Oleg Vasyliev – författare

In this volume, the author provides a detailed picture of the Russian cuirassiers and dragoons at the beginning of the 19th century. He has evaluated numerous sources and enriches the publications available on the subject – which are not as extensive as on other armies – with a thorough presentation. This is likely to find a large readership, as it covers the Napoleonic Wars, in which Russia played a not insignificant role. As is well known, many interested experts and laypeople are still intensively involved with this period.This very comprehensive and detailed publication on the cuirassiers and dragoons describes how their organization and structure developed, how the regiments were manned, in which battles and campaigns they participated, what their armament and equipment looked like, and last but not least how their uniforms looked. The latter is dealt with extensively, with the development described in detail. The reader must always keep in mind that in that era, years could pass between the issuance of a decree and its full implementation. This applied to the uniforms as well as the weaponry and equipment. In the regiments of the Guard, on which the tsar kept a close eye, these changes naturally happened more quickly than was the case for Army regiments in the gigantic Russian empire’s distant provinces. From this perspective, the descriptions of the Guard regiments address both their special characteristics and their elevated status. An interesting aspect of the book is the description of not just the combatants but also the non-combatants within these regiments, a subject usually not covered at all in comparable publications. Here, not only are their uniforms, weapons and equipment described but also their distinct roles. Additionally, the book provides detailed information on the Gendarmerie Regiment created near the end of the Napoleonic Wars.This work can provide new insights to both military scientists and military historians but also historical filmmakers, military miniature collectors and interested laypeople. This book’s clear structure makes it easy to use as a reference work. The appended lexicon of Russian military terms and their English translation enable a clear conceptual classification in both languages.This volume provides the most thorough work available on the Russian cuirassier and dragoon regiments during the Napoleonic Wars. Based on the Russian author’s highly detailed work, it addresses the organization, campaigns and battles, uniforms, weapons, personal and unit equipment, mounts, unit awards and flags, with their development during the period. Not only does this edition provide excellent graphics of uniforms but also high-quality photos of rare museum pieces, and contemporary depictions of the cuirassiers and dragoons of both the Guard and Army regiments. It is an indispensable work for anyone with a serious interest in the Russian Army during the Napoleonic Wars.