death's head insignia

[John Masters]

I was looking through the Frontflieger website, perusing the sanke cards when I noticed that both von Bulow and Prinz F.S. von Preussen have totenkopf on their officer's caps, between the cockades. What was the meaning of this? Was this Prussian Iron Guard?

Danke,
JDC

[Epee]

Several Prussian cavalry regiments used the death's head insignia. I believe one was the 'lifeguard' Hussars.

[Immo_Frese]

JDC,

there were three prussian Hussars-Regiments which used the death-head insignia on their caps, it was an old tradition from the times of Frederic the Great and Napoleon:

Kgl.-Preuß. 1.Leib-Husaren-Regiment Nr.1 (death head since 1741)
Kgl.-Preuß. 2.Leib-Husaren-Regiment Nr.2 (death head since 1741)
Kgl.-Preuß. Braunschweigisches Husaren-Regiment Nr.17 (death head since 1809)

The Prince of Prussia was a member of LHuR 1 and von Bülow belonged to HuR 17.

Immo

[John Masters]

Thank you both. That was very informative.

John DC Masters

[Vin]

Originally Posted by JDCMasters

both von Bulow and Prinz F.S. von Preussen have totenkopf on their officer's caps, between the cockades.

Rather a painful place to be puched by the Phantom.

[frontflieger]

Originally Posted by Immo_Frese

Kgl.-Preuß. 1.Leib-Husaren-Regiment Nr.1 (death head since 1741)
Kgl.-Preuß. 2.Leib-Husaren-Regiment Nr.2 (death head since 1741)
Kgl.-Preuß. Braunschweigisches Husaren-Regiment Nr.17 (death head since 1809)

The two regiments of the dukedom of Braunschweig (Brunswiek) were the Husaren-Regiment 17 and the Infanterie-Regiment 92. Both had the Death Head as their sign... and a black uniform (untill the German Field Grey was ordered). This had the historic source in the wars of 1813-1815 against France.

... It is said that the German Tank Troop has its black color (during 1935-45 and even nowadays) from the 17th Husars!

Thorsten