Cuirassiers No. 13 - Gardes du Corps

Inhaber
1740 Blumenthal, 1759 Wackenitz, 1760 Schätzel, 1773 Mengden

Unit History
The unit was formed in 1740 originally as a training squadron. It was strengthened in 1756 by two Saxon Garde du Corps squadrons. It was always brigaded with the Gensd'Armes (No. 10) and distinguished itself at Rossbach, Zorndorf and Hochkirch. It was engaged Lobositz, Prague, Kolin, Leuthen, and Torgau.
At Lobositz, October 1756, Frederick, frustrated by his inability to discern the placement of the main body of Austrians, sent eight squadrons of cavalry consisting of the Garde du Corps, the Gens d'Armes, and two squadrons of Prinz von Preussen, all under Lt. Gen. Kyau, as a reconnaissance in force to divine their location. Charged in their exposed flank by six squadrons of the dragoon regiment, Erzherzog Joseph, the Prussian cavalry had to be rescued by the Bayreuth dragoons who were thrown into the melee. Peppered by musketry fire from scattered Croats then driven back by the Austrian cuirassier regiments of Stampach and Cordua, the Prussian survivors rode back to their base at the Homolka Hill.
At both Prague and Kolin, the unit was held in reserve. At Kolin, the reserve brigade was commanded by von Schönaich and included the Driesen Cuirassiers (No. 7), the Schönaich Cuirassiers (No. 6), and the Meinicke Dragoons (No. 3).
Much more active at Rossbach where the unit overran the Austrian cuirassier regiments Bretlach and Trautmannsdorf and two Imperials units, Hohenzollern Cuirassiers and Kurpfalz Cuirassiers, collecting four standards and two pairs of kettledrums. In the subsequent pursuit, the regiment captured 800 prisoners, a General, three cannon, and two howitzers.
At Leuthen, the regiment was deployed under Lentulus and first engaged Nadasdy's Hussars on the right flank. Later the unit overran the Austrian regiment Jung Modena and in the subsequent pursuit captured five standards, nine banners and fifteen cannon.
At Zorndorf, the regiment, again under Lentulus, was on the left flank. In its successful attack on the Russians, the regiment captured fifteen cannon and five banners. The attack caused its colonel, Rittmeister v. Wacknitz, to cry out: "A battle cannot be lost without the Gardes du Corps having attacked!" Later in the battle, the unit countered the Russian cavalry attack on the right flank. After the battle, the unit advanced to Dresden, then to Bautzen and onward to Hochkirch where it secured the flank of the Prussians near the village. Later at Liegnitz, the unit saw no action stationed on the right flank. Present but only skirmished at Torgau, Burkersdorf, and Reichenbach.
The unit was seen as a highly proficient socially prestigious unit. It was the only regiment to wear a bright metal cuirass. The unit was finally disbanded in 1918.

Comments
These pretty boys have done alright on the battlefield but I think it is because I cannot resist putting them into action. Their silvery cuirass sure seems to attract the notice of the enemy (and their guns). As you can see I avoided making the unique banner by substituting a trumpeter instead of an ensign – lazy me.

Sources
Image: Sturm cards at http://www.grosser-generalstab.de/sturm/sturm10.html
Text: Prussian troop website at http://www.preussenweb.de/preussstart.htm