1st Grand Ducal Mecklenburg Dragoon Regiment No. 17

1st Grand Ducal Mecklenburg Dragoon Regiment No. 17
active	August 1, 1819 to February 1919
Country	Mecklenburg
Armed forces	Prussian Army
Branch of service	cavalry
Type	regiment
structure	See outline
Insinuation	See submission
Location	See garrison
Former locations	Grabow , Ludwigslust
march	Presentation march : ; Torgau Parade March Parade; march in step: Swedish horse march
Anniversaries	Foundation Day August 1, 1819
Battles and skirmishes	See mission history
management
Commanders	See commanders

The 1st Grand Ducal Mecklenburg Dragoon Regiment No. 17 was a cavalry association of the Mecklenburg military within the Prussian army .

History and line-up

prehistory

There was already a life guard on horseback before 1700, but it was abdicated in 1702. In addition, 1701 began with the formation of six companies of dragoons . From these companies a regiment on horseback was formed in the autumn of 1702. The regiment was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Helmuth Joachim von Meerheimb and on September 1, 1702 had a crew of 373 dragoons. This regiment is to be regarded as the main unit of the cavalry in the Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin in recent times.

The Mecklenburg cavalry was only to experience a further increase in 1715. In this year the Dragoon Regiment "von Vietinghoff" and the Dragoon Regiment "von Liliestreng" were established, but only half of them were mounted. The latter regiment was soon to prove itself in the "Meeting of Walsmühlen" on March 5 and 6, 1719. The Mecklenburg cavalry was then sent to Russia , a decision that turned out to be tragic. Only in Dömitz did a few riders remain under the command of Major von Wenckstein. The Mecklenburg troops stayed in the Ukraine until 1746. The number of crews decreased considerably during the long service. Only a few soldiers returned, none of the cavalry returned to Mecklenburg. Only with the establishment of the life guard on horseback in 1760 did a mounted troop appear again. This was divided into four half squadrons and was commanded by Colonel Otto von Barsse. A squadron of hussars with 113 riders was set up at the same time, which was initially under the command of Major Thomas von Baader. In the Wars of Liberation, Count von der Osten-Sacken and Rittmeister von Müller - former members of the Prussian Usedom Hussars - were commissioned to found a mounted corps.

History and line-up

Chevaulegersregiment in 1835

On August 1, 1819, Grand Duke Friedrich Franz I ordered the establishment of a Chevaulegers regiment . The trunk squadron set up below did not meet until June 1, 1821 in Grabow . This tribe squadron initially had a strength of 6 officers, 15 NCOs, 1 doctor, 8 trumpeters, 1 saddler, 1 farrier and 98 dragoons. The crews were recruited on the basis of the 1821 Recruiting Regulations. The formation of the regiment was the former Austrian Kürassier transmitted Colonel von Pentz. After entering the Mecklenburg military service, he was promoted to major general and subsequently appointed chief of the regiment. Also from Austrian service, Rittmeister von Scheerer and Lieutenant von der Lühe joined the Mecklenburg service. The first sergeants of the regiment, whom the regiment chief engaged personally, also came from the Hanoverian and Austrian military.

The squadron was initially trained on foot; 121 horses were not handed over to the regiment until autumn 1821. The experienced Hanoverian regimental rider Sengebusch then took over the riding training of the trunk squadron.

In 1831 the regiment was expanded to include a 2nd squadron.

On March 5, 1837, the Chevaulegers Regiment was named Dragoon Regiment on the instructions of the Grand Duke.

In May of 1838 the regiment was now subordinated to the Mecklenburg Brigade, which was under the command of Lieutenant General von Both.

In 1843 the 3rd and 4th Squadrons were formed. A 5th squadron was set up on June 1, 1867 from contributions from the four existing squadrons.

After Mecklenburg had joined the North German Confederation in 1867 , with which his army was in future under the command of the King of Prussia, and had set up a second dragoon regiment , the regiment was given the designation “1. Grand Ducal Mecklenburg Dragoon Regiment No. 17 ”. The newly established Dragoon Regiment No. 18 had previously been formed from crew and officer fees of the Dragoon Regiment No. 17. In 1872 this name was briefly changed, so on the basis of the instructions of the Grand Duke of October 22nd, the name was changed to "Grand Ducal 1st Mecklenburg Dragoon Regiment No. 17". A little later, however, the decision was reached that the designation chosen in the order of the General Command of November 30, 1867 should remain valid.

On the basis of the military convention concluded in 1872, the Mecklenburg troop units became fully part of the budget of the Prussian army on January 1, 1873 . The Prussian army was responsible for the remuneration and supplies for the soldiers, as did all equipment for the troops. The Grand Dukes then gave up their authority. However, ownership rights to the military buildings and real estate remained unaffected by the convention. The regiment had now been incorporated into the Prussian army. In Article 9 of the Convention, the Mecklenburg regiments continued to be given the name “Großherzoglich Mecklenburgisch”.

garrison

1819 to 1838 - Grabow garrison
1837 to 1918 - Ludwigslust garrison

The regiment of light dragoons or the trunk squadron was garrisoned in Grabow in the early years, as was the 2nd squadron from 1831. The crews of the trunk squadron were initially quartered in town houses. A stable and the riding house in the north of Grabow were built for the delivery of the horses. An area on the Techentiner Feldmark was used as a parade ground.

After Grand Duke Paul Friedrich took over the government, some restructuring took place within the Mecklenburg military. The main squadron was moved to Ludwigslust in 1837, while the second squadron did not move until July 13, 1838. After their relocation, the Dragoons moved into the former quarters of the Grenadier Guard Battalion . The privileged staff officers were each given a house from the grand ducal property to use. Thought was also given to housing the lower officer ranks; they were given service apartments in the barracks. The sergeants and unmarried NCOs, on the other hand, moved into a small house near the stables.

The former grand ducal stables were initially used to house the horses . Small renovations followed in the near future.

The 5th Squadron, established in 1867, was to garrison in Grabow at the request of the Grand Duke. Because of problems that occurred, Grabow was out of the question. Therefore Neustadt was considered, but there was the problem of horse accommodation. So it was decided that the 5th Squadron will also move into their quarters in Ludwigslust.

In 1873 the Dragoons used the barracks No. I. in Louisenstrasse, the barracks No. II. On the town wall and the barracks No. III. on Kanalstrasse.

The parade house was another important part of the ensemble of the Ludwigslust regimental buildings. In the parade house the military training of the dragoons was made possible even in bad weather conditions.

The most important companion of a dragoon was his entrusted horse. Several stables had been built within the barracks to accommodate the horses. The two associated riding houses ensured that the horses could be trained in any weather.

For the purpose of shooting training, the regiment maintained two shooting houses in the Laascher Tannen. An associated powder magazine was located on Ludwigsluster Koppelweg.

