"Prussian National Cavalry" Topic

When I find references to the Prussian National Cavalry regiments they do not ascribe a standard uniform or standard armament to them, or any at all actually (standard or otherwise).

I get the impression the National Cavalry were of various types and were later merged into corresponding regular cavalry units. If that is the case, how does one know which are of which kind and therefore what uniform style (let alone coloration) to use?

I've got the Prussian Ospreys and I also have the appropriate Elting Volumes but I am not finding myself a useful answer. Can anyone lend me some direction or knowledge?

Cheers,

The Bandit

In David Nash's booklet on the Prussian Army there seems no question to me that uniforms were supplied to the National Cavalry Regt's. The Prussian Nat Regt is the one I've never seen a good representable figure with Litewka with braiding and a shako with cords, The Pomeranians with Ulan uniforms but in dark green and the Silesians and Elbe in Hussar uniforms.

The text and drawings from Nash's most useful book can be found here:

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*I am uncertain of the permission the site has to use this material, however – I treasure my copy, which is falling apart from more than 30 years of use. All of the National Cavalry regiments are covered, each having a different uniform; they were taken up into the line in 1815.

Peter

Knotel has these plates:
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All the National Cavalry Regiment uniforms I've seen appear to be essentially hussars armed with lances.

I've got some figures I'm trying to identify that I received second-hand. They largely fit the bill but no lances. Tall plume that is narrower at the top than the bottom, braids down the front of his jacket, no pelisse, shako, armed with saber and a carbine.

Not sure the make of the figures but they are 15mm and not Old Glory or Battle Honors. I don't think they are AB or CGM either.

A photo can be seen here:

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Cheers,

The Bandit

I thought this might be the Normal Dragoon regiment, but there is pretty clearly a sabretache, so that is out; also the style of plume would be wrong and the Normal Dragoons had a rear peak on the shako… although it looks like the device on the shako could be a guard star.?

Are they even Prussians – ? Saxon Hussars?

Prussian Hussar Officers wearing their Pelisses is also a possibility

Gonsalvo,

Thanks for the into.

I think they are Prussians but I could be wrong. The plate on the shako is star like, tons of points on it, forming essentially an ornate circle.

For a bit I was thinking Prussian hussars wearing their pelisses but they aren't officers as they are all carrying carbines, there are about a dozen of them.

I am confident I can rule out:

French
Austrians
British
Spanish
Portugese
Russian

Cheers,

The Bandit

The figures look like early Russian Hussars to me, just based on the plume.

On 14 February 1813, representatives from the province of East Prussia volunteered to raise and equip a regiment of volunteers at their own expense and known as the East Prussian National Cavalry Regiment (Ostpreußisches National-Kavallerie-Regiment). On 27 March, moreover, representatives of the provinces of Pomerania and Silesia were authorised to raise like regiments. These were named the Pomeranian Light National Cavalry (Pommersches Leichtes National-Kavallerie-Regiment) of three squadrons, and the Silesian National Hussar Regiment (Schlesisches National-Husaren-Regiment) of four squadrons, out of which only two were ever mobilised due to problems of recruitment and a shortage of equipment. On 28 October, the Elbe National Hussar Regiment (Elb-National-Husaren-Regiment) was also created, eventually reaching a strength of four field and one depot squadron.

On 21 February 1815 the Guard Light Cavalry Regiment was dissolved and its squadrons combined with squadrons of the three old National cavalry regiments and a squadron of the Queen's Dragoons (Dragoner-Regiment Königin) to create a Guard Dragoon, a Guard Hussar and a Guard Lancer regiment.

On 25 March 1815, the Elbe National Hussar Regiment, which had not seen real action in 1814, was renamed the 10th Hussar Regiment.

You an see the uniforms at the links provided by Camcleod.

By the way, it is quite probable that the East Prussian National Cavalry Regiment, including its officers, was equipped with red hussar dolmans of British origin at the turn of 1813/1814.

Dr. Summerfields book on Landwehr and Reserve units is quite good. Try it.

Cheers
Claus

Turns out the figures I had that I thought might be useful as Prussian National Cavalry are actually early war Russian hussars…

I was way off, but thank you for all the info for the Prussians, when I go to do those I'll now have a jumping off point!

Cheers,

The Bandit

As Claus has indicated, you will find the answers in my book on Prussian Napoleonic Landwehr Infantry and Cavalry 1808-1815: Landsturm, Volunteer Cavalry and Streifkorps
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Oliver has given an excellent outline as ever.
Stephen