This post is dedicated to the Reenactors of "73rd Fusilier Regiment [The Front Line Soldier Society]"- Who Portray 5.Kompagnie,1. Hannoversches Füsilier Regiment Nr. 73 "Feldmarschall Prince Albrecht von Preußen"
To which myself and Simon from KB41 Collection are apart of.
Please see links to the Unit pages at the bottom of this post !
The grouping here shows a crisp cabinet card depicting a young Füsilier who is the rank Gefreiter, this is seen alongside a M48 belt buckle that would be worn with dunkelblau as seen here in this cabinet card.
The photograph here shows what is commonly known as a "Cabinet card". This type of photograph production was used by professional studio photographers. A Thin photograph was produced and then applied to thick card. This type of portrait became popular after 1870 and was used for high quality studio Portraits of individuals or families alike. This then became common for military portraits as see here where the individual would be photographed and a crisp image would be rendered with a sharp light vignette. The cabinet card has details of the photographer at the bottom in embossed gold writing of "E. Rochrmann " from Hannover at Heinichstrasse 15
The Cabinet card depicts a young Füsilier wearing a M.1895 Waffenrock tunic. The young Füsilier is the rank of Gefreiter as seen denoted by the buttons worn on the collar. The Gefreiter is a Füsilier of Regiment Nr. 73 "Feldmarschall Prince Albrect von Preußen" as seen by the white shoulder boards detailed with the number "73". The M.1895 Waffenrock, also commonly known as "Dunkelblau" - Translated into English this reads as Dark Blue which is the colour of the uniform. Dunkelblau was the standard issue kit pre war before the introduction of Feldgrau uniforms. Dunkelblau allowed for the smart dress of units for regimental parades pre war and in wear during the war of 1914-1918 allowed for smart dress uniforms. This cabinet card appears to be taken during the pre-war years as a pride of place family photograph, as when the war broke out in 1914, cabinet cards were replaced by crisp studio portraits in photo-postcard form.
Notably seen on this cabinet card, either by the photographer or possibly the family of the young Gefreiter, a moustache has been drawn on with pencil. The moustache is drawn on in a patriotic style similar to that of the Kaiser at the time, Kaiser Wilhelm II. Wilhelm II was the last German emperor and King Of Prussia from 1888 until his abdication at the end of World War One in 1918. Many Germans and her allies sported facial hair as was the fashion for the time. Notable allied Austria-Hungary was also infamous for facial hair in its Soldaten. The facial hair would be short lived as when war broke out and in 1915 when chemical warfare was used first used. Facial hair stopped the gasmasks from being sealed against the skin. This allowed for gas to leak. making gasmasks obsolete and deadly with those who sported beards and facial hair. As this became known, facial hair was banned and only small and short moustaches (Like that of the toothbrush moustache which was sported by Adolf Hitler) and other variations of small facial hair was allowed. Clean Shaving was not only mandatory but saved many lives in doing so. Possibly the moustache was added later as the young Gefreiter grew one.
The accompanied belt buckle is a M48 Model and is made of a mixture of materials known as "Tombac" and Nickel. This Beltbuckle is a good example of a buckles that were used as standard issue belt buckle during this pre war peacetime period and then for smart dress with dunkelblau during the First World War. This example has the right amount of wear to shine that shows it was used. But this stunning buckle has survived and is with us today in good condition with its original starter tab.
This is a crisp Studio Portrait of a young Gefreiter of Füsilier Regiment Nr. 73 wearing his crisp dunkelblau as he poses for the photographer, E. Rochrmann from Hannover to which the Regiment originates. This Cabinet Card, accompanied by a stunning M48 belt buckle with its original starter tab. A crisp and large cabinet card that would have proudly hung in a frame or pride of place in a photo album. Both to showcase in family home how proud they are of their loved one.
Nec Aspera Terrant - Aufwärts Die Herzen!
FR73 Living History Unit information - Available on Facebook and Instagram Links below!