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Garde Du Corps
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Framed Picture of the Garde du Corps Potsdam (Item GDUCORPS 1-1) |
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| DESCRIPTION:This is a group picture of the officers of the Regiment of the Second Squadron of the Garde du Corps stationed at the Prussian city of Potsdam. This is a reprint of one of the Erinnerunglsbilder, or souvenir picture. This would be the item that would be bought or issued to the retiring or mustering-out soldier for a memory of his service time in this elite guard unit. Various ranks with a different uniform and headgear are shown to include the famous Garde du Corps eagle atop the high-dress helmet that is seen on several of the guardsmen, regimental pipes, regimental beer steins, cuirassier swords, musical instruments permeate the scene and, of course, the requisite mug of beer is held possessively in the hands of most of the participants in “photo day.” There are also shields bearing legends concerning the corps of royal guards. The GDC was the personal guard regiment to the German Kaisers and the royal palace. This is a large print measuring 22 ½ x 27 inches. It is newly framed and matted with the correct German colors: black, white, red. This would be a great centerpiece for any good German Imperial helmet collection.
PRICE: $195.00; the framing cost $95.00 alone; print is rare |
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Prussian Garde Du Corps Helmet In Mint Condition (Item GDUCORPS 1-3; KHELMET 2-11) |
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| DESCRIPTION: Here is an astoundingly beautiful helmet of a Garde du Corps officer in immaculate condition throughout. Never that we know of has such a beautiful example been offered on the worldwide web. The Garde du Corps was the personal bodyguard of the king of Prussia and after 1871, the German emperor (in “German” Kaiser). It was founded in 1740 by Frederick the Great with Friedrich von Blumenthal as its first commander. He died suddenly in 1745, but his brother Hans von Blumenthal, who, with the other officers of the regiment had won the Pour le Merite at its first action at Hohenfriedberg, assumed command in 1747. Hans von Blumenthal was wounded leading the regiment in a successful cavalry charge at Lobositz and had to retire from the army. Initially the regiment was used partly as a training ground for officers as part of a programme of expansion of the cavalry. Early officers included the rake and memoirist Friedrich von der Trenck, who describes the arduous life of sleep deprivation and physical stress endured by officers, as well as the huge cost of belonging. The Cuirasses, for example, were silver-plated. Unlike the rest of the Imperial German Army, the Garde du Corps was recruited nationally and eventually reached a full crops strength. The Regiment wore a white cuirassier uniform with certain special distinctions in full dress. These included a red tunic for officers in court dress and a white metal eagle posed as if to fly on the bronze helmet. Other unique features of the regiment’s full dress as worn until 1914, included a sleeveless supraweste with the star of the Order of the Black Eagle on front and back and the retention of black iron cuirasses edged with red, presented by the Russian Tsar in 1814. These replaced the normal white metal breastplates on certain special occasions. This helmet has the Tombak metallic body with large convex style gilt chin-scales secured to clover leaf rosettes; one with the colors of the German nation and the other the black and white Prussian colors. The parade eagle stands upon a silvered clover- leaf base the body of the eagle is silvered metal, the crown is in gilt for officer’s. The guard star frontplate is on silvered metal with an enameled black eagle order ensign in the center. The liner is intact made of a silk type but rugged material. The sweat band is perfect in soft leather. There are 4 extra holes for attachment of the spike for normal every day usage. Inside the helmet is the washer with turn screw and bolt and under this is the makers mark that is J. Wagner and 1916 (date or mod.No?) This is the ‘finest’ and is worth repeating. You will never, never, find a better one. This is truly the epitome of an excellent Imperial relic. PRICE: $19,500.00 |
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Guard Du-Corps beer Stein (Item GDUCORP 1-4; KSTEIN 2-4; MRBSTEIN 1-16) |
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| DESCRIPTION: This is official Stein of the elite corps of the Kaisers personal bodyguard Regiment in Berlin and Potsdam. Formed in 1871 they wore resplendent uniforms with white with gold trim, a beautiful breastplate armor cuirasse with the Prussian guard star, and a resplendent helmet in brass and on its top sits the Prussian Imperial eagle in full dimension as he prepares to” wing It” to the sky this Eagle is unique to the GDC. You can see more about this if you go to K. helmet 2-6 in our Kaiser Reich section. The Stein is in the pottery style and is about a foot tall from the bottom to the top of the pewter guardsmen top. It has going around it various printed and spirited sayings. The Illusion of bravado and “Korpgeist”is prevalent; it is in perfect shape and is considered the best example the military Stein collectors can ever find. It is colorful indeed as expected from such an elite unit such as this one. It was from the property of a recruit in the fourth Regiment of the Garde Du-Corps stationed at Potsdam. The name shown is Paul Arnds. His name can be found on the two sides at the top of the central design. This design includes the Prussian crown, various regimental standards helmet, bayonet back pack and a white GDC., shoulder board. Under this is an image of a GDC horseman riding with his lance at the forefront. At the Top there is a statement about his love for his Regiment. Down the sides of this Stein are the names of his comrades of the Regimental. Comrades who served with him from 1905-1908 (about 35 names) and his own are listed. On the back panels are two scenes beautifully presented. One shows a GDC rider with horse and a pretty Fraulein who says “the horse belongs to Das Konigs, - - - Der Reiter 1st mein!” (This steed is the Kings, the rider is mine!) On the other side there is a depiction of the whole troop on the attack, and it says “Unser Garde Du Corps Atakerein muss der Starkste Feind verlieren” (when the Garde Du corp attacks even the powerful enemy will fall - -or lose!). The pewter top has an effigy of a GDC rider and a jumping horse, and the usual patriotic motifs are here as well. It also has black, white, and red color ribbons with oak leaves and acorns. All throughout the base are German national colors. It is marked German patent protected on its bottom, this item is handsome, rare and the historical importance is evident with this magnificent Stein. (See also the beautiful Garde du Corps officer's helmet at Khelmets 2-11).
PRICE: $1,650.00 |
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 Freedom, Joy, Luck and Blessings are due to you |
 "To My Dear Sister" |
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Garde Du Corps Commerative Plate From 1909 Berlin (Item GDUCORP 1-5) |
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| DESCRIPTION: Here is a beautiful plate purchased in 1909 by a Garde du Corpsman. The piece is, in my mind, so very precious that I practically hand carried it on the plane trip home from my last trip to Germany. To observe its many beautiful features and decorations, see our attached pictures and you can see some of the story and description of this elite regiment of Imperial Guards written in the articles elsewhere on this page and around the picture of the mounted guardsman. It has a legend that translated says “My beloved sister Marie at the Easter Celebration in 1909. From your loving brother Richard at the 1st Battalion of the Garde Kurass. Reg. in Berlin.
At the bottom of the plate are the words “Friede, Freude, Gluck, und Segen Sei Auf Allen Deinen Wegen" which translated means Freedom, Joy, Luck and Blessings are due to you. The plate measures 11 inches in diameter and is in unchipped, perfect condition with minute wear to the letters at the bottom, but since it is 100 years old I guess you can excuse that (I do!).
It is unmarked as to the maker but at that period of time this is not at all unusual.
A great G.D.C. item of beauty and historical importance. PRICE: $395.00 |
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Please refer to item designator in parentheses in all correspondence.
Please E-mail for any additional information you may need.If you prefer, contact 'Germania' at PO Box 68, Lakemont, GA 30552
or call at 706.782.1668.
Please! do not call during the wee hours of the morning. The best time for calling us is between 9 and 11 am and between 9 and 11 pm eastern time.