OTMA's regiments

[Romanov_History_Buff]

Thank you Daniel... I look forward to seeing a photo! I hope someday we'll know where the rest of it is... the helmet and the skirt that is! 

[blessOTMA]

I don't know about her helmet and skirt but her Dragoon tunic has survived: it's in the Tsarskoe Selo Museum collection. 

That's amazing, I had no idea it survived. Everything  of theirs from Tsarskoe Selo that still exists, to be taken away before the Nazis got there in 1941... given that, it's amazing how much we do have.

[DanielB]

As promised here is (from a Russian book) the photo of a 9th Kazansky Dragoons officer's parade tunic, from the Tsarskoe Selo Museum collection, which reportedly belonged to Maria, their colonel-in-chief. Regulations described its colour as « Tsar’s green » which, for Line Cavalry, was a dark teal green (wave green). Unfortunately missing are the helmet, gold epaulettes and bandolier.



Read somewhere that in 1941 when the Alexander Palace was evacuated, the curators used the clothes from the Imperial wardrobes to wrap precious objects in. I suspect this was done both out of necessity (due to a lack of packing material) and on purpose (to save as much of the Romanov wardrobe as possible). As military accoutrements (helmets, epaulettes, swords, etc.) couldn’t be used to pack anything this would explain why a lot had to be left behind. Nevertheless some have survived : I have seen a number of helmets, epaulettes & swords belonging to Nicholas II and Alexei. The same Russian book has a photo of Tatiana’s parade czapka (Lancer helmet) which, oddly enough, isn’t exhibited along with her uniform. Given the limited means and time the Alexander Palace Museum curators had to their disposal in the Summer of 1941, it is indeed amazing that so much belongings of the Romanovs have survived.

[blessOTMA]

Daniel Briere Thank you for that photo! There's nothing like seeing the object. !

Read somewhere that in 1941 when the Alexander Palace was evacuated, the curators used the clothes from the Imperial wardrobes to wrap precious objects in.

Indeed they were handy...and it's  an excellent way to get the imperial clothes out without making it seem about the clothes. The Russian curators are amazing heroes....many stories about their dedication and bravery  during the wars and the communist era.

[Olga Maria]

Oh Daniel Briere!!! You're such a blessing!!! Thank you very very much!!

Read somewhere that in 1941 when the Alexander Palace was evacuated, the curators used the clothes from the Imperial wardrobes to wrap precious objects in. I suspect this was done both out of necessity (due to a lack of packing material) and on purpose (to save as much of the Romanov wardrobe as possible). As military accoutrements (helmets, epaulettes, swords, etc.) couldn’t be used to pack anything this would explain why a lot had to be left behind. Nevertheless some have survived : I have seen a number of helmets, epaulettes & swords belonging to Nicholas II and Alexei. The same Russian book has a photo of Tatiana’s parade czapka (Lancer helmet) which, oddly enough, isn’t exhibited along with her uniform. Given the limited means and time the Alexander Palace Museum curators had to their disposal in the Summer of 1941, it is indeed amazing that so much belongings of the Romanovs have survived.

May you also please post Tatiana's czapka? I'm very sorry if I'm so demanding.
I hope only a few disappeared from the helmets and etc. which were not used as 'wrappings'...Those are very valuable for their historical importance.

The Russian curators are amazing heroes....many stories about their dedication and bravery  during the wars and the communist era.

I agree with you, dearie Annie! Without them, we would have not have the opportunity to see the historical belongings of the Romanovs!

[Sarushka]

Thank you Daniel -- this image was entirely new to me.

[DanielB]

It was new to me too : I was quite excited to discover that it had survived! Despite what the Russian caption stating that Maria was Chief of the 9th Dragoons since 1911, my sources say she got this regiment for her 13th birthday, on June 14,1912. If right, she would have received a regiment at a younger age than any of her other sisters :  Olga was named Chief of her 1st regiment, the 3rd Elizavetgradsky Hussars, for her 13th name day  July 11, 1909 as was the case of Tatiana, named Chief of the 8th Voznesensky Lancers on January 12, 1911.  Anastasia got her 148th Kaspiisky Infantry Regiment on December 25, 1915, 3 days after her 14th birthday and name day.

