Prussian Kurassier Pallasch: 1817-1880

Some time ago I wrote about the very wonderful Bluchersabel now it is time to focus on the also wonderful Prussian kurassierspallasch sabres.

It is interesting to note that the kurassier regiments were almost exclusive to the state of Prussia, with no other state aside for Bavaria and Saxony having the right to raise heavy cavalry regiments. This means that all swords down below should be designed as Prussian swords, the two other German states having different pallasch models.

Lastly, another thing to note is that contrary to popular belief, the kurassiers were never given the KD1889 sword that was issued to all other units of cavalry; they kept their pallasch until the end of WW1.

1817 ‘’Franzosische form’’ model

‘’If it isn’t broken why fix it?’’

Why the hell waste time and resources to figure out what type of sword to design when you can just simply take captured weapons and equip your men with them? It seems that it is what Prussia realized when it was in the process of reforming its army after the Napoleonic Wars.

1813-1817

When they turned against Napoleon in 1813 the Prussians were still short of local weapons and had to depend largely on British and Russian equipment so naturally after defeating Napoleon they decided to continue this practical economical method of arming itself with recycled weaponry that was tested and true. It was also not uncommon in the past century that war booty became itself a form of award: during the Seven years War enemy kettle drums were captured and kept by the conquering regiment as their own drums; in a grand parade ceremony of 1814 the cuirassiers regiments were given French cuirass and swords to reward them of their bravery during the 1813-1814 campaigns.

Another historical event of much importance was the pillaging of the Klingenthal weapons manufacture following the defeat of Napoleon. The manufacture lost a lot of its equipment and weapons when the Prussians came and hoarded as much as they could, all this booty was used to craft Prussian armament.

When in 1817 reforms were implemented to replace obsolete equipment, the Prussians were very satisfied with their captured French swords (both LC and HC) and decided that instead of undergoing expensive tests and studies they would just simply make the same French models but by Prussian manufactures. This resulted in the adoption of the 1817 heavy cavalry sword or, as German literature acknowledges this pattern: the Pallasch 1817 ‘’Franzosische form’’.



This specimen is stamped on both the hilt and scabbard to 3.K.2.152 for Kurassier regiment no. 3 (von Seydlitz) . squadron no 2, weapon no 152.





The sword is pretty much a German version of the French cuirassier sword: the hilt, blade and scabbard all share similarity with their French counterpart and is quite frankly hard to differentiate both aside for the markings; the tiny details that change is the scabbard drag form and the shape of the branches: it is oval on the French model but with the Prussian model it is diamond-shaped...not so easy to spot.

Note that the blade point is the same form as the original French hatchet tip.

1817 Prussian sword (above) VS the original French An XI sword




1854/76 Model

After smashing the French yet again in 1870, the newly formed German Empire again resorted to using captured enemy equipment which they ended up with.

In 1876 Army weapons reforms ordered the transformation of the French HC 1854 swords whose blades were shortened (for God knows why) to a total length of 82cm prior to being issued to the kurassiers and garde-du-Corps.



Sometimes original French markings were completely grounded away but most of the time they were left but with the German inspection and regimental markings stamped over.

This specimen is stamped on both the hilt and scabbard to 7.K.3.136. as Kurassier regiment no. 7. (Magdeburg). squadron no 3. rack weapon no. 136.





1854/96 Model

13 years after, in 1896, Germany remodeled again its swords to make way for the saddle fastening system, so all the scabbards that were still in service had their lower ring removed.
This is the only modification known to this model which is not to be confused with the aforementioned 1876.



This specimen is stamped on the hilt to 4.R.K.2.137. as Kurassier regiment no. 4. 2nd squadron. rack no. 137. Note that the French script normally found on the blade spine has been removed (but the inspection marks on the ricasso remain). 





1880 Models

This last sword is a bit different from the others not only in its form but also use because despite its varying size, the 1880 model was mostly the dress version sword for cuirassiers. Termed Extra-pallasch, these were made for private purchase/gifts for troopers, NCOs & officers who could purchase them during or at the end of their term of service.

The form of the hilt is much more Prussian than the previous models and resembles a lot the IOD 1889 with its sloped grip form and ribbed grip. It still retains the traditional 3 branch guard but the grip is either made of sharkskin or celluloid fabric, normal features for dress use weaponry at the time.

