Zieten Hussars

The Zieten Hussars,[nb 2] (German: Husaren-Regiment "von Zieten"), last designation: "Hussars Regiment 'von Zieten' (Brandenburg) No. 3" (Husaren-Regiment von Zieten (Brandenburgisches) Nr. 3), was a hussar regiment of the Prussian Army and later the Imperial German Army,[nb 3] founded in 1730 and named after its first Colonel, Hans Joachim von Zieten.

Zieten Hussars in 1775.[nb 1]

Frederick the Great created it as the 2nd Hussar Regiment (H2), and in 1743 it adopted the distinctive tiger-skin pelisse for their parade uniforms, with company officers wearing fur caps with heron feathers and field officers using an eagles's wing.[1] During the 1806 campaign of the War of the Fourth Coalition, the regiment was known as von Rudorff Hussar regiment, soon renamed Life Hussar Regiment von Rudorff (No.2) (German: No.2 Leib-Husaren von Rudorff).[2]

The regiment capitulated at Ratekau following the defeat of 1806 and was disbanded. In 1807 it formed a squadron in its former depot as Freikorps Marwitz and amalgamated with Blücher's Corps to create the 1st Brandenburg Hussar Regiment on 7 September 1808 (Husaren Regiment Nr.3).[3] The regiment's 2nd squadron served during the Russian Campaign of 1812 on the French side, and the regiment served throughout the 1813-1814 campaigns on the Coalition side, also participating in the 1815 campaign.

In 1860, before the unification of Germany, the regiment became a part of the Federal Army.[3] But it took until 1861 to officially recognize the regimental tradition of the old Prussian 2nd Hussar Regiment.[4] Shortly before the outbreak of World War I it formed part of the 6th Cavalry-Brigade in the 6th Division (Brandenburg Division) known as Husaren-Regiment von Zieten (Brandenburgisches) Nr. 3 ("Hussars Regiment "von Zieten" (Brandenburgian) No. 3") and was stationed in Rathenow; on mobilisation, the cavalry brigades were re-organised into independent divisions; the regiment remained as divisional cavalry, split between the 5th Division and the 6th Division.