Grand Ducal Mecklenburg Grenadier Regiment No. 89

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Grand Ducal Mecklenburg Grenadier Regiment No. 89

Armpit flaps GR. 89 2.jpg
active October 1, 1867 to February 1919
Country Mecklenburg Arms.svg Mecklenburg
Armed forces Prussian Army
Branch of service infantry
Type regiment
structure See outline
Insinuation See submission
Location See locations
Former locations Ludwigslust , Neustrelitz , Güstrow , Wismar , Schwerin
march See regimental marches
Anniversaries Foundation Day April 3, 1782
Battles and skirmishes See mission history
management
Commanders See commanders

The . Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg Grenadier Regiment 89 was an infantry - Association of the Prussian army .

history

1701–1901 anniversary of the establishment of the Strelitzer battalion

The Strelitz Life Guard on foot, donated in 1701, from which the 2nd Battalion of the Grand Ducal Grenadier Regiment No. 89 emerged, had already fought in the War of the Spanish Succession . As a result of the subsidy treaty concluded in 1788 between Duke Friedrich Franz zu Mecklenburg and the Dutch inheritance holder Prince Wilhelm of Orange, the Mecklenburg troops served in Dutch wages until January 1796. After a few years of calm, the Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin was occupied by the French 8th Army Corps in November 1806. The duchy lost its independence for the time being. Thereupon the Mecklenburg troops were released and forced to surrender their weapons, only the officers and NCOs could keep their edged weapons. With the reinstatement of the Duke, the Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin regained its independence on May 27, 1807. In March of the following year, the Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin joined the Confederation of the Rhine . The Mecklenburg Brigade then formed four battalions with six companies each. On February 25, 1809, Friedrich Franz I issued the "Patent Ordinance on Recruiting", as a result of which the military structure and military law were changed based on the French model. The year 1809 brought further changes. The Infantry Contingent Brigade was formed on March 11, and was almost completely destroyed in 1812 during the Russian campaign. In March 1813 Mecklenburg-Schwerin left the Rhine Confederation. Mecklenburg-Strelitz followed on March 30, 1813 with its resignation.

From 1815 to 1866 the Grand Duchies of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Mecklenburg-Strelitz belonged to the German Confederation . The formation of the North German Confederation in 1867 was accompanied by fundamental military restructuring. In this context, the Mecklenburg associations occurred in the same year the IX. Prussian Army Corps . On July 24, 1868, Mecklenburg-Schwerin concluded a military convention with Prussia which regulated the transfer of officers to the Prussian army. Mecklenburg-Strelitz, for its part, signed a military convention with Prussia on November 9th. On September 11, 1868, the 17th Division held a parade in front of King Wilhelm I in Groß Rogahn , which symbolically sealed entry into the Prussian army. On the basis of the military conventions concluded on December 19 and 23, 1872, the Mecklenburg troop units were fully included in the budget of the Prussian army on January 1, 1873 . The Prussian army was responsible for the remuneration and supplies for the soldiers, as did all equipment for the troops. Although the Grand Dukes gave up their authority, the property rights to the military buildings and real estate remained unaffected by the convention. The regiment was subsequently incorporated into the Prussian army. The Mecklenburg regiments continued to be given the addition of "Grand Ducal Mecklenburg", and the helmet fittings continued to show the Mecklenburg state coat of arms and the cockade the state colors.

On June 3, 1882, the regiment celebrated its 100th birthday. The 2nd (Strelitzer) Battalion celebrated its 200th anniversary in 1901.

In 1904 the Werder barracks was built in Schwerin. The old quarter houses in the city were now a thing of the past. In the future, the Schwerin grenadiers received their training on the associated new large parade ground at the barracks, the Monumentenberg exercise area and in the Buchholz Forest.

After the decades of calm, the First World War , which began in August 1914, followed , a catastrophe previously unknown to the peoples of Europe. The regiment only took part in the fighting on the western front. After the armistice in November 1918, the remnants of the regiment were transferred to the Reich territory. The later demobilization of the regiment took place in the home garrisons Schwerin and Neustrelitz. The first global conflict of the 20th century ended on June 28, 1919 with the signing of the Versailles Peace Treaty .

Trunk and formation

Mecklenburg-Schwerin tribe

With a ducal order of April 3, 1782 and on the initiative of Hereditary Prince Friedrich Franz I , the reorganization of the Mecklenburg troops began. The new structure should be based on the Prussian military units. In addition to the bodyguard on horseback, three infantry regiments were formed, each divided into five companies. The reorganization also affected the infantry regiment "von Both" established in 1759, from which the III. Battalion of the Grand Ducal Mecklenburg Grenadier Regiment No. 89. The Grenadier Guard Battalion, founded in 1810, later formed the trunk of the 1st Battalion. Not only was the Prussian military structure adopted, the training of soldiers also took place according to Prussian regulations. After the death of his uncle Duke Friedrich von Mecklenburg in 1785, Duke Friedrich Franz I took over the management of the military associations. Regiment commander Hartwig Ulrich von Both (1712–1795) was then promoted from the Duke to Lieutenant General and his regiment was named Grenadier Regiment "von Both".

Friedrich Franz II later set the regiment's foundation day on April 3, 1782, the beginning of the reorganization of the Mecklenburg troops.

The following is the chronology of the line-up and restructuring of the main units of Grenadier Regiment No. 89.

  • 1759 - The infantry regiment "von Both" was established.
  • 1760 - The bodyguard on horseback was reinforced to 230 men, and Colonel Otto von Barsse became chief of the bodyguard.
  • 1785 - Infantry Regiment “von Both” was raised to the Grenadier Regiment “von Both”.
  • 1795 - Grenadier Regiment "von Both" was placed under the command of Colonel Leopold Winter and was named Grenadier Regiment "Winter".
  • 1800 - Grenadier Regiment "Winter" was placed under the leadership of Colonel / Major General Karl Friedrich Dietrich von Hobe († 1805) and was named Grenadier Regiment "von Hobe".
  • 1805 - Grenadier Regiment "von Hobe" was combined with the Leib-Grenadier-Regiment and formed into the 2nd and 1st Battalion.
  • 1806 - Mecklenburg lost its independence, the troops were released.
  • 1808 - The Mecklenburg Brigade was set up with four battalions.
  • 1809 - The 1st battalion was disbanded, II and III. Battalions were incorporated into the Infantry Contingent Regiment as 1st and 2nd Battalion.
  • 1810 - In Ludwigslust, the Grenadier Guard Battalion was established from the bodyguard on horseback. The battalion was divided into three companies.
  • 1813 - The Grenadier Guard Battalion was brought to four companies, in the same year the infantry regiment with its two battalions was re-established.
  • 1821 - The regimental association was dissolved, following formation to the 1st and 2nd Musketeer Battalion.
  • 1850 - The Mecklenburg troops formed the Grand Duke Mecklenburg Division, the Grenadier Guard Battalion and the 1st Battalion were subsequently incorporated.
  • 1857 - The 1st Battalion became the 2nd Battalion, and the Grenadier Guard Battalion received the additional designation of the 1st Battalion from this point on.
  • 1863 - The 1st Infantry Regiment was established from the Grenadier Guard (I.) Battalion and the II. Battalion.
  • 1867 - The Grand Ducal Mecklenburg Grenadier Regiment No. 89 was established on October 1st.

The 1st Battalion emerged from the Grenadier Guard (I.) Battalion of the 1st Infantry Regiment, while the II. Battalion formed the trunk for the III. Battalion.

Mecklenburg-Strelitz tribe

The consequences of the Hamburg settlement and the resulting division of the country led to the formation of a separate military contingent in the newly created Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.

The 2nd Battalion of Grenadier Regiment No. 89 had its trunk in the bodyguard, which was donated on March 23, 1701 by Duke Adolf Friedrich II of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. As a result of the death of Adolf Friedrich III. In December 1752, however, the Schwerin military moved into Mecklenburg-Strelitz. The Schwerin Duke Christian Ludwig II wanted to assert his interests. The crisis was finally resolved diplomatically by declaring Adolf Friedrich IV to be of age. Based on this experience, the bodyguard on foot was reinforced by a newly formed grenadier company in 1755.

In 1821 Mecklenburg-Strelitz had a battalion of only 720 men under arms. From this Mecklenburg-Strelitz Infantry Battalion, the 2nd Battalion of the "Grenadier Regiment No. 89" was formed in 1867. The following is a chronological overview of the line-ups and restructuring of the Strelitzer main units of Grenadier Regiment No. 89.

  • 1701 - Establishment of the life guards on foot.
  • 1703 - The life guards are increased on foot to one regiment, divided into seven companies.
  • 1705 - Dissolution of the regiment, the body company remained.
  • 1755 - The bodyguard was increased by a grenadier company, it was called grenadier corps.
  • 1766 - Two fusilier companies were incorporated into the bodyguard.
  • 1772 - The bodyguard is reduced to one company.
  • 1806 - formation of a battalion of four companies, the life guards were integrated into the 1st company.
  • 1812 - The battalion was incorporated into the 127th French Line Regiment.
  • 1813 - An infantry battalion of two companies was set up from the remnants of the crew.
  • 1821 - The infantry battalion was increased by two companies.
  • 1867 - Incorporation into the Grand Ducal Mecklenburg Grenadier Regiment No. 89.

Formations from 1867

  • February 17, 1916 - The 2nd battalion was wiped out at Miraumont , the remaining crews were formed into a company.
  • October 17, 1918 - Remnants of the I. Battalion were with the III. Battalion united.
  • 0November 2, 1918 - Remnants of the regiment formed into a battalion, divided into a grenadier company and an MG company.
  • 0November 6, 1918 - The battalion formed on November 2 was reinforced with four grenadier companies and one machine gun company.
  • December 31, 1918 - From the 1st (body) company and the 2nd company of the I. and III. Battalion as well as from the 3rd and 4th company of the 2nd battalion, a homeland security battalion was formed, which was under the command of Major von Brockhausen.

Assignments and statements

Assignments

Constellations

Members of the II. Replacement Battalion of Grenadier Regiment No. 89, Garrison Neustrelitz.

As a result of the introduction of the two-year service period for teams, there was a significant increase in the number of employees from 1893. The highest cabinet order of August 11, 1893 ordered the formation of IV (half) battalions in each infantry regiment, and this had to be done by October 2. On this order, an IV (half) battalion was formed in the regiment.

  • 1908 - Creation of a heavy machine gun company.
  • August 1914 - formation of the 1st and 2nd replacement battalions in Schwerin and Neustrelitz after the mobilization.
  • March 1915 - 13th and 14th companies are set up.
  • June 15, 1916 - The 2nd MG Company was reorganized from the holdings of Field MG Platoon No. 102.
  • September 24, 1916 - The 3rd machine gun company was created from contributions from the two other machine gun companies.
  • February 24, 1917 - The 2nd battalion was reorganized after it only consisted of one company during the battle at Miraumont (defensive line on the Ancre) due to the losses.
  • August 28, 1918 - Creation of a mine throwing company, formed from contributions from the 17th mine throwing company.

The castle guard

A castle guard was available to the Grand Duke in Ludwigslust as early as the early 19th century. The life guards on horseback did the guard and presentation duty in the ducal estate. Then the 1st Company of the Grenadier Guard Battalion took over the guard duty. From 1867 the newly established Grand Ducal Mecklenburg Grenadier Regiment No. 89 provided the castle guard for the ducal estate in Schwerin. The grand ducal castle guard was formed in the ducal castle guard company, which in turn was formed from parts of the 1st company. From 1882 the 1st company was named Leibcompanie. At the turn of the century, the body company was composed of an officer, a non-commissioned officer, a whistler, a drummer and 26 grenadiers. Their duties included the guard duty and the presentation service, which they performed at court festivities and as a gala guard. The raising of the gala guard to the ducal castle was always an event for the Schwerin citizens, in front the piper and the drummer, in the direction of march on the right the officer and on the left the NCO.

Locations

Root units

Grenadier Guard Battalion
  • 1810–1821 Schwerin and Ludwigslust
  • 1821–1837 Ludwigslust
  • 1837–1863 Schwerin
Infantry Battalions
  • 1808–1863 Wismar
  • 1863–1867 Schwerin and Wismar

Grenadier Regiment No. 89

I. and III. battalion
  • 1867–1918 Schwerin
II Battalion
  • 1813–1918 Neustrelitz

Schwerin garrison

1905: Werderstrasse barracks , view of Quartiershaus III., Later the team house III.

In the mid-1860s, the military administration began planning and building three quarter houses. The existing capacities of quarters in the city were no longer sufficient due to the steady increase in troop strength. As battalion quarters, the quarter houses were to accommodate four companies each with a staff of 125 men. Quartierhaus I. was built in Grenadier- (Friedens-) Straße and was occupied by the I. Battalion in 1871. The Quartierhaus II. Was built in Karl- (Kleine Wasser-) Strasse and served as the III. Battalions. In the quarter house III. From 1872 the Jäger Battalion No. 14 was housed in Werderstrasse .

Between 1901 and 1904, the infantry barracks, including Quartiershaus III. built in Werderstrasse . The new barracks should be home to the Grand Ducal Mecklenburg Grenadier Regiment No. 89 in the future. The old Quartierhaus II was then given up. On March 29, 1904 at 11.00 a.m., the Schwerin magistrate handed over the new barracks to the command of Grenadier Regiment No. 89. Grand Duke Friedrich Franz IV visited the barracks of his grenadiers on April 16. On this occasion he signed the grand ducal portraits that were in the companies' quarters.

In 1908 the parade house was finally expanded on the small parade ground of Reiferbahn. The horse-drawn heavy machine gun company set up in the same year found its new quarters here.

Another important part of the Schwerin garrison was the large parade ground on Monumentenberg, which is now in the Grosser Dreesch residential area.

