Ricardo Jara Franco
17 August 2008
Chile is probably the last country in the world to dress and parade in the old Prussian-style. The Regulation of Uniforms of 1898 and the Ordnance Feb, 1905 , puts final end to almost two centuries of French influence in the Chilean Uniforms and military instruction system. The Chilean Army now appears in all the splendor of spiked helmets and under the influence of old Prussia. This influence remained stronger in the Chilean Armed Forces, but especially in the Army, as those of any other Latin American country. Also, Chile has exercised a strong formative influence on the armed forces of other Latin American countries. The armed forces of Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, and El Salvador have came under the tutelage of Chilean military missions, in some cases for very long periods.
Photo : Director of the Military Academy, their Staff and the standard.bearer with gorget. How strange to see an officer dressing similar to the uniforms of the " I. Garde-Dragonen-Regiment Königin Victoria von Grosbritannien und Irland" or cadets dressing in the uniforms of the "Grenadier-Regiment König Friedrich Wilhelm II Nr. 10" , in 2007 !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fe6kGVVeBfc&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDpnH587I1o
The first pickelhaubes appeared in 1899, in the "General Bernardo O´Higgins" Military Academy, School of NCO of the Army, and in the Squadron of Cavalry of the Presidential Guard, in the parade formations and in guard´s service. However, already in 1879, the Regiment " Chacabuco", used a lot of pickelhaubes that were originally Peruvian but captured by the Chileans, in the war of 1879-83 against Peru-Bolivia ( Guerra del Pacífico ). However, these helmets didn´t participate in battle being relegated to police activities. These helmets amazingly still carried the German Imperial eagle, and were model M1867.
Left : Domingo Toro, Commandant Regiment Chacabuco ( KIA ), next to soldier wearing a pickelhaube captured in Peru, 1879. Right : Chilean Captains Ahumada ( Artillery ) and Guillen ( Infantry ), reformers of the Colombian Military Academy, circa 1907.
After 1899, Germany and Austria manufactured spiked helmets dedicated to Chile regularly. The form and model were similar to those of the Army of the Kaiser (pattern 1891 and 1895), used by the Prussian Garde Regiments. The Imperial eagle wappen was replaced by another very similar one specifically for Chile. Starting from 1905 for the national shield that was made in Germany, like in Chile. This emblem adopted in 1824, and reformed with their motto in 1854, it represents the Chilean national emblem : a huemul - Hippocamelus bisulcus -(small fawn , today in danger of extinction), and a condor, contouring a bicolor shield with the slogan of the Chilean Army : "For the Reason or the Force ", in Latin: "aut consiliis aut ense". During certain periods this motto was replaced by the sentence "Republic of Chile ". Since the ´70´s the front plate uses the original slogan, the official slogan of the state of Chile since 1920.
Left: “For the Reason or the Force”. Right: “Republic of Chile “.
The Military Academy's First Model adopted a brass eagle with imperial crown as its emblem !! An imperial eagle is very strange and desired now. There is a foil of white color that simulates the feathered neck of a condor, with its deployed wings that has in its claws a grenade and a sword. On it's chest is a silver star, and the slogan “For the Reason or the Force “. This exclusive model of the Military Academy was in use from 1900 to 1927. The helmet was replaced in 1927 after the railroad tradgedy of Alpatacal during a trip to Argentina the helmets and their emblems were lost almost totally in the fire. Twelve individuals including the director died in this tragedy. The helmet was replaced by similar helmets to those that had been used by the rest of the army since 1905 with the Chilean shield to the front. The only exception is the round front visor used exclusively by the Military Academy, while the rest of the army uses a square visor.
First model spiked helmet used by the army (Enlisted Men’s Helmet), with this first helmet plate, and then dedicated exclusively to the Military Academy.T
There was a second model used by the Army, and that used a wapen representing a formal condor, similar to the one used in the first pattern, with a sword and Roman “ fasces Lictoriae” - symbolizing the strength through unity . This second model was used up to 1907 by the Army The helmet below is for display only, because it doesn't correspond exactly to the one used by this 2nd. Model. See the fasces lictoriae, in the right claw ( 22 years before their wrong use )
Left: Model used by the Military Academy, from 1927. In this case, uses the "long spike" and the round visor. Right: Model actual, of leather and artificial hair, with cone spike.
The Chilean army, ended the use of the spiked helmet in August of 1924. The last official use was for the parade that was organized in honor of Prince Humberto of Saboya, in the actual park O'Higgins (Old Marte field), nevertheless in the provinces the helmet was used for a couple of years more. Today, the army reserves the spiked helmets exclusively for the military Academy (with white hairbush, for officer and cadets, and red-orange for the music band).
Starting in 2006, the Austrian company responsible for providing leather helmets to the Military Academy has ceased production. Chile began to buy in Eastern Europe to replace the needs of the army but with poor results in the quality. All the parts and brass pieces are locally produced.
An experimental spike helmet of fiber was tested during the decade of the ´90´s. It was not accepted as it did not match the leather helmet in ventilation and weight. But probably this rejection weight was more heavily based on tradition and historical background. Ecuador and Colombia use fiber helmets.
Left: interior of experimental helmet of fiber. Right: Interior of current leather helmet.
Left: Spiked helmets corresponding to Music Band. Right: Spiked helmet used by cadets and officer. Both hairbush made of horsehair .
