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Vestes Bellica Military history archive

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Uniforms and Equipment of the Old Army - Cavalry - Uhlan Regiments - The Saxon Uhlan Regiments No. 17, 18 and 21.

Work in progress.

Reservist photograph from 1911 of Uhlan Regiment No. 17
Reservist photograph from 1911 of Uhlan Regiment No. 17 "Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria, King of Hungary". Photographer: Rosenmüller (Oschatz).

Composition.

There were three Saxon Uhlan regiments:

  1. Uhlan Regiment No. 17 "Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria, King of Hungary"

  2. Uhlan Regiment No. 18

  3. Uhlan Regiment No. 21 "Emperor Wilhelm II, King of Prussia".

1st Saxon Uhlan Regiment No. 17 "Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria, King of Hungary" No. 17.

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Officer from the 1st Saxon Uhlan Regiment No. 17
Officer from the 1st Saxon Uhlan Regiment No. 17 "Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria, King of Hungary". 1871. Original cigarette card from the series: German Uniforms 1864 - 1914, No. 143.
Trumpeter from the 1st Saxon Uhlan Regiment No. 17
Trumpeter from the 1st Saxon Uhlan Regiment No. 17 "Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria, King of Hungary". 1887. Original cigarette card from the series: German Uniforms 1864 - 1914, No. 389.
Uhlan from the from the 1st Saxon Uhlan Regiment No. 17
Uhlan from the from the 1st Saxon Uhlan Regiment No. 17 "Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria, King of Hungary" in dress uniform. Early photograph. Photographer: Bach/ Oschatz.
Uhlan from the 1st Saxon Uhlan Regiment No. 17
Uhlan from the 1st Saxon Uhlan Regiment No. 17 "Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria, King of Hungary". Original cdv. Photographer: Rosenmüller/ Oschatz.
Early photograph of Uhlans from the 1st Saxon Uhlan Regiment No. 17
Early photograph of Uhlans from the 1st Saxon Uhlan Regiment No. 17 "Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria, King of Hungary". Original cdv. Photographer: Burkhardt/ Oschatz.
Uhlan in parade uniform from the 1st Saxon Uhlan Regiment No. 17
Uhlan in parade uniform from the 1st Saxon Uhlan Regiment No. 17 "Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria, King of Hungary". Original cdv. Photographer: Prosch/ Oschatz.

2nd Saxon Uhlan Regiment No. 18 (Leipzig-Gohlis).

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Members of the 2nd Saxon Uhlan Regiment No. 18. Original cigarette card from the series: German Uniforms 1864 - 1914, No. 390.
Members of the 2nd Saxon Uhlan Regiment No. 18. Original cigarette card from the series: German Uniforms 1864 - 1914, No. 390.
Uhlan from the 2nd Saxon Uhlan Regiment No. 18. Original cigarette card from the series: German Uniforms 1864 - 1914, No. 144.
Uhlan from the 2nd Saxon Uhlan Regiment No. 18. Original cigarette card from the series: German Uniforms 1864 - 1914, No. 144.

Uhlan Regiment No. 21 "Emperor Wilhelm II, King of Prussia" No. 21.

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Saxon Uhlans on the training ground in Zeithain. Contemporary postcard.
Saxon Uhlans on the training ground in Zeithain. Contemporary postcard.
Studio portrait of members of the 1st Saxon Uhlan Regiment No. 17
Studio portrait of members of the 1st Saxon Uhlan Regiment No. 17 "Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria, King of Hungary". Original photo card. Instructor in the center.
Commemorative photo of members of the 1st Saxon Uhlan Regiment No. 17
Commemorative photo of members of the 1st Saxon Uhlan Regiment No. 17 "Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria, King of Hungary". Original photo card. 1913. Partly in Litewka.
Saxon Uhlans. Reservist photo.
Saxon Uhlans. Reservist photo.

Garrisons.

The three Saxon Uhlan regiments were garrisoned in Oschatz (No. 17), Leipzig-Gohlis (No. 18) and Chemnitz (No. 21).

Saxon Uhlans in parade uniform. Undated contemporary photo card. Photographer: Atelier P. Berg/ Leipzig-Anger. Before 1914.
Saxon Uhlans in parade uniform. Undated contemporary photo card. Photographer: Atelier P. Berg/ Leipzig-Anger. Before 1914.

The 1st Saxon Uhlan Regiment No. 17 "Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria, King of Hungary".

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Uhlan in the uniform of the 1st Saxon Uhlan Regiment No. 17
Uhlan in the uniform of the 1st Saxon Uhlan Regiment No. 17 "Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria, King of Hungary". Original photo card. Around 1914.
Uhlan in the uniform of the 1st Saxon Uhlan Regiment No. 17
Uhlan in the uniform of the 1st Saxon Uhlan Regiment No. 17 "Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria, King of Hungary". Original photo card. Around 1914.

The 2nd Saxon Uhlan Regiment No. 18.

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The 3rd Saxon Uhlan Regiment No. 21 "Emperor Wilhelm II, King of Prussia".

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Uhlan from the 3rd Saxon Uhlan Regiment No. 21
Uhlan from the 3rd Saxon Uhlan Regiment No. 21 "Emperor Wilhelm II, King of Prussia". Commemorative photo of the service period. Original KAB.

On the uniforms and equipment of the Saxon Uhlans. The Ulanka.

The base color of the Ulanka or trousers was cornflower blue.

The regiments were distinguished mainly by differently colored insignia:

No. 17 white,

No. 18 ponceau red

and

No. 21 lemon yellow.

The square collar, the Polish sleeve cuffs and the parade lapels of the Ulanka were uniformly purple-red, the respective facings white.

The shoulder-scale holders were cornflower blue.

The metal shoulder scales had a cornflower-blue lining.

The waist sash was cornflower blue with purple-red trim stripes.

White linen braid was worn on the collar and on the Polish sleeve cuffs.

On the uniforms and equipment of the Saxon Uhlans. The Tschapka.

The tschapka displayed the usual Saxon ornamentation and had curved scale chains.

Saxon Uhlan in Ulanka and wearing the tschapka. Original photo card.
Saxon Uhlan in Ulanka and wearing the tschapka. Original photo card.
Saxon Uhlans marching out (No. 18) to drill. Original cigarette card from the series: The Imperial Army and Its Tradition. Image no. 300.
Saxon Uhlans marching out (No. 18) to drill. Original cigarette card from the series: The Imperial Army and Its Tradition. Image no. 300.

On the uniform and equipment of the Saxon Uhlans. Footwear.

Additionally, the Saxon Uhlans wore hussar boots. These were natural-colored with gray leather trim.

Saxon Uhlans in parade uniform. Original photo postcard from before 1914.
Saxon Uhlans in parade uniform. Original photo postcard from before 1914.

On the uniform and equipment of the Saxon Uhlans. The coat.

The coat was made of gray cloth and had purplish-red collar patches and cornflower-blue shoulder boards. The latter had white piping.

Group photograph of Saxon Uhlans in parade uniform wearing coats.
Group photograph of Saxon Uhlans in parade uniform wearing coats.
Guard duty at a Saxon Uhlan regiment. Original photo postcard.
Guard duty at a Saxon Uhlan regiment. Original photo postcard.
Stable duty at a Saxon Uhlan regiment. Original photo postcard.
Stable duty at a Saxon Uhlan regiment. Original photo postcard.
Members of the Reserve Replacement Squadron in peacetime uniform. Original photo postcard. 1914.
Members of the Reserve Replacement Squadron in peacetime uniform. Original photo postcard. 1914.