Uniforms and Equipment of the Old Army - Cavalry - Cuirassier Regiments - Life Cuirassier Regiment "Great Elector" (Silesian) No. 1

The Life Cuirassier Regiment "Great Elector" (Silesian) No. 1 (Breslau) has as its founding day 01.04.1674 in remembrance of the Dragoon Regiment v. Grumbkow, which already originated in the 17th century.

The unit itself was established in 1808 and formed from men of the Cuirassier Regiments v. Wagenfeld No. 4 and v. Heising No. 8, the Dragoon Regiments v. Prittwitz No. 2 and v. Rouquette No. 13. Furthermore, cuirassiers returning from captivity from Cuirassier Regiments No. 8, 9 and 12 were also incorporated into the newly formed regiment.

Garrisons were from the beginning (since 1816) primarily Breslau, but parts of the unit were also stationed in Gabitz and Neudorf until 1870.

The Silesian high nobility traditionally served in the regiment.

In 1869/70 the regiment received its remounts half from Prussia and half from Pomerania.

After the First World War the unit was disbanded on 01.10.1919.

On the blue tunic of the Life Cuirassier Regiment ran a white edging around the collar and the sleeve cuffs and down the front and along the pocket trim.

The facing color itself was black.

The buttons were yellow.

The shoulder straps showed the yellow monogram WR with a crown.

Another distinctive feature of the regiment was a breast-shield which was screwed onto the cuirass at the front or worn on a neck chain and displayed an eagle, a motto ribbon (NON SOLI CEDIT), a crown, trophies and an oak-leaf ribbon with the inscription "1674 WII 1896".

In the illustrations shown here the breast-shield is worn on a chain; helmets of white iron are worn over the tunic or cloak.

The cuirassiers' cloak was made of grey cloth with collar patches in the facing color.

The regiment wore helmets of white iron with yellow scale-chains and a helmet ornament of brass. Initially the heraldic eagle was used. Later the unit received the Frederician eagle with the motto ribbon: PRO GLORIA ET PATRIA.

The cuirasses were also of white iron.

The cartouche adorned a circular brass shield with the Frederician eagle and the inscription: PRO GLORIA ET PATRIA.

On the saddlecloth and the saddle flaps there was a special — Frederician — eagle with the motto ribbon "PRO GLORIA ET PATRIA" and the crown. Their trim was white.