Imperial German Uniforms 1900-14

Baden Infantry
Line Infantry Regiments 109-114, 142 and 169-170

Of the 217 infantry regiments in the Imperial German Army, nine were formed from the Grand Duchy of Baden in South West Germany.

Baden had been a state since the 12th Century and was enlarged and promoted to a Grand Duchy in 1805 as part of Napoleon's reorganisation of Western Germany. The Baden army formed part of the Confederation of the Rhine allied to France and fought against Austria in 1805, against Prussia in 1806, on the Peninsular Campaign and on the Invasion of Russia in 1812. Baden then fought against France in the War of Liberation from 1813.

In 1848 revolution broke out in Baden, as it did in much of Europe that year. The Baden army could not be relied upon to quell the rebels and Prussian and other North German troops were called in. Baden sent troops to assist Prussia against Denmark in the campaign of 1848-49, yet fought against Prussia in 1866 in the Austro-Prussian War her troops being defeated by the Prussians at Hundheim and Hochhausen-Werbach along the River Tauber. The Baden army fought alongside Prussia and the other German states in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71.

In 1867 Baden signed a military convention with Prussia and the Baden infantry became regiments 109-114 in the Prussian system, from 1871 as part of the XIV. Army Corps. The XIV. Army Corps was composed almost entirely of Baden regiments (the only exception being the 40th Prussian Fusilier Regiment recruited from the Prussian Province of Hohenzollern, bordering Baden to the South East. Regiments 142 and 169-170 were added to the XIV Army Corps as they were formed in the 1890s. The XIV army corps served on the Western Front in the First World War including the Battles of the Frontiers, Verdun and the Somme.





109th Baden Life-Grenadiers Badisches Leib-Grenadier-Regt. Nr.109	110th Baden Grenadiers 2. Badisches Grenadier-Regt. Kaiser Wilhelm I. Nr.110	111th Baden Infantry Infanterie-Regt. Margraf Ludwig Wilhelm (3. Badisches) Nr.111	112th Baden Infantry 4. Badisches Infanterie-Regt. Prinz Wilhelm Nr.112	113th Baden Infantry 5. Badisches Infanterie-Regt. Nr.113




114th Baden Infantry 6. Badisches Infanterie-Regt. Kaiser Friedrich III Nr.114	142nd Baden Infantry 7. Badisches Infanterie-Regt. Nr.142	169th Baden Infantry 8. Badisches Infanterie-Regt. Nr.169	170th Baden Infantry 9. Badisches Infanterie-Regt. Nr.170

Notes on the Baden Infantry Regiments and their Uniforms

Prior to 1867, Baden's infantry had already worn a similar uniform to Prussia (dark blue tunic with a spiked helmet or Pickelhaube). From 1867 Baden adopted entirely Prussian uniform, retaining only two differences.

The Baden Pickelhaube Plate had the heraldic Griffon above a scroll with the motto "MIT GOTT F. FUERST U. VATERLAND" (With God for Prince, or Grand Duke, and Fatherland). The Baden Griffon also replaced the Prussian Eagle or Crown on NCO collar buttons and other insignia where the Prussian army wore an eagle.
Baden Colours (yellow/red/yellow) were used on insignia such as cockades the left side of Pickelhaubes and on field caps, trumpet cords, marksmanship lanyards, one-year-volunteer shoulder straps, officers' belts and on other uniform items when the Prussian army had black and white.

109th Baden Life-Grenadier Regiment
The Badisches Leib-Grenadier-Regt. Nr.109 was formed as the Infanterie-Regiment Erbprinz on 23rd March 1803. The regiment fought as allies of the French against Austria, Prussia and Russia before siding with Prussia in the War of Liberation of 1813. They also fought alongside Prussia against Denmark in 1848-49. During the Austro-Prussian War they fought the Prussians at the clashes alongside the Tauber and in the Franco-Prussian War fought at the Battle of Nuits.

Grand Duke Friedrich I of Baden was colonel in chief of the regiment, succeeded by Grand Duke Friedrich II in 1907.

In 1914 the regiment was garrisoned at Karlsruhe and like all Baden Infantry formed part of the XIV Army Corps serving on the Western Front during the First World War.
Recommended External Link - Karlsruhe StadtWiki

Uniform Distinctions
Helmet Plate:	White metal heraldic Baden Griffon with the star of the Baden House Order of the Loyal (Hausorden der Treue) on the breast. Officers had the cross of the order enamelled in red.
Parade Plume:	White for I and II Btn, black for III Btn
State Cockade:	Baden (yellow/red/yellow)
Capband and piping:	Red
Tunic Buttons:	White metal
Shoulder Straps:	White with a red crown
Collar:	Red piped along the upper edge in blue with white double Litzen
Cuffs:	Swedish style in red with white Litzen

110th Grenadier Regiment "Emperor Wilhelm I" (2nd Baden)
The 2. Badisches Grenadier-Regt. Kaiser Wilhelm I. Nr.110 was formed on 22nd October 1852. During the Austro-Prussian War they fought the Prussians at the clashes alongside the Tauber and in the Franco-Prussian War fought at the Battles of Nuits and Lisaine and the Siege of Strasbourg.

