PRUSSIAN HUSSARS (NAPOLEONIC WARS)

At the time of the outbreak of wars with revolutionary France (1792-1799), the Prussian army was still radiant with the fame of great successes during the Seven Years' War (1756-1763), and the memory of such victories as the Battle of Rossbach (1757) or Lutynia (1757) was still alive. It was also widely regarded as probably the best in Europe. However, already in the 1770s, it began to undergo a kind of erosion and ossification. Its combat value was becoming more and more debatable. The Prussian army was still able to wage a campaign against France with some success in 1792-1795, but already in the course of the 1806 campaign it suffered a devastating defeat. It is not surprising that the battles of Jena and Auerstädt became synonymous with defeat in the Prussian army, and at the same time launched a process of far-reaching changes. These reforms also affected - not surprisingly - the Prussian cavalry. The main core of the Prussian light cavalry at that time were hussar regiments, which consisted of about 1,550 people, including 51 officers and 150 non-commissioned officers. After 1806, their uniforms underwent changes - they were simplified, more emphasis was placed on the comfort of use, and shaka appeared on the head of hussars. The number of their regiments also changed - while in 1806 there were 10 hussar regiments, in 1812 only six regiments, and in 1815 it increased to 12. The main equipment of the Prussian hussar was a saber and a cavalry rifle. Pistols were worn mainly by officers and non-commissioned officers. Although after 1806 hussar units were used primarily for reconnaissance and reconnaissance, they were also used in general battles, just like in the Friarian era.