Imperial German VII

Having cracked half of 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, I Corps of the German 8th Army c.1914 last year, it was time to move onto the second regiment - 41st Infantry Regiment 'von Boyen' (5th East Prussian) (Infanterie-Regiment von Boyen (5. Ostpreuß) Nr.41).

The acquisition of Kraus's excellent work on the uniforms and personal equipment of the Imperial German army sees this battalion enjoy a few refinements.

Firstly and most simply, the canteens went from being painted as all leather to my giving the canteen a dull brown to represent felt.

The main difference is the painting of sword knots in company/battalion colours - in this case with a white background to denote 1st battalion.

Here we have the second company, leading the fourth company:

As always, officers - both commissioned and non-commisssioned - followed their own rules:

For completeness, here are the rules of cap buttons.

 These plates all come from Ruhl, M., Die Uniformen der Deutschen Armee, Volume 2, (Leipzig, 1899).

Imperial Germans VI

1st Grenadier Regiment is now good to go, with supporting artillery battery and uhlans from both the Bde Cavalry Squadron and 2nd Cavalry Bde:

These were the last of 2014's Germans to roll off the painting conveyor belt:

So time to move onto 41st Infantry Regiment...

Imperial Germans V

The Field Artillery are finally ready:

Working as a single battery under the rules, but tassels painted to represent the first and second batteries of a Prussian first field artillery battalion.

Imperial Germans IV

The third and final Grenadier battalion rolls off the painting tray, which just leaves the artillery battery to do to complete the first half of the brigade:

Imperial Germans III

Regimental Headquarters of the 12th (Lithuanian) Uhlans - Lithauisches Ulanen-Regiment Nr. 12:

In 1914, as part of 2nd Cavalry Brigade these moved on mobilisation from I Corps to 1st Cavalry Division, which held the left flank for I Corps' assault at the battle of Gumbinnen.

Imperial Germans II

The Regimental Machine Gun Company (or at least two thirds of it):

With a close-up of one of the crews - not perfect I know, but certainly table ready :-)

The 1st battalion has now been based:

With the 2nd battalion and brigade cavalry hard on its heels, we may even be able to roll some dice soon. Time to get some Russians ready...

Imperial Germans

With thanks to Mssrs Bickley and Robinson for the inspiration, a return to the Eastern Front c 1914.

First up is the regimental HQ for 1st Grenadier Regiment 'Crown Prince' (1st East Prussian)

A grenadier for the same and the first batch of recruits for 41st Infantry Regiment 'von Boyen' (5th East Prussian)