From 1857 Prince Wilhelm of Prussia (later Kaiser or Emperor Wilhelm I of Germany) was colonel in chief and the regiment retained his name after his death in 1888.

In 1914 the regiment was garrisoned at Mannheim; with their II Btn at Heidelburg . Like all Baden Infantry they formed part of the XIV Army Corps and served on the Western Front during the First World War.

Uniform Distinctions
Helmet Plate:	Yellow metal heraldic Baden Griffon.
Parade Plume:	White for I and II Btn, black for III Btn
State Cockade:	Baden (yellow/red/yellow)
Capband and piping:	Red
Tunic Buttons:	Yellow metal
Shoulder Straps:	White with a red RWI crowned monogram for Emperor Wilhelm I
Collar:	Red piped along the upper edge in blue
Cuffs:	Brandenburg style in red

111th Infantry Regiment "Margrave Ludwig Wilhelm" (3rd Baden)
The Infanterie-Regt. Margraf Ludwig Wilhelm (3. Badisches) Nr.111 was formed on 22nd October 1852. During the Austro-Prussian War they fought the Prussians at the clashes alongside the Tauber and in the Franco-Prussian War fought at the Battle of Lisaine and the Siege of Strasbourg.

In 1891 the 3rd Baden Regiment received the title "Margrave Ludwig Wilhelm", the second son of Grand Duke Friedrich I who had died at the age of 22 three years before. The cause of death was officially pneumonia but it was also alleged that he had been killed in a duel.

In 1914 the regiment was garrisoned at Rastatt. Like all Baden Infantry they formed part of the XIV Army Corps and served on the Western Front during the First World War.

Uniform Distinctions
Helmet Plate:	Yellow metal heraldic Baden Griffon.
Parade Plume:	None
State Cockade:	Baden (yellow/red/yellow)
Capband and piping:	Red
Tunic Buttons:	Yellow metal
Shoulder Straps:	Red with a yellow numeral 111, from 1902 this was changed to a yellow LW crowned monogram for Margrave Ludwig Wilhelm
Collar:	Red piped along the upper edge in blue
Cuffs:	Brandenburg style in red

112th Infantry Regiment "Prince Wilhelm" (4th Baden)
The 4. Badisches Infanterie-Regt. Prinz Wilhelm Nr.112 was formed on 22nd October 1852. During the Austro-Prussian War they were garrisoned at Rastatt and saw no action. In the Franco-Prussian War fought at the Siege of Strasbourg.

The regiment was named in 1871 after its colonel in chief, Prince Wilhelm of Baden (third son of Grand Duke Leopold) and retained his name after his death in 1897.

In 1914 the regiment was garrisoned at Mülhausen in Alsace (modern Mulhouse, France). Like all Baden Infantry they formed part of the XIV Army Corps and served on the Western Front during the First World War.

Uniform Distinctions
Helmet Plate:	Yellow metal heraldic Baden Griffon.
Parade Plume:	None
State Cockade:	Baden (yellow/red/yellow)
Capband and piping:	Red
Tunic Buttons:	Yellow metal
Shoulder Straps:	Yellow with a red numeral 112
Collar:	Red piped along the upper edge in blue
Cuffs:	Brandenburg style in red

113th Infantry Regiment (5th Baden)
The 5. Badisches Infanterie-Regt. Nr.113 was formed on 16th February 1861. During the Austro-Prussian War they fought the Prussians at the clashes alongside the Tauber and in the Franco-Prussian War fought at the Battle of Lisaine and the Siege of Strasbourg. In 1891 Crown Prince (Erbgroßherzog) Friedrich (later Grand Duke Friedrich II) was appointed colonel in chief.

In 1914 the regiment was garrisoned at Freiburg. Like all Baden Infantry they formed part of the XIV Army Corps and served on the Western Front during the First World War.

Uniform Distinctions
Helmet Plate:	Yellow metal heraldic Baden Griffon.
Parade Plume:	None
State Cockade:	Baden (yellow/red/yellow)
Capband and piping:	Red
Tunic Buttons:	Yellow metal
Shoulder Straps:	Blue with a red numeral 113
Collar:	Red piped along the upper edge in blue
Cuffs:	Brandenburg style in red

114th Infantry Regiment "Emperor Friedrich III" (6th Baden)
The 6. Badisches Infanterie-Regt. Kaiser Friedrich III Nr.114 was formed on 26th October 1867 and first saw action against France in 1870-71 at the Battle of Lisaine and the Siege of Metz. In 1888 the regiment was posthumously named after the recently deceased German Emperor, Kaiser Friedrich III.