As requested, here is Tatiana’s own parade czapka (Lancer helmet) : it’s on the left. On the right, her mother’s own Guards’ Lancers czapka :

[blessOTMA]

As requested, here is Tatiana’s own parade czapka (Lancer helmet) : it’s on the left. On the right, her mother’s own Guards’ Lancers czapka :

Thank you Daniel Briere, that's grand!

[JamesAPrattIII]

I have some information on OTMAs regiments that i would like to post here:
148th caspian Infantry Rgt/ 37th infantry Division/XVIII corps which i think it may have stayed with during most  or all of WW I this corps was with the following armies:
9th army Aug 14-feb 15 sept-Oct 14 Vistula River battle, Nov-Dec 14 Lodz battle
11th army 20 Apr 15-21 May 16 South Western front
7th army 20 jun-17 jul 16 South Western front Brusilov offensive
9th army sep? 16 South Western front bruislov offensive
8th army 1 oct 16-16 jun 17 Kerensky offensive?
9th army 19 aug-Dec 17
This was Anatasias regiment which looks like it saw a lot of heavy combat and distingushed itself enough to get a member  of the IF as it's honorary Colonel. It should be pointed out during the winter of 1916/1917 their was a major reorganization of the russian armies Infantry divisions. i don't know where the regiment ended up after this.

[JamesAPrattIII]

The following is a brief outline of russian army organization in WW I:
Infantry divisions consisted of 2 Infantry brigades consisting of 2 infantry regiments consisting of 4 Battalions consisting of 4 infantry companies of about 240 men in addition to suport services. infantry regiments were assigned serialy to divisions so the 17th Infantry division contained the 65th to 68th infantry regiments. note some rifle regiments had only 2 or 3 battlions in them. cossack Infantry or Plastuni or Plutustunsky were organized into brigades of 6 battlions each. Intialy only the Kuban cossacks raised infantry but later other Cossacks did so. in 1914 three of these brigades were sent to the Caucasian front. Which is probably were the 2nd Kuban Plutustunsky Battalion which Olga was made honorary commander fought.

Cavalry divisions consisted of to cavalry brigades each of 2 cavalry regiments each containing 6 squadrons each regiment had a strength of 850 men. cossack squadrons were called Sotnia. cavalry Divisions had in their first brigade a grouping of dragoon and lancer regiments the 2nd brigade a hussar and cossack regiments.

During the changes were made in early 1916 each cavalry division had a Battalion of 3 dismounted squadrons attached to it. later that year each cavalry or cossack regiment was reduced from 6 to 4 squadrons the surplus men were used to increase the infantry element to a 3 battalion regiment. During the winter of 1916/1917 the infantry divisions were reorganized each now consisted of 3 infantry regiments with the surplus regiments forming 60 new divisions. They were attached to a exhistine corps that usually had two divisions as a third division. Sadly these third divisions as they were called were frequently a dumping ground for malcontents.

it should also be pointed out that in cavalry divisions  the regiments were organized serially so in the 3rd Cavalry division there were the 3rd Dragoon ,Lancer and hussar regiments.
so  OTM regiments could be foun as follows:
3rd hussars Olgas 3 Cavalry division with the 1st army at the start of the war
8th lancers Tatianas 8th cavalry division with the 9th army in september 1914
9th dragoons Marias 9th cavalry division with the 3rd army in september 1914
5th Hussars Alexandras 5th cavalry division with the 4th army at the start of the war. note the 5th Hussars were known as the "Immortal hussars" after a line in their regimental song

[JamesAPrattIII]

