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Uniforms and Equipment of the Old Army - Cavalry - Hussar Regiments - Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17

Duke Ernst August of Brunswick and Lüneburg in the uniform of the Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17. Official postcard before 1914.
Duke Ernst August of Brunswick and Lüneburg in the uniform of the Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17. Official postcard before 1914.
Duke Ernst August of Brunswick and Lüneburg in the parade uniform of the Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17. Official postcard before 1914.
Duke Ernst August of Brunswick and Lüneburg in the parade uniform of the Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17. Official postcard before 1914.

The unit's foundation day was considered to be 01.04.1809.

The original unit is to be regarded as the hussar regiment of the "Schwarzen Schar" ("Black Squadron").

On 01.01.1825 the formation was re-established.

At first it bore the designation “Ducal Brunswick Guard Hussar Regiment”. The addition "Guard" was later dropped.

Reservist picture of the Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17 from the year 1884. At the front left also officers wearing the officer's cap modeled on the Austrian pattern.
Reservist picture of the Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17 from the year 1884. At the front left also officers wearing the officer's cap modeled on the Austrian pattern.

After the Wars of Unification (1867) the unit was incorporated into the Prussian army as the Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17.

Officers of the Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17 on horseback. Original picture postcard. Posted on 24.01.1908. Photographer: Münzberg/ Sennelager.
Officers of the Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17 on horseback. Original picture postcard. Posted on 24.01.1908. Photographer: Münzberg/ Sennelager.

The garrison of the formation was Brunswick from 1825, and from 1892 in the Mars-la-Tour Barracks.

Duke Ernst Albrecht of Brunswick. Original photo postcard before 1914.
Duke Ernst Albrecht of Brunswick. Original photo postcard before 1914.

"The barracks were built from 1892 on the site next to the riding track on the Giersberg which had already existed there since 1873, with stables for the horses of the Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17. This had previously been housed in the Hussar Barracks on the Löwenwall and moved into the new military complex on 15 March 1893, where it remained stationed until its demobilization after the First World War" (Wikipedia).

Brunswick hussar in the Biedermeier period. Cigarette card.
Brunswick hussar in the Biedermeier period. Cigarette card.
Non-commissioned officer of the Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17. Cigarette card.
Non-commissioned officer of the Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17. Cigarette card.
Officer of the Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17 around 1870. Cigarette card.
Officer of the Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17 around 1870. Cigarette card.
Vizewachtmeister of the Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17 in parade dress. Cigarette card.
Vizewachtmeister of the Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17 in parade dress. Cigarette card.

In keeping with the tradition of the Black Corps, the hussars wore a black Attila with yellow lace.

Members of the Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17 mostly in parade uniform. Original medium-sized photo.
Members of the Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17 mostly in parade uniform. Original medium-sized photo.

The fur cap had a ponceau-red kolpak. For parade a black horsehair plume was worn.

As ornament on the front of the fur cap there was a devisen band made of tombac. This bore the inscription “PENINSULA, SICILY, WATERLOO, MARS-LA-TOUR”.

From 17.09.1883 a nickel-silver skull with crossed bones was worn beneath it.

This skull differed in execution from the variant used by the Prussian 1st and 2nd Life Hussar Regiments.

The state cockade was blue-yellow.

Hussar of the Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17 in parade uniform. Original cdv. Photographer: Böttcher.
Hussar of the Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17 in parade uniform. Original cdv. Photographer: Böttcher.
Early photograph of a hussar of the Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17 in dress uniform with krätzchen. Here still without a skull on the headgear. Original cdv. Photographer: Brauckmann/ Brunswick.
Early photograph of a hussar of the Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17 in dress uniform with krätzchen. Here still without a skull on the headgear. Original cdv. Photographer: Brauckmann/ Brunswick.

The pennant of the lance also showed the colors blue-yellow.

Equipment also included a white bandolier with a black cartridge pouch.

Early photograph of a hussar of the Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17 in dress uniform with krätzchen. Original cdv.
Early photograph of a hussar of the Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17 in dress uniform with krätzchen. Original cdv.
Photograph of a hussar of the Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17 in dress uniform with krätzchen. Original cdv. Photographer: Wartzack/ Brunswick.
Photograph of a hussar of the Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17 in dress uniform with krätzchen. Original cdv. Photographer: Wartzack/ Brunswick.
Group photo of members of the Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17. Center: Vizewachtmeister.
Group photo of members of the Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17. Center: Vizewachtmeister.
Non-commissioned officer of the Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17 in dress uniform.
Non-commissioned officer of the Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17 in dress uniform.
Hussar of the Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17. Original studio photograph (KAB).
Hussar of the Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17. Original studio photograph (KAB).
Non-commissioned officer of the Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17. Original KAB. Photographer: Raab/ Brunswick.
Non-commissioned officer of the Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17. Original KAB. Photographer: Raab/ Brunswick.
Portrait of a hussar of the Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17. Original studio photograph (cdv).
Portrait of a hussar of the Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17. Original studio photograph (cdv).
Portrait of a hussar of the Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17 in Attila. Original KAB. Photographer: H. Kiel/ Brunswick.
Portrait of a hussar of the Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17 in Attila. Original KAB. Photographer: H. Kiel/ Brunswick.
One-year volunteers in dress uniform from the Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17. Original medium-sized studio photograph.
One-year volunteers in dress uniform from the Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17. Original medium-sized studio photograph.
Officer and adjutant hussar of the Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17 in parade uniform. Original KAB. Photographer: August Nolte/ Brunswick.
Officer and adjutant hussar of the Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17 in parade uniform. Original KAB. Photographer: August Nolte/ Brunswick.
Officer of the Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17 wearing a greatcoat. Original KAB. Photographer: Reuter/ Brunswick.
Officer of the Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17 wearing a greatcoat. Original KAB. Photographer: Reuter/ Brunswick.
The Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17 on the march (to a field exercise?). Original picture postcard before 1914.
The Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17 on the march (to a field exercise?). Original picture postcard before 1914.
Barrack-room scene at the Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17. Original picture postcard. Photographer: Heinrich Ehlers/ Brunswick. The hussars are wearing, in addition to the Attila, the litewka and the greatcoat.
Barrack-room scene at the Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17. Original picture postcard. Photographer: Heinrich Ehlers/ Brunswick. The hussars are wearing, in addition to the Attila, the litewka and the greatcoat.
Barrack-room scene at the Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17. Original picture postcard. Undated.
Barrack-room scene at the Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17. Original picture postcard. Undated.
Stable duty at the Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17 on the Munster training ground. Original picture postcard from the year 1907.
Stable duty at the Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17 on the Munster training ground. Original picture postcard from the year 1907.
Officer of the Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17 in field-gray Attila. Original photo. After 1914.
Officer of the Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17 in field-gray Attila. Original photo. After 1914.
Brunswick hussars in field-gray dress. The bandeau is missing on the fur cap. Possibly members of a replacement formation. Circa 1914.
Brunswick hussars in field-gray dress. The bandeau is missing on the fur cap. Possibly members of a replacement formation. Circa 1914.
Member of the Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17 (recruit depot). Original picture postcard. Posted on 26.06.1915.
Member of the Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17 (recruit depot). Original picture postcard. Posted on 26.06.1915.
Standard of the Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17. Front side. Cigarette card.
Standard of the Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17. Front side. Cigarette card.
Standard of the Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17. Reverse side. Cigarette card.
Standard of the Brunswick Hussar Regiment No. 17. Reverse side. Cigarette card.

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