Help identify unit and year

[Richard D]

Hi,

I am trying to know which regiment these German Cuirassiers were associated with. Also, any information regarding the year approx. when this photo was taken is welcome.

Richard

[Robert Shoaf]

Hard to make out that cypher exactly, but I will venture Leib-Kurassier Regt. Grosser Kurfurst ( Schlesisches) Nr. 1.
Certainly a WWI era photo; I will guess 1915.

Bob Shoaf

[Johnny R]

That is a good match and the buildings also look Eastern Front where the unit spent most the War.

[Heran]

I think Robert is right. I found this Schulterstück in an old Uniform Book:

REgards

Antonio

[Richard D]

Thank you guys for your comments.

I agree with you Robert concerning the year when this photo was taken. 1915 is probably a good guess, as there are no fold-back tunic
cuffs, but the shoulder straps seem to be unpiped. Also, the boots are
not the tall brown Stulpstiefel of the Cuirassiers worn when the war
began; rather, they are standard mounted troops boots, which all cavalry units began wearing in late 1914-early 1915 to reduce the various
footwear re-supply depots clothing nightmare that the clothing depots were experiencing in the field. Plus, they appear to be black (1915).

As for the location, l agree with Johnny: Eastern Front.

However, regarding the unit, I thought of the 8th Cuirassiers who had green hat bands and tunic piping. The cypher and Crown on the shoulder straps appear to match that regiment.

Richard

[Richard D]

Yes. The Leib-Kurassier Regt. Grosser Kurfurst ( Schlesisches) Nr. 1. would be very plausible.

[pzrwest]

Nice foto... I just noticed the guy looking out the right side window grouping

[Chip M]

there are no fold-back tunic
cuffs

The trooper on the far right has the barrel cuffs, which were authorized for the Kürassier Waffenrock in July of 1915. My guess is that actual examples did not begin to be issued until the Fall or Winter of that year.

Chip

[Richard D]

The trooper on the far right has the barrel cuffs, which were authorized for the Kürassier Waffenrock in July of 1915. My guess is that actual examples did not begin to be issued until the Fall or Winter of that year.

Chip

Very good answer Chip! Thanks!

[leaftree]

Picture...

Nice foto... I just noticed the guy looking out the right side window grouping

That's one old photo bomb.

[pzrwest]

The guy on the far right sure looks very young probably enlisted right out of school