show your Kaiser Wilhelm II postcards

[GdC26]

..... same tunic, same event .......

[GdC26]

..... and still in Switzerland, Not entirely sure of the unit (Gardejäger?) ....

[GdC26]

..... and finally, nothing beats a good parade with friends ..... Again, Switzerland, 1912.
Sandro

[Mike Dwyer]

..... and the first of a series of pics taken during his visit to Switzerland, in 1912. I´m inclined to think HIM is wearing the tunic for the Garde Maschinengewehrabteilung Nr. 1. Wilhelm II was not the Chef of this unit, but did wear its uniform. The Kaiser´s shako for the Garde Maschinengewehrabteilung Nr. 1 can be seen in Kube´s Militaria, on page 185 .....

Sandro,

I believe that is the uniform of the Garde-Schützen-Bataillon. The Kaiser wasn't chief of that unit either, but he often wore their uniform. They were the only unit in the entire German army to wear the French style cuff. The Garde Maschinengewehrabteilung Nr. 1 was attached to the Garde-Jäger-Bataillon and probably wore their uniform which had Swedish cuffs.

[GdC26]

Mike,
I agree with you that it can´t be Garde Mashinengewehr Abt. nr. 1,, for the very reason you indicate. Knötel/Pietsch/Collas however does give French cuffs and a Shako with brown leather visor and top for Garde Mashinengewehr Abt. nr. 2. The tunic for the MG units was light green, as opposed to dark green for the Garde Scgützen Battalion (Laine, page 95). The shako for the Garde Schützen Battalion is black, as is that for the Garde Jäger (Knötel/Pietsch/Collas Vol II, plate 48).

Since the tunic and cap in the pic you refer to are clearly light green, Ithink the Kaiser is wearing the tunic for Garde Mashinengewehr Abt. nr. 2. The dark tunic in the other pics appears to have French cuffs as well, and is therfore probably Garde Schützen rather than Garde Jäger.
Regards,
Sandro

[Mike Dwyer]

Mike,
I agree with you that it can´t be Garde Mashinengewehr Abt. nr. 1,, for the very reason you indicate. Knötel/Pietsch/Collas however does give French cuffs and a Shako with brown leather visor and top for Garde Mashinengewehr Abt. nr. 2. The tunic for the MG units was light green, as opposed to dark green for the Garde Scgützen Battalion (Laine, page 95). The shako for the Garde Schützen Battalion is black, as is that for the Garde Jäger (Knötel/Pietsch/Collas Vol II, plate 48).

Since the tunic and cap in the pic you refer to are clearly light green, Ithink the Kaiser is wearing the tunic for Garde Mashinengewehr Abt. nr. 2. The dark tunic in the other pics appears to have French cuffs as well, and is therfore probably Garde Schützen rather than Garde Jäger.
Regards,
Sandro

I'm sure you are right. I was just thinking that he was wearing some type of feldgrau version of the Garde Schützen uniform, not the full color one. I got the information that the Garde Schützen were the only unit with French cuffs from somewhere else. That person has now edited his site to include the Garde Mashinengewehr Abt. nr. 2 as also having French cuffs.

[Noor]

And here is one of my postcard with the Wilhelm II wearing Danish admiral uniform (this picture is for a trade)

[GdC26]

Nice one, Noor, thanks for posting. Here is this week´s harvest. First a couple f field grey ones. Wilhelm II with his brother, Grossadmiral Prinz Heinrich, commaned of the Ostseeflotte.

[GdC26]

Visiting Generalfeldmarschall von Mackensen at the Galizian front ....

[GdC26]

im Felde, in what I think is a 1. Garde Regiment zu Fuss tunic ....

[GdC26]

.... Garde Artillerie with pickelhaube ....

[GdC26]

..... with the general staff during pre-war maneuvres .....

[GdC26]

..... and although not a postcard, but a photograph, too nice to pass up: ain the uniform of Leibkurassier Regiment 1. The inscription on the back reads "Breslau 1913 Einzug des Kaisers".

Regards,
Sandro

[TerryG]

A few new ones:

The towel is burning (something like, the end is near...)
Wilhelm: It's your fault, joung imbecile!
Kronprinz: Non, it's yours old idiot!

The back of it has an interesting hand written note that can be translated as follows: "My dea Daddy, I do not know how or why we are staying here in this mess, without moving forward! My little Kronprinz, son of your master, you should know that one can be born Emperor and be a cretin!!
Signed by Leon Melaye, in March 1915.

[TerryG]

God: you rascal, who allowed you to use my name?