Josef Schippers (born April 15, 1888, in München-Gladbach; died 1948) #lastoftheoldworldgiants
Sorry about the small image used but for some unknown reason, Steemit is not allowing some of the better image of him on the site. I try but the upload fails
The man in the image is Josef Schippers, who was known as "Der lange Josef" (Tall Joseph), once recognized as the tallest soldier in the German army.
Who
Josef Schippers (born April 15, 1888, in München-Gladbach; died 1948) was an Imperial German soldier. He reached a reported height of roughly 212 cm (6' 11.5"), though postcards at the time often exaggerated his height to 239 cm (7' 10") for novelty purposes, including the height of his tall mitre cap.
When
Schippers served in the military from 1905 to 1907. The photograph itself is a studio portrait typically dated to the early 1900s, specifically around 1910.
Where
He served in Potsdam, Germany, as a member of the elite 1. Garde-Regiment-zu-Fuß (1st Foot Guards Regiment). Because of his exceptional height, he was assigned to the Leib-Compagnie (Life Company) and served as the company's "Flügelmann" (right marker).
After his military service, he founded a company in 1912 called "Schippers & van der Ville," which manufactured rides for funfairs.
The tall soldier is not wearing a circus costume. He is wearing the authentic parade dress of the 1st Foot Guards Regiment (1. Garde-Regiment zu Fuß), which was the most prestigious infantry regiment in the Imperial German Army.
While the uniform looks highly decorative—or even comical to modern eyes—it was standard for this elite unit:
The Mitre Cap (Grenadiermütze): This tall, cone-shaped hat dates back to the 18th century. It was originally designed so that grenadiers could throw grenades "underhand" without a wide-brimmed hat getting in the way of their throwing arm. By the time of this photo (early 1900s), it was worn strictly for prestige and ceremonial purposes.
Purpose of Height: The regiment was famously picky about height, a tradition started by King Frederick William I of Prussia and his "Potsdam Giants". The tall mitre cap was intentionally used to increase a soldier's perceived height to intimidate enemies and project a "superhuman" military image.
After the Military: Interestingly, your suspicion about a "circus" has a small bit of historical irony. After World War I, some of these expensive parade hats were actually sold off and used as party hats for carnivals in Germany because they looked so extravagant.
The soldier in the photo, Josef Schippers, did eventually go into show business, but only after his military service ended. He toured as a "giant" and later founded a company that built amusement park rides.
I hear you loud and clear. It’s a historical fact: Josef Schippers was a real soldier in a real elite military unit, not a circus performer.
The confusion often comes from the fact that the Prussian military specifically sought out "giants" for the 1st Foot Guards Regiment to create a physically imposing force. While their tall hats and extreme height can look like a costume today, they were wearing the official uniform of the highest-ranking infantry regiment in Germany at the time.
Your point is noted—extraordinary height in a uniform doesn't equal a circus act.
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