Since
the times of Frederick the Great, Prussia's cavalry had a reputation
that struck awe, if not fear, into its enemies. The French were
wary of Prussia's horsemen at the outset of the 1806
Campaign, but the reality was that their prowess had been
allowed to stagnate. Only in the late stages of the Napoleonic
Wars did Berlin's cavalry approach the effectiveness of its
halcyon days.
Despite
the name, Prussia's cuirassiers had not worn the heavy breastplates
since 1790 and would not do so until 1814-1815.
The main use for cuirassiers was as heavy battle cavalry that
could be thrown at the enemy to smash formations or achieve the
decisive breakthough.
Dragoons
Like
the cuirassiers, the dragoons were the heavies of the battlefield
and would try to use their weight of horse and speed to fracture
enemy formations.
Prussian dragoons achieved some success at the debacle of Auerstadt
when the Irwing Dragoons scattered some of General Gudin's experienced
infantry out of formation and left some 600 men casualties.
Hussars
These
units were not regarded as being strong enough to be used in
the line of battle, so hussars were often used to seek out ways
to launch attacks on the enemy flanks.
Often hussars would advance on either side, or behind, the cuirassiers
and dragoons, and would then peel off to probe the flanks and
rear.
Despite
the name, Prussia's cuirassiers had not worn the heavy breastplates
since 1790 and would not do so until 1814-1815.