Original Item. Only One Available. This is an original Imperial German dark blue Waffenrock tunic for an enlisted man of the Royal Bavarian 19th Infantry Regiment “King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy.” The tunic retains its red shoulder straps with yellow braided regimental numerals, yellow piped Brandenburg cuffs, gilt buttons, and green silk lining. It has experienced extensive wear and later costume house use, but its regiment-specific insignia and the perforated name COLUS inside the collar provide substantial historical and research interest.

The body is constructed from Dunkelblau, or dark blue, wool and follows the traditional Imperial German infantry Waffenrock form. The tunic has Brandenburg cuffs, a standing collar, and the fitted skirt characteristic of German military dress during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Dark blue Waffenrock tunics were worn by infantry and numerous other branches of the Imperial German Army before the introduction of the field gray M1907/10 uniform. The various regiments and branches were distinguished through combinations of collar, cuff, piping, button, and shoulder strap colors.

The red shoulder straps are each fitted with a yellow braided regimental number 19. The regimental numeral, combined with the yellow cuff piping and gilt buttons, identifies the tunic as being worn by an enlisted man in Kgl. Bayer. 19. Infanterie-Regt. “König Viktor Emanuel III. von Italien”.

The regiment was part of the Royal Bavarian Army and was headquartered at Erlangen. In the peacetime organization before WWI, it belonged to the 10th Bavarian Infantry Brigade, 5th Bavarian Infantry Division, and III Bavarian Army Corps.

The vertical panels of the Brandenburg cuffs are piped in yellow. These colored details, together with the numbered shoulder straps and gilt buttons, form the principal evidence for the unit attribution.

The interior is lined in green silk. The lining shows minor fraying and tearing in several areas, while the material across the interior shoulders has suffered extensive tearing.

Stamps inside one shoulder indicate that the tunic later passed through a costume house. It may have been worn in theatrical productions or motion pictures, although no surviving records identify the costume company, productions, or performers associated with it. The costume house history may also account for repairs, alterations, or prolonged handling after the tunic left military ownership. All buttons are currently retained.

The inside of the collar is perforated with the name “COLUS”.

This appears to be a personal name and may identify an original wearer or a later user of the tunic. We were unable to confirm the name as a member of the regiment due to lack of an accessible roster.

The 19th Bavarian Infantry Regiment was formed on October 1st, 1890. Its first commander was Ludwig Edler von Grauvogl. In 1891, the regiment participated in a parade near Munich before Prince Regent Luitpold of Bavaria and Kaiser Wilhelm II.

The regiment’s battalions were initially stationed in several locations. Its II Battalion moved to Erlangen in 1891, while the III Battalion was transferred to Eichstätt and later to Erlangen. A IV Half Battalion, consisting of the 13th and 14th Companies, was formed on October 1st, 1893.

By 1897, the regiment was concentrated at Erlangen. On April 1st of that year, its 13th and 14th Companies were transferred to the newly established 21st Infantry Regiment.

King Humbert I of Italy was appointed proprietor of the regiment on May 13th, 1898, and the unit was renamed the 19th Infantry Regiment “King Humbert I of Italy.” Following Humbert’s death on July 29th, 1900, his successor, Victor Emmanuel III, became proprietor on August 30th, 1900. The regiment then received the title:

19. Infanterie-Regiment “König Viktor Emanuel III. von Italien”

In 1900, a contingent from the regiment took part in the German expedition to China during the Boxer Rebellion. The detachment included First Lieutenant Franz Epp, three additional officers, seven NCOs, and 63 enlisted men.

The presence of the Victor Emmanuel III regimental title dates the tunic no earlier than August 30th, 1900. Its dark blue construction places it within the prewar Imperial period before field gray uniforms replaced the colorful peacetime Waffenrock for active service.

This tunic retains the red shoulder straps with yellow 19 numerals, yellow piped Brandenburg cuffs, and gilt buttons, associated with the Royal Bavarian 19th Infantry Regiment. The heavy wear, extensive shoulder lining damage, and costume house markings document its later history, while the perforated COLUS name offers a specific avenue for additional research. It would be relevant to a collection focused on Royal Bavarian uniforms, the Bavarian 19th Infantry Regiment, or German participation in the Boxer Rebellion.

Approximate Measurements
Collar to shoulder: 9"
Shoulder to sleeve: 25"
Shoulder to shoulder: 15"
Chest width: 19"
Waist: 17"
Hip: 24"
Front length: 31.5"