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 Spectacle of State: The Peace-Time Uniform ( Bunter Rock ) The Kaiser's Army In Color. Uniforms of the Imp...
The new field uniform simplified the complex colorful patterns into a unified grey-green palette. Uniforms in the Imperial era were a rigid social shorthand
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 Conclusion The Spectacle of State: The Peace-Time Uniform