1st Royal Saxon Jäger Battalion No. 12

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1. Kgl. Saxon. Hunter Battalion No. 12

active 1809 to 1919
Country City arms Kingdom of Saxony
Armed forces Saxon Army
Armed forces army
Branch of service Light infantry
Type battalion
structure see structure
Insinuation XII. (I. Royal Saxon) Army Corps
Location see garrison
march Presentation march of the Black Brigade

Archer march (parade march)

management
Commanders See commanders

The first Royal Saxon Infantry Battalion No. 12 was an association of the Saxon army and was posted on August 31, 1809 by King Friedrich August I donated. It continued the tradition of the Saxon Jäger Corps.

organization

Insinuation

1810

  • 2nd Saxon Division
  • Light Infantry Brigade
  • 1st Light Infantry Regiment
  • 2nd Light Infantry Regiment
  • Hunter Corps

1813-1821

  • III. German Army Corps
  • Light Infantry Brigade
  • all 3 Saxon hunter battalions

1821-1853

  • IX. Federal Army Corps
  • Light Infantry Brigade
  • all 3 rifle battalions

1853-1866

  • IX. Federal Army Corps
  • Fighter Brigade
  • all 4 fighter battalions

1866

  • 1st Infantry Brigade
  • 1st Jäger Battalion
  • 3rd Infantry Brigade
  • 3rd Jäger Battalion

1867

  • 4th Infantry Brigade No. 48
  • Rifle Regiment (I., II., III. Battalion)
  • 1st Jäger Battalion No. 12
  • 2nd Jäger Battalion No. 13

1870

  • 48th Infantry Brigade
  • Infantry Regiment No. 106
  • Infantry Regiment No. 107
  • Jäger Battalion No. 12

1887

  • 64th Infantry Brigade (6th Royal Saxon)
  • Rifle Regiment No. 108
  • 1st Royal Saxon Jäger Battalion No. 12
  • 2nd Royal Saxon Jäger Battalion No. 13

1914 (peacetime)

  • 46th Infantry Brigade (2nd Royal Saxon)

After the mobilization, multiple changes followed during the First World War .

August 1914

  • 5th Cavalry Division
  • 11th Cavalry Brigade

August 21, 1914

  • 3rd Army
  • 48th Infantry Brigade (4th Royal Saxon)

Structure and strength

1810

When the Jäger Corps was founded, the total strength was 3 officers and 122 Oberjäger (NCOs) and Jäger (men).

1813

The budget was now 20 officers and 602 men, divided into four foot companies.

1866/67

With the restructuring of the Saxon Army, the battalion was increased to a total of 1000 men; further four foot companies.

1914

The battalion consisted of four foot, one machine gun and one cycling company and had a strength of 33 officers, 1269 chief hunters and hunters. Just three weeks after the mobilization, a second company of cyclists was assigned, and from 1917 a second machine-gun company was subordinate to the battalion.

Disposals and taxes

1815

During the occupation of France, all “non-Saxons” were transferred to Prussian regiments. The teams left over 50%. These departures were replaced with units from home.

1867

Surrender of the 4th Company to form the 1st Battalion of the Rifle Regiment 108. The 1st Battalion of the regiment was formed from one company each from the four Jäger battalions. Which company had to leave the battalion was decided by lot.

1887

The battalion had to hand over a company to the newly formed 3rd Royal Saxon Jäger Battalion No. 15 .

Armament, equipment, etc.

Armament

When the Jägerkorps was founded, every hunter brought a rifle, deer catcher and the "rifle satchel" (another name for knapsack) with them. At the expense of the royal treasury, the hunters were given iron sticks and "rifle stockings" made of capot cloth with linen lining to protect against the weather.

Needle gun

In 1820 the hunter battalions were equipped with rifled rifles to increase the accuracy of the troops. From 1836 the rifle battalions were equipped with percussion rifles and the percussion hunter rifle . With the incorporation into the army of the North German Confederation, the needle-fusilier rifle was introduced into the Saxon army. From 1871 the Gewehr 71 was used in the Prussian and Saxon armies as the standard armament of the infantry and from 1886 to 1890 the Mauser model 71/84 was the first multi-loader. From 1890 to 1902 the model Gewehr 88 and then the Gewehr 98 were used, later also the further development 98a. The soldiers of the hunter and rifle battalions always carried their side rifles (bayonets) and their hunting guns over the years . As handguns, they carried the M 79 revolver , the M79 / 83 Reichsrevolver and the M 83 revolver.