The Werderstrasse infantry barracks were later renamed Grenadier barracks on the instructions of the Reichswehr Ministry on April 24, 1925. The barracks complex underwent major changes and expansions after 1933. The armament of the Wehrmacht and the resulting increase in the number of crews made fundamental modifications necessary.

The officers' mess

Separate rooms had been created for the care of the grenadier officer corps. Only the officers of the regiment and guests of their rank with a special position had access; simple garrisoners were not allowed to enter. The officers' mess of Grenadier Regiment No. 89 was on Großer Moor, not far from the barracks. The house at Großer Moor No. 30 was the residence of a division commander from 1863 to 1867, so it was already in "military hands". After the Grenadier Regiment was established in 1867, the building was given to the Grenadier Officer Corps for use as an officers mess or officers' mess. The artist and sculptor Hugo Berwald created a bust of Kaiser Wilhelm II in 1889 , which found its place in the rooms of the officers' mess Großer Moor. Another remarkable piece of furniture was in the small hall, a painting created by Theodor Schloepke , which shows the arrival of Grand Duke Friedrich Franz II on June 14, 1871 in Schwerin. The building was used by officers of Grenadier Regiment No. 89 until 1919.

Garrison Neustrelitz

Barracks Neustrelitz, gate entrance with sentry box

The Mecklenburg Strelitz Infantry Battalion was garrisoned in Alt- and Neustrelitz in its early days and was initially housed in private quarters within the city.

In the mid-1840s, the Grand Duke of Strelitz commissioned the court architect Friedrich Wilhelm Buttel to build an infantry barracks. The three-story barracks were completed in March 1846. In 1861 the barracks were expanded.

The barracks in Strelitzer Strasse remained in use by the II Battalion until the end of 1919.

The officers' mess

In the period from 1899 to 1900 the officers 'corps of the II. Battalion built an officers' dining establishment at Augustastraße 8, the construction of which was carried out by the Schwerin garrison building inspectors Oscar Wutsdorff and Georg Sonneburg. The villa-like plastered building was built in the neo-renaissance style in accordance with the planning draft . The construction costs amounted to 57,478 marks. After completion, the officers had a 60 m² dining room and other contemporary rooms at their disposal.

Until 1919 the building remained in the use of the Strelitz officer corps. Then the Neustrelitz local police moved into the premises. After the National Socialists came to power , the former officers' mess was used by the Reich Labor Service . In May 1945 the Soviet occupying forces took over the building. The listed building has been in civil use since 1949 .

Mission history

War of the Spanish Succession

The operational history of the Mecklenburg-Strelitz tribe began in the War of the Spanish Succession, in which the Strelitzers fought in the wages of the States General from 1703. On the basis of the contract of January 15, 1703 with the Duchy of Braunschweig-Lüneburg-Celle , the Strelitz main troop unit participated in the following acts of war on the Anglo-Hanoverian side. The personal company returned to Strelitz in 1705.

The Mecklenburg-Schwerin infantry regiments “Schwerin” and “Buchwald” also served as Dutch auxiliaries in the pay of the States General. Both regiments were ten companies strong, each with a manpower of 70 commons. The regiments met on May 20, 1701 under the leadership of Lieutenant General Anton Detloff von Schwerin and Colonel Daniel von Buchwald in the fortress Dömitz. In 1702 an additional battalion was set up on foot, which was later given the name “von Maltzan” battalion. The newly formed battalion was an imperial contingent in the service of the Danish king Friedrich IV.

The Schwerin regiments fought in the Battle of Hochstädt on August 13, 1704 and in the Battle of Malplaquet on September 11, 1709.

In the service of the Netherlands

Grenadier of the Subsidien Corps from 1788

In January 1788, the Prussian troops had left the Netherlands after fighting the patriot unrest. The reinstated heir, Prince Wilhelm of Orange, had to use the services of foreign troops, which were supposed to stop the possible uproar in the country. Duke Friedrich Franz zu Mecklenburg therefore concluded a subsidy treaty with the reinstated inheritance holder, which was set for three years, but was ultimately extended several times. For the following expedition 1000 men were sent from Mecklenburg. Including the trunk of the Grand Ducal Mecklenburg Grenadier Regiment No. 89, the Grenadier Regiment "von Both". In Schwerin, the Subsidien Corps was formed on July 20 , from the infantry regiment "von Gluer" under the command of Major General Dietrich von Gluer with his two battalions of four companies each, and the grenadier regiment "von Both" under the command of Colonel Leopold Winter. Major General Dietrich von Gluer became the chief of the subsidy corps. In the following days the Dutch General Freiherr von Rheden - envoy of the States General - inspected the newly established corps at the Schwerin Galgenberg. Then the soldiers put on the Orange cockade, before the troops had already had to take an oath on the new employer.

On July 28, the corps marched towards Boizenburg. In Boizenburg , on July 31, the troops were embarked on six Elbe barges, which then cast off in the direction of Hamburg and arrived there on August 4. From Hamburg the Dutch fleet with 26 ships took care of the onward transport of the troops to Herzogenbusch an der Maas , where they arrived on August 31st. In Herzogenbusch, the troops finally moved into their quarters in the Tolbrug barracks, and the following months were characterized by training and guard duty. On December 10, 1790, Colonel Otto Bernhard von Pressentin took over command of the Mecklenburg Corps after Major General von Gluer was ordered back to Mecklenburg.

There was no fighting until 1792. In December of that year, the Mecklenburg musketeers moved into the fortress of Grave , followed by the Mecklenburg grenadiers in January 1793. In Grave, the corps was ready for new tasks.

In 1793 Holland joined the union of the European powers against France. France then declared war on Holland on February 1, 1793. Subsequently, the Mecklenburg Corps temporarily joined the Prussian Army Corps and participated in the siege of Breda , which lasted several weeks . Here the corps was under the command of the Duke of Braunschweig. At the end of May 1793 the troops moved to Bergen op Zoom to occupy the forts on the banks of the Scheldt . From here, the battalion moved back to Breda in September, the deployment at the Breda Fortress lasted until December.

The stay in Bergen op Zoom followed until March, when the Allied troops began to move forward, and the Mecklenburgers also left the city.

In March 1794, the Mecklenburg Corps, together with Dutch and Austrian troops, was transferred to the Maastricht Fortress to defend it from the enemy. The siege of the fortress began in September. On October 9th, the people of Mecklenburg tried to break out of the besieged city. A column of 100 soldiers under the orders of Captain Hans von Both fought fierce battles with the French units, the outbreak failed. The circumstances and the heavy bombing by the French troops that lasted for weeks forced the occupation to capitulate on November 4th. During the surrender, there were signs of disintegration, with the Austrian troops also enclosed and looting as a result. The intact and reliable Mecklenburg Grenadier Battalion was only able to restore order with great effort. On November 7th, they marched out of the besieged city, and the Mecklenburgers laid down their flags and weapons on the glacis in front of the fortress. During the siege, the subsidiary corps recorded 30 deaths and 80 injured.

In the area of ​​Breda the corps then reunited with the Dutch army, the three battalions of the corps had a strength of 659 men at that time. At the end of November the invasion of Utrecht followed , where the corps received new weapons. After swearing in the province of Utrecht, the Mecklenburgers were used to hold down the population sympathizing with the French. The Maastricht surrender treaty forbade further direct use against French associations. The people of Mecklenburg put down the people's uprising in Utrecht on January 16, 1795 with armed force. The next day they had to lay down their arms again in front of the French troops, and they were now obliged to put on the French cockade . The Subsidienkorps then marched towards North Holland, where it took up quarters in the surrounding small fishing villages until June 1795. This repeatedly led to conflicts with the angry population, so the corps left the area and moved into a garrison in southern Holland. During this time there was mutiny among the musketeers of the musketeer battalions due to late payment of wages , and a musketeer Hennemann was named as one of the ringleaders . On the orders of the major, he was punished by Pressentin with "40" strokes of the stick. After the incidents, Colonel Winter tried to physically separate the grenadier battalion from the musketeer battalion, also to prevent the indiscipline from spreading. After the return of the corps, the events within the musketeer battalions as well as the behavior of some officers should lead to a court martial, some of the officers were sentenced to imprisonment in the fortress Dömitz.

During this time, Mecklenburg was hit by the effects of the French Revolution , so there were unrest among day laborers and journeymen in Schwerin and Rostock. In particular, the unrest in Rostock in February 1795 even led to the deployment of the Leib-Garde Regiment. Duke Friedrich Franz zu Mecklenburg therefore intensified his efforts to get the troops back from the Netherlands. At the end of 1795 the Duke finally managed to get his troops free from the Dutch service. On January 2, 1796, the Subsidienkorps began the march back towards Mecklenburg. The first officers arrived in Boizenburg on January 16th, and over time the regiment gathered. From here, the units returned to their respective locations.

Butter revolution in Güstrow

Market square in Güstrow, place of the action.

The Mecklenburg associations were also used against their own population. In October 1800 riots broke out in Rostock, which led to warehouses and shops being looted. One reason for the outbreak of unrest was hunger. It was the result of the lack of food, caused by bad harvests and the unheard of high prices for butter. On October 30, the unrest spread to Güstrow , where the Grenadier Regiment "von Hobe" garrisoned. When the city's poor, including day laborers and journeymen, ransacked the food depots, the military had already taken precautions. Because a few days earlier, the regiment chief von Hobe had ordered his soldiers on leave to return to Güstrow. The previous events in Rostock had raised awareness accordingly. As a result of the events, an angry crowd gathered on November 2nd on the Güstrow market square. The grenadiers then took up position at the town hall there. A short time later they fired warning shots. However, the crowd was not intimidated and responded by throwing stones at the soldiers. The angry crowd now attacked directly, whereupon four officers, 14 NCOs and 16 grenadiers were injured, some seriously. In this out of control situation, Colonel von Hobe gave the order to shoot into the crowd. Four dead and 16 injured were the terrible consequence. The shocked crowd broke up and dispersed around the city. In the following days, order was restored in the city by means of increased patrol duty. There was still need and hunger, and the military intervention did nothing to change that. After this deployment, Hobe's head of the regiment was promoted to major general. The knighthood also showed its appreciation and donated 1,000 Reichstaler to the grenadier regiment.

Coalition Wars and Wars of Liberation

On November 27, 1806, the 8th French Army Corps under the command of General Michaud occupied the Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, and on the following day the Duchy was taken into possession of the French Emperor. The events of 1805 were used as a reason, and General Laval then took over the office of governor on December 13th. Duke Friedrich Franz I and his family received a deportation warrant on December 22nd, and they went to Hamburg-Altona under Danish protection. On Russian intervention, Duke Friedrich Franz I was reinstated in May 1807. The Duke returned to Schwerin on July 11th, where he was received by an enthusiastic crowd. The following November, General Laval vacated the duchy. But as early as February 1808, the 67th French line regiment was sent to Mecklenburg to enforce the continental barrier, the regiment moved into quarters in Wismar. While the Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz joined the Rhine Confederation on February 18, 1808, Mecklenburg-Schwerin followed suit on March 22, 1808 with its declaration of membership. On February 25, 1809, Duke Friedrich Franz I issued the “Patent Ordinance on Recruiting” in order to be able to provide the required Rhine Confederation contingent. French military law and the organizational structure of the French military are introduced below.

Continental barrier

Plan of the Fährdorfer Schanze

Napoleon imposed an economic blockade on England, the so-called continental blockade . This became binding for occupied Mecklenburg from December 8, 1806 and was subsequently enforced by the French occupation forces. On December 12th, the Mecklenburgers received the order to report the English goods they had in store within 24 hours. The French immediately punished violators.

After the peace of Tilsit almost all French troops had been withdrawn from the country, only the guards on the coast remained behind. On March 7, 1808, the Hereditary Prince Friedrich Ludwig received notification from Napoleon that the further surveillance of the Mecklenburg coasts and ports would be entrusted to the ducal troops. As a result, on March 24th, a military regulation on coastal guards was issued. The responsibility for the coastal protection and the enforcement of the lock was now - from June 4, 1808 - with the Mecklenburg military. The French military withdrew from the task after handing over responsibilities. The coastline was divided into four command areas. The contingent entrusted with the coast guard had a strength of 960 men and was composed of the 2nd Battalion of the Leib Grenadier Regiment, the Hereditary Prince Infantry Regiment and other crews from the Schwerin garrison. A short time later these associations were reorganized according to the French model to increase their operational capabilities. After that, the team increased to 1124 men.

Command sections:

  1. Wendorf fortification , coastal section Wismar to Elmenhorst .
  2. Fährdorfer Schanze , Poel Island.
  3. Coast section west, Rostock to Warnemünde , fortifications Warnemünde and at Meeschendorf.
  4. East coast, from Rostock to Wustrow .

Since there were doubts about the loyalty of the Mecklenburgers, General d'Alton and his French regiments moved into Mecklenburg again in August 1810. They should guarantee the continued enforcement of the continental lock. Despite further reinforcement of the troop contingent, the block could never be fully enforced.

Occupation Swedish Pomerania

In 1809 there was a state of war between Sweden and France. The Mecklenburg troop contingent was then ordered on March 3rd to occupy Swedish Pomerania. From the II. And III. Battalion therefore formed an independent regiment. The teams of the 1st and 4th battalions (if they were able to serve at all) were integrated into the other two battalions. So 600 men could be provided. The march to the Stralsund operational area followed on March 16, where the regiment arrived on March 18. The service in the occupied area mostly consisted of several hours of drills in the barracks and training of their own recruits.

