Hussars and Their ganized, among others, the Hussars at Reservist's Steins Danzig-Langfuhr in 1741. The "Leib Hussars", i.e., the Guard Hus• by Guenter Merk sars, at Danzig-Langfuhr, the Braun- Federal Republic of Germany schweiger (Brunswick) Hussars (estab• The cavalry represented a large portion of lished in 1809), as well as the Braunschweig Germany's Imperial Army. It was divided Infantry Regiment, wore emblems in the into two types of fighting units: The Light form of a death's head (skull) on their head Cavalry included Dragoons, Chevauleger coverings. The meaning of these unusual (Light Horse units), Uhlans, Hussars and insignia, their origin, and why they were the Jaeger zu Pferd, the mounted rifle adopted, was unknown for a long time. troops. In contrast, the Heavy Cavalry in• Two different explanations existed at one cluded the mounted Saxon and Bavarian time: The first has it that embroidered cloth regiments, as well as the Cuirassiers. (See was taken as war booty from a Silesian also the accompanying Glossary.) cloister whose monks made coffin draper• ies. The second tale tells us that cloth with The Hussars are generally considered one white death's heads embroidered on it al• of the most interesting of the cavalry groups. ready existed—this cloth was supposed to The first Hussar regiments were intro• have been the mourning decor in the great duced in the German territories during the hall of the castle at Potsdam where the first half of the 18th century. The Prussian body of King Friedrich Wilhelm I of Prussia army staff organized a two-squadron-strong had lain in state. Hussar unit in Insterburg in 1721, consist• Both legends are incorrect. Later research ing of Hungarian and Rumanian riders. In located an official report in the city ar• 1730, Friedrich Wilhelm I, King of Prussia chives at Zerbst: King Friedrich had defi• (who reigned from 1713-1740), ordered the nitely ordered the caps of the Black Hus• original number of Hussars to be doubled; sars of Danzig to be fitted with death's head at the same time a squadron of Garde emblems because of a similar custom of Hussars was to be established in Berlin. the Austrian Pandours. This squadron formed the basis for the later The death's head or skull insignia worn by "Ziethen Hussars." the Braunschweig 92nd Infantry Regiment Since these early Hussar squadrons had and the Braunschweig Hussars No. 17 was not yet established the so-called "Hussar probably patterned after either the Prus• fighting technique," Friedrich Wilhelm or• sian example or the civil and military service dered the Royal Riding Master Joachim medals of the princely House of Oels von Ziethen to travel to Hungary in 1735. (Braunschweig-Oels). There, riding master von Ziethen—the ac• Corresponding to the custom of showing tual founder of the Prussian Hussars—was shoulder boards (epaulets), emblems and to study the unique combat techniques of insignia of the various regiments and units the Hungarian Hussars and introduce them on reservists' steins, the representation of into Prussia. a death's head was shown on regimental At the Battle of Mollwitz in 1741, Friedrich steins of the Hussars from Danzig and II, i.e., Frederick the Great (1740-1786), Braunschweig, as well as of the 92nd In• recognized the value of a "modern" cav• fantry regiment. The skull emblem was more alry as a decisive factor in winning a mili• or less emphasized by the various manu• tary engagement. The Battle of Mollwitz facturers of Hussar steins. And a few pro• can be considered the true hour of birth of ducers even made special types of regi• the Prussian Hussars! Immediately there• mental steins where the entire stein was after, Friedrich II had von Ziethen establish in the shape of a skull: A regimental char• additional Hussar units. Hence were or- acter stein.
Hussar steins 1. and 3., left and right, Again, steins 1. and 3., front view, showing respectively, showing overall detail, thumblift and inscriptions inside lid profile. When a stein was made in the likeness of The steins are described as follows—see a complete skull, there was little space left also illustrations accompanying this article: for pictorial decorations or text additions. 1. Death's Head stein to the Braun• Thus only the lid could serve for this pur• schweig Hussar Regiment No. 17, pose. The three steins shown and de• 1908-1911. The owner was Res. Gefr. scribed in the accompanying photographs Eimecke. The inscription states, "Wir are void of any pictorial scenes. However, bleiben was wir waren, die Toten- a stein illustrated in Maj. John Harrell's book kopfhusaren"—"We remain what we has a picture of a Hussar painted on the were, the Death's Head Hussars." inside of the lid (stein #184, page 156). Ceramic with porcelainized interior.
2. Porcelain stein to the Braunschweig Hussar Regiment No. 17, 1906-1909. Owner Res. Gefr. Bierbaum. The view through the "glass eye" in the thumb- lift figure is that of the parade cele• brating the 100th anniversary of the Top of lid of stein 1. with inscription (the dark object at the top of the photograph is the thumblift) regiment.
3. Stein belonging to Res. Gefr. Holz• apfel of the Braunschweig Hussar Regiment No. 17, 1911-1914. The squadron roster is inscribed on the inside of the lid. Made of ceramic with Detail of Death's Head stein thumblift of charging hussar. Note lens "eye" in horse a blue porcelainized interior. The view through the "glass eye" shows the These steins often have thumblifts in the Braunschweig Hussar barracks. There shape of a charging hussar. There is usu• are no manufacturer's marks on any ally a "glass eye" in the pewter figure, a of these steins. lens through which can be seen a tiny pho• tograph of a pertinent military scene, such as barracks, encampments or parades. [See also: Regimental Steins, Maj. John Harrell (1979), pp. 37 and 70, for a brief discourse of Hussars and the Unfortunately today the image has often Death's Head emblem. A skull character stein is illus• deteriorated to the point where the scene trated on page 156.) can no longer be recognized or, even worse, the entire scene—or even the tiny lens it• self—is gone.
Assuredly, regimental steins in the form of A Cavalry Regimental Stein Glossary a skull are not everyone's thing and they Cavalry—A military unit mounted on horseback, that fought either on horseback could be considered macabre. But these or on foot. unusual steins should be regarded from a collector's point of view—and therefore (if Chevauleger—Light horse cavalry; Bavarian cavalry. not already the case) they should be ac• Cuirassiers—Mounted unit wearing armor (cuirass); heavy cavalry. The cuirass cepted and tolerated. was worn for parades and show. They also wore the heavy "lobster tail" helmets.
Dragoons—Military unit of heavily-armed mounted troops. Dragoons were origi• nally infantry that rode to the battle area and then fought on foot. They later became regular cavalry.
Hussars—Mounted unit patterned after the Hungarian light cavalry of the 15th century. The Hussars were the smallest men and rode the smallest horses in the German Army.
Jaeger zu Pferd—Mounted rifle troops.
Pandours—Hungarian soldiers, members of the Croatian regiment of the Austrian Army, 18th century. Light cavalry.
Uhlans—Mounted lancers, patterned after the Tatars, used chiefly as skirmishers and scouts. After 1889, all cavalry units carried lances.
[Note: Light and heavy cavalry were just that: Light cavalry was made up of smaller men on smaller horses, carrying lighter and/or less equipment. Heavy cav• alry was typically made up of bigger men on bigger horses with heavier equipment. Basically their training, function, etc., were the same.]
We are indebted to Maj. John Harrell, Lawrence Beckendorff and Jack Lowenstein for this glossary Front view of stein 2., which once belonged to of cavalry terms. Gefreiter Bierbaum