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The Brandenburg-Prussian Army
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The focus of this page is the Brandenburg-Prussian army during
it's period in the Great Northern War, i.e. from March 1715
to January 1720. It will also though provide many details
of this army in the immediately proceeding War of Spanish
Succession.
As usual with this period detailed information is often difficult
to get and often contradictory. There fore I would welcome
any comments, corrections or additional information you have,
e-mail me at nick@wfgamers.org.uk
Finally I would like to thank Mark Stevens and Moshe
Malyevshevsky for their help with this page. Although of course
any mistakes, opinions, etc are my
Infantry
At the start of the War of Spanish Succession there does
not appear to have been a standard organisation for the
Prussian infantry. But during the course of this war the army
moved towards standardising both the internal organisation
of battalions and the number of battalions per regiment
|
Elector Friedrich III.
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|
There would appear to be two main internal organisations that were
used by the infantry in this period. Either 5 companies of 136 men
in a battalion or 12 companies of 70 men. This would give battalions
of 680 or 844 men respectively. Generally if a unit had one battalion
it was of the second, larger, organisation. While units with two
or more had battalions of the first type, the smaller ones.
During the course of this period the infantry was increasingly
standardised as two battalions of 5 companies of 136. So we see,
table below, units losing and gaining troops to achieve this. In
1713 there was a major reorganisation of the infantry when this
process seems to have been largely completed and a number of new
units were raised.
Grenadiers: There is no doubt that Prussian
units at this time included grenadiers. What though is less certain
is how many and how they were organised.
These are tricky to pin down
but I think I have at least a working theory to go on. First of
all the German source (translated via an online programme) states
that “In
1735 it received like all Regimenter — on the 1st of May for every
battalion a grenadier's company in addition.”. This is just one
of many references to the fact that it was not normal for Prussian
battalions to have a grenadier company before 1735. It therefore
seems likely that all battalions only got a grenadier company in
1735. This though raises two problems 1: how to explain the references
to grenadier companies before this time and 2: where were the grenadiers before this.
First
the references to grenadier companies before 1735. IR’s 3 &
11 are both noted as having grenadier companies. While for the landing
at Rugen, 1715 five grenadier battalions are part of the Prussian
contingent. The list also contains many references to “a company
landed in the 1st battalion on Rugen” in the regimental history
sections. Five battalions feature in these histories & the only
five unidentified units on Rugen are the five grenadier battalions.
Presumably then the company
landed was the grenadier company. Perhaps the explanation for this
may partly be found in the use of the word ‘company’ for what might
be just the collected grenadiers of a unit rather than an organised
unit. This would certainly make sense for the landing on Rugen –
a typical dangerous ‘grenadier’ type task? IR 3 though is noted
as having 3 grenadier companies while in garrison in 1717 and it
does not explain this.
Perhaps though
the clue is in another part of the text. It notes that IR 3 was
considered the best unit in the army and then says (in English translation)
“Out of from 1699 to 1718 it possessed — like the guard — three
battalions with a grenadier's company and other privileges”. Now
of course this isn’t wonderful English, but perhaps it means that
it had permanent grenadier companies as a privilege? It certainly
seems to imply this. While it also seems to imply that other units
did also, it mentions the guard but perhaps IR 11’s grenadiers are
another example.
But if some units had permanent grenadier battalions where were
the other units grenadiers. Well as mentioned above some times it
is likely that they were stripped out of the parent battalion and
formed into an ad hoc company or battalion for a hazardous task.
Usually though they would be spread in the ordinary companies. So
in translation we have “On the 1st of May, 1735 it received like
all Feldregimenter battalion a grenadier's company which were distributed
up to now to the companies, without flag” from our German source
about IR 27.
So my theory is that some units had permanent grenadier companies
as a privilege of some sort. It is impossible to tell from the information
I have if this was one of the five companies or if it was an additional
company, as it was later on. While the majority just had a proportion
in each line company. On occasion these could be formed into separate
units for a particular purpose but usually they stayed with their
company. The sources I have do not specifically state how many grenadiers
there were per company. But in 1743, the grenadier companies were
raised from 90 to 120 men, in both cases plus officers & bits,
I think. This would mean there were about 100 men in a grenadier company
before this and possibly might mean that something in the region of
16 to 20 grenadiers might have been in WSS / GNW companies.
See 'The invasion of Rugen' below for details of Prussian Grenadier
battalions there.
