd platoon at the disposal of the Kaiserin.
During World War I, the 1st platoon was detailed to the Great Headquarters. The peacetime uniforms were retained by this unit until the end of the war. The Leibgendarmerie was the only German unit which was not equipped with a field gray uniform.

366314

Prussian Model 1889/94 Helmet for Non-Commissioned Officers of the Leibgendarmerie

The Model 1889/90 Helmet for NCOs of the Leibgendarmerie represents one of the rarest and most significant pieces of Prussian military history. This extraordinary helmet was introduced by Allerhöchste Kabinetts-Order of 21 January 1890 and replaced the heavier Model 1862. The present example was manufactured by the renowned Berlin firm C.E. Juncker in 1913, bearing the stamps “C.E. Juncker 1913” on the helmet shell and “B.A.G. 1913” in the interior lining, the latter standing for Bekleidungsamt des Gardekorps (Clothing Office of the Guard Corps).

C.E. Juncker was originally founded in 1851 as a “Military Effects” shop and developed into one of the most important manufacturers of uniforms, decorations, and helmets. The firm continued operations into the Third Reich era and was among the most prolific makers of military items.

The Leibgendarmerie was an extraordinary unit of the Prussian Army that stood at the personal disposal of the King. The modern two-platoon structure of the unit was established in 1889 under Kaiser Wilhelm II, who reigned from 1888 to 1918. From that time, the Leibgendarmerie consisted of a total of 48 NCOs, divided into two platoons of 24 men each. The 1st Platoon served the Kaiser, while the 2nd Platoon, established by AKO of 28 June 1889, served Kaiserin Auguste Viktoria.

Members of this elite unit were drawn from experienced cavalry NCOs. Their duties included ordnance service, carrying letters and orders from the royal cabinet, holding important documents ready, and accompanying Their Majesties at state visits, maneuvers, and travels. When foreign rulers were at court, they also performed ordnance service there. The Leibgendarmerie participated in all parades of the Guard Corps and the Kaiser maneuvers, carrying the standards of the Kaiser and Kaiserin. At the annual Kaiser maneuvers, a trumpeter of the Leibgendarmerie would blow the signal “Das Ganze Halt!” at the conclusion of exercises.

The Model 1889/90 represented a significant technical innovation. The helmet shell, made from nickel-plated steel, was considerably lighter than its predecessors. Characteristic of this model are the kinked visors: the square-shaped front visor with a point in the center and the similarly kinked, curved neck guard. The front visor was lacquered green, the neck guard black.

As a parade helmet for NCOs, this example featured exceptionally magnificent fittings. The applied Guard star (Gardestern) with an enameled black eagle in the center and motto band was made from tombak (brass alloy). Particularly remarkable is the gilded, removable parade eagle in tombak with raised wings and screwed-on crown, mounted on a cross-shaped base plate. The convex scale chin chains in tombak were attached to button 94 pattern, and both cockades – the Reich and state cockades – were present. The black leather interior lining was laced.

During World War I, the Leibgendarmerie occupied an absolutely unique position. The 1st Platoon was assigned to the Great Headquarters (Großes Hauptquartier) and accompanied the Kaiser. Together with the Schloßgarde-Kompanie, the Leibgendarmerie was the only German unit never equipped with field-gray uniforms. Their peacetime full dress was retained until the end of the war in 1918, underscoring the special ceremonial role of this elite unit.

With the abdication of Kaiser Wilhelm II on 9 November 1918, the Armistice of 11 November 1918, and the collapse of the German Empire and Prussian monarchy, the Leibgendarmerie was dissolved. With the establishment of the Weimar Republic, all imperial units were disbanded.

The historical development of the Leibgendarmerie helmet extends further back: an earlier helmet model was introduced in 1843 by AKO of 28 July 1843 with brass fittings and modified in 1862 by AKO of 7 October 1862, when a motto band was added to the Guard star. The Model 1889/90 represented the last significant redesign.

The example described comes from the legendary collection of Wolfgang Schulze von Mertschinsky and is illustrated in the reference book “Militaria der deutschen Kaiserzeit - Helme und Uniformen 1871-1914” by Jan K. Kube published in 1977. The extraordinary rarity of these helmets is confirmed by their extremely limited production numbers – they were manufactured exclusively for the 48 NCOs of the Leibgendarmerie.