1st West Prussian Landwehr Cavalry

While planning my Gross Beeren game for HAVOC (which takes place in 4 weeks), I discovered that my Order of  Battle called for 4 units of Landwehr Cavalry. I had only three, but recalled that I had surplus Prussia Dragoon figures that could be used to raise a new, 4th Landwehr cavalry unit. So I did!

The Erstes Westpreussische Landwehr-Kavallerie Regiment. 28mm Old Glory Prussian Dragoon figures.  Mit Gott für König und Vaterland!

The regulation uniform for the Landwehr cavalry was fairly similar to that of the Prussian Dragoons, except that the coats were dark blue, and the leather work was black. The Provincial color was to appear on the collars and  the cuff piping; I have made the whole cuff in the provincial color, a common variation. 

The provincial color for West Prussia was black, but most of the Landwehr infantry and cavalry raised their instread used "Brick Red" facings, as seen on this unit. I painted them first with Delta CC Pumpkin, with a second coat in CC Poppy Orange on top to get a strong orange-red color against the dark blue of the Litewkas and saddle blankets. 

Landwehr cavalry, like their infantry brethren weren't supposed to carry standards, but they did carry lances. Therefore, I have equipped this unit with an oversize lance/guidon in the provincial lance pennon colors for West Prussia (yellow over crimson), ornamented with a black Landwehr cross. 

The shakos were usually ornamented with a white or yellow Landwehr cross on the front as well. As these figures wear covered shakos, the cross is painted onto the shako covers. I have covered the uniforms of the Landwehr cavalry previously in more detail here. There were many units dressed in decidedly different uniforms, although it is estimated that roughly 75% of the Landwehr Cavalry wore more or less the regulation dress.