Generalfeldmarschall and future president of the German Republic, Paul von Hindenburg (1847-1934)
In this portrait, besides a healthy tanned complexion, Hindenburg shows a few of the decorations bestowed upon him during his career. I say a few because the (probably incomplete list) numbers 88 decorations and awards!
Instead of the collar tabs of a Generalfeldmarschall, he is wearing the lemon-yellow collar patches and Guard Litzen of his old unit, the 3. Garde-Regt. zu Fuß, of which he was Colonel-in-Chief. Sometimes he also wore the 3. Garde-Regt. zu Fuß’s Regimental colors on his shoulder tabs but in this case, in my opinion, it seems that they were red.
The photo was probably taken between the 23rd of November 1914, when he was promoted to Generalfeldmarschall, and February 23, 1915, when he received the Oakleaves to his ‘Pour Le Mérite’, which he doesn’t yet show in this photo.
Photographer: Nicola Perscheid
Original: Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin