Source: https://www.weaponews.com/history/65348930-russian-for-immortal-part-1.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-25 08:33:19+00:00

Document:
5th hussar Alexandria Her Majesty Empress Alexandra Feodorovna regiment – one of the most honored and valiant regiments of the Russian Imperial cavalry.
We will briefly look at the most interesting facts on the history of the famous regiment, and complete the final article in my series brief consideration of participation in one of the hot battles of the campaign of 1915 – tracing its course through the pages of the document from the archive of the Journal of hostilities the regiment.
5th hussar regiment had the highest with 11. 08. 1776 (regimental holiday – 30. 08., the day of St. Prince Alexander Nevsky).
24 Dec 1776 of the hunters-soldiers established by the Dalmatian and Macedonian hussar regiments intended to serve in the Ukrainian line. And 28 June 1783 (Schenk. Cavalry. The help book the Imperial headquarters. SPb, 1914. S. 186.) appears 6-eskadronny Alexandria easy horse regiment – formed major-General Fersen from the Dalmatian and Macedonian hussar regiments.
September 14, 1790, the regiment becomes (after joining the Kherson easy-equestrian) Kherson Cossack regular, and on 31 January 1792 – re Alexandria easy riding. After going through a series of reorganizations and renamings, regiment 29. 03. 1801 becomes the Alexandria hussars.
It is worth Recalling the legend that explains the nickname of the Alexandria hussars as "Immortal". This name was assigned to the regiment after the battle of Kazbegi – for services in which the Alexandrian hussar regiment awarded with the inscription on the hat "For distinction 14 August 1813".
During Katsbakhskogo battle Alexandrians, headed by Colonel V. G. by Madatova (valiant Prince temporarily commanded the regiment) along with its allies, the German "Hussars of Death" was part of one team. After a series of brilliant attacks of the brigade, from the wall of heavy rain emerged General G. Blucher – who, riding up to the Alexandrians, spattered with mud, and congratulated them on a brilliant attack. The Prussian believed that before him — his "Hussars of Death." And Prince V. G. Madatov, telling the General about his mistake, said the "Hussars of Death", and the most that neither is "Immortal hussars". And that nickname stuck for the Alexandrians – but it is derived from the name of the body of selected soldiers of the guard of ancient Persian kings.
Prince V. G. Madatov. Portrait. Hood. John. DOE.
At the end of 100-letniy anniversary Casbah and on the eve of the 100th anniversary of the capture of Paris, the Alexandrians on the front of the hat have been granted (instead of the double-headed eagle — the state emblem) silver skull – like German "hussars of Death."
The Front cap of a hussar-of Alexandria.
The Name "Immortal" stuck — and sounded sometimes in formal occasions, for example, in the congratulatory telegram of the chief of the regiment of the Empress Alexandra Feodorovna.
- Unique case – skull and crossbones on the front cap of the Alexandrians was replaced by the state emblem – the double-headed eagle. Here and below, ill., the source of which is not specifically stated — peas Zh, the Russian Imperial cavalry 1881 — 1917. 2008.
Another nickname of the regiment was a "Black Hussars". It is also often met in the documents, in which Alexandrians and was called "Black Hussars" (e.g., reports from the commander of the 3rd Observational army A. P. Tormasov).
Even in a period when the Russian army the cavalry regiments were Dragoons, the color of the uniform of the Alexandrians was black. The return of an old hussar of the form does not affect the color of the regimental uniform.
The Skull (Adam's head) is the emblem of the Alexandrian regiment. It carried the Highest approved regimental lapel sign (approved 01. 10. 1913) – it shows a black Maltese cross with a skull. Many of the objects in the officers ' regiment also carried this logo. For example, a silver candelabra had legs instead of a skull. Carrying the skull and the entire Cutlery: plates, glasses, forks, knives, spoons, ashtrays, salt shakers. Woven skull decorated napkins and tablecloths. And even 2 large loving Cup on the tray of the facsimile bore the image of a skull and crossbones.
The Items used by the Russian cavalry officers in the First world war. Top right – a pocket notebook of the officer of the 5th hussars with an image of the regimental badge, and below a field booklet of messages presented to the Empress the officers of the 5th hussars in 1915 On the latter illustrates the order of St. George 4-th degree, and the cross Blessings and prayer book, presented to the Empress the officers.
A Large (metal) skull was on the balcony of the officers ' Assembly in the city of Kalisz. The balcony overlooked the city Park and in the hollows of the eye sockets of the skull in the evenings, burned light bulbs.
Regimental insignia — black enamel Maltese cross with white bezel and white hussar nodes at the ends; in the center is a skull over crossed bones.
Continuing to talk about the history of the regiment, we note that on 1 September 1845, he becomes a hussar field Marshal the Prince of Warsaw, Count Paskevich of Erivan, but on 20 January 1856, the newly – Alexandriahussar.
Then the regiment had visited Hussar HIH Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolayevich (January 25, 1856), Alexandria hussar HIH Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolayevich the Elder (19 March 1857), 5th hussar Alexandria HIH Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolayevich the Elder (25 March 1864), the 15th Alexandria Dragoon HIH Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolayevich the Elder (18 August 1882), the 15th Alexandria Dragoon (26 APR 1891), 15th Alexandria Dragoon E. V. Empress Alexandra Feodorovna (30 Jul 1904), until finally it became the 5th hussar Alexandria E. V. Empress Alexandra Feodorovna (6 December 1907).
Among the insignia of the regiment (in addition to the Signs on the hats with the inscription "For distinction 14 August 1813", granted September 15, 1813) – regimental St George Standard with the inscription "For distinction in the Turkish war of 1828" and "1776 – 1876" with the Alexander jubilee ribbon (granted 11 August 1875 to replace a similar Standard with the same inscription, dated 6 April 1830) and 22 George Pipe with the words "Alexandria hussar regiment 8 Feb 1816" (conferred 8 Feb 1816 for the differences in the fighting with the French in 1812 – 1814, especially in the battle near the town of Brienno).
Alexandra became the 3rd Chief of the regiment (after field Marshal the Prince of Warsaw, Count Paskevich of Erivan in the period from 1 September 1845 to January 20, 1856 and Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolayevich the Elder in the period from 25 January 1856-26 APR 1891 gg.). From the 30th of July 1907, in the lists of the regiment was listed as Tsarevich Alexei Nikolaevich.
Form of the ranks of the regiment. Schenk. 1910. New individual sign on the hat (skull and crossbones) adopted on March 5, 1914 (in the illustration, while the old sign — state eagle). The cipher on the shoulder cords – smooth invoice, and hussar 1 (patronage) of the squadron – silver. Suit horses – black (3rd and 4th squads — dark Bay). It is worth noting that only 2 hussar regiment preserved in the field form Chancery of peace – for the 5th regiment, they were black with silver (for officers) and white (for ordinary) cord.
The hat of the Officer of the 5th hussars. Form of peace.
The Regiment – participant of Russian-Turkish war of 1787 – 1791, of the Polish campaign of A. V. Suvorov, the Napoleonic wars, the Russo-Turkish war of 1806 – 1812 and 1828 – 1829 years, and the Crimean war.
The Great war the regiment left in July 1914 as a part of the 2nd brigade of the 5th cavalry division – headed by the commander Colonel Baron C. A. von Korff. The division joined the 4th army of the southwestern front.
In September 1914, the division is part of the First cavalry corps, one of the combat units of the Russian cavalry of the great war and in its membership until December of the same year (Karpeev V. I. Cavalry: divisions, brigades, corps. Connections of the Russian army. 1810 – 1917. M., 2012. P. 104.).
In may 1915, the commander of the Alexandrians becomes A. N. Kolenkin – under whom the regiment fought in the Baltic States, having distinguished himself under Siauliai.
In September – November 1915, the division is part of the First, and in December 1915 – September 1916 – part of the Sixth Cavalry corps.
In March 1917, the regiment losing Royal patronage, and in April receives new commander became Lieutenant-Colonel A. N. Goats.
The shoulder strap of captain of the 5th hussars, marching form. Shoulder straps of hussar officers differed from other typical "ribs".
The shoulder strap of Sergeant of military service, peacetime. The Monogram Of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna.
We see that the insignia of the hero of the First world war, the Chevalier of the order of St. George 4-th degree and St. George weapons of the captain of the 5th hussar regiment, K. N. Batiushkov (he died 14 Sep 1915) bear the monogram of the chief of the regiment – Alexandra Feodorovna.
Especially the regiment distinguished itself in the period 20 – 28 APR 1915 – during the fighting at Siauliai, when the Alexandrians we realized a number of horse attacks and taken the German battery.
But more about that in my next installment.

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