Vasyliev, Oleg Die Armee Russlands 1801-1815

Organisation, Einsatz, Uniformierung und Ausrüstung der Schweren Kavallerie: Kürassiere und Dragoner

Organisation, deployment, uniforms and equipment of the heavy cavalry cuirassiers and dragoons.

In this volume of Heere und Waffen, the author paints a detailed picture of the Russian cuirassiers and dragoons at the beginning of the 19th century. He has analysed numerous sources and enriches the existing publications - which are not as comprehensive as those on other armies - with a qualified account. This should find a large readership, as it covers the Napoleonic Wars, in which Russia played a not inconsiderable role. It is well known that many interested experts and laymen continue to study this period intensively.

In his publication, the author takes a very comprehensive and detailed look at the cuirassiers and dragoons. He describes how the organisation and structure developed, how the regiments were replenished, where they were deployed, what their armament and equipment looked like and, last but not least, how their uniforms appeared. The latter takes up a lot of space and is described as it developed. The reader must always bear in mind that it could take years from the promulgation of a decree to its full implementation. This applied to uniforms as well as armour and equipment. In the regiments belonging to the Guard, on which the eye of the ruler rested, these changes naturally progressed more quickly than was the case in the deep provinces of the vast Russian Empire. In the description of the regiments, special features of the Guards are presented from this perspective, but also from the point of view of their prominent position. An interesting aspect of the work is the detailed depiction of both combatants and non-combatants. The latter are often not mentioned at all in comparable publications. Here, on the other hand, not only is their uniform, armour and equipment described, but their specific function is also explained.

Overall, it can be said that this work can provide both military scientists and military historians with detailed insights as well as historical film makers, tin figure collectors and interested laymen with new insights. The clear structure of this work makes it easy to use as a reference work. The appended index of Russian terms and their German translation enables a clear conceptual categorisation in both languages.