Cavalry unit research

[Dave Suter]

I just picked up an early walking-out tunic for an NCO candidate of the 4th Cavalry Regiment. The tunic dates from the 20's as it has Weimar-pattern tress. I don't have any pre-war unit information. Can any of you guys help with some unit history information on that outfit?

[Glenn2438]

Reiter-Regiment 4

Hi Sarge,

the 4.(Prussian) Reiter-Regiment was formed on the 1st of May 1920 at Potsdam as a component of the 1st Cavalry Division (Frankfurt/Oder). It was formed from personnel of various "Provisional Reichswehr" cavalry regiments whom themselves were for the most part former members of the cavalry regiments of the Prussian Imperial Guard including the Garde du Corps, Garde Kürassier-Regiment etc. The regimental staff was based at Potsdam with the squadrons at either Potsdam or Perleberg. The regiment remained in Potsdam until the 1st of October 1934 when it was moved to Allenstein in East Prussia under the newly formed 5th cavalry brigade at Insterburg. The regiment was used to form Panzer-Regiment 6 at Zossen and was reformed from the personnel of 10 other cavalry regiments and former members of the Landespolizei. It was retitled as Kavallerie-Regiment 4 on the 1st of July 1936.

At mobilization in 1939 the regiment was disbanded and provided a cavalry and bicycle squadron each for Auklärungs-Abteilungen 1, 11 & 21 and a further bicycle squadron for Aufklärungs-Abteilung 161.

Two of its more famous regimental commanders were the later Generaloberst Erich Hoepner and General der Panzertruppe Willibald Freiherr von Langermann und Erlenkamp.

Glenn

[Dave Suter]

Glenn,

Thank you very much. All of that comports very nicely with the age of the tunic and explains why there is no mention of it in any of the WWII Order of Battle books I have.

I very much appreciate your information.

Dave