The 1st Grand Ducal Mecklenburg Dragoon Regiment No. 17 remained garrisoned in Ludwigslust until its dissolution in 1919. In the following years the barracks were used by the Reichswehr and the Wehrmacht . After 1945, the Soviet occupation forces took over the military infrastructure.

Occupancy overview 1837–1914

Barracks II in Ludwigslust: 2nd and 5th squadrons.

Barracks I. (Prinzenstall)
Period	unit
1837 to 1875	1st squadron
1875 to 1914	4th Squadron
Barracks II. (Marstall barracks)
Period	unit
1845 to 1914	2nd and 5th squadrons
Barracks III. (Canal barracks)
Period	unit
1867 to 1875	3rd and 4th squadrons
1875 to 1914	1st and 3rd squadrons

The main guard

The Hauptwache, which was designed in 1853 according to plans by the military architect Ludwig Wachenhusen, dates from the time of the citizens' quarters . The building served the dragoons as a guard and detention building. While the dragoons had their quarters on the ground floor, the holding cells were set up on the upper floor. The building used by the dragoons as the main guard was also the quarters of the castle guard. Their posts stood at the main portals of the castle, where they had to present on arrival and departure of the gentlemen. The changing of the guard , which took place every day at 1 p.m., was a special event, which the stones on the rifle mounts at the main entrance still bear witness to today.

Officers mess

In 1852 an officers 'mess was set up for the officers' corps. Grand Duke Friedrich Franz II had provided the regiment with a house on the corner of Alexandrinenplatz and Marstallstrasse. The establishment followed the pattern of the Hanoverian officers' mess. In 1867 it was decided to provide the officer corps with a larger officers' dining establishment. For this purpose, the former home of the head stableman von Bülow in Kanalstrasse 28 was converted. The two-storey classical plastered building with its eleven-axis facade was built in 1830. While a single lieutenant lived on the ground floor, the dining room, the ballroom and other smaller rooms were located on the upper floor. The representative rooms were of splendid contemporary furnishings. The dining room is remarkable, the walls of which are adorned with oil paintings of the regimental commanders. The dining room was also adorned with the framed armpit pieces of Grand Duke Friedrich Franz II, which were given to the Ludwigsluster Dragoons as a gift after his death.

Spring garden

Also worth mentioning is the officers' mess garden, which was laid out on the opposite bank of the canal and served as a jumping garden for the squadrons. In it stood the so-called "hunter's shed", a former drill shed of the Mecklenburg hunters . The half-timbered building originally stood on the old Schwerin parade ground, was dismantled there and then brought to Ludwigslust. The dragoons used the “hunter's shed” as a storage building for vehicles and occasionally to accommodate sick horses.

Mission history

Used in Schwerin and Wismar in 1830

Staff officer of the Chevaulegers regiment.

On September 19, 1830 riots broke out within the population of Schwerin. This was preceded by the fire in the peat shed on the grounds of the Grand Ducal Mint .

The military guard let the shed burn down in a controlled manner. The crowd, armed with stones, that had gathered there in the meantime, threw in all the windows of the coin. As this crowd prepared to storm the building, the summoned military detachment reached the scene. After the building was occupied by the military, the protesters' throwing stones were answered with a sharp volley. As a result, one man was killed and several people fell injured. However, the fleeing and angry crowd caused further damage in other parts of the city.

Further military measures should be taken on Grand Ducal orders to preserve public order. On September 20, a squadron under the leadership of Hereditary Grand Duke Paul Friedrich moved out of Grabow and moved into quarters in Schwerin. For the next few weeks, the Dragoons were used on patrol inside and outside the city. After the situation had calmed down and public order had been restored, the Dragoons returned to Grabow.

The rest should only be short-lived. In the same autumn one of the squadrons had to move out again to ensure “peace and order” in Wismar. In Wismar, too, there were unrest among the population. As a result, a lawyer disparaged as a “democratic agitator” was arrested by the Dragoons and taken to Schwerin.

Border guard 1831

In the spring of 1831 in broke Prussia the cholera out. Precautions had to be taken to prevent the disease from being introduced into the country. Guard posts were therefore set up at the national borders and on the coasts. The 1st and 2nd squadrons provided the necessary patrols of 8 to 12 horses each, which were posted at the designated stations. During the time of deployment, the dragoons were subordinated to the local gendarmerie command. Despite all the measures taken, cholera broke out in Mecklenburg the following year.

Schleswig-Holstein survey 1848

(right) Mecklenburg Dragoons in tunic from the 1840s.

On April 1, 1848, the Mecklenburg half-brigade was mobilized . Which subsequently joined the association of the X. Federal Corps.

The Dragoon Regiment in Ludwigslust received orders to move the 3rd and 4th Squadrons to the operational area. The two squadrons led by Major Wilhelm von Below (1801–1876) set off on April 6 in the direction of Hagenow. In Hagenow, however, the squadrons had to stay for a few days because the mobilization of further Mecklenburg troops was delayed. On March 11th, the march into the operational area began, leading via Bad Segeberg to Neumünster, where the squadrons arrived on April 15th.

The dragoons and a platoon of Hanoverian hussars had their first combat mission on April 24 at Oeversee . The 3rd Squadron met the fierce resistance of Danish dragoons there. Eventually some of the opposing dragoons were captured. Meanwhile, the 4th Squadron encountered an enemy fighter company. The following battle led to the first losses among the Mecklenburg dragoons. A non-commissioned officer was fatally wounded and eight dragoons injured. The horses also suffered multiple gunshot wounds. With reinforcements brought in, the battle could be brought to a victorious conclusion. The following time was marked by the avant-garde and outpost service. The next combat mission took place on June 5th at Nübel. Both squadrons contributed to the successful outcome of the battle. In Sundewitt were now seven battalions, two squadrons Mecklenburg Dragoons and a squadron of dragoons Hanseatic for observation against Alsen stand. They were all under the command of Colonel Count Rantzau. From then on, the Mecklenburg dragoons had to set up field guards at Atzböl, Beuschau and Baurup. There was no further fighting. With the armistice of August 30, 1848, the Ludwigslust regiment's first war mission ended. The march back home began on September 4th. The dragoons made a solemn entry into Ludwigslust on September 20, 1848, where they were received by the Grand Duke and the residents.

Use in the interior of the country 1848/49

While some of the Ludwigslust Dragoons in the Association of the X Federal Corps took part in the fighting in Schleswig-Holstein, the remaining part of the Dragoons in Ludwigslust was used to ensure law and order in their own country. There were also numerous unrest in the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin during this time. The poor social situation of the workers and day laborers led to sometimes violent clashes in the country.

Stakes in goods and Torgelow

Dragoons around 1848

On April 1, 1848, therefore, Lieutenant Helmuth von Blucher was to Lübtheen dispatched to the local Dominalamt support. Second lieutenant Alfred von Langen, however, advanced with 30 dragoons after April 22 Dargun from. The Dragoons were supposed to maintain order in these areas and places - if necessary by force.

