Hussars No. 5 - Black Hussars

Inhaber
1741 Mackerodt, 1744 Ruesch, 1762 Lossow, 1783 Hohenstock

Unit History
The regiment was formed in 1740 from two squadrons from Hussar regiments No. 1 and No. 2. It was attached in 1745 to the Bosnian Lancers. The regiment was renowned for the wealth of its officers and the ferocity of its hussars. Three of eight squadrons served in the Western theatre at Krefeld, Bergen and Minden. In Eastern Prussia, it was engaged at Zorndorf, Kay and Gross-Jagersdorf. An elite unit which captured four standards of the French Hussars, Polleresky, in 1758, at Stöcken-Drebber and one standard of the French Dragoons, Royal Cravattes (No. 8), in 1758, at Düffelward.
At Gross-Jagersdorf, August 30, 1757, ten squadrons brigaded under Lt.-General Holstein-Gottrop, tangled early and briefly with the Russian advance guard on the Prussian right wing with no real result. Later in the battle, Holstein again advanced, this time against the Russian vanguard. Holstein's 20 squadrons, including five squadrons of the Holstein-Gottorp Dragoons (No. 9), broke through the Apscheron and Butyrski regiments and captured some field guns, before being chased back to the Roser Wald across the Sittengraben by three Russian horse grenadier regiments and the cuirassier regiments Kievski and Nowotroitzski.
At Zorndorf, August 25, 1758, seven squadrons were in the second rank of the right wing under the command of von Schlorlemer while later at Kay, July 23, 1759, the regiment was in Kanitz's Brigade that occupied the village of Kay behind the left flank of the Prussians. When the initial Prussian attacks failed, the unit attempted a flanking manoeuvre which was halted by Russian General Totleben's firing of the village. The unit then covered the retreat of the Prussian forces. Lead the right flank attack at Burkersdorf in 1762. Later at Reichenbach, the regiment attacked from the left flank capturing three Standards.
The unit was reformed in 1806 along with regiments No. 1 and No. 2 into the Life Hussars Brigade.

Comments
This is my favourite cavalry unit because of the Death’s Head and the stern uniform. They have not disappointed me in their actions on my gaming table. The most memorable is their charge against six squadrons of Austrian cavalry and managing to beat the whole group. For those who play Piquet, the Austrians happened to pull a Major Morale just after losing their last morale chip – but these Hussars are not picky as long as they get the glory.

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