To start at the top, the short busby was of sealskin, surmounted by a cockade of national color above which commonly waved a white plume. On the front of this busby the Guard Hussar Regiment had a gold guard star, the 1st to 16th (Prussian) Regiments a scroll of button color inscribed "Mitt Gott Fur Konig und Vaterland", while the 17th (ex-Brunswick) had a similar scroll inscribed: "Peninsular, Silesia, Waterloo", and, after 1870, "Mars la Tour". The 1st and 2nd Reigments (Lieb Husaren) and the 17th had centered on the front of the busby a Skull and Crossbones of white metal. Girdles of the hussars were of black and white fur in the Prussian regiments, blue and white in the 17th regiment, white and green in the 18th and 19th. Pantaloons were of dark blue cloth in the Prussian (1st to 16th regiments) units and in thel7th. The 18th and 19th wore light blue pantaloons. There was a narrow stripe on the side in the lace color of each regiment. Forage Caps: While most collectors will definitely prefer to represent hussars in full regalia, including sealskin busby, there is an option. The hussars also were issued a forage cap in the shabraque color of the regiment. Piping around the band and top was in lace color (this makes it possible for cheapskate wargamers to trim the brim of Airfix R.H.A. mounted figures and paint them as hussars - for shame!). Boots: Hussar boots were of the Hessian pattern trimmed around the top in the regimental lace color. Pelisse: The pelisse was worn only by the Guard Hussars, 3rd Hussars, and 15th Hussars. The Guard had a dark blue pelisse with white fur, the 3rd Regiment had a white pelisse trimmed with black fur, the 15th Hussars a black pelisse trimmed with black fur. Lace on the pelisse was in the regimental lace color. Shabraque: The basic shabraque color is given in the table of regimental colors. However, from various illustrations, it would appear that the space between the inverted lace "wolf's tooth" trim the shabraque was in the cap band color where that was different from the basic shabraque color. The piping and regimental number on the grey overcoat was normallythe same color as the tunic (or Dolman). Equipment of Hussars: In 1866-71 the hussars carried a curved light cavalry saber of the same pattern as the dragoons (also light cavalry). Scabbards are shown both as metal and as inlaid leather. The carbine, a short form of the single shot bolt action Dreyse needle gun, was slung on the right side, normally with a white bandolier, though Knoetel identifies the Brunswick hussar bandolier (17th German Empire Regiment) as being black. A black cartridge box was worn in back. After 1887 the hussars below the rank of corporal (or equivalent) carried a lance with a lance penon of the same colors as the uhlans of the same state. Shortly before adopting field grey the hussars, still in substantially the same colors, carried a full size infantry rifle slung on the right, and a straight sword on the left, rear of the saddle. Trumpeters: The trumpeter was distinguished chiefly by a swallow's nest apparently of cap band color trimmed in the regimental tape color. GERMAN HUSSAR REGIMENTAL COLORS (1870-1913) UNIT Tunic, Cap, Greatcoat straps, & Shabraque Cap Band Lace, Buttons, Cap piping, Shabraque Piping Busby Bag Collar Patch on Greatcoat, outer border of Shabraque Guard Hussar Scarlet (D. Blue Shabraque) D. Blue Yellow Scarlet Scarlet 1st Hussars Black Scarlet White Scarlet Scarlet 2nd Hussars Black Black White Black Black 3rd Hussars Scarlet (D. Blue Shabraque, Greatcoat straps) Scarlet White Scarlet Scarlet 4th Hussars Brown Brown Yellow Yellow Yellow 5th Hussars Crimson Black White Crimson Crimson w/black border on shabraque 6th Hussars Green Scarlet Yellow Scarlet Scarlet 7th Hussars D. Blue Scarlet Yellow Scarlet Scarlet 8th Hussars D. Blue Light Blue White Light Blue Light Blue 9th Hussars Light Blue Light Blue Yellow Light Blue Light Blue 10th Hussars Green Purple Yellow Purple Purple 11th Hussars Green Scarlet White Scarlet Scarlet 12th Hussars Light Blue Light Blue White White Light Blue 13th Hussars Light Blue Scarlet White Scarlet Scarlet 14th Hussars D. Blue Scarlet White Scarlet Scarlet 15th Hussars D. Blue Yellow White Yellow Yellow 16th Hussars Light Blue Yellow White Yellow Yellow 17th Hussars Black (Scarlet overcoat straps) Scarlet Yellow Scarlet Scarlet 18st Hussars L. Blue (Yellow piping & number on overcoat) L. Blue White/Black Scarlet Scarlet 19th Hussars L. Blue (White piping & number on overcoat) L. Blue White Dark Red Dark Red Sabertache: This article was worn high by the left hip, and appears to have followed busby bag color in most cases, the royal cipher in tape color appearing in the center. NOTE: Only the first 12 Hussar Regiments were available in 1866. Correction: Page 13, the illustration should be titled "Hussar Shabraque" on the left and "Sabretache for Officers" on the right. More Prussian Cavalry 1870 Introduction Hussars Cuirassiers Dragoons Uhlans Part II: French Army: Line and Light Infantry Part II: French Army: Chasseurs a Pied Infantry Part II: French Army: Zouave Infantry Part II: French Army: Turco Infantry Part II: French Army: Cavalry Back to Table of Contents -- Courier Vol. VII #1 To Courier List of Issues To MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1986 by The Courier Publishing Company. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com