WWI German Kokarde (Rosettes)

Here’s a small collection of rosettes that were attached to the front of cloth caps worn by Imperial German forces. Instead of having holes like a button which were sewn on the visorless mütz, these have prongs to fix them to the cap, indicating they were likely made for the visored “schirmmütz”

The red-white-black (now red-rust-black) kokarde, known as the Reichs Kokarde was adopted in 1897 for all ranks throughout the German Empire, and worn above a second kokarde indicating the specific German State the unit was part of. In this case the center is red felt between a black enameled metal backing and a rusted silver-white metal ring. This sort of construction indicates wear by an officer or senior NCO grade.

The black-white-black kokarde indicates a Prussian unit of the German Army and would be worn under the Reichs Kokarde as shown in the third photo. It’s also a two piece construction indicating officer/senior NCO grade.

The white kokarde with the red Maltese cross is one of the scarcer varieties, coming from the Free and Hanseatic City of Lübeck. This meant the city was not part of a larger principality but was its own little autonomous state within the German Empire. It’s a stamped out one piece construction used by the rank and file.