During this time there were also tumults in Waren , which made it necessary to send an squadron under the orders of Rittmeister Adolf von der Lancken. She was stationed because of the threat situation on the manors in the area around Waren. However, the military security could not prevent the manor house of the von Behr-Negendank family in Torgelow from going up in flames. The fire was the result of arson caused by insurgents. At the end of May, the situation in the Torgelow and Waren area spun out of control. Over 2000 day laborers tried to improve their social situation - sometimes with violent protests. The Mecklenburg military now proceeded with disproportionate severity and violence against the day laborers. This violent crackdown inevitably resulted in victims. One day laborer was killed and 18 injured, some seriously. In many cases, however, the specific demeanor of the Mecklenburg military was enough to ensure “peace and order”. While the detachment of Lieutenant Colonel Ehrenreich Karl Adolf von Nussbaum (1796–1874) was dissolved, a division of Ludwigsluster Dragoons remained in goods and Torgelow. In the area around Waren, however, the situation did not calm down for the time being. Therefore, on January 18, 1849, a squadron under the command of Major von Below was sent as reinforcement to the two departments stationed on site. After the situation on site had calmed down, the Dragoons were able to return to the garrison in Ludwigslust in March.

Use in Lübeck

In October 1848 there was another deployment under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Ehrenreich Karl Adolf von Nussbaum (1796–1874). The Mecklenburg troops - a total of 500 men - were sent at the request of the Senate of the Free Hanseatic City of Lübeck. They should guarantee the "maintenance of order". A squadron led by Rittmeister Ernst von Bülow, which was composed of charges from the 1st and 2nd squadrons, joined the contingent. The 120 dragoons remained in Lübeck from October 14, 1848 to January 13, 1849. During the mission, a dragoon died of cholera.

Baden Revolution 1849

For the purpose of the violent suppression of the Baden Revolution , the Mecklenburg Dragoon Regiment was subordinated to the Neckar Corps in 1849 .

Map campaign 1849

On May 19, 1849, the regiment received orders to march out. The mobilized squadrons left Ludwigslust for Baden on May 22nd. At Boizenburg the regiment crossed the Elbe by ship and reached Lüneburg on May 25th. There the squadrons were loaded onto the railroad and relocated to Deutz . From Deutz they were then transported by steamboat to Mainz , where they arrived on May 30th. From there, the squadrons moved to Frankfurt on foot. The 1st squadron was relocated from Frankfurt to Darmstadt, the 2nd, 3rd and 4th squadrons temporarily remained in Frankfurt as a crew. On June 10th, Lieutenant Colonel Joachim August Wilhelm von Bernstorff (1800-1869) received command of a detachment consisting of a battalion of Hessian infantry, half a Mecklenburg battery and the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Squadrons of the Mecklenburg Dragoons Regiment was composed. On June 13th, parts of the detachment advanced in the direction of Käferthal. There it came to the first battle with enemy outposts. A squadron, the left wing cover, could bring in several prisoners. According to the prisoners, there were other enemy forces in Käferthal with a strength of 1200 men. Lieutenant Colonel von Bernstorff decided not to proceed because of his own low strength. On the same day the 1st Squadron made an advance on Waldmichelbach , where the Dragoons were able to take the enemy by surprise. Lieutenant Colonel von Bernstorff received the order to bypass the village of Käferthal with the Hessian squadrons, the 2nd and 3rd squadrons of the Mecklenburg dragoons and two guns. However, the bypassing was noticed by the enemy, so they were able to withdraw in time. During the battle of Ladenburg on June 15, the Mecklenburg dragoons again attacked the enemy forces, which had to give way under the pressure of the attack. The flanking Mecklenburg dragoons were able to bring in some opposing dragoons as prisoners. In the following battle of Greater Saxony, the 4th Squadron fought in the avant-garde of the Weiershausen Brigade advancing from Weinheim. On June 17th and 18th all troops were ordered to rest. The II. Prussian Corps and the Neckar Corps now pursued the opposing troops withdrawing everywhere. The 2nd squadron of the Mecklenburg Dragoon Regiment was subsequently assigned to a side detachment under Lieutenant Colonel von Mohrenhöfer. The 1st and 3rd Squadrons had marched to Baden-Baden with the bulk of the Neckar Corps . The side detachment had to endure one more battle with the Oos , in which the Ludwigsluster squadrons no longer had a chance. From June 27 to July 3, the 4th squadron remained as a crew in Karlsruhe, and only reunited with the other squadrons on July 10. The II. Prussian Corps subsequently participated in the enclosure of the Rastatt fortress . While the I. Prussian Corps and the Neckar Corps should take over the pursuit of the enemy. On July 3, the commander of the Mecklenburg dragoons had already received orders for the Neckar Corps reserve. In Reichenberg , on July 6th, Lieutenant Colonel von Bernstorff received the order to go to St. Georgen with parts of the reserve he commanded in order to dig up the suspected irregulars. However, the place was found deserted. Subsequently there was no further fighting with the participation of the Mecklenburgers. The Mecklenburg dragoons stayed in the Donaueschingen area and took up residence in the surrounding villages. On September 9th, Grand Duke Friedrich Franz II arrived to inspect his brigade. Subsequently, some members of the regiment were awarded the Mecklenburg Military Merit Cross. On September 12th the longed-for march back order came. The cavalry and artillery made the return march partly on foot. The Dragoon Regiment arrived in Hildesheim on October 11th. The return transport by train to Lüneburg began from Hildesheim. The regiment finally reached Ludwigslust on October 17th via Boizenburg. The dragoons made a solemn entry into their garrison town.

As an award for the services rendered in the campaign, the dates of the campaigns in 1848 and 1849 were applied to the metal tip of the standard cover.

Mission history 1849

June 13th - Battle near Waldmichelsbach and Käferthal
15.-30. June - Activities of the Neckar Corps
- June 15 - Battles near Ladenburg
- June 16 - Skirmishes near Greater Saxony
- June 30 - Battle of Oos (2nd Squadron)
September 12th - march back to Mecklenburg

1859 readiness for war

During the Sardinian War, the German Federal Army was made ready for war. For this reason, the Ludwigsluster Dragoons were ready to march in April 1859. After the conflict had been resolved, the federal army's readiness for war was lifted again.

Coastal defense 1864

On the occasion of the German-Danish War , a mobile column was set up in February 1864. The mobile troops were supposed to guarantee the protection of the Mecklenburg Baltic Sea coast. A platoon of the Ludwigsluster Dragoons led by Prime Lieutenant von Stenglin was also provided for the mobile column. The train was stationed in Warnemünde after its relocation . The dragoons patrolled the coastline there until the armistice.