Schill's invasion

The battle area near Damgarten, battle with the Schill Corps on May 24, 1809

The monotonous barracks service in Stralsund only ended with the news that Schill's corps was approaching . Ferdinand von Schill had a large number of sympathizers among the regiment's men. However, a battle broke out between the Mecklenburg companies - which were under the command of the French generals - and the Schill Jäger on May 24th near Damgarten. So Schill should be prevented from marching on Stralsund. However, after the last ammunition had been used up, the Mecklenburgers had to withdraw from this battle, pursued by the Schill Hussars. Some of the Mecklenburgers fled to the northeast. Schill was then able to successfully surprise the Stralsund occupation, but without being able to stay in the city for long. He fell in a street fight on May 31, 1809, after which the city was again taken over by the French General Gratien . After these incidents, the remnants of the Mecklenburg II Battalion marched to Greifswald to reorganize. After this was done, the battalion moved back into Stralsund, where the 1st Battalion of the contingent regiment had meanwhile also arrived. When France and Sweden had made peace , the contingent regiment under the command of General von Fallois returned to Mecklenburg in March 1810. There the officers and men were waiting for the coastal defense service.

Coalition Wars 1800–1814

Campaign against Russia in 1812

Schwerin contingent
Mecklenburg in the Russian campaign in 1812
Rhine Confederation contingent Mecklenburg-Schwerin 1812, Grenadier Guard Battalion.

On February 5, 1812, the ducal government received the order to keep its Rhine Confederation contingent the size of an infantry regiment ready to march on February 15. Due to the short time, the target strength could not be achieved, so that the march was delayed until the beginning of March. The students from the Rostock military school were also integrated into the regiment.

However, part of the third company of the Grenadier Guard Battalion remained in Mecklenburg. In March the company was relocated to Rostock. This was followed by work in coastal protection and guard protection for a French camp near Barnsdorf.

In addition, 180 sick people remained at the site when they left. To make matters worse, the equipment of the contingent was inadequate, as was clearly shown by the clothing of the soldiers. The Schwerin contingent marched under the orders of Major General Joseph von Fallois (1766-1835) towards Stettin. Here General Defaix discovered the inadequate equipment of the Mecklenburgers during an inspection. On his orders, the contingent was marched to Danzig to complete the equipment there. In Stettin the Mecklenburg-Strelitz contingent was separated from the Schwerin contingent. The Strelitzer were then assigned to the French 127th Line Regiment. After this was done, the Schwerin family continued in the direction of Königsberg . On the advance, the people of Mecklenburg were mostly used for escorting the transport and for guard duty. The first task was to escort a large load of flour to be transported to Vilnius . On June 25, 1812, the escort crossed the Russian border. The desperate circumstances and the great heat led the Mecklenburgers to numerous illness-related absences. When they arrived in Vilnius, the people of Schwerin already had 300 deaths. The next job was to go to Smolensk. When leaving Vilna on September 21, another 500 soldiers were missing. They were either no longer able to march or died of illness. Smolensk was reached on October 9th. There the Mecklenburg troops found a burned down town. The destruction was the result of the battle of August 17th. On October 13, the association was used as an escort for a war chest that was to be transported from Smolensk to Dorogobush . The war chest reached its destination on October 18.

Major General Joseph von Fallois left the contingent regiment on October 23. The distance from the troops, under a pretext he wanted to get Winder clothing for the regiment, was a desertion same. The command then took over Major Hellmuth von Moltke, who fell seriously ill and died in the further course of the campaign.

A detachment of 150 soldiers from Mecklenburg, who were under the command of Captain von Berg, emerged victorious from a battle on October 25 near Jelnia. The department commanded by Hauptmann von Spitznaß, however, accompanied a transport of wounded. When the detachment reached the Berezina , it was already −18 degrees. The division met enemy troops there and was embroiled in a losing battle. The cold took its toll on this department too. After the division returned to Vilna, only two lieutenants and eight soldiers were still alive out of 180 men. The contingent, the main part of which was in Dorogobusch, had a total strength of 300 men on November 4th. The subsequent withdrawal resulted in more victims due to poor clothing and freezing cold. In cooperation with the Polish Dombrowski Legion , the Russian bridgehead near Borisov was stormed on November 21. On November 27th and 29th, the frozen Berezina was crossed. The chaotic conditions there and the icy winter weather caused further losses. On December 16, 35 men arrived in Koenigsberg. At the end of January 1813, the remaining survivors returned to Mecklenburg.

Strelitz contingent
Infantryman of the Mecklenburg-Strelitz Rheinbund contingent in the Russian campaign in 1812.

The Strelitz contingent - a battalion divided into four companies - was under the command of Colonel Christian Friedrich Ferdinand Anselm von Bonin.

After the separation from the Mecklenburg Schwerin contingent in Stettin , the Strelitzers were subordinated to the 127th French Line Regiment, which in turn was subordinate to the 3rd Division. This division was under the command of General Gudin . As part of the 1st Army Corps commanded by Marshall Davout , the division took part in the entire campaign of 1812. The 1st and 2nd companies took part in the advance on Moscow, while the 3rd and 4th companies were entrusted with tasks in the Vilna area. On the retreat, the 1st Army Corps at Vyazma was partially cut off in the fighting with Russian Cossacks. The Strelitz companies were almost completely wiped out in the course of the retreat.

At the beginning of February 1813, the remnants of the Strelitzer returned under the leadership of Colonel von Bonin, a total of 12 officers and 62 soldiers. In the following weeks the number of returnees increased to 162 men. Colonel von Bonin died on February 14, 1813 as a result of an illness that he had contracted during the previous campaign.

Strelitzer contingent deployments in 1812

August
September
Deployment of the Schwerin contingent in 1812

(Source: The Mecklenburgers in the Russian campaign in 1812. )

June
  • June 14th - arrival in Königsberg
  • June 16 - accompaniment of flour transport to Kovno
  • June 20 - the II Battalion arrival at Gumbinnen
  • June 24th - 1st battalion and regimental staff passed over the Niemen
  • June 25th - Arrival of the 2nd Battalion in Kovno
  • June 26th - 2nd Battalion escorting flour transport to Vilnius
July
  • 0July 4th - 2nd Battalion arrival in Vilnius
  • July 13th - Arrival of the 1st Battalion in Vilnius
  • July 26th - participation in parade in Vilnius
August
September
  • 0September 3 - the regiment is subordinated to the 9th Army Corps under Marshall Victor
  • 0September 7th - Battle of Borodino
  • September 21 - regiment breaks toward Minsk on
  • September 27th - Departure from Minsk towards Borisov
  • September 29th - Crossing the Berezina and arriving in Borisov
October
  • 0October 4th - the regiment passed the Dnieper
  • 0October 9 - arrival in Smolensk
  • October 18th - arrival in Dorogobusch
  • October 24th - Detachments of Captain von Berg, escort for General Baraguay d'Hilliers to Jelnia
  • October 25th - Berg detachment, arrival in Jelnia
  • October 26 - Night battle of Berg's detachment
  • October 28th - Return of the detachment from Berg to Dorogobusch
  • October 31 - Captain von Spitznaas, escorting the transport of the wounded to Smolensk
November
  • 0November 4th - Regiment received orders to step up to rear guard under Marshall Ney
  • 0November 7th - the Mecklenburgers received orders to hold a bridge over the Dnieper
  • 0November 9th - Skirmishes with Russian troops, Lieutenant von Suckow is captured
  • November 14th - the regiment enters Smolensk
  • November 16 - Russians attacked the Mecklenburg bivouac at night
  • November 17th - The Mecklenburgers used to cover the artillery in the battle near Krasnoi
  • November 20 - Escort for the baggage of Prince zu Eckmühl , defense against attacks by the Russians
  • November 23 - Battle of Borisov, Spitznaas division takes part in the battle
  • November 25th - "Detachement von Spitznaas", position of honor guard for Napoleon
  • November 26th - Spitznaas detachment accompanied by the prisoner column that had to be escorted from Smolensk. Beginning of building bridges over the Beresina. March towards Vilna.
  • November 27th - Crossing the Berezina, attack by Russian troops on both banks
December
  • 0December 5th - arrival in Vilnius
  • December 10th - The regiment leaves Vilnius, regiment strength at only 90 men
  • December 12th - Crossing over the Niemen, reaching the eastern border
losses
  • Officers: 25 dead
  • Teams: 1563 dead

Exit from the Rhine Confederation

On March 14th, the Russian Colonel von Tettenborn and his corps moved into Ludwigslust. There he handed over to Duke Friedrich Franz I in the name of Tsar Alexander I a written request to join the fight against the French. On March 25, the Duke, as the first prince of the Rhine Confederation, renounced Napoleon and then took the side of Russia and Prussia. On the same day he issued a call for voluntary hunter corps to be established, which should base their base on voluntary donations of material and money. Güstrow became the center of the establishment of these voluntary associations.

Wars of Liberation 1813–1815

1813-1814
1813, retreat area for French and Danish troops around Ratzeburg

The regular troops and the volunteer associations from Mecklenburg-Schwerin took part primarily in military operations in northern Germany. While the voluntary hussar regiment (C hussars) set up by Duke Carl zu Mecklenburg-Strelitz was also involved in the campaigns in Silesia and Saxony.

The Grenadier Guard Battalion was incorporated into the Mecklenburg Brigade in March 1813, which was under the command of the Russian General von Wallmoden . His troops had the task of taking action against the French on the Lower Elbe. The Grenadier Guard Battalion was divided into four companies, the 1st as the Duke's bodyguard in Ludwigslust, the 2nd and 3rd in Schwerin, and the 4th Company - the Guard Voltigeur Company - was newly formed at this point in Grabow . The companies each had a strength of 80 men, these were under the command of Major von Both. The Grenadier Guard Battalion with its three companies set off from Ludwigslust on the morning of March 27th by car in the direction of Hamburg. The march passed through Boizenburg, where the grenadiers received live ammunition. From Boizenburg we went in the direction of Lauenburg, here the companies united with the newly established fourth Guard Voltigeur Company. On March 28 at 9:00 a.m., the companies arrived in Bergedorf, from here they marched on to the outskirts of Hamburg. The adjutant of General von Tettenborn, Lieutenant Schelikow, was already waiting for the Mecklenburgers and subsequently escorted them to the city. Once there, the grenadiers submitted to General Tettenborn's orders. The following day, the Grenadier Guard Battalion held a parade on Hamburg's Gänsemarkt, and General von Tettenborn was impressed by the performance of the Mecklenburgers. The rest of the Mecklenburg brigade joined the Allied units in the Boizenburg area at the beginning of May 1813. These Mecklenburg troops took up their first position near Boizenburg, from where they later marched to Hamburg.

On April 7th the order came to move the Grenadier Guard Battalion to Bergedorf, where they were placed under the command of Lieutenant Colonel von Benkendorf. The battalion received a further 50 recruits as reinforcement. The companies returned to Hamburg on April 10, where they then carried out occupation duties in the city. On April 21, the battalion took part in a parade on the Heiligengeistfeld , which was held in honor of the English general Charles Stuart. The next day, another 50 recruits arrived, led by Major v. Bülow.

In the area around Harburg, French troops gathered their wagons brought from the surrounding villages, which were urgently needed by the allies. The French activities had not escaped the occupation of Wilhelmsburg Island. The Grenadier Guard Battalion also belonged to this crew. On the night of May 5, a company of the Mecklenburg Grenadier Guard crossed to the opposite bank with the help of six boats. Once there, it went against the French troops and was able to capture 21 vehicles. These vehicles were then brought to the port of Hamburg. A basis for the success was the fact that the Mecklenburg uniform of the grenadiers resembled the French uniform. During this venture, only one wounded man was recorded on the part of the Mecklenburgers.

The Grenadier Guard Battalion subsequently took part in the fighting on the island of Wilhelmsburg on May 9th. Here there was a futile attempt by Marshal Davout and his associations to penetrate the island of Wilhelmsburg. The deployment of two companies of the Grenadier Guard Battalion, which were held as reserves, is remarkable. Due to the precarious location in the southwestern part of the island of Wilhelmsburg, these companies were deployed here. Their energetic counter-attack surprised the French, so that they withdrew from this area again. The battle of May 9th ended with a loss of 200 men for the French, and losses of 150 men were also recorded on the side of the allies. On May 12th, the companies of the Grenadier Guard Battalion were again in action on the island of Wilhelmsburg. The counterattack under the orders of General Tettenborn was unsuccessful and the French troops were able to maintain and expand their positions on the island of Wilhelmsburg.

On May 27th the 2nd Battalion moved to Allermöhe near Hamburg. Tettenborn also had to evacuate Hamburg on May 28th, after which the French Marshal Davout occupied the city with his and Danish troops. The French troops wanted to pursue the withdrawing Tettenborn Corps. On the Elbe near Ochsenwerder, parts of the Mecklenburg brigade, Dessau hunters and the French troops came to battle at the Nettelnburg lock . The Mecklenburg Association and the hunters were able to maintain the strategically important point and prevent the French from crossing. The casualties amounted to 30 men, and the commander of the 2nd Battalion, Colonel Kamptz, had been wounded.

On June 5, a negotiated armistice came into force, and the regiment then temporarily returned to Mecklenburg. Crown Prince Bernadotte of Sweden was then transferred to command of the Allied troops of the Northern Army.

The Mecklenburg troops were placed under the division of General Eberhard von Vegesack . The Crown Prince arranged for the Mecklenburg Brigade to be reinforced by 650 men. Each company was assigned 30 men as reinforcements. General von Vegesack's division consisted of three Mecklenburg battalions, one Jäger battalion, four squadrons of hunters on horseback and two squadrons of Frei-Hussars von Schill. A total of 5395 men were under arms, plus twelve guns. After the end of the armistice on August 17th, fighting broke out again. As a result, Schwerin was occupied by the French. From the Mecklenburg Brigade only the hunters were involved in the fighting during this time.

On August 28, 1813 there was a battle near Rentschow, under the orders of General Vegesack the Mecklenburg brigade also took part in the fighting. The French and Danish troops under the command of General Toison could be pushed back, they were forced to withdraw via Wismar. On this retreat they set fire to the city gates.

