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Vestes Bellica Military history archive

Vestes Bellica

Uniforms and Equipment of the Old Army - Cavalry - Lances

Guard dragoons on horseback with lance and lance pennant. Original photo postcard before 1914.
Guard dragoons on horseback with lance and lance pennant. Original photo postcard before 1914.

The entire cavalry received lances in 1888-1889; before that only the uhlans (and the Landwehr cavalry) had them.

Saxon Guard horsemen with lances. Contemporary photograph.
Saxon Guard horsemen with lances. Contemporary photograph.

In October 1888 the cuirassiers already received lances.

Guard dragoons training with the lance. An NCO in front. Undated original large-format photograph. Around 1900.
Guard dragoons training with the lance. An NCO in front. Undated original large-format photograph. Around 1900.

The cavalry lances bore pennants that were serrated on the narrow free side. For the ranks these displayed the state colors (so in Prussia: black and white).

Hussars armed with lances at the Elsenborn training ground. Contemporary photo postcard. Dated: 22.08.1912. Photographer: A. Herld/Elsenborn training ground.
Hussars armed with lances at the Elsenborn training ground. Contemporary photo postcard. Dated: 22.08.1912. Photographer: A. Herld/Elsenborn training ground.

The lances had a square iron tip. The last model (1890) was a steel-tube lance (previously wood).

Members of the Regiment of the Gardes du Corps (Potsdam) wearing the koller on horseback with lances. Original photo around 1900.
Members of the Regiment of the Gardes du Corps (Potsdam) wearing the koller on horseback with lances. Original photo around 1900.

The non-commissioned officers had pennants with printed designs (coats of arms, etc.). NCOs were not permanently issued lances until 1891 (only NCOs without a portepee).

Non-commissioned officers of a Prussian uhlan regiment on the Elsenborn training ground. Photographer: A. Herld. Original photo postcard around 1910.
Non-commissioned officers of a Prussian uhlan regiment on the Elsenborn training ground. Photographer: A. Herld. Original photo postcard around 1910.
Prussian uhlans at the Munsterlager training ground. Photographer: Schubert/Berlin. Original photo postcard from the year 1906.
Prussian uhlans at the Munsterlager training ground. Photographer: Schubert/Berlin. Original photo postcard from the year 1906.