Uniforms and Equipment of the Old Army - Cavalry - Hussars - The Attila and the Pelisse

Hussars were the classical light cavalry and had been introduced in Prussia in 1721. In 1914, besides the Guard Hussar Regiment (Potsdam), there were 20 line regiments, of which three were Saxon units (No. 18, 19, 20).

The hussar uniform still displayed Hungarian costume elements under Kaiser Wilhelm II and was, compared to the other branches of service or cavalry types, exceedingly colorful.,

From 1850 all hussar regiments wore fur caps; the Guard Hussars and Hussar Regiment No. 3 had already been equipped with them in 1843.

The previous winged caps were handed over to the Landwehr cavalry.

In 1853 the Attila was introduced, a coat with five rows of cords on the chest. The pelisses were discontinued, but remained on the establishment for the Guard Hussars. Some regiments, however, later received these as gifts from their proprietors: No. 1, 2, 3, 8, 12, 13, 15, 16.

The Attila remained essentially unchanged until 1914 and varied in color by regiment.

The rounded collar and the sleeve cuffs were kept in the Attila's base color. It was not closed with buttons, but with loops and toggles.

On the Attila no shoulder straps were worn; instead double or triple-laid flat cords (partly with name inscriptions) were worn.

The caps (kolpak) differed in color according to regiment.