Within the Prussian cavalry the Kurassiers enjoyed higher prestige than dragoons and uhlans. The men and horses in Kurassier regiments were bigger and stronger, a factor important not only on parades. They were the battle-cavalry who on battlefield charged en masse crushing the enemy with sheer force. Unlike their french counterparts they wore no metal breastplate.

In 1806 Prussia had 13 Kurassier regiments, incl. the Garde du Corps Regiment. Then Napoleon defeated and downsized the Prussian army. In 1812 the number of Kurassier regiments was 4, including the Garde du Corps.

For the campaign in 1815 Prussia had 5 regiments, one Garde du Corps and 4 Kurassier regiments. In the 4th Regiment served many Saxons. Several cavalry regiments, including the Kurassiers, also had a squadron of volunteer-jagers.

On campaign the Kurassiers wore either dark blue Litevka or grey greatcoats. But often during battle the rank and file wore the white, double-breasted Kollet. The shoulder straps were white with piping in the facing color. When off duty the officers could wear the single-breasted blue tunic known as Leibrock. The leather belts were white for all the troopers.

Their head-wear was a Russian style high black leather helmet decorated with a black comb (not covered by oilcloth), a brass plate and chinscales. The helmet fittings were brass.

The Kurassiers wore dark grey overalls and covered in black leather “up the whole length of the inner legs and around the ankles.” The seams could be piped in red “according to colonel’s wishes.” The buttons down the outer legs were removed during the 1815 campaign.

Under overalls were worn short boots.

The saddle cloth was in the facing color with 2 edge-stripes in the bottom color. Officers’ saddle cloth had silver or gold stripes, depending on button color.

The Kurassiers were armed with the pallash, a straight-bladed sword. The scabbard was iron. Additionally they carried 2 pistols each.