Description
PRUSSIA – ATTILA – INTERIM OFFICER – MAJOR – HUSAREN-REGIMENT Nr 9
2. Rheinisches Husaren-Regiment was a line Husaren-Regiment. It was founded in 1815 and was garrisoned at Straßurg i.E where it was assigned to the Prussian VII. Armeekorps.
This Interim attila (The Interim attila was a daily use tunic and not worn for more formal affairs.) was to a Major of that regiment. In that rank he may have been assigned to command the equivalent of a Bataillone or may have been a deputy commander of the regiment.
The formal attila was far more decorative and of higher quality. Formal affairs might include a parade or a review of more senior officers or possibly royalty including the Kaiser.
The tunic is a light blue wool with silver bullion tresses and trim. A double row of gilt rosette buttons and a single row of five gilt barrel buttons run down the center of the Attila. It is of pre war quality, and I would date it to the period of 1900-1910.
One of the most significant features of the tunic are the shoulder boards. The shoulder boards are for a Major and thus there are no pips, as there would have been for an Oberstleutnant (One pip) or an Oberst (Two pips). But what sets these shoulder boards off is that the small buttons that secure them to the tunic are for the Johaniter Order.
Kaiser Wilhelm II was the head of the Johaniter Order. On many of his uniforms on the left breast these buttons were embroidered. You would also see more senior generals wearing that same embroidered cross on their tunic.
To see the Johaniter button on a shoulder board of a relatively junior officer is a rarity. I have never before seen a button for the Johaniter Order on ANY shoulder board regardless of rank. This chap was most certainly a member of the nobility at the very least and perhaps even royalty.
On the reverse of the tunic we see more of the silver bullion tresses. There are also two more of the gilt rosette buttons. The interior of the attila is a very heavy beige silk liner. With the weight of the wool exterior and the silk lining this is a VERY heavy tunic.
The overall condition of the tunic both inside and out is quite nice. There is one flaw at the bottom of the skirt the silver bullion trim is loose and needs to be re-stitched, an easy thing to have done. Once this flaw has been taken care of the new owner will have a superb attila.
This is a consignment item.
