PRUSSIAN UHLANS (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. As a result, among others, lancer units were created, which replaced the earlier lancer units. It is worth adding that the basic weapons of the Prussian uhlan after 1806 were a lance, a saber and cavalry pistols. His uniform, on the other hand, was relatively simple, in the colors of navy blue and dark blue. Wigs were completely dispensed with. He wore a black shako with a short ponytail on his head. Like other Prussian cavalry units, Uhlans were grouped into regiments.