Sb and MP of Husaren Regiment Koenig Albert 18

[kaiserwilhelm2]

Not quite sure why a Husar would be listed as an Ulan on the cover of that Soldbuch.

[kaiserwilhelm2]

I see no entries to indicate his being in the infantry. His time with the munitions column of a foot arty. batl. would indicate to me that he was probably handling horses to transport ammunition. This seems a likely job for a dismounted cavalryman.

Cavalry was used in an infantry capacity and lost their horses pretty quickly to the artillery - they kept their regimental status as cavalry but were used as infantry.

[urza1]

Ok thanks. I was curious to know if he fought or was behind lines. But at Amiens every man fought as i can read...

[pauke]

Someone has to bring up the fireworks to pound the Stellungskaempfe and this job could get you killed or gassed as well as infantry. Artillery batteries were obvious targets and his life was certainly in jeopardy.

[Alan Wilson]

As Tom points out 54 cavalry regiments were dismounted to serve as infantry during the war. Of these 30 were raised before the war and were called Unberittene-Kavallerie (Dismounted Cavalry). Another 24 regiments were raised after beginning of hostilities. These were called Kavallerie-Schutzen (Mounted Rifles). The Unberitten-Kavallerie retained their unit identification including shoulder insignia. Kavallerie-Schutzen enlisted personnel wore green straps with red numbers.

Mike

[soldbuch]

look at the coupons at end of Soldbuch, his rank is as a grenadier

[kaiserwilhelm2]

look at the coupons at end of Soldbuch, his rank is as a grenadier

All rather peculiar: so he is a husar, an ulan and a grenadier?

[pauke]

whatever

In spite of the history of cav. regts. etc. I am only making reference to what is written or stamped into the two books. Anyone other than Naxos and I need to read and tell us all where any other specific reference is made to this soldier's unit(s) besides what Naxos first stated. Plenty of reference to typhus shots and some leave time but no infantry reference.

[naxos]

look at the coupons at end of Soldbuch, his rank is as a grenadier

That is not "Gren." for Grenadier but "Gem.", the abbreviation for Gemeiner or Gemeinen - meaning common soldier

[kaiserwilhelm2]

In spite of the history of cav. regts. etc. I am only making reference to what is written or stamped into the two books. Anyone other than Naxos and I need to read and tell us all where any other specific reference is made to this soldier's unit(s) besides what Naxos first stated. Plenty of reference to typhus shots and some leave time but no infantry reference.

Please understand that the original question was if this soldier actually fought in his designed cavalry role or was used in an infantry capacity. The later was done with most cavalry units as there was no use in modern warfare for horse soldiers but there was for foot soldiers. So this cavalry man stayed in the cavalry but fought as an infantry soldier even though he never joined an infantry regiment.

[Chip M]

there was no use in modern warfare for horse soldiers

I would agree that there was "little" use, but not "no" use for mounted soldiers in WWI. There were many mounted Feld-Gendarmerie units, and some cavalry units continued to serve their traditional functions on the East front.

Chip

[kaiserwilhelm2]

I would agree that there was "little" use, but not "no" use for mounted soldiers in WWI. There were many mounted Feld-Gendarmerie units, and some cavalry units continued to serve their traditional functions on the East front.

Chip

Yes little is more accurate than no.