Troopers and officer versions differed only with the form of the pommel cap: for troopers it was a rounded dome and with officers it was flat.



As these were made for private purchase, individual variations were plentiful and sword cutlers supplied them with different shapes and sizes, depending on the wealth of the trooper/NCO/officer, the latter having the possibility to have their hilts extensively decorated. The most striking feature is the decoration of the blades, as these were intended to be used for dress, the blades could be either decorated with foliage and war instruments or blue panels/etchings commemorating the cavalry regiment, an oath of service or the Imperial motto.

This monster belonged to a trooper of the prestigious Garde-du-Corps regiment which was the personal HC unit of the Kaiser and was as such the elite of the bunch. Most men were chosen among the tallest and this is reflected in the size of this massive beast which towers next to the other brutish cuirassiers swords!

The blade is etched in typical fashion of the Regiment der Gardes du Corps and on the other side is the oath of service of the soldier.





The other 1880 sword is a super rare Garde-Kurassier officer pallasch with an exquisite ''Damascus-pattern'' blade. As with any other unit that belonged to the Guard, this specific regiment had the star symbol/cypher attached to the grip.



It's a pretty big sword, a bit too big...while being stupendous to look at the weight of the blade is unbalanced and I fear the sharskin grip might not be strong enough to perform swings without cracking at some point in its life! This blade is a beast!





STATZ




Regimental History

Since 1815, all Kurassier regiments to part of the wars fought by Prussia and then Germany until 1918: the 1866 Austro-Prussian War, the 1870 Franco-Prussian War and WW1. Older regiments formed in the 18th Cent took part in the Silesian Wars, 7 Years War and Napoleonic Wars. All of these old regiments were disbanded in 1919 following Germany's capitulation.

Garde-du-Corps
Not the oldest HC regiment but still considered the senior regiment of the bunch since their establishment in 1740 the GdC were the personal bodyguard of the Prussian King and then the German Emperor after 1871 and as such enjoyed considerable status even within the elite Guard units. In 1814 they wore brass cuirasses captured from the French Carabiniers and later on the same year Tsar Alexander I gave them blackened cuirasses that became their personal trademark (they also wore white silver cuirasses at times), along with their pickelhaube with the eagle on top.



Silesian Wars
4.6.45 Hohenfriedberg

Seven Years War
1756 campaign against Austria
1.10 Lobositz
1757 campaign
6.5 Prague, 18.6 Kolin, 5.11 Rossbach, 6.11 Spielberg, 5.12 Leuthen.
1758 campaign
27.5-2.7 Olmutz, 25.8 Zondorf, 10.10 Hochkirch
1760 campaign
13-22.07 Dresden, 3.11 Torgau
1760 campaign
21.7 Burkersdorf, 7.8-9.10 Schweidnitz, 16.8 Reichenbach

Napoleonic Wars
1807 mobilized against France:
5.1. Heilsberg, 9.1. Schippenbeil, 30.1. Bialochowo, 13.6. Gollau, 14.6. Königsberg,
1813-14 campaign:
25.4. Neu-Flemmingen, 2.5. Gr. Görschen, 21.5. Bautzen; 26.5. Haynau; 16.-18.10. Leipzig; 20.3. Arcis sur Aube.
1815 100 Days campaign (no action)

1866 Austro-Prussian War
28.6. Skalitz, 29.6. Schweinschädel, 3.7. Königsgrätz

1870/71 Franco-Prussian War
18.8. Gravelotte-St. Privat; 1.9. Sedan, 19.9.-28.1. Paris, 21.12. Le Bourget

1914-1918 WWI
Departure to Belgium and Battle of the Marne.
August 1914: advance to the Marne, the 1st and 3rd squadron was at Fère-en-Tardenois /north Château-Thierry
September 1914 retreat to the Aisne
December 1914 to July 1915 border guard duty at the Belgian-Dutch border.
August 1915 transferred to the Eastern Front, offensive in Russian Poland and Galicia.
October 1915 to mid-July 1917 positional fights at Pinsk and Kovel. Then mounted again and used in the counter-offensive in Galicia.

Subsequently until February 1918 the unit is relocated to Courland and Livonia to maintain security and order. It also included combating groups of armed Russian deserters and other local armed groups

In April 1918, transported to Ukraine to restore order and on November the regiment was in Jampol.

