Eric
In brief lines, I can tell you that Death's Head (Totenkopf) was a symbol for some Imperial Army units. Among such unit was the Hussars (light cavalry) from Leib-Husaren Regiments Nr.1 and Nr.2 - this is probably the uniform that Willy is wearing in the picture you post. It was also the insgnia wore by the Braunschweigiges Infanterie-Regiment Nr.92 and Braunschweigisches Husaren Regiment Nr.17 until 1918.
During WWI the skull was also wore by Sturmtruppen (Storm troopers), Armored and Flamethrowers units and in the aftermath of that conflict, by several Freikorps units during the troublesome years of 1919-1923. Later, it was adopted by the Waffen-SS and also used as a divisional symbol by the 3. Waffen-SS Panzerdivision.
Douglas
|