In the course of September, the French and Danes withdrew to the area around Ratzeburg. During this period there were multiple front shifts and skirmishes on the Mecklenburg western border.

As a result of the Battle of Leipzig, the French and Danes evacuated large parts of northern Germany. The Allies pursued them, and there were minor skirmishes. An armistice was then concluded on December 15, and the Mecklenburg brigade moved into Lübeck immediately after it was concluded. The Mecklenburgers stayed here until February 2, 1814. The march towards France was then ordered, at which time the Hereditary Prince Friedrich Ludwig took over command of the Mecklenburg brigade. The march towards Jülich followed , and the brigade crossed the Rhine on March 6th. In Jülich, the Mecklenburg Brigade replaced the Lützow Corps in the siege of the city. The city was occupied by Swiss and French at that time. The besieged dared to attempt an escape, which was stopped after a short but fierce battle. On April 28, the Mecklenburg brigade was relieved here too. The march back to Mecklenburg began on June 7th from the quarter in Breviers. On July 11, 1814, the Mecklenburg Brigade made its ceremonial entry into Schwerin.

1815

After Napoleon came to power again in France, the Duke ordered the mobilization of line troops and the establishment of Landwehr battalions on April 2, 1815. On the orders of Duke Friedrich Franz I , the Grenadier Guard Battalion and the Musketeer Battalion united in Ludwigslust, where they kept ready to march in the following period. On July 7, 1815, the Mecklenburg contingent consisted of the Grenadier Guard Battalion, two Musketeer battalions, three Landwehr battalions and the artillery. The troops were under the command of the Hereditary Grand Duke Friedrich Ludwig zu Mecklenburg-Schwerin . This was followed by the departure of the Mecklenburg troops. The march led the contingent to Cologne , where it crossed the Rhine on July 31 . On August 15, the enclosure and observation of the fortress of Montmédy followed . The Mecklenburg associations remained there until they were replaced on September 4th. The next assignment was already waiting, the siege of Longwy Fortress. The contingent was then divided into two departments and placed under the orders of the Hereditary Grand Duke and Colonel von Both. The grenadiers positioned themselves at Longlaville, an estate of General Loison . The bombardment of Longwy Fortress began on September 9th. The French occupation finally gave up on September 18. The Mecklenburgers suffered few losses, which was also due to the prudent leadership. The Napoleonic era ended with the Battle of Waterloo on June 18th. On November 3, 1815, the Mecklenburgers were finally able to march back. After the arduous march back, the grenadiers and musketeers arrived in Ludwigslust on December 12th. The 1st and 2nd companies of the Grenadier Guard fell in love with Ludwigslust, the 3rd and 4th companies garrisoned in Schwerin again.

Strelitzer in the war of liberation

In response to the Grand Ducal appeal of March 30, 1813, a voluntary hussar regiment was established. The so-called C-Hussars served in the Silesian Army under the command of Field Marshal von Blücher until 1815 . The regiment took part in the great battles in Silesia and Saxony and subsequently in the French campaigns of 1814 and 1815.

Schleswig-Holstein survey 1848–1851

Grenadier Guard Battalion

During the war against Denmark , the Grenadier Guard Battalion, led by Lieutenant Colonel August von Plessen (1797–1862), was deployed. After mobilization, they were transported to the deployment area. The battalion was first deployed to Flensburg . There it provided the occupation from April 25 to May 16, 1848. The battalion was then subordinated to the Ranzow Brigade, which was under the command of Colonel Count Ranzow from Oldenburg. Starting from Flensburg, the battalion was relocated to Sundewitt near Düppel, where it was deployed in the outpost service from May 17th. In the further course of the campaign, the battalion took part in the battles in the area around Düppel , which took place on 28/29. May and June 1st. In the battle of Düppel six Mecklenburg soldiers were killed, 20 were injured and 18 soldiers were missing.

Strelitz Battalion

The Strelitzsche Battalion also took part in the campaign, for the time being under the command of Major von Krüger. After arriving in Rendsburg on June 29th, however, the Strelitzers were placed under the command of Major General von Rettberg. In Rendsburg, the battalion was used as an occupying force. The battalion had a total strength of 596 men, including 19 officers, 40 NCOs, 15 minstrels and 527 soldiers. The Strelitzer Verband remained in Rendsburg until August 10th. Following the order of August 6th, the battalion marched to Flensburg. Here the battalion was supposed to strengthen the Mecklenburg brigade in anticipation of an attack by the opposing formations. However, the attack expected from the north no longer took place.

On September 2, 1848, the order came to march back. The entire Mecklenburg Brigade then marched back.

Baden Revolution 1849

In the years 1848/1849 Germany was hit by revolutionary unrest , as was the Grand Duchy of Baden . In order to end this by force, the federal troops came under Prussian leadership. These included the four companies of the Schwerin Grenadier Guard Battalion.

In June 1849 the Grenadier Guard Battalion under the command of Major von Vietinghoff and the I. Musketeer Battalion under the command of Major von Koppelow were deployed. Both battalions subsequently participated in the bloody suppression of the revolutionary unrest. In this campaign, the Mecklenburg units were placed under the 1st mobile division of the Reich troops. During the battle near Ladenburg, however, the Mecklenburgers were subordinated to the 1st Neckar Division. The Mecklenburg units fought in battle near Waldmichelsbach, Ladenburg and Greater Saxony. In the last skirmish, on June 15, 1849 near Ladenburg, an officer, a non-commissioned officer and eleven soldiers died.

Mission history 1849

Map campaign 1849

(Source: History of the Grand Ducal Mecklenburg Grenadier Regiment No. 89. Schwerin 1895.)

  • At the end of May, the mobile contingent will be transported to Mainz by train and steamboat .
  • Taking up the position on the Baden-Hessian border.
  • June 13th - Battle near Waldmichelsbach and Käferthal
  • 15-19 June - Activities of the Neckar Corps
    • June 15 - Battles near Ladenburg
    • June 16 - Skirmishes near Greater Saxony
  • Quarter in Karlsruhe
  • June 29th - Battle near Gernsbach (southeast of Rastatt)
  • Quarter in Donaueschingen
  • September 12th - The battalions begin to march back to Mecklenburg.

German War 1866

After Mecklenburg-Schwerin had sided with Prussia, Grand Duke Friedrich Franz II issued the order for mobilization on June 21st . The Mecklenburg troops were then incorporated into the II. Reserve Army Corps. The regiment then moved by rail to Leipzig , where the Grand Duke took over command of the entire II Reserve Army Corps. The Mecklenburg 1st Infantry Regiment, with its Grenadier Guard Battalion and the 2nd Battalion, took part in the following campaign in Bavaria , during which a battle broke out on July 29 at Seybothenreuth . The Mecklenburgers won the battle. The contingent then received orders to occupy as large an area of ​​Bavaria as possible. There was no further fighting. After the end of the campaign, the march back to Mecklenburg began. On September 8, 1866, most of the association made a ceremonial entry into Schwerin.

The (I.) Grenadier Guard Battalion took part in the victory march on September 20, 1866 in Berlin. The participants in the campaign were awarded a war memorial on a black, white and gold ribbon.

Franco-German War 1870/71

On July 16, 1870, the regiment was mobilized. The 17th Infantry Division was initially given the task of ensuring coastal protection and was ordered to concentrate in and around Hamburg . The Grand Ducal Mecklenburg Grenadier Regiment No. 89 was subsequently relocated from Hamburg to Kiel on July 29th and 30th , as the troop leadership suspected the danger of landing attempts by French troops. The grenadiers should oppose a possible landing near Eckernförde . There was also the transfer to the newly formed XIII. Army Corps, which was made up of the 17th Infantry Division and the 2nd Landwehr Division. At the end of August the regiment was relieved and then transported to France. On September 1, the regiment arrived at the enclosure army before Metz . Subsequently, the grenadiers took part in the siege of the fortress of Toul until it surrendered on 23 September under pressure from the German forces. Subsequently, the associations were used to siege Paris , where the Mecklenburgers arrived on October 9th. October and November saw heavy fighting in the Orleans area. On December 4, the grenadiers fought at the Battle of Orleans and occupied the city the following day. The battles at Tours , Morée and Connerré followed . Then the regiment marched into Rouen . On January 31, 1871, the day of the armistice, the grenadiers stood on the right bank of the Seine as security against Havre and Dieppe ; the 1st Battalion in Pissy , the 2nd Battalion in Barentin and the III. Battalion in Pavilly . On February 19, the regiment moved into the area around Dieppe and witnessed the peace treaty there on February 26. In March the march back to the Mecklenburg homeland finally began.

The ceremonial entry into Schwerin took place on June 14, 1871. There, the Mecklenburg associations were greeted by an enthusiastic crowd. On the orders of Kaiser Wilhelm I, memorial services were held on November 26th of the same year, commemorating those who fell in the war.

Battle at Loigny

Battle of Lumeau / Loigny on December 2, 1870

On December 2, 1870, there were close encounter battles with many losses at Loigny .

The 1st Battalion of the Grenadier Regiment was assigned to the avant-garde for the advance on Orléans . On December 2, 1870, the battalion took up its position on the Chartres- Orléans road. The II. And III. The battalion had been left behind as a detachment in La-Ferté-Bernard under the orders of General von Rauch . On December 2, 9 a.m., the order came to take an attack position at 11 a.m. in front of the village of Lumeau . Upon reaching the position, the 1st Battalion and the 10th and 11th Companies of the Grand Ducal Mecklenburg Fusilier Regiment “Kaiser Wilhelm” No. 90 began to pursue the retreating French troops. In the following battles the commander of the Fusilier Regiment was injured, whereupon Major von Koppelow of the 1st Battalion took over command of these units of the avant-garde. Subsequently, the 4th Company, which met heavy resistance from the French, occupied the low wood south of Loigny. The 3rd Company and the Grand Ducal Mecklenburg Jäger Battalion No. 14 were sent in to support her . After their arrival, however, there was a counter-attack by the French associations. Then the 3rd Company and the Jäger Battalion had to retreat. Due to the critical situation, two battalions of the Hanseatic Infantry Regiment No. 75 were deployed. So it was finally possible to take the village of Loigny after a long house-to-house battle in the evening. Due to the losses suffered, only two companies of the 1st Battalion were able to form. These companies were positioned behind the Ferme Chameul on the same day, while the Mecklenburg Jäger Battalion set up in the Ferme Chameul for defense.

Battle calendar

Deployment of the 17th Division, battle near Meung on the right bank of the Loire
The Battle of Orléans 1870
  1. (Source: Battle calendar of the Franco-German War . Great General Staff (ed.).)
  2. (Source: History of the Grand Ducal Mecklenburg Grenadier Regiment No. 89. Schwerin 1895.)
1870
  • July 29th to August 24th - coastal protection near Eckernförde
  • 0September 9 - Battle at Bellecroix (3rd Company)
  • September 12-22 - Siege of Toul
  • October 10th to 0November 9th - Siege of Paris
  • November 17th - Battle at Dreux
  • 0December 2nd - Battle of Loigny-Poupry
  • 0December 3rd - Battle of Orléans
  • 0December 7th - Battle at Meung (without 2nd and 3rd company)
  • 0December 8-10 - Battle of Beaugency-Cravant (without 2nd Company)
  • December 13th - Oucques Skirmishes (2nd and 3rd Battalions)
  • December 14th and 15th - Fréteval and Morée (without 2nd and 3rd company)
1871
  • 0January 9 - Skirmishes at Connerré and Thoringe (1st and 2nd battalions)
  • January 10th to 12th - Battle of Le Mans
    • January 11th - Night battle at Pont de Gesnes
    • January 12th - Battle at St. Corneille

Loss figures in 1870/71

  • Fallen: 112 dead
  • Illness (deceased): 90 dead
  • Wounded: 234
  • Missing: 2

First World War 1914–1918

Course of deployment 1914–1916

The Grand Ducal Mecklenburg Grenadier Regiment No. 89 mobilized its battalions and the MG company on August 2, 1914. The first reservists arrived in Schwerin on the same day, they were led to the Werdertor barracks under the leadership of a non-commissioned officer. On that day, regimental commander Colonel von Busse handed over command of the mobilized regiment to Lieutenant Colonel von Wangenheim. Colonel von Busse then took command of the 34th Infantry Brigade. On August 3, the transport trains with 37 officers and 1,631 soldiers left Schwerin for Aachen. In Aachen the provision and preparation for the storming of the Liège fortress followed. August 4th brought the order to advance on Liège, around 12 noon the Grand Ducal Mecklenburg Grenadier Regiment No. 89 crossed the border with Belgium.