Tactics: The Prussian army official adopted
the 'Platoon firing' tactics developed by the British & Dutch
armies in 1720. Yet it seems very likely that the units that were
serving with the British & Dutch armies of this time were using
these tactics from circa 1702. While it is possible that they had
spread to units at home or serving with the Imperial forces as well
before 1720.
Infantry Units:
The I.R. column refers to the designation that the unit would be
given later on in the time of Frederick the Great.
btn / btns = battalion / battalions. large btn = battalion
using the larger organisation.
Sapherson = the number of battalions according to this source.
Where the first organisation or unit commander has a date it means
that the unit was formed at that time.
|
I.R. |
Colonels names & other names known
as |
Organisation History |
1 |
Barfus, 1702 Wartensleben.
AKA 'Churmark Garde' from 1703 ‘the Fusilier
Garde’
|
6 btns (inc IR 5), 1703: 5
btns, 1707: 3 btns, 1713: 2 btns. Sapherson:
3 btns. |
2 |
Otto Graf von Donhoff.
AKA ‘Alt Donhoff’ |
2 btns |
3 |
Leopold von Anhalt Dessau |
3 btns with up to 3 grenadier co’s, no
evidence though that 3 battalions were ever fielded.
Sapherson: 2 btns. |
4 |
Christoph Graf von Dohna.
AKA ‘Jung Dohna’ |
1 large btn
Sapherson: 2 btns. |
5 |
Schoning, 1707 Arnim.
AKA IR 1 names and 'Leib' |
Part of IR 1 until 1707.
1707: 2 btns |
6 |
Kurprinz or Konig (1713)
Frederick Wilhelm I.
AKA ‘Grenadier Garde’ |
2 btns. 1710:
3rd btn added. 1713:
3rd btn to IR 22
Sapherson: 3 btns. |
7 |
Christian Ludwig, Markgraf
of Brandenburg |
2 btns |
8 |
Anhalt Zerbst |
1 large btn.
1702: 2 btns |
9 |
Schlabrendorff, 1703 Wulffen,
1708
or 1713 Trossel, 1714 Johann Heiden |
2 ‘btns’.
1702 :2 btns Sapherson:
1 large btn. |
10 |
Frederich Heiden, 1703
Erbprinz of Hesse Kassel,
1704 Prinz of Hesse Kassel. AKA 'Alt Heiden' |
2 btns.
Sapherson: 1 large btn. |
11 |
Holstein Beck. AKA 'Jung
Holstein' |
2 btns. |
12 |
Margrave of Brandenburg
Schwedt –
Philip then 1712 Heinrich Frederick |
1 large btn.
1702: 3 btns Sapherson:
2 btns. |
13 |
Marquis de Varenne, 1715
Pannewitz |
1 large btn.
1702: 2 btns |
14 |
Brandt, 1702 Canitz, 1708
Prinz von Oranien,
1713 Finckenstein |
2 btns |
15 |
Lottum. AKA ‘Leibgarde’ |
2 btns |
16 |
Alexander Graf von Dohna.
AKA ‘Alt Dohna’ |
1 large btn.
1713: ex garrison btn added |
17 |
Sydow, 1703 Grumbkow |
Originally 2 independent battalions, unknown
size. 1702 made into a regiment
Sapherson: 1 large btn. |
18 |
Pannewitz, 1703 Tettau,
1709 Gersdorff |
1 btn, possibly 6 co’s.
1703: ex IR 1 btn added. 1713: 6 co’s
to IR 23. 1716: new 2nd
btn added – Swedish POW’s
See Notes below. |
19 |
1702 Albert Frederick,
Markgraf von Brandenburg Schwedt |
Raised 1702 from other regiments co’s &
bits. Had 12 co’s, 648 men in regiment (battalion?).
1703 : reduced to 2 btns |
20 |
1702 Borstel, 1711 Stillen |
Old units that had been reduced to company
sized garrison unit. 1706 re raised to 1 btn.
1713: 2nd btn added.
