The armored horsemen of the Prussian Army were the elite of the cavalry. Even in 1866 and 1870, when the increasing firepower of the infantry and artillery should have made them obsolete, the cuirassiers stubbornly continued to distinguish themselves.
In the pursuit after Sadowa (Konigratz) in 1866, Von Bredow's 5th Cuirassiers flanked and charged an Austrian artillery battalion firing on the Prussian van, capturing eighteen guns. At Vionville (1870), leading the 7th Cuirassiers and 17th Uhlans, Von Bredow again broke through a gun line supported by a division of infantry, but was driven out by French cavalry with about 60% losses.
Prussia sent two Guard and eight Line regiments of cuirassiers to war in 1870.
Tunics: White
Breastplates: were of beaten iron, copper-plated for the Guards and for non-commissioned officers and above in the 2nd (Queen's) and 6th (Czar Nicholas) regiments.
Helmets: Yellow metal in the Guard and 6th regiments, white metal in others.
Overalls: Dark grey with scarlet piping. The 2nd, 5th, and 7th regiments had piping in their facing color, instead. Pantaloons might be worn in place of overalls and were white.
Shabraques: Facing color trimmed with button color; except that the space between the inner and outer trim is blue in the Guard du Corps and scarlet in the Guard Cuirassiers, scarlet for the main field, with a Guard "star" in the corners.
| Regiment | Facings | Buttons |
|---|---|---|
| Guard du Corps | scarlet | white |
| Guard Cuirassier | light blue | white |
| 1st (Leib Cuirassier) | black | yellow |
| 2nd (Queen's) | crimson | white |
| 3rd | light blue | white |
| 4th | scarlet | white |
| 5th | light red | yellow |
| 6th | dark blue | yellow |
| 7th | yellow | white |
| 8th | light green | yellow |
Trumpeters wore no cuirass; in the Guards they had a plume on their helmet instead of an eagle.
Horse furniture: brown leather. Saddle bags: white/off white on right of saddle.
In 1864/66 the 4th Cuirassiers bore orange distinctions, instead of red.
More Prussian Cavalry 1870-71
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Prussian Cavalry 1870-71: Uhlans
Prussian Cavalry 1870-71: Cuirassiers
Prussian Cavalry 1870-71: Hussars
Prussian Cavalry 1870-71: Dragoons
Prussian Cavalry 1870-71: Illustrations (50K)
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© Copyright 1999 by Keith Frye
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