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Little-uns vs. Big-uns or, Comparing Wappen Sizes

The intent of this page is to show a examples of Wappens of different sizes, i.e. Tschako and Tschapka vs. Pickelhaube. Measurements were made with a cloth tape measure laid onto the obverse (front) of the eagle from the bottom of the tail feathers to the top of the crown. Examples measured varied 2 to 3 mm for similar models which could account for manufacturer's variation.

Baden

Below are both sizes of the Baden gilt Wappens. The smaller one measures only 88mm from the bottom of the Bandeau to the top of the crown and was worn only by Badisches Train-Bataillon Nr.14 (Durlach) XIV Armee Korps from 1864 to 1903. Consequently, they are quite rare.

Preußen (Prussia) Line Eagle Wappen

The first is the most familiar, the Preußen (Prussia) gilt Line Eagle Wappen. The smaller one measures only 95mm compared to the larger Infantry Line Eagle Wappen at 115mm. Both of these are M1895 eagles.

The smaller one was worn by: Jäger Battalions 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, and 11 Ulanen Regts 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, and UR14 until 1899 Train Battalions until 1903

The second (below) is more obscure, being the German silver (nickel) Preußen Line Eagle Wappen. It measures only 95mm compared to the larger Eagle Wappen worn only by Preußen Pionier at 113mm. Both of these are M1895 Eagle Wappens.

The smaller one was worn by: Ulanen Regts 5, 6, 8, 15, 16, UR13 until 1899 and UR7 until 1913 Telegraphen Battalions 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 Luftschiffer-Bataillons 3, 4, and 5

Below are both sizes of the Preußen gilt so-called "old style Grenadier" Eagle Wappen, which as you will see, is a name that does not really apply as many arms used the "FWR" (Friedrich Wilhelm Rex) in a cypher on the chest. The smaller one measures only 95mm and was used right up until 1915. Possibly after, but I have never seen a grey steel M15 example.

The smaller one was worn by: Ulanen Regts 1, 2, and 3 Jäger Battalions 1 & 2, 5, and 6

The last for Preußen, (below) is the Preußen M1915 steel Eagle Wappen. The smaller one was worn by mostl Ulanen Regts, Jäger Battalions, and Preußen Telegraphen Battalions. It measures only 95mm compared to the larger one at 115mm. Note the "clipped beak" on the 95mm example, mostly found on Ulanen Tschapka.

Below, the three Amigos. Please note that all three of these are 95mm examples, are M1895 pattern (loops to the rear) and all three have long tail feathers that drop straight down from the bottom the chest, a feature changed on the 115mm Line Eagle Wappen in 1871 where three short feathers drop down from the chest to form a VVV shape.

The smaller one was worn by: LEFT From 1860 to 1895 the eagle Wappen on Jäger Mannschaften Tschako had standard overlapping chest feathers. In 1895 one manufacturer changed the chest feathers so they appear to meet in the center, like fingers, touching. CENTER Other manufacturers continued to produce Jäger Mannschaften Tschako Wappen with the pre-1895 overlapping chest feathers. You can see how the left and center are very similar in shape and features except for the chest feathers. They both have the typical 1895 characteristic of having the area between the upper legs and wing feathers voided. RIGHT This is the pattern normally found only on issued Tschapka. It has a different shape and is often found with a "clipped beak". This pattern normally does not have the area between the upper legs and wing feathers voided and has a small connecting bar between the right leg and orb. Chest feathers on this pattern, are always overlapped.

Sachsen

Sachsen (Saxony) Wappen measurements are average, as with the Sachsen center Wappen having different depths, it makes these very hard to accurately measure. It measures only 82mm compared to the larger Infantry Line Wappen at 104mm. Saschen Ulanen did not always wear the smaller Wappen and original Sachsen Tschapka manufactured after 1914 are sometimes found with the 105mm Wappen.

The first comparison is the gilt Wappen. Kgl. Sächs. Schützen (Füsilier)-Regt. Prinz Georg Nr.108 (until 1909) Ulanen-Regts 17 and 18;BR> Kgl. Sächs. Husaren-Regts 18, 19, & 20 Kgl. Sächs. Train-Bataillon Nr.12 & 19 (until 1903)

A 82mm Wappen was also worn with the colors reversed, i.e. silver base star and gilt center Wappen by: Ulanen-Regt 21; Sachsen Jäger battalions, Nr. 12, 13, and 15 (until 1909) Kgl. Sächs. Telegraphen-Bataillon Nr.7 3rd Komp of Luftschiffer-Bataillon Nr.2 3rd Komp of Flieger-Bataillon Nr.1 2nd Komp Kraftfahr-Bataillon

Interestingly, Kgl. Sächs. Maschinengewehr-Abteilung Nr.8 did not wear the 82mm size Wappen, as they wore Preußen pattern Tschako with the 104mm Wappen.

The second issued comparison for Sachsen (Saxony) is a horned Wappen. The 82mm example in this coloration was worn only by Kgl. Sächs. Schützen (Füsilier)-Regt. Prinz Georg Nr.108. The Sachsen Jäger battalions, Nr. 12 and 13, wore a similar Wappen, but with reversed colors, i.e.. silver base star and gilt center Wappen and horn. From 1867 until 1909, Sachsen Jäger and Schützen wore the reduced size Sachsen Wappen, but only on 31 Aug 1909 the horn was added to the Wappen of the Jäger and Schützen, in silver and gilt respectively.

And last: the steel M1915s. The 82mm example shown below would have been worn by the Sachsen Jäger and Schützen. 82mm Wappens without horn were worn by the remaining units (Ulanen, Husaren, Flieger etc). Like the pre-1915 versions the steel full-size M1915 Wappen measures on average 104mm.

Württemberg

Below are two issued comparisons for Württemberg, the first is of the gilt Wappen. The smaller one was only worn by one unit, Württembergisches Train-Bataillon Nr.13 between 1871 and 1903. Consequently, they are quite rare. Like its Preußen counterpart, it measures only 95mm from the top of the crown to the bottom of the center, compared to the larger Infantry Line Wappen at 125mm.

The second issued comparison for Württemberg is the German silver (nickel) Wappen.

The smaller one was worn by 5 units: 3rd Komp of Telegraphen-Bataillon Nr.4; and 4th Komp of Luftschiffer-Bataillon Nr. 4.

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