Sapherson: 1 btn. |
21 |
1713 Ernst Graf von Donhoff.
AKA ‘Jung Donhoff’ |
2 new btns raised source of troops unknown |
22 |
1713 Borcke |
Formed in 1713 from one btn of IR 6 &
another btn from garrisons |
23 |
1713 Kamecke |
2 btns formed in 1713 from troops from
IR’s 1 &18. |
24 |
1715 Schwendy |
In 1713 2 independent btns formed from
garrison troops. Became a regiment in 1715 |
25 |
1715 Otto von Schlabrendorff |
In 1713 2 independent btns formed from
garrison troops. Became a regiment in 1715 |
26 |
1714 Loben |
1714 made a regiment of 2 btns. Each battalion
was an old unit. One was raised in 1708 as Heiden’s btn. The
other was the former btn ‘Truchseß von Waldburg’ dating from the 1680’s. |
27 |
1715 Leopold Maximillan,
Prinz of Anhalt Dessau |
Formed late 1715 from Swedish POW’s |
|
Notes and other units
Infantry Regiment 1: Yes this unit
really had 6 battalions 30 companies! Even though this may
only have been administratively. Certainly IR 5 had had an independent
existence before this time and was separated again afterwards. It
lost 5 cos in 1703 which went it IR 18. In 1707 IR 5 was reformed
as an independent regiment after having been part of this regiment
it had 10 cos.
Infantry Regiment 18 & the Preussische
Garde: Sapherson has a 2 battalion strong unit called the
'Preussische Garde' in existence until it was disbanded in 1703.
The history of what would become IR 18 states that it was formed,
as a single battalion, in 1698 from detachments from the guard battalions.
Then in 1703 Tettau raised a second battalion from the 'Prussian
Garde' and added it to this regiment. It therefore seems clear that
by 1703 at the latest these two units were the same and may have
been earlier.
Grenadier Garde: Sapherson has this
as an additional unit to IR 6 above, with 2 battalions. They also
have an unusual organisation, 5 companies of 116 men per battalion.
Perhaps there were two units but more likely it seems to me is that
this unit is IR 6 in some earlier form.
Heiden's and Waldburg-Truchsess battalions
(Hei and WT): See IR 26. These two units were combined together
to form a regiment in 1714 / 15. Sapherson has the Heiden battalion
being formed in 1704.
Micrander battalion, Schoneneck from 1713
(Mic): This unit was part of the garrison of Kolberg in 1715
and may have been so for some time. In 1715 a battalion of IR 10
replaced it and it seems to have taken part in the 1715 campaign,
or at least the initial stages.
Marwitz Regiment, Schlabrendorff from 1703
(Sch): Sapherson lists this unit with 2 battalions but I
have no information about it's deployment or history. It may be
that this is a case of confusion with IR 25, which is otherwise
absent from Sapherson's list. But the available facts are difficult
to reconcile with this idea.
Corneaud Battalion: This unit, a
battalion, was formed in 1704 and disbanded in 1708 according to
Sapherson. While the regimental histories has the 2nd battalion
of IR 20 being formed in 1713 from a variety of sources. Including
the 'free company' of Cornuaud which it says was raised in1686.
I have no evidence for this but I believe it might be that this
unit had dwindled down to a company sized unit, or was a garrison
unit, at the start of this period. Perhaps then it was used for
active service or brought up to strength for the period 1704 - 08.
Following this it was placed in garrison and allowed to dwindle
in size before going to form part of IR 20. Alternatively of course
this might be totally wrong!
Pannewitz Regiment / Battalion: Sapherson
has a unit of this name raised in 1713. I think this is most likely
that this unit has been confused with IR 13 Varenne which is also
mentioned in his list. It may be though that this was an independent
battalion (probably) in addition to this unit. Or it may be that
it is one of the battalions which were formed in 1713 and subsequently
formed into a regiment.
Wolfenbuttal Regiment / Battalion (Wolf):
This unit which appears to be a single 'large' battalion
fought in the battle of Blenheim, 1704. It is likely that it is
one of the units listed above with a different name, possibly IR
9.
Nassau-Dillenburg Battalion: A unit
of Nassau troops that were attached to the Prussian army, returned
1711.
Schwerin Battalion: A unit of Mecklenburg
troops that were attached to the Prussian army, returned 1713.
Sidow, Prinz von Holstein, Billerbech, Barleben
and Reinach Grenadier battalions: See 'The invasion of Rugen'
below for details of Prussian Grenadier battalions.
Deployment
The table gives the know deployment of units at various key events.
'Y' = present but unknown number of battalions.
