The German Artillery from 1871 to 1914

At the end of the 19th century the artillery, like almost no other branch of service, experienced rapid development. With the formation of the German Empire in 1871, unprecedented inventions and the consistent utilisation of developments in weapons technology such as smokeless powder, brisant shells and recoiling cannon made it clear that in the next large war heavy weapons would play a decisive role. In 1914 that time had come.
This illustrated volume on the uniforms and equipment of the German artillery is another step towards completing the series on the uniforms of the German Imperial Army during the period from 1871 to 1914 and follows books on the cavalry, the infantry and generals, war ministries and general staffs that have already been published.
The focus of this book, which has over 500 pages, is the diversity of items of uniform and equipment used in the artillery. Drawing on unique collections, helmets, uniforms, epaulettes, shoulder boards, edged weapons and other items of uniform and equipment are clearly presented to the reader. This volume first provides an outline of the formative history of the development of the German artillery from 1871 to 1914 as well as the technical services and training facilities. Next the uniforms of the Prussian field artillery and the contingents of the Grand Duchies of Baden, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Mecklenburg-Strelitz and Oldenburg and the Duchy of Brunswick are dealt with. This portrayal of the field artillery closes with the Kingdoms of Bavaria, Saxony and Wurttemberg.
The second part of the book first covers the Prussian foot artillery, Baden’s foot artillery regiment, then Wurttemberg’s intermittently existing foot artillery and finally the Royal Bavarian and Royal Saxon foot artillery.
The final part of the book is dedicated to the uniforms of the technical services and training facilities of the artillery.
The approximately 600 objects shown come from various public and private collections, including the Bayerisches Armeemuseum in Ingolstadt, the Militärhistorisches Museum der Bundeswehr in Dresden and the Wehrgeschichtliches Museum in Rastatt. Among the items photographed are pieces worn by famous historical figures such as Ludwig III of Bavaria and Crown Prince Rupprecht of Bavaria.