Battle for Liège Fortress, situation map from August 6, 1914
Liège, destroyed university square

In the association of the 34th Infantry Brigade, the Grenadier Regiment No. 89 played a key role in the battles around the Liège Fortress in August 1914. The removal of the Liège Fortress was one of the prerequisites for the operational implementation of the Schlieffen Plan . The task of the 34th Infantry Brigade was to carry out the thrust towards Liège from the north. The crossing over the Meuse began on August 5th, at 10.30 p.m. that evening the Grenadier Regiment No. 89 and the Fusilier Regiment No. 90 were on the west bank of the Meuse. However, the 34th Infantry Brigade had to do without the descendants of the light field howitzer division, this was due to the previous difficulties in transferring the troops. The units above the 34th Infantry Brigade then took up their starting positions. The advance began on August 6th at 2.30 a.m. from Hermèe, immediately afterwards the units were received by the cannon fire of the outer works. Three companies of Fusilier Regiment No. 90 turned in a south-easterly direction to take away the artillery firing from that direction. It turned out that the battery was in a fort and the companies had no way of penetrating. The main part of the Fusilier Regiment No. 90 pushed forward on the left wing of the attack unit. Heavy fighting developed here, especially in Bois de Pontisse. Due to the darkness and the weather conditions, most of the 34th Infantry Brigade came too far to the east. At dawn it was found that one was not in front of Liege, but in front of Herstal. Here the III. Battalion of Grenadier Regiment No. 89 in cooperation with Fusilier Regiment No. 90 in Herstal , followed by a bloody house-to-house fight. There was fire from the houses and the access routes were barricaded. Herstal finally had to be evacuated again, the majority of Grenadier Regiment No. 89 and the fusiliers of Fusilier Regiment No. 90 then fought their way up to the heights of Prealle. The 7th and 9th hunter battalions were able to take the village of Haute-Prealle, despite the flanking fire from Forts de Pontisse and Forts de Liers. At dawn, the brigade was largely scattered on the heights northwest of Herstal, these units received heavy backfire from the guns of Fort de Pontisse and Fort de Liers. In view of the situation, further action against Liège or Herstal was not feasible. The unit threatened to be destroyed, so Major General von Kraewel ordered his 34th Infantry Brigade to retreat at 10.15 am, which then took place in the next few hours. The units had to take the route between the firing forts, which led to further losses, and the remains of the units reached the right bank of the Meuse via a makeshift bridge. The Grenadier Regiment No. 89 had lost a total of 50 men in the fighting on August 6, including the leader of the III. Battalion Major v. Arnim, who was fatally wounded in the heavy fighting in Herstal. The total losses of the 34th Infantry Brigade that day were 30 officers and about 1,150 men. Lieutenant General von der Marwitz had the "34. Infantry Brigade ”in the Berneau area. Most of the 17th Infantry Division had been concentrated in the Mouland area and southeast by August 11th. On the evening of August 12th, fire was opened from the 42 cm mortar on the Fort de Fleron, at 6.45 p.m. the attack on Forts de Pontisse began. In the days that followed, further fighting broke out, which enabled the Liège fortress to be successfully taken away. The regiment suffered further losses when it stormed Liège.

The IX. Army Corps joined the 1st Army on August 15. Subsequently, on August 17, the corps joined the advance in the direction of the Gette section, which was still occupied by Belgian units. On August 21st the advance led to Waterloo , where the grenadiers took a short rest. During this time the regiment had a supply of 68 officers, 2,796 NCOs and grenadiers. In the course of the further advance there was fighting at the crossing over the Canal de Center and at Mons . The advance continued as far as the Somme-Oise Canal, which was then crossed at Jussy. The regimental association reunited in Pertheuis, and the march was then continued towards Morsains. At Leuze there was another battle, in which the machine gun company of III. Battalion involved. The grenadiers arrived in Morsains on September 5th, the following day should be used to rest. This “day of rest” on September 6th was ended, however, on this day the grenadiers and the Mecklenburg fusiliers were to be deployed at Esternay.

Skirmish on September 6, 1914 in and around Esternay during the Marne campaign

In the Esternay area, Infantry Regiment No. 75 and Infantry Regiment No. 76 were in heavy combat with opposing formations during the Marne campaign on September 6, 1914.

Coming from Champguyon, Grenadier Regiment No. 89 advanced towards Vivier, deployed. The 2nd battalion on the left, the 1st battalion on the right, the grenadiers moved forward on the same path as the Infantry Regiment No. 75 before. The grenadiers were discovered by the enemy artillery and taken under fire, but thanks to optimal use of the terrain, the grenadiers managed to reach Vivier without losses. Starting from Vivier, they took a north-west or west position on the embankment. The III. Battalion followed in the meantime on the same route staggered left. Behind the grenadiers followed the 1st Battalion of Field Artillery Regiment No. 60, which discovered the enemy artillery positions and opened fire on them. After the meeting of Grenadier Regiment No. 89 with parts of Regiments No. 75 and No. 76 at Château d'Esternay, Regiment Commander v. Wangenheim presented a completely unclear situation. The connection with the 34th Infantry Brigade was broken, the location of the command post of the 33rd Infantry Brigade was unknown. The regiments of the latter were pushed into one another, unified action was no longer recognizable. It was only known that the 2nd Battalion of the 7th Infantry Regiment and parts of the 1st Battalion of the 75th Infantry Regiment were in action near Châtillon, but that they were under heavy pressure from the enemy. Lieutenant Colonel von Wangenheim pushed the 2nd Battalion up to the main road to Esternay in order to hold it or to secure it. The battalion managed to reach the position despite heavy artillery fire along the railway embankment, the battalion remained in that position as it received no order to attack. The 1st Battalion took up position on the northern edge of the castle forest, from here it could be deployed both to the south and to the left flank. The III. Bataillon then gave the order to Lieutenant Colonel von Wangenheim to position himself behind the left wing of the regiment. The I. and III. Battalion were in heavy combat with opposing formations for the next few hours. In Châtillon there was a grueling house-to-house battle, which only ended when it was dark without any decision being made. The local parts of regiments No. 75, No. 76 and No. 89 gathered in the vicinity of the embattled village to care for the wounded. The I. and III. The battalion managed to maintain their positions in the area of ​​the palace gardens of the Château d'Esternay, with considerable efforts and losses, despite the massive attacks by enemy formations. A retreat would have meant the end of the German units fighting in or near Châtillon. There was also the danger that the whole front south of Esternay would fall, which was ultimately prevented.

In the battles in and around Esternay, the "Grenadier Regiment No. 89" as well as the Hanseatic Infantry Regiments No. 75 a. 76 heavy losses. In total, the No. 89 Grenadier Regiment had lost around 300 men that day, either dead or wounded.

This was followed by retreats into the Aisne area between September 6 and 14 . Until September 27, 1914 there was heavy fighting in this area without any success for the German side. With the solidification front, the grueling began trench warfare . The fighting on the Aisne was to last for the regiment until mid-October 1915.

Grenadier Regiment No. 89 (2nd Battalion) in the Vosges in the spring of 1915

On January 3, 1915, the 2nd Battalion temporarily withdrew from the regimental association. For the Strelitzers the use in the battle for the Hartmannsweiler Kopf in Alsace followed. Battalion commander Hauptmann Eugen von Wartenberg was injured in the fighting on January 21st, and Oberleutnant von Düring then temporarily took over command of the battalion. Major Eugen von Wartenberg received the Iron Cross 1st Class on January 27 for his achievements in the defensive battle for Carlepont in the Christmas days of the previous year , and he also received the Mecklenburg-Strelitz Cross of Merit 1st Class. The Strelitzer battalion was engaged in heavy fighting over the next few months, and the Mecklenburg Jäger Battalion No. 14 at Hartmannsweiler Kopf was deployed with them. The I. and III. Battalion continued to hold their positions on the Aisne at this time. On April 9, the 2nd Battalion rejoined the regimental association.

On the night of October 11th to 12th, the Grenadier Regiment No. 89 was detached from the infantry regiment "Grand Duke of Saxony" (5th Thuringian) No. 94 from the section of the front on the Aisne. The following day the regiment was loaded into Appilly . The journey led via Laon to Attigny and Vrizy , where the regiment was unloaded. In the new section of the front, work began on the expansion of the positions there, which only comprised a trench on arrival . This was followed by a war of several months in Champagne, which was to last until June 1916.

Course of deployment 1916–1918

In February 1916 the planning for the attack on Verdun began . February 22nd was scheduled as the day of the attack. Parts of the Grenadier Regiment were therefore detached from their front section on February 16 and 17, 1916. The grenadiers were then transferred to the Semide camp to practice the attack on the Navarin Ferme. On February 27, 1916 the time had come, after the effective shooting of the mine throwers and the artillery , the grenadiers set out to attack, followed by the obstacle construction companies. The meticulously prepared attack plan was carried out, which also provided for the use of flamethrowers . The force of the action ensured that the French position could be taken. The retreating French associations were then followed up. Their own barrage - which prevented the enemy's supply of reserves - put an end to the pursuit in front of Souain . The day's military action was a success. The losses were considerable, 3 officers and 68 grenadiers died that day. The 263 wounded grenadiers were brought to the rear, depending on the severity of the injury. In the command post of the General Command, Grand Duke Friedrich Franz IV of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Grand Duke Adolf Friedrich VI. von Mecklenburg-Strelitz followed the action of the grenadiers that day.

Battle of the Somme, the situation on August 28, 1916.

On June 13 and 14, 1916, the Grenadier Regiment No. 89 was replaced by the Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 98 in its front section, followed by the rest and training period in Mézières . Some Mecklenburgers were granted home leave during this time, which ended abruptly on July 2nd. At this time the French offensive began on the Somme , the French units started their attacks in the northern and southern areas of the Somme. The regiment moved to Saint-Quentin by rail on July 3rd and 4th . Arrived here, the regiment released the "Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 65" from the front section south of Barleux on July 7th and 8th , always in the dark. The regiment was already engaged in heavy fighting on the following day, but the fighting increased in intensity and should last until July 19. The mutual artillery fire lasted for days, and the fire continued unabated during the nights. The fight in this section of the front continued for the next few weeks, only individual units could be brought to Mons-en-Chaussée for refreshment on a daily basis during this time of the Somme battle . On September 7th, the fighting finally subsided, the attempt of the French units to break through had failed. On September 11th, the regiment was replaced by the "Prince Johann Georg" Infantry Regiment (8th Royal Saxon) No. 107 ". The regimental commander Curt von Wangenheim received the Order of the Crown, 2nd class with swords , because of the achievements shown in the Somme battle . After these heavy fighting, the Grand Ducal Mecklenburg Grenadier Regiment No. 89 transferred to the reserve of the " Quast Army Group ".

The Grenadier Regiment and the other units of the 17th Infantry Division were then transported to the Artois . Here the Mecklenburg grenadiers took over a section of the front opposite Arras, from Roulincourt to west of Tilloy, with relatively little enemy combat activity. In this section only patrols and small operations were to be carried out, after the weeks of the Somme battle this was equivalent to a recovery. On January 5, 1917, the order came to relocate to the area of ​​the Ancre brook.

In the Ancre area, the regiment was supposed to be the equivalent of the “56. Infanterie-Division "detach the fighting infantry regiment" Prinz Carl "(4th Grand Ducal Hessian) No. 118 from its front section. Finally, on January 6, the transport to the Ancre area began. In wintry conditions, trench warfare broke out over the next few weeks, and the newly allocated section of the front was partly in the marshland of the Ancre. In the middle of February, the regiment moved back to the newly built Siegfriedstellung , where the entire front was moved back by February 22nd. During the fighting at Miraumont , the combat strength of the 2nd battalion shrank to the strength of a company due to the heavy losses. The battalion therefore had to be reorganized on February 28th. Starting from the Siegfried position, the Mecklenburg grenadiers were transferred to the resting quarters near Cambrai on March 20, where they remained until the beginning of April.

The Battle of Arras, The Situation on April 9, 1917.

On April 9, 1917, the English units started their offensive near Arras, the prelude to the spring battle of Arras . The IX. Army Corps was located south of Scarpe . On a front length of 28 km, the German units were pushed back approx. 8 km. Strategically important points such as the Vimy height and the right wing of the Siegfriedstellung fell into the hands of the English associations. However , they could not achieve their primary goal, the breakthrough at Cambrai and Douai . The stubborn resistance of the German troops prevented the enemy troops from advancing further. In the early phase of the battle, the 1st and 2nd Battalions were to be deployed in the front section of the 1st Bavarian Reserve Division to support the threatened southern flank near Bailleul. When approaching there, the battalions had to turn because the withdrawal of parts of the 14th Bavarian Infantry Division created a gap in the southern flank of the Vimy group. At this point the Mecklenburg grenadiers were supposed to close the gap with a bolt. The grenadiers immediately started the work on the entrenchment, which was difficult due to the adverse weather conditions. The right wing of the Grenadier Regiment joined the 1st Bavarian Reserve Division at the Bailleul cemetery , while the left wing joined the 14th Bavarian Infantry Division at Gavrelle. The III. Battalion was then drawn up from Oppy on the night of April 10th. The Grenadier Regiment No. 89 contributed to the consolidation of the sector.

With strong artillery support, the English units launched an attack on April 10th, and there was now a danger that these units would stabbed the rear of the Royal Bavarian Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 2 fighting west of Bailleul. The Bavarian Association avoided the attempt by the English to circumvent the embankment there. At the same time, the 9th Company of the Mecklenburg Grenadiers went over to counterattack to relieve the Bavarian Association. The project succeeded, the attacking movement of the British fell into disorder. The Royal Bavarian Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 2 was now able to withdraw in an orderly manner behind the railway line. The front was withdrawn over the next few nights, and on April 16 the regiment was transferred to Vitry and Brebières as a corps reserve . The II. Battalion suffered some losses from enemy artillery fire in Vitry, so it was moved to Brebières, the III. Battalion, however, moved to Corbehem . The German counter-attacks on April 23 and 24 to recapture Gavrelle, in which battalions of Grenadier Regiment No. 89 were also used, were remarkable. Even before Gavrelle, from the direction of the Gavrelle-Roux road, the grenadiers were struck by heavy machine-gun fire from the English, which led to the heaviest losses. In the course of this battle, the commander of the Strelitz battalion, Captain von Alt-Stutterheim, also fell.

In recognition of the achievements at the Battle of Arras, the regimental commander Curt von Wangenheim was later awarded the order Pour le Mérite . On April 27, the grenadiers were replaced by the Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 65, followed by transport to Sin-le-Noble . From there it was transferred to a section of the front near Cambrai , which had relatively little combat activity. The replacement brought in from Mecklenburg was trained here. During this phase, regimental commander Colonel Curt von Wangenheim handed over the regimental leadership to his successor Major Röder von Diersburg, and Colonel von Wangenheim took over the command of the 34th (Grand Ducal Mecklenburg) Infantry Brigade on April 29th . Beginning May 27th, the regiment was relieved from their positions by Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 60 of the 221st Infantry Division. The nocturnal detachment of the units from the front was finally ended on May 29, accompanied by a gas attack. On June 6th, the transport began from the Cambrai-Aneexe train station in the direction of Bellwarde, the new location in Flanders.

