Gardes du Corps helmet !

[Leibhusar]

I saw a very rare photo of a cavalry soldier (Gardes du Corps) on ebay. The seller wrote the Gardes du Corps were Kaiser Wilhelm's Elite cavalry soldiers in the Imperial Germany. Can somebody tell me some details about the Gardes du Corps ? Is in the forum a lucky collector who owns such a helmet of the Gardes du Corps and can post some photos ? Thank you for answers!

[Mike Dwyer]

I'm afraid I don't know much of their regimental history. I know they were founded in 1740 and headquartered in Postsdam.

I do not own a helmet, and doubt I ever will, but I do have this nice postcard showing Kaiser Wilhelm II chatting with F******252;rst Max zu F******252;rstenberg who is wearing a Gardes du Corps uniform.

[Leibhusar]

Thanks, Mike ! I forgot to post the link to the rare photo that I saw. For the the collectors who are interested in the Gardes du Corps too:

http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...8461&rd=1&rd=1

[dag001]

I took this picture when a good friend brought this to my house for Show & Tell. He acquired this about 20 years ago and as far as I know, it still resides at his house.

[dag001]

Here is one I bought from a WWII veteran and sold to my friend. Off topic I know, but thought you might find it interesting. Sorry for the terrible picture.

[Biro]

Leibhusar

I guess I'm fairly lucky - here is my GdC helmet...

Marshall

[Biro]

Another....

[SvenWittnebel]

... The seller wrote the Gardes du Corps were Kaiser Wilhelm's Elite cavalry soldiers in the Imperial Germany. ...

Gardes du Corps = Lifeguards of the French King (household regiment), the origin of this kind of troops.

The first G.d.C. regiment of the Grosse Kurf******252;rst of Brandenburg (later the first Prussian King) was established from 1692 - 1713.

Reestablished in 1740 by Friedrich dem Grossen ("Old Fritz") as escadron in strenght of 166 men (the best men from his cuirassier and dragoon regiments). Garrison at Charlottenburg (now an area of Berlin).
1753 garrison in Potsdam, 1756 extended to three escadrons.
They fight extremely brave and sucessfully at the battle of Hohenfriedberg and during the War of the Seven Years.
1798 extended to 10 companys (= five escadrons) = one full regiment.
At this time a company was an administrative unit, an escadron was the tactical troop (this changes vice versa in the late 19th century).
The commander in chief of this regiment was the King himself.

Uniforms, equipment and weapons in general like the cuirassiers.

That's all for now. Later this day I will add some informations about the Imperial G.d.C. and some scans of Uniform drawings.

[SvenWittnebel]

Scanning with the HP software is a pain in the ***, maybe I add two drawings later.



History of the K******252;rassier-Regiment 13 - Gardes du Corps 1740 - 1806 (in German) http://preussenweb.de/regiment4.htm

History of the K******252;rassier-Regiment Gardes du Corps 1807 - 1918 (Gardekorps, Garde-Division., 1. Garde-Kavallerie-Brigade.) (in German)

http://preussenweb.de/kavregt1.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garde_d..._%28Prussia%29

In times of peace the Gardes du Corps was a life guard for the King/Emperor and a training formation for new cavalry (cuirassier)
tactics. In times of war they were elite cuirassiers like the other guard cavalry regiments.
The only thing what was different to other Prussian troops, they had to be of German origin.

PS.: Drawing by Rabe/Kn******246;tel, reprint by Orbis Verlag, Preussisch-Deutsche Uniformen von 1640 - 1918.

[ROBB]

My door stop .Rob

[Leibhusar]

Sven, thank you so much for the informations about the Gardes du Corps

To Rob:

I like your door stop . Do you have this kind of door stop in all of your rooms ?

[Nico C]

Great helmets, guys!!!

[ROBB]

Sven, thank you so much for the informations about the Gardes du Corps

To Rob:

I like your door stop . Do you have this kind of door stop in all of your rooms ?

Hi Stephen no more door stops ,but I do have a dusty book end .Rob

[Mike Dwyer]

Biro,

An absolutely beautiful helmet!

I doubt I will ever be able to afford one of my own, but I love looking at them!

I also love the Saxon Garde Reiter helmets with the parade lion.

[Leibhusar]

Hi Stephen no more door stops ,but I do have a dusty book end .Rob

Rob, I know the problem ! What should I do with these terrible, old and dirty helmets.....? A door stop and dusty book end.....great ideas ! I will try to use my helmets in the same way Other ideas for use ?