Among the most striking and iconic pieces of Prussian cavalry headgear, the Pelzmütze (busby) of the Leib-Husaren occupies a place of singular distinction. This example, produced circa 1885–1890, belonged to an officer of the 1. Leib-Husaren-Regiment Nr. 1, garrisoned at Danzig-Langfuhr, and embodies one of the most storied traditions in Prussian military history – that of the Totenkopfhusaren, the Death’s Head Hussars.
Regimental Origins and History
The lineage of the 1. Leib-Husaren-Regiment Nr. 1 reaches back to 9 August 1741, when King Frederick II founded the 5th Hussar Regiment (H 5), initially commanded by Colonel von Ruesch and known as the Regiment schwartze Husaren. Under Frederick the Great, the regiment adopted the Totenkopf (skull and crossbones) emblem, wearing it during the War of Austrian Succession and the Seven Years’ War. The “Schwarze Husaren” (Black Hussars) quickly earned a fearsome reputation.
In 1808, the regiment was divided into the 1st and 2nd Leib-Husaren-Regiments. The formal designation 1. Leib-Husaren-Regiment Nr. 1 was established in 1861. The regiment distinguished itself in the German wars of unification: at the Battle of Königgrätz in 1866 and during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870–71, including the Battle of Sedan.
The Pelzmütze: Form and Fittings
The officer’s Pelzmütze was the unmistakable hallmark of the Prussian hussar regiments. This example displays several characteristic features. At the front, a large silvered bandeau bears the inscription “Mit Gott für König und Vaterland” (“With God for King and Fatherland”) in the specially curved execution characteristic of the Leib-Husaren. Below it sits the large Totenkopf in white metal (Neusilber), its eye sockets lined with black velvet – a macabre yet commanding detail. The red kolpak (cloth bag) hanging from the top immediately identifies the wearer as belonging to the 1st Life Hussars, in contrast to the 2nd Life Hussar Regiment, which wore a white kolpak. While both regiments carried the Totenkopf, the 1st displayed a white skull on a black background, and the 2nd a black skull on white.
Additional fittings include convex scale chains (Schuppenketten), a Prussian officer’s field insignia (Feldzeichen) on top, a rolled Fangschnur (securing cord) with black threads, and a black-and-white heron feather plume (Reiherfederbusch) with a silver decorated ferrule. The interior features a light-colored leather sweatband and black silk lining. The busby is approximately size 54.
Officers’ busbies were distinguished from those of enlisted men and NCOs by their metal chin scales rather than leather chinstraps, higher-quality fur, and superior craftsmanship in all metal fittings. Officers typically purchased their own equipment from private manufacturers.
The Reichskokarde of 1897
A noteworthy detail of this particular busby concerns its cockades. The Reichskokarde (Imperial cockade) was introduced on 22 March 1897 to commemorate the centenary of Kaiser Wilhelm I’s birth, and regulations stipulated it was to be worn on the right side.
Service Use and Regulations
The Pelzmütze was worn by officers of the regiment for parade dress and into the early phases of the First World War. As military modernization progressed, several modifications were decreed: the Fangschnur was no longer worn with field uniform by decree of 9 June 1911, and the kolpak was removed from field service by decree of 14 February 1913. From 1916 onward, steel helmets replaced busbies for combat use, though some ceremonial use continued.
Notable Figures
The 1st Life Hussars counted among their number some of the most illustrious figures in German military history. Kaiser Wilhelm II served as Regimental Chef (Honorary Colonel), and Crown Prince Wilhelm held rank in the regiment. Most famously, Generalfeldmarschall August von Mackensen commanded the regiment from 17 June 1893 to 27 January 1898, and was subsequently placed à la suite. Mackensen continued to wear the distinctive Totenkopf hussar uniform throughout his career and beyond, becoming universally known as “The Last Hussar” – a living symbol of a vanished military era.
The Great War and Dissolution
During the First World War, the regiment deployed to the Western Front in August 1914 as part of the Leib-Husaren-Brigade, fighting at the Marne and Arras. In autumn 1914, it was transferred to the Eastern Front, where it fought in Galicia, the Battle of Riga, and participated in the occupation of the islands of Ösel and Dagö. Following the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk in March 1918, the regiment remained as occupation forces in Russia.
In January 1919, the regiment returned to Danzig, where demobilization commenced and the regiment was disbanded after 178 years of service. Its traditions were carried forward in the Reichswehr by the 1st Squadron of the 5th (Prussian) Cavalry Regiment (Reiter-Regiment) in Belgard. In the Wehrmacht, Cavalry Regiment 5 inherited the tradition and was awarded the cuff title “Generalfeldmarschall v. Mackensen” in 1944. Today, the Chilean Húsares de la Muerte de Angol (Death Hussars of Angol) continue the Leib-Husaren tradition.
This Pelzmütze is far more than a collector’s item. It is a tangible testament to one of Prussia’s oldest and most distinguished hussar traditions – one that stretched from the battlefields of Frederick the Great to the trenches of the First World War and echoes still in military memory.
