Red Band Uberzugs

[ussguppy]

Here are some different types of helmet covers with the red band. I don't know if they made them for tschapkas or busbies with the red band...

Gabe

 

[CLOVIS 57]

​

To be precise, these are not camouflage helmet covers (Überzug) (M92 and M96).
They are peacetime manoeuvre helmet covers (Manöver-Kappe) (M1884). Reversible, the beige side was for the friend, the side with the red stripe was for the enemy.

At mobilisation, given the shortage of equipment for the new regiments, the Reserve and Landwehr, these Manöver-Kappe were used on the beige side as camouflage helmet covers, and red unit numbers were sewn onto the front.

 

[b.loree]

The German peacetime design of the manoeuvre helmet covers with reversible red stripe/beige was a fortunate "accident" for the Kaiser's Army when the war began. I have seen these "reversibles" for sale at many shows but they were always "officer private purchase" as are yours from what I can see. I have never seen a government issued OR's RMK cover in all my years of collecting....perhaps the red stripe cloth was simply a separate piece placed over the issued uberzug?? As to tschapka covers, I have owned one and the construction is very complex with multiple "hooks and eyes", I guess the red stripe could be stitched around it?? The busby, obviously is a more cylindrical object which again would (?) make for easier red stripe application?? These must have existed for the war games but I have never seen period photos, other than pickelhauben.

 

[CLOVIS 57]

La conception allemande en temps de paix des couvre-casques de manœuvre avec bande rouge/beige réversible était un « accident » heureux pour l'armée du Kaiser lorsque la guerre a commencé. J'ai vu ces « réversibles » en vente dans de nombreux salons, mais ils étaient toujours des « achats privés d'officiers », comme les vôtres d'après ce que j'ai pu voir. Je n'ai jamais vu de couvre-casque RMK d'OR émis par le gouvernement au cours de toutes mes années de collection... peut-être que le tissu à bande rouge était simplement une pièce séparée placée sur l'uberzug émis ?? Quant aux couvre-casques tschapka, j'en ai possédé un et la construction est très complexe avec de multiples « crochets et yeux », je suppose que la bande rouge pourrait être cousue autour ?? Le busby, évidemment, est un objet plus cylindrique qui, encore une fois, faciliterait (?) l'application de la bande rouge ?? Ceux-ci devaient exister pour les jeux de guerre, mais je n'ai jamais vu de photos d'époque, à part celles du pickelhauben.

Manöver-Kappe M84 troops are available in France. They have double hooks in the shape of a naval anchor or a single hook that can be swivelled to either side.
These MK84s, which were in stock for manoeuvres, were all used for mobilisation, on the beige side (red stripe towards the helmet) with or without the regimental number in red, at the beginning of August, then in green at the beginning of September.

In the photos, taken from a distance, you can't tell an MK 84 from a Feld-Uberzug 96.
But on the photo below, taken close enough, the MK 84 can be identified, by the shadow of the red stripe that transpires, and by the central seam that no longer exists on the Überzug.

Photographs of German soldiers with the Manöver-Kappe M84 on their helmets are rare. Here is one, on the ‘friendly’ side, as the red stripe is underneath. To make it easier to use the chinstrap, the visor and headpiece parts are rolled up.

 

[b.loree]

Well, now I have seen an OR's MK. Thank you Clovis.

 

[ussguppy]

Looks like the Tschapka version does exist, and I just barely missed it haha!

 

[b.loree]

That is the officer private purchase style.

 

[NON YX]

Dr.Kaiser

 

[ussguppy]

The German peacetime design of the manoeuvre helmet covers with reversible red stripe/beige was a fortunate "accident" for the Kaiser's Army when the war began. I have seen these "reversibles" for sale at many shows but they were always "officer private purchase" as are yours from what I can see. I have never seen a government issued OR's RMK cover in all my years of collecting....perhaps the red stripe cloth was simply a separate piece placed over the issued uberzug?? As to tschapka covers, I have owned one and the construction is very complex with multiple "hooks and eyes", I guess the red stripe could be stitched around it?? The busby, obviously is a more cylindrical object which again would (?) make for easier red stripe application?? These must have existed for the war games but I have never seen period photos, other than pickelhauben.

Very much appreciate the info. A thought; if they only exist for officers in war games, what did the enlisted wear to distinguish teams? You are very evidently correct as all mine are made for officers helmets and none of them really fit very well on my M15s.

When I was in the field playing war games for the military, we used to wear a green band around our helmet, but so did officers on our side. However, the administrators facilitating the training wore a red hat; imaging its that type of scenario...

Gabe

 

[ussguppy]

View attachment 56362
Dr.Kaiser

Great photo, thank you for sharing!