Czech Legion Cavalry photo 1919

[juergen c. olk]

Stumbled across this beautiful picture of Czech legion cavalry in  Siberia 1919.

[former user]

wow, very parade style and old fashioned. Stylish and shiny.
does anyone make 20th C miniatures with that kind of pelisse style?

[juergen c. olk]

Good question. I have no idea.Unless you convert North star 1866- Austrian-Hussars.

[former user]

well, thank You for making me aware of this range!
wow!

[Ignatieff]

How cool would they look on a BoB table?

[ts]

[juergen c. olk]

Awesome follow up photos thanx.

[Ignatieff]

Great plates and photographs.  However on the photographs the shirt is definitely a darker colour than the pelisse, which looks a similar shade to the breeches.  Any thoughts?

S

[former user]

finer parade dress greyish cloth vs khaki field-shirt?
attila and pants are a different shade and texture too

[ts]

From a Czech specialist on the period, Petr Starosta, I have got some corrections on the ”Czechs dressed like hussars in Siberia 1919”.
The shown fellows are not in Siberia, but back home in Czechoslovakia 1918-1919, probaply taking part in the Czech-Hungarian War 1918/19.
They are most likely in Sokol uniforms.
The Czech Sokol ”Gymnastic” groups were weapon trained, along the lines of the Boy Scout Movement, and took up arms, just like in Poland 1918-19, as  Czechoslovakia of course had not is own national army just after WW1.
Volunteer Sokol units made up almost 50% of all Czech troops in the beginning of the Czech-Hungarian War 1918/19 – and fought in their Sokol uniforms.
Petr also points to the medal worn by the officer, which seems to be the Czech Cross Medal, which was awarded for bravery in the mentioned war. See picture.


Somehow the French on
http://www.ecpad.fr/la-mission-de-la-spca-1918-1919
http://www.ecpad.fr/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/spca.pdf
have got something wrong, when describing and dating the photos. The other photos in the series are from Siberia.



Sokol uniforms


Czech Cross for bravery in the Czech-Hungarian War 1918-1919


Czech cavalry uniform in RCW


Czech cavalry uniform in RCW


Czech standard in RCW


Czech standard in RCW

[juergen c. olk]

Damn there French eyes for teasing me. Thankyou for the update and corrections and the great photos thankyou. Still cool photo even if wrong.

[Ignatieff]

Great research, those it's blown my romantic notion of 'gay' hussars in the Siberian steppe. And I've ordered the North Star 1866 range cavalry. So they're going to be appearing, even if it's bollox!  Thanks

[Ignatieff]

And I still don't think we've nailed that uniform colour in the plate. It looks like khaki jacket and breeches and a primary coloured shirt. Red often appears a solid colour in b&w. Any better ideas???

[coggon]

Great research, those it's blown my romantic notion of 'gay' hussars in the Siberian steppe. And I've ordered the North Star 1866 range cavalry. So they're going to be appearing, even if it's bollox!  Thanks

Damn-I was hoping you would commission some-now I have go "Czech" out the Northstar range

[Dr Mathias]

I love this obscure stuff (to the English speaking world anyway). Great pictures.