The MG 08

Since the fighter battalions were subordinated to MG troops, the MG 08 and the 08/15 were used as machine guns . The officers wore an officer's saber from the start; from 1867 the Saxon cavalry saber 67, a renaming of the Prussian saber 52.

uniform

Around 1900: green cloth, black Saxon cuffs (red protrusion), black cloth shoulder pieces with red numerals and red horn, shako with silver star and yellow coat of arms. From 1917 the shako was exchanged for the steel helmet in the field . The shako was only worn in reserve and when exercising.

Heraldic animal

The heraldic animal of the hunter battalion was a deer skull with capital antlers. This symbol was supposed to represent the battalion's origins. This heraldic animal was carried by all Saxon hunter battalions (including the reserve troops in World War I). In addition, each battalion wore the hunting horn with the battalion number in the stamp and on the shoulder flap.

banner

Despite repeated requests from the commanders of the battalion, no troop flag was donated by the king.

History of the hunter troop

Foundation and naming

Jäger Corps 1809-1813

After the Saxon king had to provide 17,000 soldiers to Emperor Napoleon in the summer of 1809 as a tribute to his followers, the country was almost demilitarized. Colonel Thielmann only had 1,300 soldiers left to guard the borders. Thereupon King Friedrich August I issued a decree, whereupon all trained foresters of the kingdom have to meet with Colonel Thielmann to found a new hunter corps. On August 13, 1809, the Saxon Jäger Corps was founded in Dresden. It consisted of 3 officers, 122 chief hunters and hunters. The first in command was Major von Carlowitz.

In the first years of the “Black Brigade”, forest and hunting services continued. Forest protection and the fight against poaching were also part of the tasks of the corps. The further recruitment of soldiers for the corps took place within the hunters and foresters also in neighboring principalities.

Jäger Battalion 1813–1821

The Jägerkorps was converted into a battalion, the best riflemen from the infantry were brought in for reinforcement, and the battalion was reinforced by a Prussian Freikorps. The budget was now 20 officers and 602 men. This made the battalion part of His Majesty the King of Saxony's regular troops.

2nd Rifle Battalion 1821–1853

By federal decree of 1818, Saxony's army was to form the 9th Federal Army Corps with the Electorate Hesse and Nassau .

The redesign of the Saxon Army was implemented in 1821 by establishing three rifle battalions. The 1st Rifle Battalion later became Fusilier Regiment No. 108 , the 2nd Rifle Battalion is the main battalion of the Freiberg Jäger, and the Jägerkorps (main battalion) of the 2nd Royal Saxon Jäger Battalion No. 13 became the 3rd Rifle Battalion.

2nd Jäger Battalion 1853–1867

In 1853 a fighter brigade with four battalions was established. The rifle battalions became hunter battalions again.

1st Jäger Battalion No. 12 1867–1919

After Saxony lost in the German war against Prussia and the Saxon army was integrated into the army of the North German Confederation , the Jäger Battalion was given number 12. It was the 12th Jäger Battalion in the German Army at the time of the German Empire.

garrison

After joining the North German Confederation and the reorganization of the Saxon Army, the Jäger Battalion No. 12 was housed in Zwickau. Freiberg had been the location of the battalion with its own barracks since 1867 . Just like the one in Dresden, the Jäger barracks was built in the city center. The battalion was to be relocated to Löbau in 1914 . However, when the First World War broke out, this did not take place, so that until the demobilization in 1919 Freiberg remained the battalion's garrison town.

Commanders

boss

Rank Surname date
Crown Prince Albert of Saxony ??? until 1873
Lieutenant General Ernst I. Duke of Saxe-Altenburg 1878 to 1908
Lieutenant General Ernst II Duke of Saxe-Altenburg 1908 until the dissolution

Battalion commander

Rank Surname date
Lieutenant colonel Nehrhoff from Holderberg 1866
Count of Holtzendorff 1870/1871
Lieutenant colonel from gravelly weather ??? until August 1, 1914
major by Carlowitz August 2, 1914 to October 19, 1915
Captain from Einsiedel October 20, 1915 to November 8, 1916
Captain from the gate November 9, 1916 to April 8, 1917
major Hassel April 9, 1917 to July 24, 1918
major of Kracht July 25, 1918 to September 21, 1918

À la suite

Rank Surname date
Colonel General Baron von Hausen from 1906

Campaigns

Fifth coalition war (1809)

On August 31, 1809, the Jäger Corps (later Rifle Regiment 108, Jäger Battalion 12 and 13) was converted into a brigade of light infantry (Saxon Jäger Brigade) and deployed to protect the state border. There were no front missions. The Jägerkorps was only occupied with securing the borders.

