A German Imperial “Totenkopf” Hussar’s Regiment Pennant

A German Imperial hussar’s pennant, swallow tail design, measuring 700x290mm, extremely fine condition, the lower tail is slightly shorter than the upper tail, minimal fraying and discolouration. The pennant was used by the 2. Leib-Husaren-Regiment “Königin Viktoria von Preußen” Nr. 2 (2nd Hussar Regiment “Queen Victoria of Prussia” No. 2). This unit can trace its roots back to the 5th Hussar Regiment founded in 1741. Because of their use of the death’s head symbol on their headgear and flags, they were also known as the “Totenkopfhusaren” (death’s head hussars). During the second half of the 19th century, the regiment fought in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866, and the Franco-Prussian War of 1870/71. In the First World War, they initially fought on the Western Front in the First Battle of the Marne and the fighting near Arras, but in late 1914 were redeployed to the Eastern Front, where they fought to conquer the city of Riga and the islands of Saaremaa and Hiiumaa. In 1917, the regiment was sent to fight in the Finnish independence struggle against Russia.