German War 1866

After Mecklenburg had sided with Prussia, Grand Duke Friedrich Franz II issued the order for mobilization on June 21st. By contract with Prussia, Mecklenburg had to bear or provide the salaries and equipment. Prussia, on the other hand, took over the costs of catering, billeting and transporting the troops. The Mecklenburg troops were then incorporated into the II. Reserve Army Corps. Subsequently, there was a battle during the advance in Bavaria. The 1st Squadron, commanded by Rittmeister von Boddien, split up the 4th Battalion of the Bavarian Leib Regiment on July 29, 1866 in a battle near Seybothenreuth . The 3rd squadron under Rittmeister von Lützow had also contributed to the successful outcome of the battle. Then the contingent received the order to occupy the largest possible area of Bavaria. There was no further fighting. After the end of the campaign, the Mecklenburgers returned home. On September 8, 1866, the Mecklenburg Association made a ceremonial entry into Schwerin.

Losses in battle near Seybothenreuth

1st squadron
- Wounded: 7
- Horse losses: 23
3rd Squadron
- Wounded: 7
- Horse losses: 13

Franco-German War 1870/71

On July 16, 1870, the regiment mobilized with squadrons 2nd to 5th. The mobilized squadrons at that time numbered 23 officers, 61 NCOs and 571 dragoons, plus 77 officers and 627 team horses.

The 17th division was initially given the task of ensuring coastal protection. She received orders to concentrate in and around Hamburg. On August 25, the regiment then left northern Germany in the direction of the Palatinate, from where the advance on Metz began on August 30. The regiment arrived at Metz on September 1st. There the Mecklenburg riders fought initially in the association of the containment army.

On September 3, the Ludwigslust regiment temporarily left the association of the 17th Cavalry Brigade to take on the task of a division cavalry regiment . The 17th Cavalry Brigade retired from the 17th Division at the same time. It was directly subordinated to the General Command and held as a cavalry reserve. On September 10, the Mecklenburg cavalry brigade rejoined the division.

After the regiment took part in the enclosure of Toul , it moved on September 15 from the local theater of war. The regiment then split up for a short time, two squadrons rode to Reims , the other two to Chalon. From there, the 2nd Squadron moved out on September 23rd to enclose Soissons, while the 4th Squadron moved out to Mezieres. On September 28th, the 3rd and 5th Squadrons followed to Soissons . The 2nd, 3rd and 5th Squadrons marched on from there to Laon . These three squadrons then took part in the expeditions to Orléans on October 8th and 9th and from October 20th to 23rd . From there, the squadrons retreated on November 15 after the 4th squadron was called in by Mezieres. The squadrons were briefly assigned to the 4th Cavalry Division, but then rejoined the 17th Division. The regiment operated mainly together with the 2nd Grand Ducal Mecklenburg Dragoon Regiment No. 18 within the 17th Division. In the following years, the regiment took part in other battles and skirmishes of the campaign.

On February 26, 1871, peace was finally concluded. Subsequently, the Dragoon Regiment began to march back home on March 24th. The ceremonial entry into Schwerin took place on June 14, 1871, the Mecklenburg associations were greeted by an enthusiastic crowd. The following day the Dragoons arrived in Ludwigslust, the residents of Ludwigslust also gave the regiment a festive reception. The demobilization finally took place on June 17th.

Expedition against St. Quentin

On October 6th, Colonel von Kahlden was ordered to undertake an expedition against St. Quentin . The order was to disarm the city and arrest the prefect there . The prefect was charged with calling civilians to fight. The 2nd, 3rd and 5th Squadrons and a company of the Landwehr Battalion Cottbus began their march towards St. Quentin on October 7th. The detachment reached St. Quentin on October 8th. On the heights in front of the city, the dragoons encountered enemy troops, which, however, immediately withdrew. The avant-garde of the Dragoon Regiment now penetrated the suburbs, but here numerous barricades blocked the way. Upon reaching the first houses, fire was opened on the dragoons. Colonel von Kahlden then withdrew the Mecklenburg dragoons. Lieutenant Zimmermann and his Landwehr company received orders to attack the suburb. Despite strong resistance, the company managed to take house by house. The barricades were also no obstacle for the foot troops, so it would have been possible to advance into the city center. The way there was very difficult due to a destroyed bridge, and several battalions of the French National Guard were in this area. Colonel von Kahlden therefore decided not to send the dragoons to attack the city. The barricades still in place and the destroyed bridge made it impossible for the cavalry to advance. Therefore, the Cottbus Landwehr company was ordered back. The entire detachment then withdrew. A few days later another expedition was to be undertaken against the city. The expedition from October 20 to 23 then led to success. Despite the resistance of around 1,200 French national guards, the city was stormed and occupied.

Meeting at Loigny

Meeting at Loigny on December 2, 1870

On December 2, 1870, the battle of Loigny broke out. In the course of the battle, the Mecklenburg squadrons intervened in the fighting at different locations.

The 5th Squadron of Dragoon Regiment No. 17 - under the command of Rittmeister von Blücher - had the task of providing cover for the mounted artillery batteries of the 17th Division. In the afternoon - around 2 a.m. - the artillery received orders to advance south of the village of Ecuillon, which had already been set on fire, and from there to fire the section of land between Villours and Villepion. First the 1st mounted battery advanced, this in turn secured by three platoons of the 5th Squadron of the Mecklenburg Dragoons. When this battery reached the position south of Ecuillon, a concealed French rifle line was visible several hundred meters ahead. The battery immediately showed off, in order to subsequently fire on the French rifle line. The opposing shooters were forced to retreat on Villours by the artillery fire. During the same period, the Dragoons attacked the retreating enemy riflemen, who were completely taken by surprise by the attack. In the open field there was then a battle, as a result of which numerous prisoners were brought in.

The 5th Squadron had only five injured horses to complain about.

Battle calendar 1870/71

1870

Deployment of the 17th Division, battle near Meung on the right bank of the Loire

The Battle of Orléans 1870

0September 1st to 10th - enclosure of Metz
September 12-14 - Siege of Toul
September 24th to 0October 2nd - Siege of Soisson (2nd Squadron)
- September 24th - Attack against infantry near Soisson (1st half-move)
September 25th to 0November 2nd - enclosure of Mézières (4th squadron)
0October 8-21 - expedition against St. Quentin
- 0October 8 - Skirmish in the suburb of St. Quentin (excluding 1st Squadron)
November 25th - Battle at Brou
0December 2nd - Battle of Loigny-Poupry
00December 3rd to 4th - Battle of Orléans
0December 7th - Battle of Meung
0December 8th - Battle of Beaugency-Cravant
- 0December 9th - Battle at Villorceau
- December 10th - Battle of Villejouan
December 12th - Battle at Ouiques
December 14th - Attack against infantry near Morée (1st platoon)
December 27th - Battle at Moree

1871

0January 9th - Battle at Connere and Thoringe
January 10-12 - Battle of Le Mans

Loss numbers 1870–71

Fallen: 9 dead
Illness (deceased): 16 dead

First World War 1914–1918

Dragoon of the 1st Grand Ducal Mecklenburg Dragoon Regiment No. 17

Mounted dragoons of the 1st Grand Ducal Mecklenburg Dragoons Regiment No. 17.