Wars of Liberation (1813-1815)

1813

The baptism of fire of the Jägerkorps took place on May 22, 1813 in the battle for Reichenbach, east of Görlitz . The Russian Arrièregarde was thrown from its positions by the light infantry. The next day the Saxons stormed Leopoldshain and took several hundred prisoners. The first casualties of the corps were four dead, 18 wounded and 28 missing. On May 31st, with the help of the Jägerkorps and the Le Coq regiment, the crossing over the Schweidnitz water was enforced. This provided a great relief for the French army on their retreat.

After the armistice agreed in June and the hasty completion of the budget of the Saxon troops, the Jägerkorps was sent to Berlin as part of the VII Army. After the victorious battle at Wittstock, the corps was involved in the heavy defeat at Großbeeren .

Saxon and Bavarian troops prevented the destruction of the French army and covered the retreat. The Saxon hunters were also used as flank cover at the Battle of Dennewitz on September 6th. The defeat of Marshal Ney cost the hunters one dead, six wounded and 35 missing (some of them continued to fight with other units and later recruited into the corps).

The retreat went via Torgau . The Saxon king gathered his troops here. They then marched to Leipzig together with the Napoleonic troops . From October 14th to 18th they fought on the French side. Then the Saxon king took the side of the Prussians and the troops were used to siege Torgau . At the end of the campaign the Jägerkorps consisted of only 43 men.

Awards
1814

As part of the III. Army Corps, all three Saxon hunter battalions marched towards Holland in the spring of 1914. Antwerp , Jülich and Maastricht were besieged. Participation in the battles at Lier, Bockhout, Wärlos and Natten-Häsdonk in February and March cost the corps six dead, 12 wounded and five missing.

1815

After the peace treaty of 1815, the hunter battalion was in Neuss , Cochem and Koblenz .

German-Danish War 1863–1864

The battalion took part in the Saxon Brigade under the command of Major General von Schimpff. From December 1863 to April 1864, the Saxon troops had to watch inactive and were only occupied with backward tasks and safeguards. In mid-March the Saxon Army began guarding the west coast of Holstein. In December 1864 the Saxon Brigade was transported home by train. Except for seven rounds of artillery ammunition, the entire brigade had fired no shot.

German War 1866

The Saxon hunter battalions took part in the battles of Gitschin and Königgrätz . In the battle for Königgrätz, the Saxon army corps was the left wing. Together with the 9th and 10th Infantry Battalion (later Infantry Regiment No. 106), the 3rd Jäger Battalion was the garrison of the small village of Problus. On July 3, the Saxons were attacked by the Elbarmee under General Herwarth von Bitterfeld. The 14th Division was sent on Problus. The three battalions managed to hold up the division for over six hours. Only when the Austrian Center completely collapsed did they have to withdraw. The defenders of Problus were the last battalions to leave the battlefield and rear the Austrians.

After the retreat, the battalion was transported to Vienna by train. The Prussians wanted to lead the decisive battle at the gates of Vienna. The Emperor Franz Josef agreed to the Nikolsburg armistice and the Saxon soldiers were able to return home. At the end of October, Saxony joined the North German Confederation . On November 11, 1866, after four and a half months, the battalion moved into its provisional garrison in Nossen.

Franco-German War

Participation in the battle of Gravelotte and St. Privat (August 18). On September 1, the battalion fought at Sedan . In late autumn, the hunters took part in the front line in the siege of Paris .

In November the battalion was subordinated to the Saxon Cavalry Division. After numerous skirmishes, the hunters gained grim recognition from the French. They were called the "skilled black devils" based on their black cuffs and shoulder boards. The battalion also took part in the decisive battle at St. Quentin .

Boxer Rebellion - China Expedition Corps

One officer, three chief hunters and 25 hunters from both hunter battalions took part in this war effort as volunteers. There were no losses.

