Women In The Military

 

You know the argument and I've heard it many times too, chicks in uniform lower physical standards, feminize their units, emasculate the men, make them pathetically unwarworthy and are generally disastrous, like trannies but maybe less so. OK, point, but leaving aside Soviet snipers, what about Princess Louise Victoria? What about her?

Are you trying to tell me that HRH Victoria shouldn't wear the uniform of the Death's Head Hussars? Surely not. If the tunic fits. But maybe you think Princess Cecille is pickelhaube too much? Go right ahead and think that, here she is, on right:

The evidence mounts, I'd argue, that women should be part of the armed forces, albeit of noble degree, and you'll note Melania's the Hon. COL of the DLC. More seriously, World War I wrecked a civilization at its high point. What an utter disaster. Save what you can while the going's good, see London Clubs.

Arma virumque cano,

LSP

Princess Louise of Prussia

 

You may not like it, all ye Libs, but Princess Louise of Prussia was equally at home at court or as Hon. Col. of the Death's Head Hussars. Here, look at this:

The troops love her, understandably.

Because she lifts everyone's spirits, a force multiplier. She was the only daughter and the last child of German Emperor Wilhelm II and Augusta Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein, and a great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria through her father. Born in 1892, she died in 1980.

Some say, foolishly, that women shouldn't be allowed into the martial profession. That's clearly an error, see above. Others argue that Melania should be and in fact is Hon. Col. of the DLC (Dallas Light Cavalry). Prestigious unit, what?

Ride on,

LSP

August Von Mackensen

There's a lot of talk in the blogs about cavalry right now, so it seems right to highlight Field Marshal August Von Mackensen, 1849-1945, a man who spanned a century of remarkable change, from horse to its mechanized equivalent.

Mackensen was an Hussar, Leib-Husaren-Regiment Nr. 2, and fought against the French in the Franco-Prussian war, gaining a commission. Marrying well, Mackensen was promoted to the General Staff; Von Moltke, of all people, found him "a lovable character." Very different to other staff officers, such as general Milley.

He became adjutant to the Kaiser, the first commoner to hold such rank, and was duly ennobled in 1899. He served with distinction in WWI, commanding the 9th Army and later, Army Group Mackensen. He was awarded the Pour Le Merite for successful actions. Hans von Seeckt, his Chief of Staff, described him as a "hands-on commander with the instincts of a hunter." Unlike, say, General Milley.

Mackensen was promoted to Field Marshal in 1915, and awarded Oak Leaves to his Pour Le Merite. From there he served in the Balkans, against Serbia and Romania, commanding Heeresgruppe Mackensen. On "6 December 1916, on his 67th birthday, he rode in on a white horse and moved into the Romanian royal palace." Quite unlike US generals, such as Milley.

Mountebank Goon

A remarkable man, by any standard, unlike general Milley. But question, why did Mackensen have less medals than our brilliant war commander General Milley, did he win fewer battles?

Ride On,

LSP