The 1st Grand Ducal Mecklenburg Dragoon Regiment No. 17 mobilized with its squadrons on August 2, 1914. The regiment was then transported to the western theater of war, where the unloading took place east of Aachen . On August 4th, the regiment crossed the Belgian border at Gemmenich as part of the 4th Cavalry Division . All subsequent combat operations were carried out in the formation of the 17th Cavalry Brigade.

Mission history Western Front 1914

Parts of the 4th Cavalry Division had their first enemy contact in Vise , where a gun battle with Belgian gendarmes developed. The Meuse bridges in the village had already been destroyed, and the barges had also been made unusable. An immediate crossing of the Maas was therefore no longer possible.

The main task of the cavalry was the educational procedure. The 2nd and 4th Cavalry Divisions, however, received the further order to reach north around Liège . On August 5th, the reconnaissance squadrons crossed the Meuse near Lixhe , including the 2nd squadron of the Ludwigsluster Dragoons. Subsequently, German pioneers built more makeshift bridges for the crossing. In this way, the remaining associations could also make the transition.

On August 10 and 11, there were violent attacks on the Belgian civilian population and their property in the towns of Linsmeau and Velm. The 17th Cavalry Brigade and the 4th Cavalry Division were directly involved.

One of the most dramatic events of the war happened to the Mecklenburg Dragoons at the Battle of Halen on August 12, 1914. After the Battle of Halen, the Ludwigslust Regiment continued to fight in the association of the 4th Cavalry Division in the Battle of the Marne and the Battle of the Aisne and Oise . Both Mecklenburg dragoon regiments remained in the western theater of war until November 1914. The regiment was subsequently transported to the eastern front. There the Mecklenburg Dragoons took part in the fighting of the next war years.

Mission history Eastern Front 1914-1918

Initially, the regiment took part in the skirmishes during the advance on Warsaw . The Mecklenburg dragoons then took part in the battle for Kowno . The Battle of Vilna followed in September 1915. The battle was the last chance to set the Russian enemy in motion. In November 1915 the front in the east also froze in trench warfare. The Mecklenburg dragoons then took position in front of Dünaburg.

In the autumn of 1916 the 4th Cavalry Division had to surrender its horses. The regiments of the unit were from now on largely unmounted. This measure was also a consequence of the ongoing trench warfare on the eastern front and the resulting mainly infantry use of the squadrons.

The Battle of Riga in September 1917 was the last major military operation in which the regiment took part in the formation of the 17th Cavalry Brigade. In the course of the fighting, the brigade was defeated on September 2nd of the Eastern Group by General of Infantry v. Subordinate to Kathen .

After the armistice in the eastern theater of war, the regiment was deployed in Livonia and Estonia from February 1918. The 4th Cavalry Division was relocated to the Western Front again in April 1918. The Mecklenburg Dragoons remained in the area of the Eastern Front until the end of the war. In the area of General Command 60 - north of Dorpat - the regiment was deployed from March 4th until the end of the war. Fighting gangs and performing occupation duties was one of the Mecklenburgers' main tasks from this point on. On December 18, 1918, the march began from the Dorpat operational area in the direction of Riga. In Tigniz there was then a clash with the Estonian troops there on December 22nd. In this dispute, the squadrons of Dragoon Regiment No. 17 stood out. Their steadfastness in the face of hostile troops prevented the column from being cut off. The dragoons finally arrived in Riga on December 27th. On December 31, the evacuation began from there. However, the last parts of the regiment did not march back home until January 10, 1919.

Like all German cavalry regiments of the army, the Ludwigsluster suffered numerous losses.

Battle of Halen in 1914

The road Halen – Diest, after the fighting on August 12, 1914.

On August 12th there was a battle at Halen , the last battle of mounted cavalry units. Halen should be taken, because only here and at Zelck were the bridges over the Grote Gete still intact, with Zelck being occupied by Belgian troops.

The Dragoon Regiment No. 17 was fired at by enemy artillery as it entered - on the northwestern edge - in Halen. A reconnaissance patrol led by Lieutenant of the Reserve von Bernstorff-Karin was sent to explore the present heights. The patrol detected a strong enemy occupation. Therefore, the commander of the 17th Cavalry Brigade, Lieutenant General von Garnier, decided to launch an attack against the artillery batteries on the hill near Hontsum. However, on the erroneous assumption that they would hardly offer any resistance. The target of the following attack was the battery at Hontsum and a battery further south. A line of attack could not develop due to the fields crisscrossed by ditches and fences. There was only the narrow path to Diest , from which the attack was led in columns of four horsemen each. The first Belgian line was crossed. At the entrance to Zelck, however, the Mecklenburg riders came across barricades made of carts and bushes reinforced with wire. The enemy machine gun positions, which had taken up positions in the surrounding houses, were also immediately under fire. As a result, the 2nd Squadron of Dragoon Regiment No. 17, led by Rittmeister von Bodecker, was almost completely destroyed. Rittmeister von Bodecker was seriously injured and was taken prisoner. At the head of the 3rd Squadron was the regimental staff of the 2nd Squadron, they too were covered by artillery and infantry shells. Approaching the enemy - on horseback - seemed impossible. The regimental commander then ordered the 3rd Squadron - commanded by Rittmeister von Maltzan - to retreat to Halen and continue the attack on foot. Meanwhile, the Leib squadron attacked the enemy units west of the Halen – Diest road. Few of them made it as far as the Belgian line because heavy infantry and machine-gun fire struck them too. However, the difficult combat terrain offered no way of avoiding enemy fire. Rittmeister von Kalnein - commander of the body squadron - fell in enemy fire. Only 13 men of the Leib squadron and the 2nd squadron returned on foot. The remnants of the regiment then gathered south of Halen.

The next attack was led by the Dragoons of Dragoon Regiment No. 18, whose first wave of attack was literally mowed down by Belgian machine gun fire. Thereupon the advancing riders fell over the carcasses of the horses that had been shot and blocked the attack route. Only a few dragoons succeeded in penetrating the Belgian positions, but without any military success. Subsequently, the cuirassier regiment "Queen" (Pomeranian) No. 2 and the 2nd Pomeranian Uhlan Regiment No. 9 started the attack. But even they could not oust the Belgian units from their positions. A total of eight attacks were made against the enemy foot troops, with no prospect of success. The total losses were 492 riders and 843 horses. The Dragoon Regiment No. 17 lost eight officers and 159 men, plus the loss of 165 horses. The Dragoon Regiment No. 17 and No. 18 were divided according to these losses from two squadrons each.

