Baden Line Infantry Officers Pickelhaube M1850

The Baden army adopted the Pickelhaube in 1849, initially with a ball top rather than a spike. Soon after the design was very similar to the Prussian model distinguished by the crowned heraldic Griffon at the front and the Baden (yellow/red/yellow) cockade under the right side chin scale boss. It had a fluted spike and a squared front peak. Officers wore stars on the cruciform base.

The elite 1st Leib-Grenadier Regiment had a white metal griffon, spike and fittings, while the 2nd-6th Line Infantry Regiments wore yellow metal fittings.

During the Austro-Prussian War, the Grand Duchy supported Austria and her contingent was defeated by the Prussians at the Battles of Hundheim and Hochhausen-Werbach.

Period illustrations of the Baden infantry in action in 1866 indicate that they replaced their Pickelhaube with a peaked field cap on campaign to distinguish themselves from their Prussian opponents.

Baden Leib-Grenadier Pickelhaube
Note the white metal Baden Griffon and fittings of this regiment.
Military History Museum, Rastatt