Minifigure – Prussian infantry soldier German Imperial Army at the outbreak of World War I (LEGO Compatible)

This image displays a toy minifigure representing a Prussian infantry soldier from the German Imperial Army at the outbreak of World War I (circa 1914).

The figure is depicted in the iconic uniform of the period. His headwear is the famous Pickelhaube, the spiked helmet made of hardened leather that is synonymous with the German army of that era. The tan color of the helmet may represent a canvas cover that was often used in the field to reduce visibility.

He is wearing the M1910 Waffenrock (tunic) in its field grey (Feldgrau) color. The tunic is detailed with bright red piping on the collar, cuffs, and down the front panel. Red was the traditional branch color for the line infantry of the Kingdom of Prussia, the dominant state within the German Empire. The figure is also equipped with standard leather infantry gear, including Y-straps and ammunition pouches.

Historical Background: As a Prussian soldier, this infantryman would have been part of the largest and most powerful contingent of the German Imperial Army. The uniform shown is characteristic of the German soldier who marched off to war in August 1914. While the field grey color was a step towards modern camouflage, the uniform still retained colorful 19th-century elements like the red piping and the impractical Pickelhaube. Within a few years of brutal trench warfare, these conspicuous features would be replaced by the steel Stahlhelm and more utilitarian, drab uniforms better suited for modern combat. This figure captures a soldier at the very beginning of the conflict, on the cusp of a new era of warfare.