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 dark blue tunic ( Waffenrock ) was the standard for most infantry units, rooted in Prussian tradition. The Kaiser's Army In Color. Uniforms of the Imp...
Even with the shift to grey, the Kaiser insisted on maintaining traditional "piping" (thin strips of color) on the collar and cuffs to denote a soldier's branch or regiment, preserving a sense of identity amidst the drabness of modern camouflage. Social and Political Significance Uniforms in the Imperial era were a rigid social shorthand
The Kaiser's Army In Color: Uniforms of the Imperial German Army (1871–1914) Introduction Conclusion The dark blue tunic ( Waffenrock )