The regiment arrived in Bellwarde on June 7, 1917, east of Ypres . The grenadiers were given the task of preparing the battle area in the front line up to the Wilhelm position for the upcoming defensive battle. Here, too, they faced English associations. The following gas attacks led to considerable losses, in addition to the bad weather, which turned the funnel field of the front into a mud desert. There was a lack of supplies and food, so the troops' exhaustion was becoming increasingly threatening. The Grenadier Regiment No. 89 was able to maintain its position despite the barrage and the continuous attacks of the enemy. The 30th of July then brought the hoped-for replacement, following which the positions were taken over by the 6th Thuringian Infantry Regiment No. 95 of the 38th Infantry Division. On July 30th and 31st, the regiment was transferred to the area of ​​Cambrai. Once there, the grenadiers moved into their temporary resting quarters. In the days of August 7th and 8th, the Mecklenburg units then detach Infantry Regiment No. 60 from their section of the front. The new position was south of the Cambrai-Baupame road. Days of trench warfare with little fighting followed. On September 22nd, the regiment was relieved from this sector by units of the 204th Infantry Division.

Polygon forest combat area, operational area of ​​the 89s in October 1917

The next change of position will take place between September 22nd and 24th, from Cambrai the regimental association will be relocated to Harlebeke in Flanders. On September 26th the regiment was already in the middle of the fighting in the defensive battle in Flanders ; the grenadiers had the task of setting up a counterattack against the invading English units in the polygon forest. These had advanced deep into the front section of the 50th Reserve Infantry Division. There is heavy fighting and continuous artillery fire in this section. On September 29, the regiment was detached from the front section and then marched towards Halluin . In Halluin, the 17th Infantry Division was ready as an "intervention division"; here the grenadiers had a rest period until October 3rd.

On October 4th, massive barrage triggered the attack by the English units north of the Menin- Ypres Strait. The 17th Infantry Division is used here as an intervention division, its units should take possession of the lost positions again. Regimental commander Major von Quednow instructs the battalion leaders in his command post, which was housed in a house that was shot down. At 12 noon that day, Grenadier Regiment No. 89 took to the front section of the Polderhoek Castle Park to attack. Thereupon the grenadiers advance against the English units in the approx. 500 to 600 meter wide castle forest, they withdraw. The fighting broke out and continued up to the Polderhoek hill. Here the opposing soldiers hold out for some time, but are forced to retreat shortly afterwards in hand grenade combat. The grenadiers remain in the positions they have captured until October 5 or 6, when they are relieved and go back to Halluin. The mission in this defensive battle ended on October 9, the losses were considerable. The entire 17th Infantry Division was pulled out of the fight because the combat strength was so low. The soldiers of the regiment were given the highest recognition for their commitment, regiment commander Major von Quednow is later awarded the Knight's Cross of the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern with Swords. On October 10th the regiment is transferred to the resting quarters at Mouscron . Here the refreshment took place with replacement, which however steadily decreased in combat value with the duration of the war. The 17th Infantry Division then transfers to the 6th Army .

After a two-day rest period, the regiment is relocated south of Lens together with the Fusilier Regiment No. 90 and the Hanseatic Infantry Regiments No. 75 and No. 76 . The positions there were hardly developed, so the digging work had priority for the time being. At that time the regiment's companies had a combat strength of only 80 men each. At first the combat activity of the enemy units in this area was low, but the situation made it necessary to expand the regimental borders. With this measure the supply or the supply of new units for the 4th Army was secured. The units of the regiment were soon entrusted with patrols in the front section. By the end of November 1917, the Winterfest positions had been expanded. In the new year combat activity revived, it reached its peak on February 12, 1918. On February 15, the German units launched a gas attack in this area of ​​the front, the throwers covered the opposing front area with phosgene and blue cross grenades. The gas war, terrible everyday life for the soldiers of the nations involved in the war. In the days from February 16 to 18, the regiment is gradually relieved from the front section, the front section is taken over by the Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 23. The regiment is temporarily withdrawn from the front, from this point on it becomes an intervention regiment positioned in the rear area. In the following period the companies could be brought back to the combat strength of 200 men each with the replacement. On March 17th, the preparation for the "great battle in France" began. Grenadier Regiment No. 89 reached the starting position for the attack on the English units on the evening of March 20th.

On March 21, at 5:00 pm, the start spring offensive , this is initiated by massive artillery fire, the advance on both sides of St. Quentin should break through the south wing of the British associations and roll up the entire local front. At 9.40 a.m., the Mecklenburg grenadiers attacked their sector, and shortly afterwards they reached the English positions. The foremost trenches were then taken by them. The fighting lasted for days, with rapidly changing situations. Nevertheless, during the five days of the fighting, the grenadiers were able to capture 32 field artillery pieces, dozens of machine guns and other war material from the English units. The village of Sapignies was taken of his own accord. The success was offset by the considerable losses on the part of the grenadiers. During this time, the company commander of the 1989 Leibcompanie Emmich Ernst, Hereditary Prince of Leiningen, died. Within two days of the fighting, the German divisions broke 25 km deep into enemy territory. The French commander-in-chief General Foch deployed all available reserves at Amiens , and the German attack movement came to a standstill on March 27 and 28. The enemy was able to establish himself successfully and withstand the German attack. Nevertheless, the German units were able to penetrate the opposing position system over a length of 75 km and a depth of 60 km. However, the primary goal of the breakthrough was not met. After two weeks of fighting, the war of movement became a war of positions again. After the fighting, Grenadier Regiment No. 89 moved to the resting quarters near Abscon , where the grenadiers stayed from April 10th to May 24th. The time is also used to introduce and train replacements.

This rest period is always interrupted, the Mecklenburg Grenadiers take over from Infantry Regiment No. 452 in the Moyennville-Ayette section of the front, the deployment lasted from May 24th to June 22nd. The regiment had to prepare the poorly developed position, and weeks of trench warfare followed. The combat activity in this section consisted mainly of patrol companies. After releasing from this section, the regiment returns to the resting quarters in Abscon, this time the rest period lasts from June 23rd to July 17th. At this point in time, the Grenadier Regiment in the division unit joins the X Reserve Corps, which was subordinate to the 4th Army. The regiment is then transferred to the designated staging area for the attack on the English units on Kemmelberg . On July 24th the regiment received the order to abort the preparations for the operation and to be ready for immediate transport to the Soissons-Reims area. The Soissons-Reims front arch could not be held back, violent enemy attacks - tanks were also used - and the depth of the front arch were the cause of the difficult situation in this section of the front. Therefore, the 17th Infantry Division should be ready as a receiving division after their arrival in the southern Vesle sector, according to the order of the Supreme Army Command .

The grenadiers had reached their position at Aulnois-sous-Laon, from where they marched on July 29, 1918 towards Bourg et Comin. The II. And III. Battalion occupied their reception position in the Dôle Forest northwest of Chéry, the 1st Battalion occupied the artillery protection position at Mont Notre Dame. The regiment set up its defense in resistance groups and machine gun positions, which should operate mobile. Around midnight, the first retreating units of the 45th Reserve Infantry Division reached the reception positions, detaching them from the enemy did not present any problems. Over the next few weeks, the people of Mecklenburg will be in a tough defensive battle on Vesle and Damenweg, especially the battle for Bazoches on August 27th. The enemy was the American 306 Infantry Regiment, the grenadiers under the command of Lieutenant Boelke were able to assert themselves in the battle for Bazoches and win it. After several weeks of fighting, the regiment was replaced by Infantry Regiment No. 417 from its section near Laon in mid-September, but the rest period should only be short.

Western Front, Damenweg battlefield
Course of the position, Chemin des Dames (Damenweg), Höhenweg between Ailette and Aisne

The regiment was hardly detached from the front section when it was transferred to Laval by truck . Here the Mecklenburgers were deployed in the Bois de Vean near Pargny , the task was to provide support for the 5th Infantry Division. Heavy fighting followed, the defense of strategically important points such as the area around the Damenweg and the close combat with the enemy claimed many victims among the Mecklenburg grenadiers. The company strength sank at this time due to the losses to less than 50 men per company, this difficult situation left little room for further operational use. On September 21st and 22nd, the regiment was relieved of units of Reserve Infantry Regiment No. 37 in the combat area, followed by transfer to the rear area to Filian. Again there was only a short rest period, the Mecklenburg grenadiers took over their new positions at Aizy on the night of September 24th. A few days of trench warfare followed, on the night of September 28th the front was withdrawn into the "Eckehart position" behind the ailette . The withdrawal of the division took place without any further difficulties worth mentioning. The major offensive of the allied units on the western front began on September 26th. Therefore the “17th Infantry Division ”, after being pulled out of the Aisne Line on September 28th, was designated as an intervention division. On October 2nd, the gerandiers took their position north of the Mont St. Martin mountain, the next day the order to counterattack the Py group came. For the first time, the grenadiers are in direct combat with the tanks of the Allies, days of heavy fighting followed, this mission in the Champagne region does not end until the evening of October 16. That evening the regiment was replaced by Infantry Regiment No. 368, the Mecklenburg grenadiers were withdrawn to Tourteron , from where the march to Marcquigny and Louvergny began . Regimental commander Major de Rainville later received the order Pour le Mérite for his achievements on important front lines .

At that time the regiment had a strength of only 1,600 men, equipped with 13 heavy and 74 light machine guns and a few 7.58 cm mortars. The overstrain and exhaustion due to the fighting of the last few weeks became clearly noticeable. The grenadiers' tunic and boots were in very poor condition, and there was also lice infestation due to the poor hygienic conditions.

The grenadiers reached their resting quarters in Mouzon via Harricourt and Antrecourt , where they were supposed to rest for a short time between October 23 and 25. The time was also used to supplement or repair the equipment and clothing in a makeshift manner, and the delousing could finally be carried out. AOK 5 announced on the evening of September 25th that the 17th Infantry Division had to be evacuated to the 1st Army on October 26th. At this point in time the regiment was split up from only six sparsely manned companies, each equipped with a few machine guns. The route led via Sedan to Rozoy, at Seraincourt the regiment was then deployed as an intervention regiment. A short time later the regiment was brought forward to Signalberg , at which point the grenadiers replaced Infantry Regiment No. 230. Heavy defensive battles followed; the grenadiers' achievements shown here were mentioned in the army report of November 1, 1918. On the night of November 1st the regiment, after being replaced by Infantry Regiment No. 237, was withdrawn to St. Fergux. On November 4th, the front was moved behind the Meuse , the regiment then moved in the direction of Chaumont-Porcien, where it was supposed to take over a reception position. The next day we went to Liart, where a battalion was formed from the existing companies and placed under the command of Captain Galle. The return march continued over the next few days, there was only isolated contact with enemy scouting parties. On the evening of November 10th, the march towards Revin followed , where the newly formed battalion arrived on November 11th. On this day the people of Mecklenburg learn of the armistice and the mutual killing on the fronts of the war came to an end. The Grand Ducal Mecklenburg Grenadier Regiment No. 89 suffered heavy losses in the course of the war, the soldiers were physically and mentally scarred for the rest of their lives. On November 14th, in the area of ​​the 1st Army, the retreat began across the entire front width. The 17th Infantry Division forms March Group I. of Group Lindequist. On November 22nd, the units crossed the border to the German Reich, the "Grenadier Regiment No. 89" and the newly formed battalion then temporarily withdrew from the unit of the 17th Infantry Division on November 29th. The Mecklenburg Grenadier Battalion had tasks waiting for them in Gießen . At that time, there were unrest among the soldiers billeted there, and the Mecklenburgers were supposed to restore order and quiet.

