Free Battalion

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In the second half of the 18th century , free battalions and free infantry were independent military units that operated as light troops, independent of the armies fighting with rigid linear tactics . They are to be distinguished from the Freikorps .

Emergence

The term free battalion came up in Germany in the second half of the 17th century for troops outside of regimental formations . With the development of linear tactics, light troops had become necessary for outpost, security and reconnaissance tasks. The recruited soldiers should definitely feel "free" from discipline .

In the Austrian War of Succession , Austria used the Pandours and Croats for this. As a result, Frederick II created the free battalions, which operated independently and disturbed the enemy with sudden, surprising attacks. They were also used to ward off Maria Theresa's Pandours . In the Prussian army, free battalions consisted of infantrymen , hussars , and hunters and were often detached , i.e. simply attached. A battalion could contain about 1,000 men, often with a light battery of several cannons. In the course of the war, a total of 14 units were set up, mostly under the leadership of Huguenot nobles:

The advance of the Mayr Free Battalion (F 2) from the Prussian-occupied Electoral Saxony to Franconia in May / June 1757 became known.

With the transfer of the light infantry to line regiments at the end of the 18th century, the free battalions disappeared again.

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