In 1914 the regiment was garrisoned at Konstanz with a guard detachment at Hohenzollern Castle. Like all Baden Infantry they formed part of the XIV Army Corps and served on the Western Front during the First World War.

Uniform Distinctions
Helmet Plate:	Yellow metal heraldic Baden Griffon.
Parade Plume:	None
State Cockade:	Baden (yellow/red/yellow)
Capband and piping:	Red
Tunic Buttons:	Yellow metal
Shoulder Straps:	Green with a red FR III crowned monogram for Emperor Friedrich III
Collar:	Red piped along the upper edge in blue
Cuffs:	Brandenburg style in red

142nd Infantry Regiment (7th Baden)
The 7. Badisches Infanterie-Regt. Nr.142 was formed on 1st February 1890. In 1914 the regiment was garrisoned at Mülhausen in Alsace (modern Mulhouse in France) with the II Btn in Mühlheim. Like all Baden Infantry they formed part of the XIV Army Corps and served on the Western Front during the First World War.

Uniform Distinctions
Helmet Plate:	Yellow metal heraldic Baden Griffon.
Parade Plume:	None
State Cockade:	Baden (yellow/red/yellow)
Capband and piping:	Red
Tunic Buttons:	Yellow metal
Shoulder Straps:	Yellow with a red numeral 142
Collar:	Red piped along the upper edge in blue
Cuffs:	Brandenburg style in red

169th Infantry Regiment (8th Baden)
The 8. Badisches Infanterie-Regt. Nr.169 was formed on 31st Mach 1897. In 1914 the regiment was garrisoned at Lahr, with their II Btn at Vilingenand. Like all Baden Infantry they formed part of the XIV Army Corps and served on the Western Front during the First World War.

Uniform Distinctions
Helmet Plate:	Yellow metal heraldic Baden Griffon.
Parade Plume:	None
State Cockade:	Baden (yellow/red/yellow)
Capband and piping:	Red
Tunic Buttons:	Yellow metal
Shoulder Straps:	Red with a yellow numeral 169
Collar:	Red piped along the upper edge in blue
Cuffs:	Brandenburg style in red

170th Infantry Regiment (9th Baden)
The 9. Badisches Infanterie-Regt. Nr.170 was formed on 31st March 1897. In 1914 the regiment was garrisoned at Offenburg, with their III Btn.at Donaueschingenand. Like all Baden Infantry they formed part of the XIV Army Corps and served on the Western Front during the First World War.

Uniform Distinctions
Helmet Plate:	Yellow metal heraldic Baden Griffon.
Parade Plume:	None
State Cockade:	Baden (yellow/red/yellow)
Capband and piping:	Red
Tunic Buttons:	Yellow metal
Shoulder Straps:	Blue with a red numeral 170
Collar:	Red piped along the upper edge in blue
Cuffs:	Brandenburg style in red

Sources
Websites and Online Sources
Kaiser's Bunker
Pickelhaubes Forum
Colonel J's Imperial German Musings
Genealogy.de Der Alten Armee

Books and Published Sources
"Das Deutsche Heer, Friedensuniformen bei Ausbruch des Weltkrieges " H Knötel and P Pietsch (Diepenbroick-Grüter & Schulz 1935)
"Imperial German Headgear 1888-1914 Field Guide" JD Turinetti and A O'Connor (Kaiser Helmets 2006)
"Imperial German Army Handbook 1914-18" D Nash (Ian Allen 1980)
"Handbook of Imperial Germany" J & J Robinson (Authorhouse 2009)
"The Organisation of the German State Forces in 1866" S Sutherland (Helion 2001)
"Das Deutsche Reichsheer" G Krickel and G Lange (1892)
"Die feldgraue Uniformierung des deutschen Heeres 1907-1918" J Kraus and W Hanne (Verlag Militaria 2009)

Museums and Collections
Military Museum, Rastatt (formerly the Baden Army Museum)
Bavarian Army Museum, Ingolstadt
Army Museum, Brussels
Joe Robinson Photo Collection

Pre-1867 Baden Infantry Pickelhaube
Photo by C Dale at the Military Museum, Rastatt

Other Ranks Pickelhaube from the
109th Life Grenadier Regiment
Note the white metal fittings and the
star on the breast of the heraldic griffon.
Photo by Manfred Hattenkerl at Festungsmuseum Philippsburg / Karlsruhe StadtWiki

Musicians Uniform from the
109th Life Grenadier Regiment
Note the collar Litzen, crown on the shoulder strap and musicians swallows nest on the shoulder
Photo by C Dale at the Military Museum, Rastatt

Pickelhaube from the Baden Line Infantry
Photo by C Dale at the Military Museum, Rastatt

Officers Pickelhaube from the
109th Life Grenadier Regiment
Note the officers enamelled red cross in the centre of the House Order star and the white horsehair parade plume of the I and II Btns..
Photo by Gérald Garitan at Fort de la Pompelle / WikiCommons

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