Battle calendar 1914–1918

Destroyed barricades and wire barriers in front of the Loncin tank fort after the Liège fortress was taken away
In the trenches of Flanders
"Grand Ducal Mecklenburg Grenadier Regiment No. 89" (III. Bat./MG- Company) in action near Leuze on September 5, 1914.
1914
  • 0August 4th to 16th - Conquest of Liège
  • 17th August to 10th September - Battle of Monceau-Esternay
    • August 23 - Battle at Villers-Saint-Ghislain
    • August 24th - Battle at Vellereille
    • 0September 4th - Battle at Corrobert
    • 0September 5 - Battle near Leuze (MG Company III Battalion)
    • 0September 9th - Battle at Hôpital-Ferme
    • September 10 - Battle at Neuilly-Saint-Front
  • September 11-27 - fighting on the Aisne
  • September 28th to 30th - Fights at Nampcel - Carlepont
  • from October 1st - trench warfare on the Oise
1915
  • 0January 5 to April 9 - Battle of the Hartmannsweilerkopf (2nd battalion)
  • to October 12th - trench warfare on the Oise
  • from October 13th - positional battles in the Champange near Chaussee Somme Py-Souain
1916
  • until June 15 - positional battles in the Champange near Chaussee Somme Py-Souain
    • February 27th - Navarine position taken
    • May 27 - Patrols west of Navarine-Ferme
  • June 15 to July 2 - Rest and training at Poix-Terron
  • 0July 3 to September 13 - Battle of the Somme
  • September 15 to December 24 - trench warfare in Artois (Arras)
  • from December 26th - rest and training at Hornaing
1917
  • until January 5th - rest and training at Hornaing
  • 0January 6th to March 17th - trench warfare on the Ancre (Miraumont)
  • February 23 to March 18 - Relocation of positions through the Alberich Zone
  • March 20 to April 8 - Quiet behind the Siegfriedstellung southwest of Valenciennes
  • 0April 9-27 - Defensive battle in Artois (Arras)
  • April 28 to June 6 - Trench warfare in the Artois, west of Cambrai
  • 0June 7th to July 29th - Battle of Flanders , east of Ypres
  • July 30th to September 22nd - Trench warfare west of Cambrai
  • September 24th to October 9th - defensive battle in Flanders with the Gheluvelt group
  • from October 10th - trench warfare near Lens
1918
The retreat movements and defensive positions of the German army in 1918
  • until February 19th - trench warfare near Lens
  • February 20 to March 20 - preparation for the great battle in France
  • March 21 to 0April 9 - Great Battle of France , heading west from Queant
  • April 10th to May 24th - rest and training at Abscon
  • May 25th to June 22nd - Trench warfare at Ayette
  • June 23rd to July 17th - rest and training at Abscon
  • July 18-26 - Deployed at Menin to attack Poperinge - Dunkirk
  • July 27th to September 28th - intervention in the retreat south of Vesle ; Trench warfare on Vesle and Chemin des Dames
  • September 29th to October 17th - deployment in the Champange Front
  • October 18th to 25th - Deployment in the retreat between Aisne and Meuse, northeast of Bouziès
  • October 26th to November 4th - Defensive battles near Saint-Fergeux
  • 05th to 11th November - march back to the position behind the Meuse near Revin
  • from November 12th - evacuation of the occupied area

Loss numbers 1914–1918

  • Deaths: 2177
  • Missing: 1323
  • Wounded: 8048
  • Total: 11548

Course of deployment 1918/19

On November 29, 1918, the regiment was independently seconded by the 17th Infantry Division and took over the protection of an army command as well as general security tasks in Gießen. This mission lasted until December 15th. The transport to Berlin followed at the turn of the year. Since the 17th Infantry Division was considered to be particularly reliable, the military security for the election to the German National Assembly on January 19 was assigned to it. From January 15, 1919, the Mecklenburg regiment was also deployed in the area around Berlin . There it took part in the military action against the Spartacus uprising . In Neukölln the companies occupied the town hall , the district court , the local school on Boddinstrasse and the Kindl brewery . The mission lasted until January 23, 1919.

On January 25, the regiment entered Schwerin. After the field service on the large parade ground , the march through the city followed. The conclusion was the march past the division commander of the 17th Infantry Division Lieutenant General Siegfried von Held. After returning to the barracks, the 2nd Battalion was transferred to their garrison in Neustrelitz. The operational history of the Grand Ducal Mecklenburg Grenadier Regiment No. 89 ended with the subsequent demobilization.

Whereabouts

Call for entry into the provisional Reichswehr.

Schwerin was also affected by the revolutionary events of November 1918 . There were unrest and disintegration, which did not spare the replacement battalions of Grenadier Regiment No. 89. Soldiers' councils who had traveled from Hamburg and Kiel were looking for like-minded people and sympathizers in Schwerin. However, they did not find the support they had hoped for and violent attacks followed.

Various volunteer formations were later set up from parts of the regiment . On February 16, 1919, the military restructuring began and the resulting formation of the Freiwilligen Grenadier Regiment 89 and the volunteer company Neustrelitz , which was set up in March. In February, the Schwerin volunteer company was formed, which later transferred to the Schneider volunteer hunter battalion of the Diebitsch Freikorps . The Freiwilligen Grenadier Regiment 89 was transferred to the Reichswehr Infantry Regiment 17 as 1st Battalion on May 5, 1919 .

The Reichswehr Infantry Regiment 17 , newly formed from parts of the old regiment, was ordered to Hamburg in June 1919 in order to stop the unrest there. The mission lasted until September. Subsequently, the parts of the regiment deployed in Hamburg returned to Schwerin.

In August 1919 Reichswehr Minister Noske issued the order to relocate the provisional Reichswehr to the transitional army on October 1st. The reduction in strength subsequently led to the dissolution of the garrisons in Neustrelitz and Wismar.

During the Kapp Putsch there were bloody clashes in Schwerin as well. As a result, the 1st Battalion of Reichswehr Infantry Regiment 17 was deployed in the Schwerin city area. The city was shaken to its foundations by street fights and strikes. The commander of the Reichswehr Brigade 9, Major General von Lettow-Vorbeck , who was involved in the putsch, had the legitimate Mecklenburg government arrested and detained in the arsenal. On his orders, participants in the general strike were shot at in Schwerin, with 16 people killed in Schwerin alone. In the course of the putsch, a total of 400 people were killed in Mecklenburg as a result of the use of force.

Peacetime

Arrival of Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands and Prince Heinrich of the Netherlands at Schwerin station
Event guide Kaiserparade September 1904 on the Luruper Feld

The years of peace were used for intensive training and the improvement of tactics and organization. Participation in the corps or imperial maneuver (after 1871) and the exercise of representative duties interrupted the daily barracks service. In addition, the Mecklenburg troops had field maneuvers in autumn, for example in 1851 near Schwerin, 1852 in the area of ​​Bützow, 1854 near Golberg, Krakow and Güstrow, 1857 in the area around Teterow, 1861 between Wismar and Schwerin and 1862 near Röbel. The experiences from the maneuvers of the X Federal Corps in 1843 near Lüneburg led to fundamental changes in the Mecklenburg military, which also influenced the regiment's main units. As of May 1, 1845, an active service period of six years is introduced. The so-called “training period” was set at six months, followed by a further 18 months of training within the troops. The conscripts were given leave for the next four years, but they had to take part in the field maneuvers in autumn, each of which had a duration of 4 weeks. The following is an overview of the other activities of the regiment and its home units in peacetime:

  • 1838 - Large troop camp with parts of the Mecklenburg brigade on the parade ground at Haselholz.
  • 1843 - First maneuver of the X. Federal Corps at the end of September. Over 25,000 men took part in the maneuver near Lüneburg.
  • 1853 - Participation in the maneuver of the III. Army corps under General von Wrangel near Berlin.
  • 1858 - Maneuvers from September 12 to September 23 of the X Army Corps under the command of Lieutenant General von Jacobi in the outskirts of Nordstemmen.
  • 1860 - Participation in the maneuver of the III. Army corps under the leadership of Prince Friedrich Karl of Prussia in the Wittstock area.
  • 1868 - On September 11th, the regiment of the 17th Division took part in the parade in front of Prussia's King Wilhelm I in Groß Rogahn. The reason was the officers' transfer to the Prussian army .
  • 1890 - The regiment took part in the imperial maneuver in Schleswig in September . The maneuver area included the old battlefields from 1848 and 1864.
  • 1893 - For the inauguration of the monument of Friedrich Franz II. A company with the regimental flags was placed.
  • 1894 - Participation in the maneuver of the IX. Corps in September near Rostock. General Count Alfred von Waldersee was in command .
  • 1895 - In September the regiment took part in the Association of IX. Army Corps took part in the imperial maneuvers south-east of Stettin .
  • 1897 - On the occasion of the funeral of Grand Duke Friedrich Franz III. in Ludwigslust the I. and III. Battalion a flag company.
  • 1898 - As part of the 17th Division, the regiment took part in the imperial maneuver from September 3rd to 10th. A parade was held at Linden on December 3rd.
  • 1901 - On the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the elevation of Prussia to kingdom, celebrations took place in Schwerin on January 18th. After the festive service, guests were invited to a feast in the officers' mess "Großer Moor".
  • 1901 - On the occasion of the takeover of government by Friedrich Franz IV, parades and banquets were held in the officers' mess on April 9th ​​in the garrisons of the country.
  • 1901 - For the reception of Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands and Prince Heinrich of the Netherlands on May 9th, the Grenadier Regiment at the Schwerin train station provided the military form of honor.
  • 1904 - On the occasion of the wedding of Grand Duke Friedrich Franz IV , a large parade took place on July 9th on the large parade ground in Schwerin. In addition to the I. and III. The second battalion of Fusilier Regiment No. 90, Artillery Regiment No. 60 and the two Mecklenburg dragoon regiments also took part in the regiment's 2nd battalion.
  • 1904 - In September, he took part in the Imperial Parade and the subsequent Imperial maneuver. The regiment was led by the regiment chief Adolf Friedrich V von Mecklenburg-Strelitz . The Mecklenburg regiments then received new flags.
  • 1913 - On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the War of Liberation, the I. and III. Battalion established a flag company on March 10, 1913. It took up position in front of the hall of fame of the Schwerin Arsenal with the old flags of the Liberation War.

organization

Insinuation

Formation of the Xth Federal Corps in the 1848 campaign
Establishment of the Corps of the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg in the 1870/71 campaign
Subordination and war organization of the IX. Army Corps 1914
Army Corps IX. Subordinated to 2nd Army with Grenadier Regiment No. 89 for August 30th. The right wing of the German 2nd Army on August 29th and 30th.

Netherlands 1788

  • Subsidy Corps (Major General Dietrich v. Gluer)
    • Infantry Regiment "von Gluer"
      • I. Musketeer Battalion
      • II. Musketeer Battalion
    • Grenadier Battalion "von Both"

Russia Campaign 1812

March
  • I. Army Corps
    • 4th French Division (General Defaix)
      • Infantry Regiment (Mecklenburg-Schwerin troop contingent)
July
  • III. Army Corps ( Marshal Victor )
    • Infantry Regiment (Mecklenburg-Schwerin troop contingent)
November

Schleswig-Holstein survey 1848

  • X. Federal Army Corps
    • 2nd Infantry Brigade (Oldenburg)
      • 1st Half Brigade (Mecklenburg)
        • (I.) Grenadier Guard Battalion
        • II. Musketeer Battalion
        • Meckl. (Half) battery

German War 1866

  • II. Reserve Corps
    • 1st (Mecklenburg) Division
      • 1st Infantry Regiment
        • (I.) Grenadier Guard Battalion
        • II Battalion
      • 2nd Infantry Regiment
        • III. battalion
        • IV Battalion
      • Dragoon Regiment
      • Hunter Battalion
      • Fusilier Battalion of the 4th Guards Regiment

Franco-German War 1870/71

  • Corps of the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg (later XIII Army Corps)
    • 17th division
      • 34th Infantry Brigade
        • Grand Ducal Mecklenburg Grenadier Regiment No. 89
        • Grand Ducal Mecklenburg Fusilier Regiment No. 90
        • Mecklenburg Jäger Battalion No. 14
  • Field Telegraph Division No. 7

First World War

1914

(As of August 1914)

Hartmannsweilerkopf 1915

(Status: January 1915)

1918

(As of November 1918)

  • 1st Army
    • IX. Army Corps
      • 17th Infantry Division
        • 34th Infantry Brigade
          • Infantry Regiment "Bremen" (1st Hanseatic) No. 75
          • Grand Ducal Mecklenburg Grenadier Regiment No. 89
          • Grand Ducal Mecklenburg Fusilier Regiment "Kaiser Wilhelm" No. 90
          • Machine gun sniper division 75
          • 4th Squadron Hannoversches Dragoon Regiment No. 16

structure

Subsidy Corps 1792

  • Subsidy Corps (Colonel v. Pressentin)
    • Grenadier Battalion (Lieutenant Colonel Winter)
      • 1. (Body) Company (Company Commander: Staff Captain von Moltke)
      • 2nd Company (Kapitain von Vieregg)
      • 3rd Company (Kapitain von Bülow)
      • 4th Company (Kapitain von Lowtzow)

The grenadier companies each had a team of 68 grenadiers and three miners. Among the grenadiers there were two carpenters and private soldiers in each company.

Russia Campaign 1812

  • Contingent Regiment (Mecklenburg-Schwerin)
    • 1st Battalion (Major von Moltke)
      • Grenadier Company (Captain von Hobe)
      • 1st Musketeer Company (Staff Captain von Pogwisch)
      • 2nd Musketeer Company (Captain von Lützow)
      • 3rd Musketeer Company (Captain von Wickede)
      • 4th Musketeer Company (Captain von Grävenitz)
      • Voltigeur Company (Captain von Schade)
  • Contingent Regiment (Mecklenburg-Schwerin)
    • 2nd Battalion (Major v. Pressentin)
      • Grenadier Company (Captain von Spitznaß)
      • 1st Musketeer Company (Staff Captain von Bilguer)
      • 2nd Musketeer Company (Captain v. Elderhorst )
      • 3rd Musketeer Company (Captain von Kamptz)
      • 4th Musketeer Company (Captain von Berg)
      • Voltigeur Company (Staff Captain von Storch)

Wars of Liberation 1813/14

  • Grenadier Guard Battalion
    • 1st company
    • 2nd company
    • 3rd company
    • 4th ( Voltigeur ) company

Strelitz Infantry Battalion 1824

  • Strelitz Infantry Battalion (Lieutenant Colonel Friedrich v. Wenkstern)
    • 1st Company (Major von Kamptz)
    • 2nd Company (Captain von Zülow)
    • 3rd Company (Captain Krüger)
    • 4th Company (Captain von Rantzow)

The team consisted of 28 minstrels , 52 NCOs and 620 soldiers.

Outline 1900

  • Grand Ducal Mecklenburg Grenadier Regiment No. 89
    • I. Battalion
      • 1st - 4th company
    • II Battalion
      • 5th-8th company
    • III. battalion
      • 9-12 company

First World War

The company had a war strength of 250 men each. If necessary, a 13th and 14th company were formed, which were then held as a battalion reserve. The command of the respective company was carried out by a captain , also a first lieutenant , two lieutenants , a regular sergeant , a vice sergeant and eight non-commissioned officers and sergeants. From the four companies a battalion was formed, this one with a war strength of about 1000 men. A major was assigned to lead the battalion . From the three battalions the regiment with a war strength of about 3000 men was formed. With the leadership commissioned a Colonel , as a deputy, a lieutenant colonel .