? = unit possibly present.
gren = grenadier company / grenadiers present.
something ? = see notes below
|
UNIT |
Hochstadt 1703
|
Blenheim 1704
|
Cassano 1705
|
Ramillies 1706
|
Turin
1706
|
Oudenarde 1708
|
Malplaquet 1709
|
Camp
1715
|
Wismar 1715 - 16
|
Rugen 1715
|
Stresow 1715
|
Stralsund 1715
|
IR 1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Y |
|
|
|
2 btns |
IR 2 |
|
|
Y |
|
|
|
|
Y |
|
|
|
Y |
IR 3 |
Y |
2 btns |
Y |
|
Y |
|
|
Y |
|
|
1 btn? |
2 btns |
IR 4 |
|
|
|
|
|
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
|
1 btn |
2 btns |
IR 5 |
|
|
? |
|
|
|
? |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Y |
IR 6 |
Y |
2 btns |
|
1 or 2 btns ? |
|
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
|
|
2 btns |
IR 7 |
Y |
2 btns |
Y |
|
Y |
|
|
Y |
1 btn |
|
|
1 btn |
IR 8 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Y |
Y |
|
1 btn |
1 btn? |
|
IR 9 |
Y |
|
|
|
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
1 btn |
|
|
IR10 |
|
|
|
? |
|
|
Y |
Y |
|
gren? |
|
|
IR11 |
|
|
gren? |
|
gren? |
|
Y |
Y |
|
1
btn |
|
|
IR12 |
|
2 btns |
? |
|
? |
|
|
Y |
|
gren |
|
2 btns |
IR13 |
|
1 big btn |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
IR14 |
Y |
2 btns |
Y |
|
Y |
|
|
Y |
|
gren |
|
2 btns |
IR15 |
Y |
1 btn |
|
|
|
Y |
Y |
|
|
|
|
|
IR16 |
|
|
|
|
|
Y |
Y |
|
|
|
1 btn |
|
IR17 |
Y |
|
|
1
big btn |
|
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
|
|
2 btns |
IR18 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
IR19 |
|
|
|
|
2nd Btn |
1st btn |
|
Y |
|
gren |
1 btn |
Y |
IR20 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Y |
|
gren |
|
2 btns |
IR21 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Y |
|
1
btn |
|
2 btns |
IR22 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Y |
|
gren |
|
Y |
IR23 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Y |
|
gren |
1 btn |
2 btns |
IR24 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Y |
|
|
|
1 btn |
IR25 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Y |
|
gren |
|
1 btn |
IR26 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Y |
|
gren |
|
|
IR27 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hei |
|
|
|
1
big btn |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
WT |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mic |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Y |
|
|
|
|
Sch |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wolf |
|
1
big btn |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cavalry
As was normal at the time Prussian cavalry was divided into two
categories -
Horse, sometimes called Cuirassier, and Dragoons. One of the problems
though
with the Prussian army was that during this period some regiments
were changed
from Dragoon units to Horse units.
As with the infantry there was considerable variations in the organisation
of
Prussian mounted units in this period. But also as with the infantry
the trend
was towards greater uniformity. This resulted in the reorganisation
of the
regiments in 1718 so that all units were of 5 squadron (10 companies)
of 120 to 130 men.
During the big reorganisation of the mounted troops in 1717 - 18
four former
Dragoon regiments were converted into Horse / Cuirassier regiments.
In the case
of CR 12 this may have been a case of formalising an earlier arrangement.
This
unit performed well during the invasion of Rugen and battle of Stresow
in 1715
and was probably raised to Horse / Cuirassier status at this time.
Although whether
this made any practical difference is difficult to say.
'Unit ID' is the units later designation in most case, i.e. CR 1
refers to
the unit that will become Cuirassier Regiment number 1 in the time
of Frederick
the Great. Designations such as CR H refer to units which did not
survive later than this period.
Often the sources I have use 'company' and 'squadron' indiscriminately,
so I
have indicated where it may be that the other is more likely. Also
they do not
always mention the fact but it seems likely that each squadron has
2 companies
and vice versa, this has been assumed in the table below.
'reorg' - The unit was reorganised into 5 squadrons of about 130
men at this
time.
Horse / Cuirassiers
In general the Prussian heavy cavalry of this period were organised
into
regiments of 3 sqns. Some units had different organisations but
during the early
part of this period they were changed to this organisation. The
notable
exception to this rule was the two guard units, the Gendarmes (CR
10) & the
Trabant Guard / Garde du Corps (CR 13). They were always non standard
units, as
detailed below. It seems that the Trabant Guard / Garde du Corps
(CR 13) was not
an active unit, it did not participate in any of Prussia's wars
of this period.