The same hairbush as the previous ones, but with artificial hair (1960)
Left: Detail of the hairbush mount and round base. Right: Detail of spike usually used by the helmets of the Military Academy. Spike of “Cone” ( 84 mm. ), “Short” Spike ( 82 mm. ) ,” Long” Spike ( 91 mm ), and Cavalry Spike ( NCO, 73-90 mm ) . The Cone Spike is used at the present time .During the period of use of the spike helmet by the Army (1898-1924), the troops used a short spike, and the officers a long spike.
Left: Helmet of Cavalry (Enlisted Men's Helmet), used up to 1924, it uses metals of silver colors, the rest of the branches, uses metals of brass color.
Right: Prussian Spike Helmet and Chilean Infantry Helmet, same period, NCO model (used chinscales, with M1891 side post).
Drawings of officer of 1905. Left to Right: Lieutenant of Cavalry ( Adjutant ), General in parade uniform (with parade feather plume ) , and General S. Parra, Circa 1912.
Band of Music of the Military Academy, with Prussian swallows´ nests and Academy Schellenbaum (or “Jingling Johnnie “).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fe6kGVVeBfc&feature=related
Military cadets take their oath of allegiance to the colours.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihw9QfJAWEk&feature=related
Director of Academy (Colonel) with his special spike helmet, with feathers, originally of condor, nowadays of goose. This is exclusive to the Director, thus very desirable and scarce.
Chinscales detail (brass, 16-17 or 18 hovels) and cockade with ring locally produced.
"Beautiful" picture of national helmet plate .
Parade funnel detail, and shoulder pads of officer (2nd. Lieutenant).
Standard-bearer of the Military Academy.
Left to Right: Spike helmet with artificial hair 1970. Artillery student's helmet, 1923. Prussian spike helmet, 1910. Experimental fiber helmet, with short spike.
Detail of Helmet with artillery ball ( kugelhelm ), used by the student cadets of this branch, until the end of the ´30´s. Right: Officer Spike helmet from Carabineros, National Police, 1930.
Captain Larrain. Guard of Presidential Palace (Carabineros, 1920), with beautiful pickelhaube with condor of deployed wings. As seen in the drawing, the brass helmet with eagle, worn by a member of the Presidential Squadron of Cavalry (Army, used until the years 30´s).
Left: Major Artillery in Parade uniform, 1905. Right: Officer of Artillery, Reg. Art. N° 3 "Chorrillos ", circa 1910.
Left: Colonel of Engineers, 1905. Right: Second lieutenant of Engineers. Photo probably taken in 1915.
Left: Lieutenant of Infantry, 1905. Right: Officer of Infantry, with the First Model plate, 1904
Left: Cadet, Military Academy, 1920. Right: Cadet, 1920.
Left: Helmet of Bolivian Military Academy. Right : Bolivian Police Academy, with avocado hairbush.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrsC_99BI_o
Helmet of Ecuadorian Military Academy, of fiber. Note the lateral vents.
From Ecuador, this one is different then the examples above and similar to the 1848 original model.
sent in by Eduardo Espinoza
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXSZXWuVJh4&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdoJ_IXbu-A&feature=related
Argentine Spiked Helmet 1910
Cadets Venezualia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ph3yiMk2nIU&NR=1
Columbian Cadets
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfwEto44S7
Helmets and Questions Added as a Result of Reading This Article.
Regarding the pictures of the Chilean type Jag zu Pferde helmet, I congratulate you, since you possess a rarity that is not at the present time in Chile (the last models were lost in the Military Historical Museum, a couple of decades ago due to fire). This helmet was employed by a Squadron of Cavalry while functioning as the presidential escort, of the Grenadier Regiment. These were only used for big ceremonies of State between 1900 and 1930. Fig. D shows the helmet.
It was not employed by other cavalry units. In Chile the cavalry used a pickelhaube with silver metal fittings. Between 1900 and 1905, the cavalry used a leather helmet with a small condor on top of the helmet as shown in Fig. A - for parade - and Fig. C for daily service. Starting in 1905, the cavalry used a spike like the helmet in Fig. B.
From 1940 to the present, this squadron maintains the old uniform of the Regulation of 1940 (O.C. N° 89, April 11, 1940) for troops as in - Fig F -, and for officers up to 1986 as in Figure E. Note the presidential badge to the right side, at the height of the fifth button.
Ranks of the figures :
Fig.A: 1st. Lieutenant
Fig B: 1st. Lieutenant
Fig C: 1st. Lieutenant
Fig D: 1st. Corporal ( Cabo Primero )
Fig E: Captain
Fig F: Private
Enclosed is a picture of the Regiment of Chivalry N° 2 " Cazadores " during maneuvers of 1913, and a current picture of the Squadron Escorts.
Bibliography :
“La Gazette des Uniformes”, Nr. 204, Sept. 2002, Jean – Manuel Torti
“Historia del Ejército de Chile : Nuestros Uniformes” , Tomo XI, 1985
“Cuatro Siglos de Uniformes Militares en Chile", by Antonio and Alberto Márquez A.
Article : “La Escuela Militar y el casco Prusiano, Antecedentes Históricos”, de Alberto Márquez A.
“The Kaiser’s Army in Color, 1890-1910”, C. Woolley
“Memorial del Estado Mayor del Ejército de Chile”, Feb. 1913.
