| Unit Name: | Guard Hussar Regiment |
| Native Name: | Danish: Gardehusarregimentet |
| Type: | Mechanized infantry |
| Role: | Maneuver warfare Raiding Reconnaissance |
| Size: | Five battalions |
| Command Structure: | Army Staff |
| Garrison: | I. & II. Battalion – Antvorskov barracks III.Battalion – Bornholm |
| Nickname: | GHR |
| Motto: | In Actis Esto Volucris (Be swift in action) |
| Colours: | (Used by III. Bataljon at Bornholm) |
| Colours Label: | Regimental belt |
| March: | Garderhusarregimentets Signalmarch |
| Anniversaries: | 17 November 1614 10 February 1762 |
| Battles: | Thirty Years War Torstenson War Second Nordic War Scanian War Nine Years' War War of the Spanish Succession Great Nordic War Napoleonic Wars First Schleswig War Second Schleswig War Operation Weserübung War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) Iraqi conflict |
| Current Commander: | Colonel Jens Ole Rossen-Jørgensen |
| Notable Commanders: | Peder Aalborg Caspar Hermann Gottlieb Moltke |
| Ceremonial Chief: | HM The King |
| Identification Symbol Label: | Colours |
| Identification Symbol 2 Label: | Standard |
| Identification Symbol 3 Label: | Former coat of arms |
The Guard Hussar Regiment (Danish: Gardehusarregimentet, GHR) is a cavalry unit of the Royal Danish Army, whose primary task is to train the Guard Hussars for various functions in the mobilisation force.[1] The Guard Hussar Regiment is one of two active cavalry regiments of the Danish Army, and was formed in 2001 through the amalgamation of the original Guard Hussars regiment, Zealand Life Regiment and Danish Life Regiment.[2]
Although the Guard Hussars themselves date from 10 February 1762, the Danish Army takes the date of the founding of a regiment from its oldest part, in this case the Zealand Life Regiment, which was founded in 1614. This makes the Guard Hussars one of the oldest regiments of hussars in the world still operational, it is also the only hussars in mounted parade uniform to still wear the slung and braided pelisse which was formerly characteristic of this class of cavalry. In addition to its operational role, the Guard Hussar Regiment is one of two regiments in the Danish Army (along with the Den Kongelige Livgarde) to be classed as 'Guards'; in this case, the Mounted Squadron perform the same role as the Household Cavalry do in the British Army.
From 1961 to 1972 the regiment was responsible for two armoured battalions, one recon battalion. From 1972–2000 the regiment was responsible for one armoured, one mechanised infantry, one reconnaissance and one infantry battalions. From 2000–2004 the regiment was responsible for two armoured, two mechanised infantry, one reconnaissance and two infantry battalions. From 1992–2004 the regiment also had to form two light Reconnaissance Squadrons assigned to the 1st Zealand Brigade and Danish International Brigade.
As part of the Defence Agreement 2000–04, it was decided to merge the Guard Hussar Regiment with the Zealand Life Regiment and the Danish Life Regiment. With this amalgamation of the three infantry regiments, the name and history of the new regiment had to be decided. This led to what the media called "the Colonels' War" (Danish: Oberstkrigen), with the three colonels fighting for their regiment’s name and history to survive.[3] [4] The Chief of Defence, Christian Hvidt, ordered the old insignia removed, which was not customary. The new armoured horse head was nicknamed the "biker patch". Furthermore, it was decided that a colour be used alongside the standard.[5]
Following the amalgamation, the Guard Hussar Regiment has participated in a number of international missions, resulting in the loss of 16 soldiers.[6]
Today the Gardehusarregiment is classed as a cavalry regiment, it is in fact a mixed armoured and infantry unit, with three battalions:
| Husarregimentet | Hussar Regiment | 1762-02-10 | – | 1780 | |
| 1. og 2. Husaregiment | 1st and 2nd Hussar Regiment | 1780 | – | 1785 | |
| 1. og 2. Husarkorps | 1st and 2nd Hussar Corps | 1785 | – | 1788 | |
| Husarregimentet | Hussar Regiment | 1788 | – | 1842 | |
| Garderhusardivisionen | Guard Hussar Division | 1842 | – | 1855 | |
| Husarregimentet | Hussar Regiment | 1855 | – | 1856 | |
| Gardehusarregimentet | Guard Hussar Regiment | 1856 | – | Present |