In 1871, after defeating the French, the King of Prussia declared Germany an Empire and crowned himself Kaiser Wilhelm in the Versailles Palace Hall of Mirrors. This began a period of ostentation in society and the arts?La Belle Époque or the Beautiful Age. It would end with the outbreak of 1914?s Great War. In that period Germany greatly expanded its military and in keeping with the ?beautiful age? created a fabulous array of colorful uniforms and equipment for its military. Significantly, the adoption of individual military units by Europe's royalty, led to an ever evolving richness in the insignia used to identify individuals and units in the Prussian and other states and principalities of aristocratic Germany. The armies of the Imperial era were flamboyant in uniforms of every color imaginable. None more so than the armies of the German Empire. Whether they were Prussian, Bavarian, Saxon or Wurttemberg regiments it could not be denied each regiment was impressive looking on maneuvers and especially on parade. One of the ways to identify regiments and their branch were by the particular uniforms worn including the all-important insignia attached to each man's shoulder. One can be sure that every soldier wearing a royal cypher or number was proud of his regiment and its history'past and future. Under Arms for the Kaiser is written for both the collector and historian who are interested in the Imperial German army and the regiments which comprised it. The book covers the shoulder insignia of all regiments with a focus on those which were honored with a royal honorary ?Chef,? or chief, including the wear of their monogram (cypher) on their shoulder straps. The book with over 1800 photos includes regimental information, Chefs, and hundreds of shoulder insignia including descriptions by branch and regiment. This is a reference, which should be in the library of every military insignia collector, especially those with an interest in Imperial Germany.