[Ron Smith]

Can anyone give a translation of this word? I tried an on line translator and it did'nt work.


Kürassier

Thanks, Ron

 

[Heinrich]

Ron,
I think it's "cuirassier" according to my dictionary.

 

[sauerfan]

Ron,

try

http://dict.leo.org/?lang=en

A very nice online translator which also provided the translation "cuirassier", like Heinrich's dictionary.

Martin

 

[Ron Smith]

Heinrich and Martin,

Thanks. I got the spelling out of Görtz small arms markings book. I have tried 2 different translators, with no luck. If there is'nt a direct translation. Do either of you know what it means, roughly? Does it have something to do with cavalry?
Ron

 

[Dwight Gruber]

Merriam-Webster online has it as "a mounted soldier wearing a cuirasse". A cuirasse is a breastplate.

--Dwight

 

[sauerfan]

Dwight,

yes, a "Kürass" is a breastplate. A nice example is shown/offered here:

http://www.derrittmeister.com/uniforms.htm

go to item 15-210. What isn't told there: every original Kürass was proofed by shooting one round on it. Consequently, every original Prussian Kürass has a bump on the front. The Kürassiere were a elite cavalry troop. Most officers of the Prussian Kürassier regiments belonged to the high nobility.

Martin

 

[Ron Smith]

Thanks Guys, I appreciate the trouble. I have been studying Görtz and Noll's books. To get a firm grip on unit marks in case I should run across anything interesting. I don't want to be at a show or in a shop and have to run home to check the books,in case I forget to take them.

Thanks again, Ron

 

[Jan C Still]

Ron
Unit marked Lugers are recorded for the following cavalry regiments: Dragoon, Ulanen, Hussar, Kurassier, Jäger Zu Pferde, Chevauleger, Schwere Reiter Regiment, and Karabiner Reg.

Kurassier riders in picture and illustration during World War I:


Download Attachment: Kurassier1.jpg
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Download Attachment: Kurassier2.jpg
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[keoki7]

Ron, Kuerassier are heavy cavalry and, as noted above, they wore a cuirasse or full breast and back plate although this armor may have been dropped from field use by WWI. These fellows were even further distinguished by their steel or tombak lobstertail Pickelhauben. The most famous of these units were the Saxon Garde du Korps and the Prussian Garde du Korps; both wore tombak cuirasse and lobstertail the lobster tail was topped with a rampant lion in the case of the Saxons and a crowned eagle in the case of the Prussians.

Real nice for Potsdam military reviews but not of much value by August of 1914. The french, Austrians and Russians also fielded the same class of cavalry.

 

[Ron Smith]

Jan and George, Thanks for the information. Very informative and very interesting.
Ron