The main cause of the failure was the attack order itself, which was in clear contradiction to the drill rules. These clearly stated that attacks should only be carried out on shocked infantry and artillery. However, this attack gave its own artillery the time frame to take position. The artillery finally succeeded in silencing the enemy artillery on the heights of Hontsum.

As a result of the battle of Halen, the army cavalry was only used for defensive tasks.

Battle of Néry in 1914

Battle at Nery on September 1, 1914

On September 1, there was a battle at Néry . In the formation of the 4th Cavalry Division, the Mecklenburg dragoons advanced on Paris and had received orders to pass the forest near Compiegne on September 1st in the morning.

The advance began on the morning of August 31. During the advance, the 4th Cavalry Division succeeded - at 1.30 a.m. on September 1st - in capturing the English crews of some trucks near the village of Bethisy. Subsequently, the area was searched and the investigation began. Lieutenant General von Garnier finally received reports of an English artillery bivouac near Nery and then ordered the attack. The 17th Cavalry Brigade took up their position southeast on the heights, behind them two batteries of field artillery. Artillery and the division's machine gun division opened fire on the enemy bivouac at a distance of 800 m. The division then began the dismounted attack, which completely surprised the bivouacking English troops. The advantage of the surprise lasted only for a short time, however, as the Mecklenburg rifle line was covered by enemy artillery fire. Reinforced by the division's hussars, they made it to 500 m to the edge of the village. The enemy also led other units into action, which in turn tried to enclose the Mecklenburg dragoons. The situation was then to worsen as the hoped-for reinforcement by the 2nd and 9th Cavalry Divisions failed to materialize. When it got dark, the breakout finally succeeded. Surrounded by the enemy troops, the German unit managed to enter the forest near la Chapelle without being noticed. The German unit stopped immediately in front of the road there, as the enemy units were using this route to return their troops to Paris. The Mecklenburgers had to stay here until the morning of September 3rd, only then could a way out be explored. In the evening we finally moved into the bivouac at Nateuil.

Battle of Vilna, 1915

On August 19, the attack by the German Eastern Army began in the Vilna area . The aim of the attack was to encircle the northern Russian wing in its rear and to destroy the Russian units. The 1st and 4th Cavalry Divisions under the command of Lieutenant General von Garnier were at this time north of the Wilia near Kiemiele, where the enemy holed up in fortified positions. As part of the 6th Cavalry Corps, the regiment pushed the Russian cavalry back to the northeast on September 9th. On the orders of General Field Marshal von Hindenburg , the 6th Cavalry Corps then had to take action against the flank and rear of the Russians holding out at Vilna. The primary destination should be the Molodecnzo railway junction. On September 13th the corps started marching through Swenzjany. The 4th Cavalry Division finally attacked Soly on September 15 and was able to take it. Starting from Soly, the regiments of the 4th Cavalry Division advanced south-west. Here, however, they met superior enemy formations and therefore had to retreat to the north of Smorgon .

On the night of September 18, the Russian associations evacuated Vilna. This jeopardized the German intention to enclose, as the Russian associations were able to evade containment.

On September 22nd, Lieutenant General von Garnier received the order to secure the army's flank with the 4th, 9th and Bavarian Cavalry Divisions of the 6th Cavalry Corps and to go behind the Russian units. This did not happen anymore, the Russians took the designated assembly point Sosenka on the same day . Subsequently, there was heavy fighting in the sections of the Eastern Army. The 4th, 9th and Bavarian Cavalry Divisions were then to take action against Russian cavalry at Dolhinow on September 26th. In the meantime, however, the opponent was able to bring in other strong associations. The containment of the Russian units intended by the German military leadership had hereby finally failed. The own troop strength proved to be insufficient. to continue such an enterprise. It was now a matter of advancing the transition to trench warfare. On September 26, the 4th and Bavarian Cavalry Divisions stopped at the Wilia on the Kamininka – Dolhinow – Milcza line. Despite the violent attacks by Russian troops, the enemy managed to break away on September 27th. Subsequently it was the task of the cavalry to cover the movement of the 10th Army . In the period from September 28 to 30, the 6th Cavalry Corps then relocated in stages to the Miadziol-Postaway line.

As a result of the Battle of Vilnius, significant land gains were achieved. However, the destruction of significant parts of the Russian army did not succeed. This battle was one of the last major tests of the 1st Grand Ducal Mecklenburg Dragoon Regiment No. 17.

Battle calendar 1914-18

Advance on Liège

The 4th Cavalry Division in the France campaign in 1914.

Grand Duke Friedrich Franz IV visiting his Mecklenburg dragoons on the Eastern Front in December 1914.

Mecklenburg Dragoons in trench warfare near Dünaburg on the Eastern Front in 1916

Advance of the 8th Army in Livonia and Estonia February / March 1918

The "17. Cavalry Brigade ”in Livonia in early November 1918

1914

04th to 22nd August - Battle of the advance in Belgium
- 0August 8 - Battle of St. Trond
- August 10th - Battle at Linsmeau and Orphey – Lissem
- August 12th - Battle at Halen
23rd to 24th August - Battle of Mons
- August 24 - Battles at Tournai
August 25-27 - Battle of Solesmes and Le Cateau
- August 25th - Battle at St. Aubert
- August 26th - Battle at Bethencourt
August 29th to September 5th - advance and reconnaissance in front of the 1st Army
- August 31 - Order to blow up the Villers – Cotterets – Crepy en Balois railway line
- 0September 1st - Breakthrough through the British lines to La Chapelle, northeast of Paris
- 0September 1 - Battle at Nery, south of Compiegne
0September 5th to 11th - Battle of Ourcq and Petit Morin
- 0September 5 - Battle at Bregy-Bouillancy
- 0September 7th - Battle of Thury en Balois and Autheuil en Balois
- 0September 8 - Battle of Cuvergnon
- 0September 9th - Battle at Baumoise
September 12-16 - Battle of the Aisne
- September 13 - Battle at Nampcel
- September 15-16 - Battle near Quierzy
September 17-23 - Battle of Noyon and fighting between Oise and Somme
- September 17 - Battle at Cuts
- September 24th - Battle of Douai
September 24th to October 1st - Battle of the Somme
- September 26th - Battle at Beugny
- September 27th - Battle at Ervillers
- September 28 - Battle of Courcelles
- September 29th to October 1st - Battle of Croisilles, St. Leger, Ervillers and Achiet le Grand
0October 2-14 - Battle of Arras
- 0October 3 - Battle of Courrières
- 0October 4th - Battle at Pont-à-Vendin
- 0October 5th - Battle of Loos and Grenay
- 0October 6-8 - Battles near Lens and Liévin
- October 10 - Battle of Herlies and Reuve Chapelle
- October 11th - Battle at Festubert
- October 12-14 - Battle of Richebourg
October 20-29 - Battle of Lille , Warneton south of Messines in the Ploegsteert forest
October 30th to November 4th - Battle of Ypres
November 13-17 - Relocation from the Courtrai area to the Eastern Front
November 21 to 24 - Fights near Lichanow and Lipa
December 13-18 - Battle of Lowicz and Saniki
from December 18 - fighting on the Rawka - Bzura