Instead most or all of it's personnel were transferred into the
Gendarmes. So by
1708 it appears that it only had a strength of 1 company and it
was disbanded
totally in 1713 only to be reborn when Frederick the Great came
to the throne.
Each squadron had two companies of between 55 and 75 men. This would
give
three squadron regiments of between about 350 and 550 men at full
strength and
including regimental staff. In 1717 - 18 a major reorganisation
took place. In
which some units were disbanded and all units were made into regiments
of 5
squadrons of 120 - 130 men, giving regiments of about 800 at full
strength and
with regimental staff.
Where the first organisation or unit commander has a date it means
that the
unit was formed at that time.
Unit ID |
Colonel's or other names known as |
Organisational History |
CR 1 |
Friedrich von Schlippenbach |
3
co’s (sqns?). 1704: co’s raised to 75
men. 1710
(or earlier?) to 1713: 534 men in 3 sqns. 1718:
received 1 sqn from CR H now 777 men & reorg |
CR 2 |
Kurprinz,
1713 Konig |
3
sqns. 1718: received 1 sqn from CR W & reorg
– now 806 men |
CR 3 |
Wangenheim, 1709 Hackeborn.
AKA The ‘Leib’ regiment |
3
sqns. 1718: received 1 sqn from CR W & reorg |
CR 5 |
Markgraf Brandenburg Schwedt,
Phillip, 1712 Frederick |
3
sqns.
1703: 3 sqns of 110 men. 1704 co’s of 75 men.
1713 co’s of 65 men. 1718: received
1 sqn from CR W & reorg |
CR 6 |
Hamel, 1702 de L’Ostrange,
1704 Portail, 1715 Wilhelm of Anhalt Dessau. |
3
sqns. 1701: 2 sqns with Aux. Corps.
1703: 6 co’s of 55 men. 1704: co’s up to 75.
1718: reorganised into 5 sqns, source of any additional troops unknown. |
CR 8 |
Markgraf of Bayreuth
Kulmbach. Christian Heinrich, 1712 Albert Wolfgang |
2
sqns.
1703: 3 sqns with companies of 55 men. 1713 reduced to 390 men, then
recruited back to 534 men and given an extra sqn from CR H.
1718: reorg |
CR 9 |
Schoning, 1703 Canstein,
1706 Katte. |
2
sqns. 1702: 6 co’s (3 sqns) – 437 men.
1713: 6 co’s (3 sqns) of 55 to 75 men.
1718 received 1 sqn from CR H & reorg |
CR 10 |
Natzmer. AKA ‘Gens
d’armes’ |
2
co’s of 40 men. 1704: 2 co’s of
75. 1713: co’s raised to sqns of 150
men, 3rd squadron added - recruited in Anhalt, 4th sqn from CR 13
added. 1718: reorg |
CR 13 |
Trabant Garde or Garde du
Corps |
2
sqns. 1708 only 1 co (sqn?) left – the
rest probably already added to CR 10.
1713: 1 sqn of 150 added to CR 10 & unit disbanded. |
CR W |
Wartensleben |
Unknown
organisation but in 1718 1 sqn each given to regiments CR2, 3 & 5
& unit disbanded. |
CR H |
Heiden |
Unknown
organisation but in 1718 1 sqn given to regiments CR1, 8 & 9 &
unit disbanded. |
|
Note: See also below for Dragoon regiments converted
to Horse / Cuirassier in 1718
Dragoons
As with the other arms of the army the Prussian Dragoons seemed
to have started the period with no standard organisation. But also similar to
the other arms units were standardised during the early part of the period to 4
squadrons per regiment. Each squadron had two companies of between 55 and 75
men. This would give four squadron regiments of between about 500 and 750 men at
full strength and including regimental staff.
In 1717 - 18 the Dragoon regiments were reorganised in a similar
fashion to the heavy cavalry, i.e. they became regiments of 5 squadrons of 120 -
130 men, giving regiments of about 800 at full strength and with regimental
staff. One difference was that many units were converted to Horse / Cuirassiers
at this time, or indeed early - see above.
Where the first organisation or unit commander has a date it means that the
unit was formed at that time.
Unit ID |
Colonel's or other names known as |
Organisational History |
CR 4 |
Wreech, 1714 Blankensee. AKA
‘The Leib Dragoon’ |
3
sqns.
