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

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 William II, King of Prussia".

Upon the incorporation of the Saxon Army into the German Imperial Army, new formations were also created, e.g. on 01.04.1867 the 1st Saxon Uhlan Regiment No. 17 "Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria, King of Hungary" No. 17.

The unit's garrison was Oschatz.

The unit's chief was (from 21.11.1891) H.M. Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria, King of Hungary.

On 15.12.1916 his successor (Karl) became the unit's proprietor.

It belonged to the 23rd Cavalry Brigade (Dresden, under Colonel v. d. Decken) and that in turn to the 23rd Division (Dresden, under Lieutenant General Fr. v. Lindemann).

The corresponding army corps was the XII (Dresden, under the commanding general, General of Infantry d'Elsa).

The first regimental commander was Lieutenant Colonel v. Miltitz.

The 2nd Saxon Uhlan Regiment No. 18 was formed on 01.04.1867, namely from detachments of the 2nd and 3rd Cavalry Regiments.

The unit's garrison was Leipzig-Gohlis (until 1897 Rochlitz and Roßwein).

It belonged to the 24th Cavalry Brigade (Leipzig, under Major General Count v. d. Schulenburg-Hehlen).

This in turn belonged to the 24th Division (Leipzig, under Lieutenant General Krug v. Nidda).

The corresponding Army Corps was the XIX (Leipzig, under the commanding general General of the Artillery Count v. Kirchbach.

On 05.10.1908 King Alfonso XIII of Spain became the regiment's chief.

The first regimental commander was Colonel v. Ludwiger, from 27.03.1872 Colonel v. Trosky.

The 3rd Saxon Uhlan Regiment No. 21 "Kaiser Wilhelm II., King of Prussia" was established in 1903. The actual day of foundation was 01.04.1905.

Predecessors of the unit were two squadrons of Jäger zu Pferde (mounted rifles). These were originally attached to the Saxon Carabinier Regiment.

The chief of the unit from 1905 was Emperor Wilhelm II, King of Prussia.

The 3rd Saxon Uhlan Regiment No. 21 "Kaiser Wilhelm II., King of Prussia" was part of the 40th Cavalry Brigade (Chemnitz, under Colonel Freiherr v. Luttitz).

This in turn belonged to the 40th Division (Chemnitz, under General of Cavalry v. Laffert).

The corresponding Army Corps was the XIX (Leipzig, under the commanding general General of the Artillery Count v. Kirchbach.

The 3 Saxon Uhlan regiments were garrisoned in Oschatz (No. 17), Leipzig-Gohlis (No. 18) and Chemnitz (No. 21).

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

The regiments were mainly distinguished by differently colored insignia:

No. 17 white,

No. 18 ponceau red

and

No. 21 lemon yellow.

However, 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 braids were worn on the collar and on the Polish sleeve cuffs.

The black-leather tschapka displayed the usual Saxon ornamentation and had arched (yellow) scale chains.

The ornamentation of the tschapka on the headpiece consisted of a brass star with an applied silver or nickel-silver Royal Saxon coat of arms.

The chin cords were white; for non-commissioned officers and trumpeters green-white; and for the officers silver.

Otherwise, the Saxon Uhlans wore blackened cavalry boots. These had heel spurs.

They were armed with the cavalry sabre (KS 92).

This had a folding, nickel-plated container with the Saxon coat of arms, a black plastic grip, and only later a black-lacquered steel scabbard with a fixed carrying ring.

The rank-and-file carried lances (initially made of ash wood) with green-and-white pennons and carbines.

Non-commissioned officers and trumpeters carried revolvers.

The officers' sabre belt was of silver lace and lined with crimson.

The uniform of the 1st Saxon Uhlan Regiment No. 17 "Kaiser-Franz Joseph von Österreich, König von Ungarn" consisted of the cornflower-blue Ulanka typical for the Saxon Uhlans. It had Polish-style cuffs. On the collar and on the cuffs there were white braids.

Collar, cuffs and the parade lapels were crimson (with a white trim).

For parade the czapka was worn with a white facing and a white plume. The field insignia was white-green.

The trimmings were cornflower blue.

The fittings (on the czapka), the shoulder scales (with Austrian crown) and the buttons were yellow or golden.

The shoulder pieces showed the monogram JR.

The cap had a cornflower-blue band and corresponding piping.

The riding breeches and the long trousers had crimson stripes at the sides.

The 2nd Saxon Uhlan Regiment No. 18 wore a cornflower-blue Ulanka with Polish cuffs.

On the pointed sleeve cuffs and on the collar there were yellow braids.

Collar, cuffs, parade lapels and the facing on the czapka were crimson.

The trimmings were cornflower blue.

Shoulder scales and buttons were yellow.

The white cap had a crimson band and corresponding piping.

For parade a white plume was attached to the czapka. The field insignia was white-green.

The riding breeches and the long cloth trousers were cornflower blue and had crimson stripes at the sides.

The 3rd Saxon Uhlan Regiment No. 21 also wore a cornflower-blue ulanka with Polish cuffs.

There were white braid on the collar and the sleeve cuffs.

The collar, cuffs, and parade turnbacks for the ulanka were purple-red. The parade turnbacks for the czapka were cornflower-blue, as were the trimmings.

The fittings on the czapka, the shoulder scales with the imperial crown, and the buttons were new-silver.

The white cap had a cornflower-blue band and corresponding accents.

The plume on the czapka for parade was white.

The riding breeches and the long cloth trousers (both cornflower-blue) had purple-red stripes at the sides.

On the shoulder pieces was the monogram "W" with the imperial crown.

The greatcoat was made of grey cloth, had purple-red collar patches and cornflower-blue shoulder straps. The latter had white piping.