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Uniformierung & Ausrüstung

The Prussian Army under Frederick William I (1713 - 40) - Chapter 17 - The Motley Coat (The Cavalry).

The following describes the uniforming and equipment of the old Prussian cavalry under King Frederick William I (1713–40).

Uniformierung & Ausrüstung

The Prussian Army under Frederick William I (1713 - 40) - Chapter 16 - The Colorful Coat (The Infantry).

The uniform, as a standardized military garment precisely defined by detailed regulations, determines the wearer's belonging to a particular army, to a particular branch of service and to a particular regiment. The soldier's clothing standardized in cut, color, insignia and manner of wearing arose — apart from some isolated medieval attempts — only with the emergence of standing armies, and the process of introducing uniforms in the various states could span from the mid-17th into the 18th century. A prerequisite for the uniform clothing of entire armies was on the one hand the emergence of the princes' centralized authority while at the same time securing the financing of the army's needs against the resistance of the estates, and on the other hand the advent of early-capitalist production methods within manufactories. The standing army — that is the miles perpetuus — was an expression of princely governmental authority. Already in the Thirty Years' War the economic benefit of mass-producing military clothing and weapons was recognized. Besides this economic aspect, the introduction of a uniform military dress also had rational reasons. Through the increased use of firearms the massive smoke development of the muzzle-loaders on the battlefield became a problem. For this reason the different troop units had to be made recognizably distinct by color; camouflage was completely foreign to the mindset of contemporary European soldiers. In addition, uniform clothing acted sociologically as a group-bonding element, i.e., the psychological effect of the uniform on friend and foe was fully acknowledged. In this sense color was the trump card1.

Uniformierung & Ausrüstung

Prussian Uniforms in the Wars of Liberation

Colored plates taken from:

Uniformierung & Ausrüstung

Prussian Soldier Types from the 'Soldatenfreund'

Uniformierung & Ausrüstung

Hiltl & Schindler, Prussia's Army, Picture Series 1875

G. Hiltl & C. F. Schindler, Prussia's Army, published by H. J. Meidinger, Berlin 1875 (incomplete)

Uniformierung & Ausrüstung

Ludwig Burger, The Royal Prussian Army in its Latest Reorganization, Berlin 1865. Picture series.

Uniformierung & Ausrüstung

F. Dopp, Advances in Artillery under Frederick the Great.

Uniformierung & Ausrüstung

The uniforms of the Old Prussian infantry in the year 1729.

The Dessau specifications of 1729 and 1737 are princely birthday presents, namely from Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Dessau (03.07.1676 in Dessau; † 09.04.1747 there) to King Frederick William I. (reigned 1713-40).

Uniformierung & Ausrüstung

The History of the Old Prussian Cuirassiers (Pohl) - K 10

From an original manuscript. It is clearly based on the history of the clothing, armament and equipment of the Royal Prussian Army / By the Highest Order of His Majesty ... published by the Royal War Ministry. Edited by Constantin Kling; Vol. 2: The Cuirassier and Dragoon Regiments from the beginning of the 18th century until the reorganization of the army in 1808.

Uniformierung & Ausrüstung

The History of the Old Prussian Cuirassiers (Pohl) - K 7

Based on an original manuscript. It is evidently drawn from The History of the Clothing, Armament and Equipment of the Royal Prussian Army / By the Highest Command of His Majesty ... edited by the Royal War Ministry. Edited by Constantin Kling; Vol. 2: The Cuirassier and Dragoon Regiments from the beginning of the 18th century until the reorganization of the army in 1808.

Uniformierung & Ausrüstung

The History of the Old Prussian Cuirassiers (Pohl) - K 11

Based on an original manuscript. It is apparently based on the history of the clothing, armament and equipment of the Royal Prussian Army / By the Highest Command of His Majesty ... published by the Royal War Ministry. Edited by Constantin Kling; Vol. 2: The Cuirassier and Dragoon Regiments from the beginning of the 18th century until the reorganization of the army in 1808.

Uniformierung & Ausrüstung

The History of the Old Prussian Cuirassiers (Pohl) - K 9

Based on an original manuscript. It is obviously modeled on the History of the Clothing, Armament and Equipment of the Royal Prussian Army / By His Majesty's Highest Command ... edited by the Royal War Ministry. Edited by Constantin Kling; Vol. 2: The Cuirassier and Dragoon Regiments from the beginning of the 18th century until the reorganization of the army in 1808.