When did the officers of western armies stopped wearing swords ?

by von_w

Hi everyone,

My question here is simple, I was watching Dance with Wolves and latter Apocalypse WWI and I noticed that officers in the French, German, English, American armies were still wearing swords in 1914. Was this common practice ? When did the officers stopped wearing swords ? After WWI ?

Another question if someone is knowledgeable on that: Did Soviet officers wear swords as well ?

Thank you for your time.

GTFErinyes

Do you mean swords in combat?

Because dress uniforms of the US military for formal ceremonies/occasions still have swords as a prescribe-able item for officers, and sword drill is also taught

abt137

Swords are still weared for ceremonial purposes, somebody mention the US, I can confirm the same for other Western armies Spain is another example. Last summer I saw Mexican Navy wearing cutlasses and handgun while on sentinel duty at the ship board platform.

There are instances of Polish, Soviet and Spanish units still charging sabre and lance in hand in the 30s and 40s. The Spanish Civil War saw the last cavalry charge of the Spanish army carried out in Feb 1937 by the I Cavalry Division of the Nationalist Army (Franco) against Republican units along the Teruel front, it succeeded and despite having firearms like pistols and carbines there are several accounts of the cavalry men charging sword in hand. It may also be the last cavalry charge of the warfare in Europe at this level (employing a whole Cavalry Division). I am aware of further cavalry (and sword) use in Poland during the German invasion at the outbreak of WWII and later in the Eastern Front within the Soviet Union but I understand they involved smaller units.

As far as Spain goes swords were carried by officers during colonial service in North Africa, that is up to 1936 when the Civil War broke out. Some may have kept using them during the Civil War (infantry) but more on an individual choice as it was not part of the std uniform & equipment regulations in combat. I do know instances of Spanish and Italian officers in the Spanish Civil War wearing daggers in the front as part of their equipment together with their personal handgun.

A bit aside is well known that Japanese officers weared swords in combat all along WWII.

Edited for typos.