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    Prussian Light Infantry 1792–1815
    Prussian Light Infantry 1792–1815
    Prussian Light Infantry 1792–1815
    Ebook113 pages1 hour

    Prussian Light Infantry 1792–1815

    By Peter Hofschröer and Bryan Fosten

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    The Prussian light infantry branch was founded in the reign of Frederick the Great (1740-1786) and continued to develop from then onwards. It was the light troops of the Austrian army, the Croatian border soldiers, which so impressed Frederick in the Seven Years War that he considered it necessary to create an effective counter-force. Initially, there was a degree of reluctance amongst certain sections of the army towards this formation of light infantry. However, the Fusilier Battalions came to be regarded as elite formations, being well-trained, disciplined and carefully selected men led by young, fit and intelligent officers. This book described in detail the uniforms, organisation, training and weapons of this spectacular force.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBloomsbury Publishing
    Release dateMar 20, 2012
    ISBN9781780965277
    Prussian Light Infantry 1792–1815

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      Book preview

      Prussian Light Infantry 1792–1815 - Peter Hofschröer

      Prussian Light Infantry 1792–1815

      The Historical Background

      Historians and popular writers alike in the English-speaking world tend, as a whole, to misunderstand all aspects of the armed forces and history of Brandenburg-Prussia. Of all the myths they have created, perhaps those on the subject of the light infantry of the Napoleonic Wars have gained the most acceptance, even if they are as unfounded as all the others. One of the objects of this small work is to attempt to show that there is little truth in these stories of ‘inflexible’ and ‘out-moded’ tactics in the army prior to 1807, as well as putting the so-called ‘new’ tactics of the army of 1812–1815 in their proper context.

      It is a commonly held view that it was the experience of the French Revolution, and especially the campaign of 1806, which forced the Brandenburg-Prussian army rather reluctantly to adopt skirmisher tactics in order to counter those of the French army. But the fact of the matter is that the light infantry branch was founded in the reign of Frederick the Great (1740–1786) and continued to develop from then onwards. It was the light troops of the Austrian army, the Croatian border soldiers, which so impressed Frederick in the Seven Years War that he considered it necessary to create an effective counter-force. Further experience in the War of the Bavarian Succession (1778–1779) underlined this; three so-called ‘Free Regiments’ of light infantry were founded, and the corps of rifle-armed ‘Foot Jaeger’ already in existence was strengthened to ten companies. In 1787 the ‘Free Regiments’ were converted into the Fusilier Battalions, which are discussed below.

      Initially, there was a degree of reluctance amongst certain sections of the army towards this formation of light infantry. To an extent this was understandable. The ‘Free Battalions’ of the Seven Years War had been regarded as ill-disciplined rogues prone to looting and desertion and, as few self-respecting aristocrats wanted to serve in their ranks, they tended to be officered by men of non-noble birth, thus adding to the contempt with which some regarded them. However, the Fusilier Battalions formed from them came to be regarded as élite formations, being well-trained, disciplined and carefully selected men led by young, fit and intelligent officers. The rifle-armed light troops, the Jaeger, were always a crack formation, their professionalism being rewarded with generosity and privileges which the Line did not enjoy. This body, too, was founded by Frederick, initially to serve as guides and to carry out patrols. They grew in size from a small detachment to a full regiment by 1806. Recruited from huntsmen and foresters, they were experienced marksmen skilled in the use of their more accurate weapons, and were natural light infantrymen adept at concealment in wooded terrain. They often used their own weapons rather than those issued by the army, and were clothed in the traditional huntsman’s green. The contrast between this body and the ‘Free Battalions’ was sharp, yet these two groups were the roots of the light infantry formations of the Napoleonic Wars.

      The many different ‘Free Corps’ which were raised under Frederick the Great, and which were the forerunners of the Prussian light units, were regarded as little better than thieves and vagabonds. The general reputation which they enjoyed is epitomised in this Adolf von Menzel drawing of a chaplain rebuking looters of Von Shorny’s and Von Kleist’s corps, without noticeable effect.

      Foot Jaeger, 1773—from Gumtau’s ‘Die Jaeger und Schuetzen des Preussischen Heeres’ (3 vols., Berlin, 1834–38), where it is captioned ‘Buechsenjaeger’ (‘Rifleman’). The black hat has a yellow tuft; the coat is green with red facings, yellow buttons and cords; the shirt and stock are white and black, the waistcoat green, the breeches buff, and the cartridge box and gaiters black.

      At first the light infantry were a body distinct and separate from the Line, having, indeed, a different function. However, as the 18th century drew to a close the trend was increasingly towards the evolution of the ‘universal infantryman’—the soldier capable of operating in both open and close order. A noteworthy step on this path was the introduction of ten rifle-armed ‘Schuetzen’ to each Line company from 3 March 1787, that is, before the French Revolution. They were selected men who were eventually to become NCOs. From 1788 they wore NCO distinctions on their uniforms, and they also stood with the NCOs behind the ranks when not engaged in skirmishing and patrols. From 5 December 1793, each Line battalion was to have a bugler to convey orders to the Schuetzen.

      More significantly, in 1787 the Fusilier Battalions were founded, being converted from the three light regiments, five Grenadier Battalions, the 3rd Battalion of the Leipziger Regiment (No. 3), and selected companies of the Garrison Regiments. They received their

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