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Vestes Bellica Military history archive

Vestes Bellica

Uniforms and Equipment of the Old Army - Cavalry - Uhlan Regiments - 1st, 2nd and 3rd Guard Uhlan Regiments

Guard Uhlan on horseback with lance. Undated photo before 1914. The photo clearly shows how the carbine was carried at the saddle in its scabbard.
Guard Uhlan on horseback with lance. Undated photo before 1914. The photo clearly shows how the carbine was carried at the saddle in its scabbard.

The 1st and 3rd Guard Uhlan Regiments were stationed in Potsdam; the 2nd Guard Uhlan Regiment was garrisoned in Berlin.

The 1st Guard Uhlan Regiment had its founding day on 14.04.1819.

It had been formed in Potsdam and Köpenick from the former 4 Guard Landwehr squadrons.

The 2nd Guard Uhlan Regiment had its founding day on 14.04.1819.

It was — like the unit mentioned above — formed in Potsdam and Köpenick from the former 4 Guard Landwehr squadrons.

Prussian Guard Uhlans in walking-out uniform. On the right a lance corporal and a member of a student fraternity. Original KAB. Photographer: Lawitzky/ Berlin. Circa 1885.
Prussian Guard Uhlans in walking-out uniform. On the right a lance corporal and a member of a student fraternity. Original KAB. Photographer: Lawitzky/ Berlin. Circa 1885.

The 3rd Guard Uhlan Regiment was not established until 1860. Its founding day was 07.05.1860.

The core troop elements were men from the Regiment Garde du Corps, the Guard Cuirassier Regiment and the 1st Guard Uhlan Regiment.

After the First World War the Guard Uhlan regiments were disbanded on 01.10.1919.

Early photograph of a Guard Uhlan from the Wars of German Unification (1866).
Early photograph of a Guard Uhlan from the Wars of German Unification (1866).
Uhlan (one-year volunteer) from a Guard Uhlan Regiment. Studio portrait. Photographer: Radtkowsky & Essner/ Berlin. Circa 1914.
Uhlan (one-year volunteer) from a Guard Uhlan Regiment. Studio portrait. Photographer: Radtkowsky & Essner/ Berlin. Circa 1914.

The primary distinguishing feature of the three guard formations was the badge color, i.e. the color of the collar, the sleeve cuffs and the parade facings, as well as the front facings.

This was

for the 1st Guard Uhlan Regiment white,

for the 2nd Guard Uhlan Regiment ponceau red,

for the 3rd Guard Uhlan Regiment yellow.

The Guard Uhlans wore decorative braids (Litzen) with small cap-like ornaments (Kapellen) on each side of the square collar of the ulanka and a vertical braid on each sleeve cuff.

There was also a double braid on the collar flap of the coat.

These braids were white for the 1st and 3rd Uhlan Regiments; for the 2nd Guard Uhlan Regiment they were yellow camel-hair.

Guard Uhlans with lances on horseback. Original photo card, mailed on 02.06.1912.
Guard Uhlans with lances on horseback. Original photo card, mailed on 02.06.1912.

Non-commissioned officers had only a single braid, privates a double braid.

Non-commissioned officer from a Guard Uhlan Regiment in walking-out dress. Original KAB. Photographer: E. Bieber/ Berlin. Circa 1910.
Non-commissioned officer from a Guard Uhlan Regiment in walking-out dress. Original KAB. Photographer: E. Bieber/ Berlin. Circa 1910.
Commemorative photo marking the completion of half the service time with a Guard Uhlan Regiment. Original photo card from 1912. The Guard Uhlans are predominantly wearing the gray Litewka.
Commemorative photo marking the completion of half the service time with a Guard Uhlan Regiment. Original photo card from 1912. The Guard Uhlans are predominantly wearing the gray Litewka.
Guard Uhlans mostly in peacetime uniform. Original photo card from 10.04.1915. Apparently reserve personnel or members of the replacement squadron in the home garrison.
Guard Uhlans mostly in peacetime uniform. Original photo card from 10.04.1915. Apparently reserve personnel or members of the replacement squadron in the home garrison.