Trooper, 11th Reg. of Uhlans (2nd Brandenburg)

The Franco-Prussian War was the most important military conflict that happened in Europe after the Napoleonic Wars and until the First World War. The main cause for it was the tensions between Prussia, which wanted to culminate the unification of Germany, and France, which feared the shift in the balance of powers that such a thing would cause.

A series of decisive victories by the Germans, like the Siege of Metz or the Battle of Sedan, resulted in a total defeat of the French Army and even the capture of Emperor Napoleon III. French Government declared the Third Republic and the war continued for a few months more but it just delayed the inevitable victory of Prussia. After the war, a new power that would hold enormous influence on international affairs for decades emerged in Europe: the German Empire. The new situation planted the seeds for the next European conflict.

Uhlans were a type of multi-purpose light cavalry, armed with lances, sabers, and pistols. They originated from Poland and became very popular as heavy cavalry units were less and less used throughout the XIX century. Prussia, Austria, and Russia adopted and incorporated this unit into their armies, maintaining its essential aesthetic elements, like the double-breasted jacket or kurtka and the polish style cap or czapka.

The 11th Regiment of Uhlans, 2nd Brandenburg, belonged to the 17th Cavalry Brigade, which took part in the occupation of Paris after the siege of 1871 that put an end to the revolutionary brief experiment of La Commune de Paris.

This classic from miniatures’ history, formerly a Poste Militaire figure, was released in the late ’90s by Elite Miniaturas, and the original boxart was painted by Raúl García Latorre.

Note: This is a resin miniature kit that requires assembly and painting.