I have some strange but true information on the uniforms: on post #47 on Nicholas Uniforms I think the Rosiori Hussars and Gendarmeri are of Rumanian army regiments Nicholas was probably made honoray Colonel of. As for the Serb army uniform it could be he was made honorary colonel of a regiment in the Serb army. As for the other uniforms they are from cavalry regiments in the GERMAN (!) army. The 8th (1st Westpalian ) Hussars Emporer Nicholas II of Russia during WW I it was with the (th german cavalry division and fought on the Russian front from November 1914-October 1916! The 6th (Brandenberg) Cuirassiers Emporer Nicholas I of Russia. This unit was the divisional cavalry of the 22nd 38th infantry divisions of the XI corps at the start of WW I it was with the German 3rd army in the West then it was soon transfered to the East were the 22nd Inf div fought there until October 1917 when it was sent to the west and the 38th fought there until october 1915 when it was sent back to the west. i think there may be a picture of Nicholas II in the uniform of the 6th Cuirassiers taken during a state visit to germany pre WW I.
 Nicholas II was also honorary Colonel of the 1st Bavarian Chevav-Legers Emperor Nicholas of Russia which was with the Bavarian Cavalry division on the western front at the start of WW I and was transfered to the East in April 1915 and stayed there until the end of the war. In the Austro-Hungarian army the was Uhlan Nicholas II Kaiser of Rusland regiment No 5 which at the start of WW I was part of the 2nd Cavalry division with the 3rd army.
 Also note in the book "The End of Chivalry" Alexis Wrangel there are two chapter that deal with the 9th Bug Lancers that had Archduke franz Ferdinand as their honorary colonel. He was the man whose assassination started WW I. This unit was brigaded with the 9th Kazan Dragoons Maria Ns regiment.

[JamesAPrattIII]

In doing some more research it seems Nicholas was the honorary Colonel of the 5th Rosiori regiment in the Rumanian army. This unit wore the monograf of the Tsar on it epaullets during WW II. Which probably raised more than a few Russian eyebrows!? it should be pointed out Rumania was at war with the USSR from June 1941 to August 1944 then they switched sides and fought alongside the USSR against the germans. No doubt this monograf was removed as soon as the communists took power in Rumania!
 As for the Gendameri there were in the 1800s 2 squadrons of gendarmes that did form the Royal bodyguard in Rumania that were later formed into the Royal horse guards regiment. However, I think this uniform in most likely that of an Colonel of the Russian Gendarmes which did wear blue uniforms.

[JamesAPrattIII]

Maria Ns regiment the 9th Dragoons was in the 9th cavalry division. This unit was part of the II Cavalry corps 7th army during the Brusilov offensive in 1916. from what I found out the II Cavalry corps was part of the 9th army Feb-Nov 1915,  the 7th army feb 1916 to Jun 1917 and 8th army july-December 1917. Maria ns regiment probably fought in southern Poland for most of the war judging from the armies the II Cav Corps was assigned to.

[JamesAPrattIII]

After commanding the Caucasian Native Cavalry Division Nicholas younger brother Michael a was give command of the II Cavalry corps in 1916.

[JamesAPrattIII]

Regiments that other members of the Romanov family as honrary commanders from Marks russian military history . Note I am abreviating somewhat to save me some time ect:
2nd HIH GD Michael A's Rostov Grenadier rgt
6th  HIH GD Michael N's Taurica Grenadier rgt
11th HIH DG Dimitri P's Phanagodia Grenadier Rgt
15th HIH GD Constantine C's Tiflis Greandier rgt
16th HIH GD Dimtri C's Mingran Grenadier rgt
17th HIH GD Vladimir A's Archangel Infantry rgt
45th HIH GD Boris V's Azov infantry rgt
52nd HIH GD Cyril V's Vilna infantry rgt
56th HIH GD Nicholas N's Zhitimor infantry rgt
73rd HIH GD Alexander M's Crimean infantry rgt
81st HIH GD George M's Apsheronsk infantry rgt
82nd HIH GD Nicholas M's Dalhestan infantry rgt
93rd HIH GD Michael A's Irkutsk infantry rgt
129nd HIH GD Michael A's Bessarbia Infantry rgt
130rd HIH GD Andrew V's Kherson infatry rgt
137th HIH GDS Maria P's Nezhin infatry rgt
153rd HIH GD Sergi M's Baku infantry rgt
3rd HIH GD Helen V's New Russia dragoons
14th HIH GD Maria A 's Lancers
12th HIH GDS Olga A's Akhtyrka Hussars
15th HIH GDS Xenia A's Ukarine Hussars
17th HIH GD Michael A's Cherigov Hussars