1915

until 0February 4th - fighting on the Rawka – Bzura
March 15-29 - Battles near Memel and Tauroggen
0March 6-21 - Trench warfare at Lipniki-Lyse
March 31 to May 9 - trench warfare between Augustow , Mariampol and Pilwiszki
May 25 to June 3 - Reconnaissance battles near Ilgowno
0June 4-8 - Battles near Wyssoka-Ruda and Koslowa-Ruda
0June 9-19 - Skirmishes in the forest near Kovno
June 20 to July 20 - Augustowo and Pilwiszki position battles
July 21-29 - fights on the Jeszja and Weiwery
0August 1st to 18th - Siege of Kovno
August 19 to September 8 - Battle of the Nyemen
0September 9-27 - Battle of Vilna , north of Vilna
September 29th to October 2nd - Battles on the Myadsjolka, Dryswjata
0October 3-19 - Battle of Kosjany
October 29th to 31st - Battle of Dünaburg
0November 2 to December 31 - trench warfare in front of Dünaburg

1916

from January 1st - trench warfare in front of Dünaburg
September 7-12 - Skirmishes near Dweten

1917

until August 1st - trench warfare in front of Dünaburg
0August 2nd to 28th - Fight against gangs in Lithuania
0September 1st to 5th - Battle of Riga (Northern Cavalry Division)
- 0September 4th - Capture of Seleni (4th Squadron)
0September 6th to October 4th - trench warfare north of the Daugava
October 6th - Fight against gangs in Lithuania
0December 7 - truce and ceasefire

1918

through February 17 - Truce and Armistice
until February 22nd - fighting gangs in Lithuania
February 23 to March 4 - Fighting for the liberation of Livonia and Estonia
from March 5th - Occupation of Livonia and Estonia as German police power
November 19 - end of the war
December 18 - departure from Dorpat to Riga
December 27th - arrival in Riga
December 31st - march back home (1st and 2nd squadron)

1919

until January 10th - Occupation of Livonia and Estonia as German police power
from January 10th - march back home (4th squadron)

Whereabouts

Call for voluntary entry into the provisional Reichswehr.

After the war ended , the association returned to Ludwigslust in January 1919, where it was demobilized and finally dissolved. In June 1919 Reichswehr Brigade 9 of the Provisional Reichswehr was set up in Schwerin, of which the subordinate Reichswehr Cavalry Regiment 9 was initially garrisoned with the 1st Squadron in Ludwigslust and the 2nd Squadron in Parchim. In the Reichswehr of 1921, the 14th Cavalry Regiment finally found a new home with its training squadron and the 1st squadron in Ludwigslust. In October 1934, the name was changed to Reiter Regiment Ludwigslust, then in 1936 to Reiter Regiment 14. From this regiment the 14th Cavalry Regiment of the Wehrmacht was formed on August 1, 1936 . The regiment took part in the parade in Berlin on June 2, 1939, which was ordered on the occasion of the state visit of the Prince Regent of Yugoslavia . It was to be the last parade before the start of the Second World War . In 1939 the regiment was disbanded as a result of the mobilization of the Wehrmacht. The reconnaissance departments 19, 31, 156 and 171 were then set up from the inventory. The remaining parts of the crew then served in the cavalry replacement division 14 set up on August 26, 1939 in Ludwigslust. Renamed to Radfahr-Ersatz -teilung 14 in 1942, it was renamed to Reserve-Cyclist-Department 14 in 1943 and moved to the Netherlands. Finally, the last name was changed to Reconnaissance Replacement Department 14, which was dissolved in December 1944. The remaining crew was added to the Ludwigsluster cavalry training department 100.

Structure of the 14th Cavalry Regiment

14th Cavalry Regiment
- Staff and supplementary, from May 29, 1922 training (Prussian) squadron in Ludwigslust
- 1. (Mecklenb.) Squadron in Ludwigslust
- 2. (Mecklenb.) Squadron in Parchim
- 3rd and 4th (Prussian) squadron in Schleswig

tradition

The tradition was taken over in the Reichswehr by the 1st Squadron of the 14th Cavalry Regiment in Ludwigslust. At a later date, the tradition was passed on to the training squadron. In the Wehrmacht, the 2nd Division and 11th Squadron of the 14th Cavalry Regiment took over the tradition.

The tradition of the Mecklenburg Dragoons was also maintained outside the active military formations. In the 1920s, former members of the regiment from Ludwigslust and Parchim organized themselves in the "Bund der Friedrich Franz Dragoons".

In peacetime

In the early days - around 1822 - the service division was as follows:

Recruits entered the regiment's service in April.
Their basic training took place from April to August.
The so-called drill time was from April 1st to September 1st.
The leave of absence followed in October, some of the old teams were on leave until next spring.
During the winter months the horses were ridden by the older teams and the best riders were assigned to train the remonts .

The years of peace were used for intensive training and the improvement of tactics and organization. This training included a. riding attacks, moving in line and in column, riding off-road and counter-fencing - from 1890 - with the lance. For the purpose of training, field maneuvers were held regularly - each autumn. Corps and imperial maneuvers were other events that interrupted everyday service, here the Ludwigsluster Dragoons were able to demonstrate their acquired skills.

Representative tasks and honorary services also accompanied the regiment throughout its existence. Participation in the imperial parades was considered a special honor. The officers of the regiment were also always welcome guests at grand ducal celebrations.

Chronology of events

Event guide Kaiserparade September 1904 on the Luruper Feld

Return of the emperor from the parade on August 5, 1904 on the Luruper Feld.

The parade line-up, Imperial Days in Hanover in August 1907.

