Anhalt-Zerbst Cuirassiers

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Origin and History

The regiment was raised in 1682 for Friedrich Ludwig von Hallewyl.

The regiment counted 6 squadrons and a company of carabiniers. For battles, the latter was usually converged with other similar companies to form an elite unit.

During the Seven Years' War, the regiment inhaber was:

• since 1753: Fürst Friedrich August von Anhalt-Zerbst

During the Seven Years' War, the regiment was commanded by:

• 1756: Georg Friedrich Baron von Riedesel
• 1758: Johann C. Lasgallner

The regiment was disbanded in 1775.

Service during the War

In 1756, at the beginning of the Seven Years' War, the regiment was stationed in the Netherlands and counted 800 men. On May 6 1757, the regiment took part to the battle of Prague where it was deployed in Baron de la Rentrie's brigade, in the second line of the right wing under Baron Bretlach.

On May 6 1757, the regiment took part to the battle of Prague where it was deployed in Baron de la Rentrie's brigade, in the second line of the right wing under Baron Bretlach. On November 22, the regiment took part to the battle of Breslau where it was deployed in Trautmannsdorff's brigade in the second line of the right wing under Prince Esterházy. On December 5 at the battle of Leuthen, the regiment was deployed in Trautmannsdorff's brigade in the second line of the cavalry right wing under General Lucchesi.

By August 2 1758, the regiment served in the second line of the main Austrian army under the command of Daun near Jaromirs. Daun was following up the Prussian army retiring through Bohemia after the failure of the Prussian invasion of Moravia. On October 14, the regiment took part to the battle of Hochkirch where it was deployed in Buccow's cavalry column at the extreme right, to the east of Kotitz.

By mid August 1759, the regiment was part of Buccow's corps posted in Lusatia. On September 2, it took part in the combat of Sorau. On November 20, the regiment took part in the battle of Maxen where 4 of its squadrons were deployed in the second cavalry column of Sincère's corps under the command of Lieutenant-General Count Stampa while another squadron was attached to Major-General Baron Seckendorf's detachment occupying the heights of Malter near Dippoldiswalde.

To do: campaigns from June 1760 to 1763

Uniform

Privates

Uniform in 1762 - Source: Richard Couture and Ibrahim90

Uniform Details
as per the Albertina Handschrift of 1762
completed with other sources when necessary

Headgear	Trooper black tricorne (no lace) with a black cockade fastened with a small brass button Carabinier black tricorne (no lace) with a black cockade fastened with a small brass button
Neckstock	black
Coat	white lined red with 13 brass buttons (right side) Collar none Shoulder strap red fastened with a brass button Lapels none Pockets horizontal pockets with 3 brass buttons Cuffs red without buttons Turnbacks red
Waistcoat	sole regiment to wear the old leather jerkin (laced red) instead of a waistcoat
Breeches	straw
Leather Equipment	Crossbelt white Waistbelt none Cartridge Box n/a Scabbard black leather with gilt decoration Footgear black boots
Horse Furniture	Saddlecloth red laced in white and red (according to an illustration of the Bautzener Bilderhandschrift of 1762) Housings red laced in white and red (according to an illustration of the Bautzener Bilderhandschrift of 1762) Blanket roll white and red (according to an illustration of the Bautzener Bilderhandschrift of 1762)

Troopers were armed with a black breastplate (worn over the coat), a pallasch (sword) and a pair of pistols. Carabiniers also carried a carbine and had a sabre instead of a sword.

Other interpretations

The Albertina Handschrift illustrates a coat with 15 buttons. In our illustrations we have rather followed Raspe who shows only 13 buttons.

Raspe also illustrates white breeches.

Officers

The officers (according to the Bautzener Bilderhandschrift of 1762) wore the same uniform with the following exceptions:

• laced tricorne with a green and white cockade
• light green saddlecloth and sabretache both laced in dark green and fringed in yellow

Musicians

No information found yet.

Standards

Leib Standard: no information found yet

Regimental Standard: rectangular red silk standard with a brown flagpole brown, a golden spearhead and red and gold tassels at the ribbon.

• Obverse: in a frame, an eagle seizing a halfmoon, and a scroll bearing the motto “Comminuam aut extinquam”
• Reverse: silver embroideries and a black double eagle.

References

Bleckwenn, Hans; Die Regimenter der Kaiserin, Gedanken zur "Albertina Handschrift" 1762 des Heeresgeschichtlichen Museums Wien, Köln: 1967

Funcken, Liliane and Fred , Les uniformes de la guerre en dentelle

Grosser Generalstab, Die Kriege Friedrichs des Grossen, Hiller, Berlin, 1830-1913

Klimek, St.; Oesterreichische Kavalleriestandarten aus dem 18. Jahrhundert im Heeresmuseum zu Wien, Die Zinnfigur, Clio: 1927

Knötel, Richard: Uniformkunde. Lose Blätter zur Geschichte der Entwicklung der militärischen Tracht, 18 Bde., Rathenow 1890-1919

Kornauth, Friedrich, Das Heer Maria Theresias: Faksimile-Ausgabe der Albertina-Handschrift, "Dessins des Uniformes des Troupes I.I. et R.R. de l'année 1762", Wien: 1973

Raspe, Accurate Vorstellung der sämtlichen Kayserlich Koeniglichen Armeen zur eigentlichen Kentnis der Uniform von jedem Regimente. Nebst beygefügter Geschichte, worinne von der Stiftung, denen Chefs, der Staercke, und den wichtigsten Thaten jedes Regiments Nachricht gegeben wird., Nürnberg: 1762

Schirmer, Friedrich, Die Heere der kriegführenden Staaten 1756-1763, hrsg. von der KLIO-Landesgruppe Baden-Württemberg, überarb. u. aktual. Neuauflage 1989

Thümmler, L.-H., Die Österreichiches Armee im Siebenjährigen Krieg: Die Bautzener Bilderhandschrift aus dem Jahre 1762, Berlin 1993

Zahn, Michael, Oesterreichische Kürassier und Dragoner Standarten in Siebenjährigen Krieges, Zusammenstellung, 1988