Garde-Kurassier Regiment
Initialy formed in 1815 as the Garde Uhlan Rgt, it was converted to a Kurassier Regt in 1821 and was part of the Guard since then.

Napoleonic Wars
1815 mobilized against France (no action)

1866 Austro-Prussian War
28.6. Skalitz, 29.6. Schweinschädel, 3.7. Königsgrätz

1870/71 Franco-Prussian War
18.8. Gravelotte-St. Privat; 1.9. Sedan, 19.9.-28.1. Paris, 21.12. Le Bourget.

WWI 14-18
Regiment's march through Luxembourg and Belgium to northern France. After participating in the Battle of the Marne, the subsequent retreat and until December 1914 positional fighting on the Aisne.
December 1914 to July 1915 border guard duty on the Belgian-Dutch border.
August 1915 transfer to the Eastern Front, participation in the offensive battles in Russian Poland and Galicia.
October 1915 to February 1918 positional fighting at Pinsk and Kovel. Thereafter transferred to Silesia, where the regiment finally lost its cavalry status and was converted to the Cavalry Rifle Regiment (kav-schutzen) in the Association of Guards Cavalry Rifle Division.

After completion of the infantry training the former cuirassiers were used until the end of the war in the defensive fighting on the Western Front until 10 Nov 1918.


Kurassier Regiment no 3 (East Prussian) Graf Wrangel
Formed in 1717 as a Dragoon unit, it was later changed to Kurassier unit in 1819. It was disbanded in 1919, 202 years after its creation.

Silesian Wars
4.6.45 Hohenfriedberg

Seven Years War
25.8.58 Zondorf; 12.8.59 Kunersdorf

Napoleonic Wars
1807 campaign:
23.12. Gurszno, 25.12. Soldau, 5.2. Liebstadt, 8.2. Wackern, 8.2. Pr. Eylau, 4./5.6. Spanden, 10.6. Heilsberg, 13.6. Gollau, 15.6. Königsberg.
1813-14 campaign:
2.5. Gr. Görschen, 20./21.5. Bautzen; 26.5. Hainau; 26./27.8 Dresden; 30.8. Culm; 14.10. Liebertwolkwitz, 16.-19.10. Leipzig; 19.-30. Einschl. v. Luxemburg, 12.2. Château Thierry, 1814 14.2. Etoges; 28.2.Gué a Tremes, 9.3. La Ferté Milon, 9./10.3. Laon; 21.3. Oulchy le Château, 26.3. Sézanne, 28.3. Claye; 31.3. Paris.

1866 Austro-Prussian War
27.6.Trautenau, 3.7. Königsgrätz.

1870/71 Franco-Prussian War

16.8. Vionville-Mars la Tour; 18.8. Gravelotte-St. Privat; 8.-27.10. Metz; 28.11. Beaune la Rolande, 16.12. Vedôme, Tuileries, Courtiras, 29.12. La Gué du Loir (1., 4. Esk), 31.12. Vendôme 1.1. Azay (1., 3. Esk), 6.1. St. Armand (1., 3.), 7.1. Villechauve-Villeporcher, 8.1. Villeporcher, 9.1. Château Renault (1., 2. Esk.).

WWI
After mobilization, the unit moved eastward, where the unit was deployed in the battles at Gumbinnen, Tannenberg, and Mansurian Lake against the Russian.
After the winter battle in Mansuria in February 1915, the regiment was used on the Baltic coast in Lithuania and Courland, where it participated in the capture of Riga in August 1917.

Until May 1918, the cuirassiers remained in this part of the country and fought during this time against Russian revolutionary troops. After that the transfer to Ukraine took place, where security tasks were performed.


Kurassier Regiment no 4 (Westphalian) von Driesen
Raised in 1717 as a Dragoon regiment.

Silesian Wars
10.4.42 Austerlitz, 4.6.45 Hohenfriedberg

Seven Years War
30.8.57 Groß-Jägersdorf , 25.8.58 Zondorf; 12.8.59 Kunersdorf

Napoleonic Wars
1812 campaign against Russia (1., 3. Sqn. with the Grande Armee):
19.7. Eckau, 7.7. Wolgund, 27.9. Eckau
1813/14 campaign:
5.4. Dannigkow, 2.5. Gr. Görschen; 19.5. Königswartha-Weißig, 20./21.5. Bautzen; 26.8. Katzbach, 15.9. Reichenbach, 16.10. Möckern-Leipzig, 17.10. Markröhlitz, 1814 Manheulles, 3.2. La Chaussée, 5.2. Mareuil, 11.2. Montmirail, 12.2. Château Thierry, 9.3. Laon; 26.3. Sézanne, 30.3. Paris.
1815 100 Days Campaign:
15.6. Gilly, 15.6. Ligny, 18.6. Belle-Alliance (Waterloo); 28.6. Nanteuil.