1705: 4 sqns. 1718: converted to horse /
cuirassier & an reorg |
CR 7 |
Sonsfeld, 1711 D’Albe |
1703:
3 sqns. 1705: 8 co’s (4 sqns) of 75 – total
730 men. 1713 8 co’s – 520
men. 1717 / 18: converted to horse /
cuirassier & reorg |
CR 11 |
Markgraf Albrecht Friedrich
of Brandenburg Schwedt |
6
co’s (3 sqns) of 50 men. 1703: co’s raised to
60 men. 1704: co’s raised to 85 men &
2 extra co’s raised – now 4 sqns.
1713: 520 men, co’s about 65 each & later raised to 75 again.
1718::converted
to horse / cuirassier & reorg |
CR 12 |
1702 Hofstaats-Dragoner?,
1704 Wittgenstein, 1711 Pannewitz, 1715 Wilhelm of Anhalt Dessau, 1715
Portail |
1702:
2 co's strong staff guarding regiment (?).
1704: raised as proper regiment with 8 co’s (4 sqns).
1705 to 10: 3 sqns in combat. 1713: 8 co’s (4 sqns) of
75. 1715 possibly raised to horse / cuirassier.
1718: officially converted to horse / cuirassier & reorg |
DR 1 |
Ansbach, 1714 Veyne, 1718
Wense |
6
co’s (3 sqns) of 60 men. 1704: 8 co’s (4
sqns) of 85. 1713: 8co’s (4 sqns) – 726
men. 1717 / 18: reorg |
DR 3 |
1704 Defflnger. AKA ‘The
Horse Grenadiers’. |
Raised
1704 with 8 co’s (4 sqns) of 75 men – 5 existing regiments provide
men. 1705 to 08: 520
men. 1713: co’s raised again to
75. 1714: 4 sqns – 726 men, given title
‘Horse Grenadiers’. 1718 or possibly
1724: reorg |
DR 5 |
1717 Schulenburg |
Raised
1717 from 339 men of CR W in 4 sqns, recruited up to 689
men. 1718 reorg |
DR 6 |
1717 Wathenau |
Raised
1717 from 282 ex Saxon Horse & 318 ex Saxon Dragoons in 4 sqns.
1718 reorg |
Cavalry Deployment
UNIT |
Hochstadt 1703 |
Blenheim 1704 |
Cassano
1705 |
Ramillies 1706 |
Oudenarde 1708 |
Malplaquet 1709 |
1715 Campaign |
Wismar 1715 - 16 |
Rugen 1715 |
Stresow 1715 |
Stralsund 1715 |
CR 1 |
|
|
|
|
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
? sqns |
|
|
CR 2 |
|
|
|
|
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
|
|
Y |
CR 3 |
|
? |
|
|
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
2 sqns |
|
Y |
CR 5 |
Y |
Y |
|
|
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
|
Y |
CR 6 |
Y |
? |
? |
|
|
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
|
|
CR 8 |
Y |
Y |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CR 9 |
|
|
|
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
|
|
|
|
CR 10 |
Y |
? |
|
|
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
1 sqn |
1 sqn |
Y |
CR 13 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CR W |
|
Y |
|
|
|
|
Y |
|
|
|
|
CR H |
|
Y |
|
Y |
|
|
Y |
|
|
|
Y |
CR 4 |
Y |
Y |
|
|
Y |
|
Y |
Y |
1 sqn |
|
Y |
CR 7 |
Y |
? |
Y |
|
|
Y |
Y |
Y |
1 sqn |
|
|
CR 11 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Y |
|
2 sqns |
|
Y |
CR 12 |
|
|
|
|
Y |
|
Y |
|
? sqns |
?? |
|
DR 1 |
|
? |
|
|
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
2 sqns |
|
|
DR 3 |
|
|
|
|
|
Y |
Y |
Y |
2 sqns |
|
|
DR 5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
DR 6 |
|
|
|
|
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? = I have contradictor information here. The Leib Horse
regiment (CR 3) is listed at Blenheim and CR 6 is not. Yet their histories
reverse this situation, i.e. CR 6 is mentioned as present but CR 3 is not.
Similarly the Ansbach Dragoons (DR 1) are listed as present but according to the
unit histories they were not and did not participate in this war until 1705.
While the opposite is true for CR 7, which was Sonsfeld's Dragoons at the time.
Also The Gendarmes (CR 10) are mentioned as present in it's unit history but not
mentioned elsewhere. This is possibly due to their small size at that
time.