1837 - On the occasion of the death of Grand Duke Friedrich Franz I , a combined squadron of 120 horsemen was put in place, they formed the escort for the transfer of the Grand Duke to Doberan.
1838 - On May 1st the regiment joined the Mecklenburg Brigade, on this occasion a big parade took place on the Ludwigsluster parade ground.
1838 - Large troop camp on June 16, with parts of the Mecklenburg brigade on the parade ground at Haselholz in Schwerin.
1842 - On the occasion of the death of Grand Duke Paul Friedrich , a combined squadron was put in place; they formed the escort for the transfer of the Grand Duke.
1843 - end of September, first maneuver of the X. Federal Corps, over 25,000 men gathered near Lüneburg .
1846 - Every Wednesday a guard parade was held, so each squadron provided a sergeant and 12 dragoons. Drills are held for an hour under the orders of the inspection officer. In the presence of the Grand Duke in Ludwigslust, there was a parade on foot on the Schloßplatz every Sunday after going to church.
1853 - The regiment takes part in the maneuvers of the Guard Corps and the Prussian III. Army Corps in Berlin. A large cavalry drill takes place under the direction of General von Wrangel, 61 squadrons take part.
1857 - On the occasion of the inauguration of the new Schwerin Castle, a large parade took place in Schwerin on May 27, 1857, to which the Dragoons regiment was ordered.
1862 - Grand Duchess Auguste died on March 3rd of that year. On the occasion of the funeral ceremonies on March 10th in Schwerin, the trumpet corps and half a combined squadron rode ahead of the funeral procession under the leadership of Rittmeister von Kahlden. Another half combined squadron under the leadership of Prime Lieutenant von der Lühe formed the end of the funeral procession.
1864 - A combined squadron of the Dragoon Regiment escorted the late Grand Duchess Anna of Mecklenburg-Schwerin to her final resting place.
1868 - On September 11th, the regiment of the 17th Division took part in the parade in front of Prussia's King Wilhelm I in Groß-Rogahn. The reason was the officers' transfer to the Prussian Army .
1869 - The regiment's 50th anniversary was celebrated on November 6th in Ludwigslust.
1871 - In memory of those who fell in the war of 1870/71, a service was held on November 26, 1871 in the garrison church in Ludwigslust - on the orders of the emperor. The members of the regiment participated in parade suit. On this occasion, officers wore a mourning band on their left upper arm.
1872 - In the autumn of that year the brigade drill of the 17th Cavalry Brigade took place on the Valluhner-Heide, for the first time together with the Hussar Regiment (Hannoversches) No. 15 . The Hussar Regiment was previously assigned to the 17th Cavalry Brigade by AKO on April 11, 1871, after the 2nd Brandenburg Uhlan Regiment No. 11 had left.
1874 - Visit of the Grand Duke Vladimir of Russia in Ludwigslust. On May 19, 1874, the regiment placed a combined squadron under the command of Rittmeister von Merckel as an honor guard at the station. On the occasion of the visit, a parade was held on the Ludwigslust parade ground on May 20th, in which both Mecklenburg dragoon regiments took part.
1874 - On December 2nd of that year the inauguration of the memorial for the war of 1870/71 in Schwerin took place. The Ludwigslust Dragoon Regiment sent a delegation on the occasion of the inauguration. The participating squadrons each had the strength of three officers, seven non-commissioned officers and 52 dragoons.
1879 - On the occasion of the marriage of the Hereditary Grand Duke Friedrich Franz III. with the Grand Duchess Anastasia Mikhailovna Romanova , the regimental commander accompanied the Hereditary Grand Duke to St. Petersburg. On February 7th, the couple made a festive entry into Ludwigslust. A combined squadron formed the guard of honor at the station.
1879 - Grand Duke Friedrich Franz II appointed his eldest son Hereditary Grand Duke Friedrich Franz III on December 24th. to the regiment chief of the Ludwigsluster dragoon regiment. The festive occasion was the birth of Duchess Alexandrine of Mecklenburg .
1881 - The regiment took part in the autumn maneuvers of IX. Army Corps in Holstein.
1883 - Regiment commander Lieutenant Colonel von Schack announced the passing of Grand Duke Friedrich Franz II on April 15th. In the afternoon the commander let the regiment begin to face the reigning Grand Duke Friedrich Franz III. to be sworn in.
1883 - On April 20, the solemn burial of Grand Duke Friedrich Franz II took place in the blood chapel of Schwerin Cathedral . Under the leadership of Major von Hellermann, two combined squadrons and the trumpet corps accompanied the funeral procession.
1884 - In the autumn of 1884 the regiment took part in the cavalry drill on the training area near Parchim on Lübzer Chaussee.
1889 - On the evening of October 13th, the Ludwigsluster Dragoon Regiment provided an honorary squadron to receive the Russian Tsar Alexander III. , which arrived with the imperial special train at Ludwigslust train station.
1893 - For the inauguration of the monument of Friedrich Franz II. A delegation with the regimental standard was put in place.
1894 - The regiment celebrated its 75th anniversary this year. On the orders of the Grand Duke Friedrich Franz III. the celebrations were held a month earlier. The festival opened on October 6th in the Golden Hall of Ludwigslust Castle. This was followed in the afternoon by the equestrian festival on the riding track, the festival service in the town church and the regiment parade at the castle.
1895 - In September of that year the regiment took part in the Association of IX. Army Corps south-east of the Kaisermanöver Szczecin part.
1897 - On the occasion of the funeral of Grand Duke Friedrich Franz III. In Ludwigslust a squadron with the standard of the regiment was placed.
1898 - As part of the 17th Division, the regiment took part in the Imperial Maneuver from September 3rd to 10th. A parade was held at Linden on December 3rd.
1901 - On the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the elevation of Prussia to kingdom, celebrations took place in Schwerin on January 18th.
1901 - On the occasion of the takeover of government by Friedrich Franz IV on April 9, parades and banquets were held in the officers' mess in the garrisons of the country.
1904 - On the occasion of the wedding of Grand Duke Friedrich Franz IV , a large parade took place on July 9th on the large parade ground in Schwerin. In addition to the two dragoon regiments, the I. and III. Battalion of the Grenadier Regiment No. 89 and the 2nd Battalion of the Fusilier Regiment No. 90 as well as the Artillery Regiment No. 60.
1904 - Participation in the imperial maneuver followed in September . On September 5th, the Imperial Parade of IX. Army Corps on the large parade ground in Lurup , which was created after the establishment of the German Empire in 1871 .
1907 - Imperial Days in Hanover from August 26th to 29th. The Mecklenburg Dragoon Regiments Nos. 17 and 18 took part in the imperial parade on the Kronsberg near Hanover on August 27, led by Grand Duke Friedrich Franz IV and Duke Paul Friedrich .
1911 - On August 26th, the Ludwigsluster Dragoons took part in the three-hour imperial parade. The parade was held on the parade ground in Lurup near Altona. In the following days, the regiment took part in the maneuver.
1913 - On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Liberation War , a delegation of the regiment took up position in front of the hall of fame of the Schwerin arsenal .
1913 - The regiment's officers take part in the commemoration ceremony for the 100th anniversary of Count Mussin-Pushkin's death on April 2, 1913 in the Ludwigslust Palace Park . Count Alexander Alexejewitsch Mussin-Pushkin suffered serious injuries on April 2, 1813 in the battle near Lüneburg as a major of the Isum Hussar Regiment, of which he later died in Boizenburg.

organization