1848 in Poland: 13.4. Miloslaw.

1864 war against Denmark (no action)

1866 Austro-Prussian War
3.7. Dermbach; 10.7. Kissingen; 14.7. Aschaffenburg; 24.7. a. d. Tauber, 25.7. Gerchsheim;

1870/71 Franco-Prussian War
16.8. Vionville-Mars la Tour; 18.8. Gravelotte-St. Privat; 24.8. Verdun, 19.9. Paris; 14.11, 16.12. Cloyes (4. Esk), 17.12. Droué, 7.1. Breteuil (4. Esk).

WWI

Immediately after the outbreak of the First World War, the regiment moved on 2 August 1914 for the third time to France. Among other things, it was involved in the advance of the German troops into the suburbs of Paris. During the transition to positional warfare, the Cuirassier Regiment stood for a long time opposite the English at Warneton in the trenches.

Since a positional war contradicted the tasks of a mounted regiment, the cuirassiers moved in early November 1914 to the Eastern Front, where they were involved in the breakthrough of Brzeziny. But in the east too the attack came to a halt shortly afterwards and the regiment spent the first months of 1915 in the trenches, including Brzozovka and Rawa Mazowiecka. Only towards the end of July 1915 did the horses return to service in the attacks on the heights of Chynow. Already on 1 October they went back to the position war in the east. The Cuirassier Regiment spent the period until February 1916 in the trenches between the Narocz and Swir, before providing police service in the Generalgouvernement of Warsaw. From the end of August 1916, it was transferred to the Stochod front, where it was to remain for a year and a half.

Since the horses were not needed in the trenches, in October 1916 the unit was transformed into a cavalry-rifle regiment, with 400 horses were delivered. In January 1918, the withdrawal of the Eastern Front followed and after training, the regiment took position in early June 1918 in the Champagne area and was involved in the storming on Reims. Due to heavy losses, it was withdrawn from the front on 20 July 1918 and went in mid-August at Soissons. Here it had to defend itself against French attacks. Due to special achievements in holding the position, brigade leader Franz Graf von Magnis was awarded the Order Pour le Mérite.


Kurassier Regiment no 7 (Magdebourg) von Seydlitz

Formed in March 7 1815 from the 1st Squadron of the Silesian Cuirassier Regiment, 2nd Squadron and the Brandenburg Cuirassier Regiment and 3rd Squadron to the East Prussian Cuirassier Regiment, all of which had seen much action in the campaign of 1813-14.

It's most famous action was without doubt the Mars-La-Tour charge (Bredow Brigade Charge or Death Ride of Mars-la-Tour) where on August 16 1870, the regiment rode together with the Ulans Regiment No. 16 and the Oldenburg Dragoon Regiment No. 19 in a desperate attack against the French and of which only 420 of the 800 men survived.

Napoleonic Wars
1815 mobilised against France (no action)

1866 Austro-Prussian War
3.7. Königsgrätz

1870/71 Franco-Prussian War
6.8. Rimling, 16.8. Vionville-Mars la Tour; 18.8. Gravelotte-St. Privat; 24.8. Verdun, 2.9. Puiseux, 21.9.-16.11. Paris; 22.9. Mantes, 9.11. Evreux, 10.-12.1. Le Mans, 15.1. Alençon (3. Esk.),21.1 Bernay.

WWI
At the beginning of the First World War, the regiment participated in border battles in neutral Belgium. Then it fought in the battle of the Marne and the retreat to the Aisne.

From the autumn of 1914, it was relocated to the Eastern Front with battles in Russian Poland, Courland, Lithuania and Romania until the beginning of 1917.
In early 1917, the rgt was transferred to the west and delivery of the horses, the regiment lost its cavalry status and became a cavalry-rifle regiment.

Positional fighting in Belgium and Lorraine until April 1918. Afterwards fought in positional fights in Flanders and in the Siegfried position until the end of the war in 1918.