Original Item. Only One Available. A.K.O 21 September 1915 announced the release of a completely new pattern of tunic called the M1915. Bayern (Bavaria) did not adopt the Bluse until 31 March 1916, so a Bayern Bluse is known as a M1916 Bluse. The Bluse was to be used by all units, including cavalry. The tunic was made with a looser cut than earlier uniforms, which allowed heavier undergarments to be worn. This cut also resulted in a greater degree of mobility and comfort for the wearer. The Bluse was completely void of piping and utilized the simplified rear skirt design and barrel cuffs of the Vereinfachte tunics.

This is a fantastic example of a very scarce M1915 Feldbluse, with its original configurations including the belt loops and buttons on the back. The cuffs and collar are in their original configuration, along with the buttons, and the collar of this example bears scarce NCO Tresse in blue and white for Bavaria. The collar catch is entirely missing from this example, broken off long ago. The six buttons on the front are intact and in fair shape. The coat has light mothing across with the back having some larger holes. This example shows heavy field service use, exactly how we love to see these. The interior even bears a unit marking, 3. J.R., for the Königlich Bayerisches 3. Infanterie-Regiment "Prinz Karl von Bayern", or the 3rd Royal Bavarian Infantry. This regiment saw particularly heavy fighting, losing over 5,000 men over the course of the war.

There are very faint size markings in the usual spot, but they are too worn to read. The interior lining shows very heavy wear with some rust staining near the collar, and some stitch repairs across. The uniform is in good condition, especially considering its age and just how rare WWI Imperial German Feldgrau uniforms are. Some of the nap of the fabric has worn away in areas, but overall it shows only light wear. Overall, a very attractive tunic that displays very nicely despite these slight drawbacks.

Imperial German Feldgrau uniforms are incredibly hard to find on the market today, both officer and enlisted. Aside from the attrition of clothing worn in the trenches, much was burned as a result of the Spanish Influenza Pandemic and lice infestations. What survived was either worn out by veterans who repurposed their old uniforms as everyday clothing following the bleak years during the massive depression that raged throughout Germany, or, was simply repurposed or converted for use with the Reichswehr.

An excellent addition to any First World War German Uniform collection!

The 3rd Royal Bavarian Infantry in World War I

1914
At the beginning of the First World War in 1914, the regiment was mobilized and sent to the western front under the supreme command of the 6th Army. The first major battle took place near Saarburg on August 20th. Fighting on the border in Lorraine followed shortly thereafter, and from the end of September the first battle on the Somme.

1915
In 1915 the regiment came from the 2nd Infantry Division to the newly formed 11th Infantry Division and was transferred to the Eastern Front . There it was involved in the breakthrough at Gorlice-Tarnow in May 1915 , the capture of Przemyśl on June 3, 1915 and the subsequent month-long push back of the Russians ( Great Retreat ). The victorious campaign across the Danube through Serbia followed in the autumn .

1916
In the Battle of Verdun in spring 1916, the regiment fought at Avocourt. At the beginning of May 1916, Height 279 was finally conquered, where the regiment established itself for defence. After a terrible death toll in just under three months, the regiment was disbanded. In the summer of that year the regiment took part in repelling the Brusilov offensive in Volhynia . From autumn 1916 the regiment fought on the right (III Battalion) and left flank (I and II Battalions) of the 11th Infantry Division during the successful offensive through the Carpathian Mountains against Romania .

1917/18
In 1917 the association was transferred back to the western front, where it took part in the battles in Alsace , on the Aisne , in Flanders and in the German offensive in 1918.

The regiment, which was almost always deployed at the focal point of the fighting, lost more than 5,000 men through death between 1914 and 1918.