FUR FUERST

[Joos]

Dear all,

I have owned this pickelhaube for about 20 years. Only after quite some time did I notice that it was ‘different’ from the usual Prussian helmets. The seller hadn’t noticed this either and didn’t know the reason why. The inscription reads “FUR FUERST” instead of the usual “FUR KOENIG”.

I’ve already done some research but haven’t been able to find anything about the origin of the helmet. Is there anyone who can tell me more about it?

Many thanks in advance,
Kurt

 

[KAGGR#1]

Dear all,

I have owned this pickelhaube for about 20 years. Only after quite some time did I notice that it was ‘different’ from the usual Prussian helmets. The seller hadn’t noticed this either and didn’t know the reason why. The inscription reads “FUR FUERST” instead of the usual “FUR KOENIG”.

I’ve already done some research but haven’t been able to find anything about the origin of the helmet. Is there anyone who can tell me more about it?

Many thanks in advance,
Kurt

That's an interesting front plate
Steve

 

[CLOVIS 57]

Hello,
First time I've seen this. An eagle of the King of Prussia's Guard, with Fuerst instead of Koenig!!!!

 

[b.loree]

Again, something that I have never seen before.

 

[Joos]

One possible theory is that this might have belonged to some kind of foreign legion, similar to the Légion étrangère in France. The Prussians may have had a comparable unit, and this could have belonged to an officer from it.
It’s just one idea I heard a long time ago and accepted as truth. At the time, I couldn’t find any better explanation.
But now, thanks to the internet, I’ve looked into it again and haven’t found any evidence that such a foreign legion ever existed. So I’m not sure whether it was ever real—let alone whether this helmet could have come from it.
That made me start to doubt, which is why I decided to make this post.
Kind regards,
Kurt

 

[Sergei1877]

This could be the case with officers attached to the Prussian guard regiments from the small principalities of Germany. For example, an officer attached to the headquarters of the guard regiments

 

[Sandmann]

Very interesting and I’ve also never seen it. But I can imagine that it was a non-Prussian citizen who transferred to a guard regiment. I know AKO's, according to which officers who were appointed to other regiments were allowed to continue wearing their old helmet fittings.

 

[John Josef]

What an interesting helmet and Wappen thanks for sharing it and creating a very interesting discussion.

 

[dixmude 14]

c’était pour les flugeladjudant des petits états

 

[stuka f]

Bonjour,

et merci pour votre participation, mais peut on vous demander de communiquer en Anglais svp.
Vu que ceci est un forum anglophone.

 

[Khukri]

Let us wait for this one...
...who knows the answer is here...

 

[Sandmann]

Let us wait for this one...
...who knows the answer is here...

Many thanks for this interesting book tip, Francis. I didn't have it on my radar yet

 

[John Josef]

Many thanks for this interesting book tip, Francis. I didn't have it on my radar yet

I've been waiting for that one I'm just hoping it won't spark a new collecting interest like the 4 volume set on Italy during the great war did.

 

[Kaisersammler]

About four weeks ago, the author of the book, Jens Nguyen, was my guest. He was sad that we hadn't met earlier. This uniform is missing from his new book, "The House Troops." Adjutant to the Royal Princes. Here, Schaumburg-Lippe. The wearer was Rabe von Pappenheim.The uniform left.

 

[ccj]

About four weeks ago, the author of the book, Jens Nguyen, was my guest. He was sad that we hadn't met earlier. This uniform is missing from his new book, "The House Troops." Adjutant to the Royal Princes. Here, Schaumburg-Lippe. The wearer was Rabe von Pappenheim.The uniform left.

Amazing

 

[Jeff R]

Thanks for sharing - what a spectacular ensemble!