Stationed at Hannover, circa 1910. The ensemble consisting of:
Czapka, Ulanka, parade bandolier with cartridge box, waist belt, and cavalry extra saber.
· The leather czapka, a privately-owned parade piece, complete with all fittings. On the front the special eagle for the regiment with the embossed honor battle scroll “Peninsula - Waterloo - Garcia-Hernandez” in officer quality “frosted silver” and with openwork crown, the applied guard star in enlisted execution. Domed gilt scale chains on button 91 with rosettes, on the right the Reich cockade. The squared top with white parade trim. Complete with white enlisted man's chin strap cord, the field insignia, and the parade plume of horsehair in NCO execution. Interior with brown leather sweatband and brown grosgrain lining, handwritten size “58” in the bell.
· The ulanka of dark blue cloth with white standing collar and cuff flaps, white piping, nickel-plated buttons. On the collar the small lance corporal buttons, on the shoulders the enlisted epaulettes with cipher “WRII”, buttons of the 3rd Squadron. The cuff flaps, standing collar, and epaulettes period “whitened”. Interior with black silk lining, in the shoulder area the label “Ulan Everling 3. Eskadron Königs Ulanen-Regt. Nr. 13”. Few small partially repaired moth damages.
· The waist belt of white and blue cloth, complete with buckle, lined on the interior with black cloth, the white cloth also “whitened”.
· The bandolier of leather, exterior whitened, complete with the special cartridge box of black patent leather with applied crowned monogram “WRII”.
· The Cavalry Extra Saber (KD) Model 1889 with an approximately 2 cm wide and 83.3 cm long spear-point blade by “W.K&C”, nickel-plated folding basket with the Prussian eagle, rubber grip, with attached private-purchase sword knot of the 3rd Squadron (!). Black lacquered steel scabbard with one ring band and movable carrying ring.

A very fine ensemble! The sons of the prosperous bourgeoisie were difficult to convince to serve in the military, as they mostly received training in their parents' businesses and often took them over. To counteract this circumstance, the special position of “One-Year Volunteer” was created. This was not only associated with certain privileges, but quite concretely the quality of the uniforms often approached that of officers. Some of the One-Year Volunteers were also promoted to lance corporal during their service, and some remained and pursued a career as officers.

490099

€ 7.900,00

Prussian Uniform Ensemble for One-Year Volunteer Lance Corporal “Everling” of the König's Ulanen-Regiment (1st Hanoverian) No. 13, 3rd Squadron

This uniform ensemble of the König's Uhlans Regiment (1st Hanoverian) No. 13 embodies the military splendor and social peculiarities of the late German Empire around 1910. It belonged to a One-Year Volunteer Lance Corporal named Everling of the 3rd Squadron and documents a unique institution of Prussian-German military affairs.

The König's Uhlans Regiment No. 13 was formed in 1866 after Prussia's annexation of Hanover from the former Hanoverian Guard Uhlan Regiment. Stationed in Hanover, the regiment proudly bore the traditional names of the British-Hanoverian army on its czapka eagle: “Peninsula – Waterloo – Garcia-Hernandez.” These battle honors commemorated the participation of Hanoverian troops in the Napoleonic Wars, particularly at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 and the dramatic cavalry charge at Garcia-Hernandez in 1812, where Hanoverian dragoons successfully broke through French infantry formations.

The special status of the owner as a One-Year Volunteer requires closer explanation. This institution was introduced in Prussia as early as 1814 and standardized for the entire German Empire in the Military Service Law of 1888. Young men with higher education (at least Abitur or upper secondary school certificate) could serve only one year instead of the regular two-year military service. The requirements were strict: they had to equip and feed themselves and were obliged to purchase their uniform in officer quality at their own expense. This meant considerable financial burdens for the family – costs could amount to 2,000 to 3,000 marks, roughly a worker's annual salary.

The czapka (Polish term for the square uhlan cap) displays all characteristic features of the Prussian uhlan headdress. The special regimental eagle in officer quality with frosted silver plating and pierced crown, along with the integrated honor bandeau, document the pride in British-Hanoverian tradition. The applied guard star in enlisted men's version indicates the historical connection to the Hanoverian guard. The white horsehair plumes and lanyards corresponded to the Supreme Cabinet Order of February 3, 1899, which regulated the appearance of uhlan regiments in detail.

The ulanka, the characteristic uhlan jacket of Polish origin, displays the regimental colors: dark blue cloth with white collar and cuff flaps. The cipher “WRII” on the epaulettes stands for King Wilhelm II of Württemberg, who had been the regiment's honorary colonel since 1891 – a typical practice through which German princely houses were connected. The small lance corporal buttons on the collar document Everling's promotion during his service. The fact that the white parts were “whitened” shows intensive care: whitening with chalk or special substances was necessary to maintain the representative appearance.

The parade bandolier with cartridge box made of black patent leather with applied monogram, and the waist belt made of white-blue cloth complete the parade uniform. These equipment pieces were worn according to the Uniform Regulations of 1899 and served at parades and ceremonial occasions.

The Cavalry Extra Saber Model 1889 (KD 89) was the standard weapon for cavalry non-commissioned officers and enlisted men. The blade by the renowned Solingen manufacturer “W.K&C” (Weyersberg, Kirschbaum & Cie.) measured 83.3 cm in length. The nickel-plated basket guard with Prussian eagle and the rubber grip corresponded to the functional design of this period. The attached sword knot of the 3rd Squadron is particularly noteworthy, as such personalized equipment pieces rarely survived.

The social significance of the One-Year Volunteers cannot be overestimated. They formed a bridge between the bourgeoisie and the officer corps in Wilhelmine Germany. Many aspired to the reserve officer career after their year of service, which meant considerable social prestige. Promotion to lance corporal during the one-year service, as happened with Everling, was a sign of special achievement and significantly increased the chances of a later officer commission.

The regiment itself was deeply rooted in Hanoverian society. After the Prussian annexation of 1866, it succeeded in merging local identity with Prussian military tradition. The uhlans were considered the elite of the cavalry – their task was reconnaissance, pursuit, and spectacular displays at parades. Emperor Wilhelm II, himself an enthusiastic militarist, placed great emphasis on the magnificent appearance of his cavalry regiments.

This ensemble thus documents several historical dimensions: the integration of Hanover into Prussia-Germany, the class structures of the German Empire, the military splendor of the Wilhelmine era, and the personal story of a young man from a good family who fulfilled his military service in privileged form and gained military recognition in the process.