Herr, Ullrich/ Nguyen, Jens Die deutsche Infanterie von 1871 bis 1914. Uniformierung und Ausrüstung. 2 Volumes

This two-volume, 864 page work gives the first complete and almost uninterupted picture of the development of the uniforms worn by the German Infantry, from the birth of the Empire in 1871 to the eve of World War I in 1914, with detailed descriptions and illustrations. Due to the huge array of headgear, uniforms and equipment, the book is published in two volumes with a slipcase, making it the largest publication from the Verlag Militaria to date. The two volumes illustrate the development of the uniform, starting with the Prussian Army, and covering the integration of the other contingents, the Saxon Army, the Wurttemberg Army Corps and finally the Bavarian Army, using around 1,600 colour photographs and 500 contemporary black-and-white photographs, with sources and newly researched archive material. Naturally, a work on this subject would not be complete without special units and elite formations, so the uniforms of the Jäger and Schützen are also included. For the first time, the publishing house and the Bayerische Armeemuseum in its function as editor were able to enlist the help of notable military museums in Germany who co-operated on the book. The Bayerische Armeemuseum in Ingolstadt, the Deutsches Historisches Museum in Berlin, the Wehrgeschichtliches Museum Rastatt and the Militärhistorisches Museum der Bundeswehr in Dresden opened their depots and allowed an unsuspected and largely unknown body of headgear, uniforms and equipment to be photographed. The use of these and other, private, collections made it possible, for the first time, to present an almost complete picture of the development of German infantry equipment and uniforms. Personal items of uniform owned by Emperors Wilhelm I and Wilhelm II, the Prussian Crown Prince, the King of Bavaria and other well-known persons, along with the headgear and uniforms of the common infantryman, are used to illustrate the splendid and colourful diversity of the German infantry regiments up until First World War. Also included are clear tables to guide the reader through the, seemingly complex, variety of infantry units in the various contingents. This superbly illustrated edition is not only a MUST for all military collectors; it should be in the library of anyone interested in this period of history.

For the first time, the publisher and the Bavarian Army Museum in Ingolstadt, as editors, have succeeded in winning over the most renowned military history museums in Germany for a collaboration and bringing them together in one book. The Bavarian Army Museum in Ingolstadt, the German Historical Museum in Berlin, the Museum of Military History in Rastatt and the Military History Museum of the German Armed Forces in Dresden opened their depots to allow photographs to be taken of their unsuspected and mostly never before publicly displayed collections of headgear, uniforms and equipment. Only this opening up of state collections, supplemented by excellent special collections from private hands, makes it possible to fully trace an almost complete picture of the development of German infantry equipment and uniforms. Personal uniforms of Kaiser Wilhelm I and Wilhelm II, the Prussian Crown Prince, the Bavarian King and other well-known personalities, as well as the headgear and clothing of the ordinary infantryman, vividly demonstrate to the reader the colourfulness and diversity of the German infantry regiments until shortly before the outbreak of the First World War. Clear tables help the reader to orientate himself in the - seemingly complicated - variety of the different infantry units of the various contingents. This complete work is not only an indispensable MUST for every military collector, but should not be missing in any library of anyone interested in contemporary history.