?? See 'The Invasion of Rugen' below.
It seems likely that the Gendarmes were present but overlooked
due to their small size. While there has been some confusion about
which of the units were there. I feel it is most likely though that
CR 6 and CR 7 were present.
The Invasion of Rugen
The invasion
of the island of Rugen was an operation undertaken in 1715 by a combined
Prussian, Danish, Norwegian and Saxon army. The allied army consisted of 8 Danish battalions and 16 squadrons, 2 Norwegian battalions, 10
Prussian battalions and 15 squadrons, 4 Saxon battalions and 2 squadrons, and 26
field cannon. Details of these forces and the battle can be found at Dan Schorr's Battles and Campaigns
and on the individual nations forces pages on this site.
This battle though does pose some problems when we consider the
Prussian contingent to the force. First of all 5 of the Prussian battalions were
grenadier battalions. Secondly there is conflicting evidence about the identity
of the other 5 Prussian battalions used. While finally we have an unidentified
Dragoon regiment there and gaps in our mounted OOB.
Grenadier Battalions: During the invasion and the
subsequent battle of Stresow the Prussian's fielded five grenadier battalions.
These were the battalions of Sidow, Prinz von Holstein, Billerbech, Barleben and Reinach.
Each of these units seem to have consisted of companies composed of the combined
grenadiers from a variety of regiments. I do not know how many such companies
were in each battalion or how big they were. I do though have some information
about which units grenadiers where in which battalion. Unfortunately the source
of this information identifies the battalions as the 1st, 2nd, etc rather than
by a name.
Known composition.
1st Battalion: The combined grenadier company from IR 22
2nd Battalion:
The combined grenadier company from IR's 20, 21 (?) & 23
3rd
Battalion: The combined grenadier company from IR's 14 & 25
4th Battalion:
The combined grenadier company from IR's 12 &19
5th
Battalion: The combined grenadier company from IR 26
IR 10 is mentioned as having 'companies' participate in the
invasion. So probably this means the grenadiers, possibly more than one company.
I have no definite information though about this.
It seems likely to me that the grenadiers from the ordinary
battalions that took part in the invasion would also have been in these units.
IR 21 may have contributed it's grenadiers to the 2nd battalion
or it may have contributed it's 2nd battalion as a whole to the invasion, see
below. If it was just it's grenadiers then they were in the 2nd grenadier
battalion. If not it is likely that the grenadiers were formed in to a company
and fought with an unknown grenadier unit.
Line Battalions: There seems to be considerable confusion
about which 5 'Line' battalions took part in these actions. First of all the
'Anhalt' regiment is identified, in my 2 sources, as present but
this might have been the regiment of Anhalt Dessau (IR 3) or Anhalt Zerbst (IR
8). It seems most likely that it was the second of these as the regimental
history also places IR 8 in the invasion force. While IR 3 is not mentioned by
either source as present.
This leaves us with 4 other unidentified Prussian 'Line' units.
The regimental histories give IR's 5, 9, 11 and 21 each with a battalion
present. While the account on Dan Schorr's Battles and Campaigns
site lists IR's 4, 16, 19 and 23 as present with one battalion each. In
the absence of further information it is impossible to chose between these two
alternatives.
Mounted Units: 15 squadrons of Prussian mounted troops
were used in the invasion. 11 of these squadrons are identified in the tale
above with out any problems, but the remaining 4 squadrons are not so easy. Also
we have an unidentified unit called the 'Dorsting' dragoons in the battle with a
strength of 2 squadrons, let us look at this unit first.
CR 12, which was at that time a dragoon regiment, is identified
as being involved in the invasion with an unknown number of squadrons. It also
is mentioned in the regimental history that this unit did well during the
invasion / battle and was subsequently promoted to 'Horse' status. It therefore
seems likely that this unit, CR 12, is the 'Dorsting' dragoons and that it had 2
squadrons. Especially as at about this time the commanders of CR 6 and 12 were 'swapping'
commands, possibly leading to a temporary title for this unit.
If this my theory mentioned above is correct this leaves us with
2 unidentified squadrons. CR 1 is mentioned as participating in
the invasion so at least one of the squadrons will be from this
unit. Indeed both could be from her or it might be that other unidentified
units were present. It is though most likely that the missing 4
squadrons were 2 squadrons from CR 1 and 2 from CR 12.
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