Protection force German South West Africa

Members of the battalion who were voluntarily transferred to the protection force also took part in the suppression of the Herero uprising and fell. They were held in high regard in the battalion.

First World War

The battalion was deployed on both the Western Front and the Eastern Front.

1914

The first combat mission in World War I was the Battle of Dinant on August 15, 1914. Together with its sister battalion (Jäger Battalion No. 13) and two batteries of the cavalry division of the 5th Field Artillery Regiment No. 5, the battalion took over the place allocated. After the battalions had taken the place, they had to give it up again because the French attacked the place with a complete regiment. After the subordination under the XIX. Army Corps, the battalion was used to secure the advance towards the Marne, mainly as advance command and vanguard. In the small town of Mourmelon-le-Grand, the battalion was ambushed and the advance stalled. The village was captured and held with considerable losses. After support from the cavalry, the French troops were pushed back. The advance and the preparations for the Battle of the Marne continued. On September 26, 1914, the battalion's combat strength was only 17 officers and a total of 762 NCOs and men. The 2nd Company was withdrawn and sent to Mourmelon as the advance party of the division.

The following important information is missing from this section:
Unfortunately the time of the First World War is missing
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losses

During the First World War, the battalion suffered the following losses:

rank death Wounded Missing Captured
Officers 19th 35 3 2
NCOs (Oberjäger) 105 250 10 10
Teams (hunters) 775 2081 134 103

resolution

In December 1918 the battalion in Lichtenberg was disbanded. The tradition was taken over by the 10th (Saxon) Infantry Regiment in the Reichswehr .

Honors

The battalion received the emperor's badge several times for special shooting performance. This was awarded to the company of an army corps with the best shooting results. The badge was worn on the right upper arm of the tunic. It showed deer antlers with the respective year.

  • 1898 - Emperor's badge by 2nd company
  • 1899 - Emperor's badge by 2nd company
  • 1901 - Emperor's badge by 1st company
  • 1903 - Emperor's badge by 1st company
  • 1904 - Emperor's badge by 1st company
  • 1908 - Emperor's badge by 2nd company
  • 1910 imperial badge by 1st company

monument

On September 30, 1923 a memorial was inaugurated in Freiberg for:

  • the 1st Jäger Battalion No. 12
  • the Reserve Jäger Battalion No. 12 and
  • the Infantry Regiment No. 182 inaugurated.

The design for the monument came from the captain dR Göpfert. The execution was in the hands of Private Waldmann from RJB 12. It was built by 91 members of the above-mentioned units. The memorial stone was set up not far from the old hunter barracks.

References

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Captain Knight and Noble Lord v. Berger: History of the King. Saxon. Prince Georg Rifle Regiment No. 108 , page 84
  2. ↑ von Einsiedel: The 2. Royal. Saxon Jäger Battalion No. 13 from 1809–1909, Chapter 1: Foundation of the Jäger Corps
  3. ↑ Maximillian von Kracht: Das Kgl. Saxon. 1st Jäger Battalion No. 12 in World War II ; 1929 Dresden, Volume 58 of the Saxon part of the souvenir sheets
  4. ↑ Maximillian von Kracht: Das Kgl. Saxon. 1st Jäger Battalion No. 12 in World War II ; 1929 Dresden, Volume 58 of the Saxon part of the memorial sheets section 100 years of black hunters
  5. ↑ Maximillian von Kracht: Das Kgl. Saxon. 1st Jäger Battalion No. 12 in World War II ; 1929 Dresden, Volume 58 of the Saxon part of the souvenir sheets, page 366
  6. ↑ Maximillian von Kracht: Das Kgl. Saxon. 1st Jäger Battalion No. 12 in World War II ; 1929 Dresden, Volume 58 of the Saxon part of the souvenir sheets, page 367

Web links

literature

  • Artur Baumgarten-Crusius, Johann Edmund Hottenroth: Saxony in great times. History of the Saxons in the World War . 3 volumes. Academic bookstore R. Max Lippold, Leipzig 1919–1921
  • Maximillian von Kracht, Hans C. Poten: The Royal Saxon 1st Jäger Battalion No. 12 in the World War . (= Memorial sheets of German regiments . Former Royal Saxon Army . Issue 58). Limpert, Dresden 1929. Available online: digitized version of the Württemberg State Library .
  • Captain knight and noble lord v. Berger: History of the King. Saxon. Prince Georg Rifle Regiment No. 108