Skull on hat photo.

[RobbieUranus]

Just got this post card in the mail. Does anyone know what the skull means? Not too familiar with this sort of thing. Also can anyone translate the back for me? Just curious. Thanks!

Robbie

[Carl Christense]

Hi Robbie, I was looking through some of my reference books. It is the symbol of a Hussar regiment. I do not know what German state this soldier is from. Perhaps a translation of he back may indicate more.

Carl

[RobbieUranus]

Thank you Carl for your reply and for your research! I appreciate it. I have seen Hussar photos before but the skulls are very large. Wasn't sure if it was the same. Thanks again!!!!!
Robbie

[Kikiko3]

To me it looks like a Officers Brunswick style skull for the 17th Infantry Regiment that, used on both caps and visors.
I've heard that the SS also used these types of skulls (aswell as other skulls) a limited basis until they had a cap skull of their own.

On the back it says something in the ballpark of "my dear (name), here's a photo in memory off my service. Cheers (name)"

Cheers

[herkules]

'Totenkopf' Husaren Braunschweig

Hi Robbie,

I copied some information I found on the internet regarding

the 'Brunswick hussars' ...

Totenkopfhusaren

Braunschweiger Totenkopf von 1815
Totenkopfhusaren war die populäre Bezeichnung für das Braunschweigische Husaren-Regiment Nr. 17 und für das 1.und 2. Leib-Husaren-Regiment in Danzig (Langfuhr) wegen des an den Pelz- und Tuchmützen getragenen Totenkopfes, der ein altes Wahrzeichen dafür sein soll, dass sie weder Pardon nehmen noch geben. Sie sind nicht zu verwechseln mit den „Der ganze Tod“ genannten Belling’schen Husaren, die ein vollständiges Skelett mit der Umschrift „vincere, aut mori“ („siegen oder sterben“) an der Mütze trugen

the skull on the head gear is a so called - officially recognized and after the war
continued in the 'Reichswehr and Wehrmacht'- memorial/traditional emblem.
Meaning : "We don't give and don't expect any pardon" (free translation)

The writing on the back ;

To my dear Hans Feldmann in memory of some fine hours spent together
when K.... and W ..... got married

regards

Wolf

[Alan Wilson]

Hi Robbie, I believe this is a picture of Braunschweig Infanterie Regiment Nr. 92. The cap if Braunschweig Husaren Regiment Nr. 17 would have yellow piping on the crown with red and yellow piping above the band and yellow piping below. Both regiments wore the same totenkopf insignia. I can't make out the shoulder insignia. Either way it is a Braunschweig TK.

Regards, Mike

[RobbieUranus]

Wow! Thank you everyone for all the great info!!

[stevenn]

Complication

One point that needs to be remembered in the analysis of fotos of this period is that 99+% of film used will show yellow objects as being black. The piping in the photo is hard to locate in places, but the parts visible could be yellow and red.
I won't offer explanations as this isn't chemistry class and the explanation would be long and not necessary. This ""yellow distorting film" was used less and less after the "modern" black and white became more accessible and considerably less expensive (1930s) than it was when first introduced. The yellow distorting film was still being used in the very early 50's by a few industrial/technical photographers. This was used to take a lot of aircraft photos and the people trying to determine colour schemes and markings would get confused.
I know a medal collector who would send lists of corrections to publishers as he was positive the ribbons in the photos were incorrect. Before that stage of his photo analysis ability, he would put black ribbons on some medals, rather than the proper ribbon, because he had photographic proof that it should be black. lol
Stevenn

[Alan Wilson]

Stevenn, thanks for the great to know information. Mike

[RobbieUranus]

Yes, thank you Stevenn for the info. Very interesting!