Of The Imp... — The Kaiser's Army In Color. Uniforms

Uniforms in the Imperial era were a rigid social shorthand. They dictated social standing in civilian life; an officer in uniform was often granted more deference than a high-ranking civil servant. The Kaiser himself was rarely seen out of uniform, using the "splendid color" of his guards to project an image of an unbreakable, monolithic military state. Conclusion

The Spectacle of State: The Peace-Time Uniform ( Bunter Rock ) The Kaiser's Army In Color. Uniforms of the Imp...

While Prussia dominated, the kingdoms of Bavaria, Saxony, and Württemberg maintained their own distinct colors. Bavarian troops, for instance, were famously identified by their "cornflower blue" tunics. Uniforms in the Imperial era were a rigid social shorthand

As weaponry became more lethal and long-ranged, the "color" of the army became a liability. The 1907/1910 uniform regulations introduced Feldgrau (field grey). This was a revolutionary shift toward concealment. Conclusion The Spectacle of State: The Peace-Time Uniform