The Kaiser's Army In Color: Uniforms of the Imperial German Army (1871–1914) Introduction
The uniforms of the Kaiser’s army represent the final sunset of military romanticism. The transition from the brilliant blues and reds of the parade ground to the muted Feldgrau of the trenches mirrors Germany’s own transition from a collection of princely states to a centralized, industrial war machine. To study these uniforms in color is to see the Imperial German Army as it saw itself: a vibrant, proud, and technically peerless institution on the precipice of total transformation.
While Prussia dominated, the kingdoms of Bavaria, Saxony, and Württemberg maintained their own distinct colors. Bavarian troops, for instance, were famously identified by their "cornflower blue" tunics.
As weaponry became more lethal and long-ranged, the "color" of the army became a liability. The 1907/1910 uniform regulations introduced Feldgrau (field grey). This was a revolutionary shift toward concealment.