Outline march 1914
  • 1st Battalion (Captain von Köller)
    • 1st Company (Captain von Kühlewein)
    • 2nd Company (Captain von Koppellow)
    • 3rd Company (Captain von Schickfuss and Neudorff)
    • 4th Company (First Lieutenant von Oertzen)
  • 2nd Battalion (Lieutenant Colonel von Zimmermann)
    • 5th Company (Captain v. Alt-Stutterheim [Elimar])
    • 6th Company (Oberleutnant von Rohr [gen. Von Wahlen-Jührgaß])
    • 7th Company (First Lieutenant von Witzendorf)
    • 8th Company (Captain von Wartenberg)
  • III. Battalion (Captain von Arnim)
    • 9th Company (Captain Freiherr von Reibnitz)
    • 10th Company (First Lieutenant von Fircks)
    • 11th Company (Captain von Heimburg)
    • 12th Company (Captain von Thielau)
  • Machine gun company (Captain v. Alt-Stutterheim [Moritz])
The structure of the Grand Ducal Mecklenburg Grenadier Regiment No. 89, beginning of August 1914
Machine gun companies

At the beginning of the war, the regiment was assigned a machine gun company . In the course of the war and out of necessity, further machine-gun companies were formed, each of which was divided into battalions I. – III. were incorporated.

Mortar departments

In the middle of the war year 1917, mine throwing departments were set up in the regiments, these are then each in the battalions I. – III. been incorporated.

Uniforms and equipment

The following is an overview of the uniforms of the regiment and its main units.

Subsidy Corps 1788

  • Tabard : The blue uniform skirt with red borders and lap envelopes, red Swedish cuffs for the grenadiers and white braids as decoration. There were also white bandels , belts and black neck ties, not to mention the white buttons, the white shirt and camisole . Officers wore the ring collar and the golden-blue-red silk sash .
  • Trousers : White breeches, black gaiters , black shoes, the grenadier officers also wore boots.
  • Headgear : The black tricorn , made of felt, decorated with white buttons and braids. The grenadiers used their high grenadier caps, which were provided with a cap made of sheet metal at the front. The crowned cipher "FHM" is stamped on this shield, including the state coat of arms, flanking the garnet flames. At the top of the hat the red pompom. Originally, the high cap was supposed to make it easier to throw grenades. The orange cockade had to be put on the headgear during the mission . Based on the experience of the mission, the high grenadier caps were exchanged for the practical felt hats. From then on, the grenadier caps were only worn by military ceremonies.

Life guard on horseback 1800

The uniform of the life guard was based on that of the Prussian cuirassiers .

  • Tabard : straw yellow collar, this one provided with red markings, red pass belt and white leather gear, carbine strap with red lugs.
  • Trousers : made of white cloth.
  • Headgear : black hat with white pompons, decorated with a golden agraffe .
  • Footwear : black high boots.

Period of the Confederation of the Rhine 1808–1812

  • Tabard : Uniforms from the time of the Rhine Confederation were based on the appearance of the French military. The blue tunic with its angular tails, lapels and collar red with silver braids and red epaulettes . For officers, white bandolier, gold sash and gold epaulettes.
  • Trousers : French pantaloons, made of white linen in summer, gray cloth in winter, with under-button gaiters.
  • Coat : introduction of a gray coat for enlisted men and non-commissioned officers.
  • Headgear : introduction of the shako , provided with red pompoms and catch cords , scale chains made of brass and a golden yellow tin plate in the shape of a diamond with the stamped cipher "FF" and the stylized garnet flame. A red neckline was only worn on appropriate occasions. The officers' shakos had a silver braid on the upper edge, a silver chain of scales and a coat of arms star with a silver coat of arms inserted, as well as golden cordons, gold or silver pompons, white or black depending on the military rank. The 1st company of the "Grenadier Guard Battalion" wore the bearskin hats of the former "Leib Grenadier Regiment" with red hangings.

Wars of Liberation 1813–1815

  • Tabard : Blue tabard with its angular tails, the red epaulettes were only worn during parades, the badge color remained red. White leather gear and gloves made of blue cloth, depending on the weather. With officers, silver embroidery on the collar and lapels, plus the silver epaulettes, with staff officers with fringes. Strelitz officers wore a large coat of arms made of gold-colored metal with the Strelitz coat of arms on their shako, gold-colored uniform buttons and gold epaulettes on their uniforms. This color distinction between the two Schwerin battalions and the Strelitzer battalion was retained until 1918.
  • Trousers : White trousers with red piping were worn in summer and gray in winter, with white gaiters.
  • Headgear : The shakos were given a black oilcloth cover during use .

The sappers , on the other hand, wore bearskin hats and yellow aprons as well as gauntlets. The previously prescribed full beard was also retained.

Drum major and janissaries

  • The drum major of the "Grenadier Guard Battalion" of the 1820s was an imposing figure in his splendidly designed uniform. The uniform was based on the officer's uniform from the time of the Rhine Confederation, the blue collar and the silver fringed epaulettes are exemplary. The blue collar is provided with two rows of buttons, the red collar is decorated with white zigzag-shaped braids and collar protrusions, blue Brandenburg cuffs, these are piped in red and provided with white sleeve flaps. On the sleeves the badges of rank, the white braids placed at an angle were piped in red. The white trousers, on the side seams and at hip height on both sides magnificent red embroidery. A bandolier embroidered with silver thread was also part of the equipment, on which two silver-plated miniature drumsticks were attached. Not to forget the bearskin hat with red and yellow neck and white trimmings.
  • From 1810 onwards, two brothers from America served as janissaries in the Grenadier Guard Battalion . The silver embroidery on their clothing identified them as drum and cymbal hitters . They wore the typical oriental uniform, made of red and blue cloth, the red wide trousers with an abdominal band , in which the jambia was worn. The head covering is the white turban , with the Mecklenburg star on the front.

Grenadier Guard until 1821

The “Grenadier Guard Battalion” had a number of special features in terms of uniform and equipment.

  • Tabard : jacket in white, edged in red with a blue collar, red armpit flaps or fringed epaulettes and cuffs. White straps, crossed over the chest. The officers' badges consisted of variously designed collars and lapels with braids. The 4th Guard Voltigeur Company had blue armpits and green epaulettes.
  • Trousers : Made of white cloth, white gaiters .
  • Headgear : The 1st Company was equipped with bearskin hats, these were provided with red necks attached to the side and red catch cords. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th companies wore shakos , the 2nd and 3rd companies with red necks and red cords . The shakos of the 4th Guards Voltigeur Company were provided with green trunks and green catch cords. The officers' shakos were decorated with gold hangings, and a red neck was attached to the left.

In 1821 the bearskin hat was introduced throughout the battalion. In the later years there was a move away from the old uniform to Prussian uniforms.

Grenadier Guard from 1840

  • In 1840 the bearskin hats and the fringed epaulettes are taken off, followed by shakos and armpit flaps. Only the Leibcompanie will wear bearskin hats in the future. The white trousers are exchanged for the gray trousers in stages. The gala watch and officers - at festive events - continue to wear the white trousers. The old corporal and NCO badges based on the French model were discontinued as early as 1837. They are replaced by wefts on collars and cuffs. The red epaulettes are replaced by white armpit flaps, on which the brass crowned cipher "PFG v. M ".

Tabard from 1867

  • In 1864 the Austrian “Käppi” was introduced in blue with red bräm in exchange for the spiked bonnets . Equipped with black hair bushes in Russian form, the "cap" of the Strelitz Battalion was provided with white hair bushes. The equipment with the "Käppi" was reversed in 1868, followed by the reintroduction of the field cap and the spiked bonnet based on the Prussian model with the state coat of arms.

I. and III. battalion

  • Tabard : By brigade order of December 15, 1844 the collets are abolished, on May 1, 1845 the introduction of the dark blue tabard based on the Prussian pattern followed. This one with a pouceau-red collar and lapels, equipped with silver buttons, white braids and armpit flaps, these with a crown embroidered in red and the cipher of Grand Duke Friedrich Franz IV. Sleeve flaps in a basic dark blue color with a red protrusion. For officers, sash and portepee in the Mecklenburg national colors. The officers' tunic was decorated with Russian silver embroidery. One year old volunteers wore a twisted cord in the national colors (blue-yellow-red) around the outer edge of the armpit flaps. Another detail is the traditional red and white swallow nests of the regiment's military musicians.
  • Trousers : Black / heather gray trousers, white trousers for parades.
  • Field cap : dark blue cloth, trim and liner pouceau-red color, on the front of the trim the Mecklenburg cockade below, from 1897 the “black-white-red” cockade above. At the beginning of the Wars of Liberation on March 26th and April 3rd, 1813, Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Mecklenburg-Strelitz united in a common cockade.
  • Helmet : In 1845 the shakos were replaced by helmets based on the Prussian design, at that time still in a high, heavy version with the angular front shield. Later models consist of black lacquered leather with front and rear visor, attachment point, brass fittings, flat brass chain. From 1887 on, helmets for teams no longer have a scale chain, this is replaced by a leather strap with a hook holder. In 1895 the fittings were made of aluminum bronze instead of brass to reduce weight. The fitting shows a sun with the state coat of arms, surrounded by the laurel wreath, on the right of the helmet the state cockade (blue-red-yellow), attached from 1897 on the left. A plush helmet is worn at parades, made of black buffalo hair. The military musicians wore the red plume helmet during military ceremonies. Helmets of the "Grenadier Guard Battalion" initially had a silver ribbon under the Mecklenburg coat of arms with the inscription "Grenadier Guard".
  • Gloves : For NCOs made of white wash suede, for crews gray heathered fabric lined with white.
  • Boots : Leather shaft boots with an 11 to 12 inch shaft and heel iron.

II Battalion

The tunic of the battalion provided by Mecklenburg-Strelitz differs from that of the I. and III. Battalions. As with the I. and III. Battalion, the tunic was introduced after the Prussian model in 1845. At the same time, the high helmet based on the Prussian model was introduced.

  • Tunic : dark blue tunic, pouceauroter collar and cuffs, with golden buttons and yellow braids, red epaulettes with embroidered in yellow crown and the cipher of Grand Duke Friedrich Wilhelm. Brandenburg cuffs with dark blue sleeve flaps and red protrusion; as a specialty of the officers French lapels with three-pointed curly sleeve flaps. The officers' tunic was decorated with gold embroidery. For officers, sash and portepee in the Mecklenburg national colors. One-year-old volunteers wore a twisted cord in the national colors of "blue-yellow-red" around the outer edge of the red armpit tabs. The military musicians of the Strelitz battalion also wore the traditional swallow nests, these differed only in color.
  • Trousers : Black / heather gray trousers, white trousers for parades.
  • Field cap : As I. and III. Battalion.
  • Helmet : Black lacquered leather with front and rear visor, ripened top, brass fittings, flat brass chain. From 1887 on, helmets for teams no longer have a scale chain, this is replaced by a leather strap with a hook holder. In 1895 the fittings were made of aluminum bronze instead of brass to reduce weight. The yellow fitting shows the state coat of arms, on the right of the helmet the state cockade "blue-red-yellow", from 1897 on the left. A white plume made of horsehair was worn at parades. The helmets of the military musicians were equipped with the red plume for military ceremonies.
  • Gloves : For NCOs made of white wash suede, for crews gray heathered fabric lined with white.
  • Boots : Leather shaft boots with an 11 to 12 inch shaft and heel iron.

Castle guard

  • Tunic : dark blue tunic, red collar and lapels, white buttons, braids and white armpit flaps with a signature, above the crown, sleeve flaps in white with a red protrusion. White leather straps, officers a yellow field bandage as a symbol of their status , embroidered in this national-colored red-blue thread.
  • Trousers : Black / gray mottled or white trousers, with red piping on the sides for officers.
  • Headgear : Bearskin cap with white cords and a brass chain, red neck for officers, NCOs and grenadiers, for NCOs this red neck had a black tip. The minstrels wore yellow trunks. On the back of the bearskin hats a red fabric emblem, with the image of a bursting grenade embroidered in white. Helmet with attached helmet plume, guard star as fitting.

Tunic field gray

With the very highest cabinet order of February 23, 1910, the field-gray uniform was gradually introduced, which now replaced the colorful uniform skirt.

With the regulation of September 21, 1915, further changes and adjustments followed. The M15 field blouse was also introduced in the course of the regulations of September 21, 1915. Epaulettes and epaulette holders were no longer applicable, and armpit pieces were basically worn according to the new pattern. On the basis of the regulations of September 21, 1915, the Grand Ducal Schwerin regulations for changes to the uniforms of officers and men followed on May 18, 1916; these included any necessary adjustments.

Until it was disbanded in 1919, the regiment was the only unit of the "old army" whose members of the battalion were uniformed in various ways.

  • Tabard of the I. and III. Battalions : Field gray armpit flaps with a white advance and the crowned cipher "FF". Double braid on the collar, mirror ponceau red, stripes white. For officers, white armpit flaps with crowned cipher "FF", these with ponceau-red edge stripes, collar with white double braid. Field gray lapels with red stripes, sleeve flaps with white braids. Silver buttons on the tunic and the "little skirt". Award buttons of the I. and III. Battalion were provided with the crowned coat of arms. Leather belt made of natural brown or black leather with belt lock, made of brass or nickel and adorned with the crowned Mecklenburg coat of arms.
  • Tabard of the 2nd Battalion : field-gray armpit flap with ponceau-red advance and the crowned cipher "FF". Double braid on the collar, mirror ponceau red, stripes yellow. For officers, white armpit flaps, with ponceau-red edging, collar with yellow double braid. Field-gray lapels with red advances, sleeve flaps with yellow braids. The officers have French lapels and correspondingly curved sleeve flaps. Buttons on the tunic and on the "little skirt" are gold-plated in yellow. Award heads of the 2nd Battalion were provided with the ducal crown. Leather belt made of natural brown or black leather with belt lock, made of brass or nickel and adorned with the crowned Mecklenburg coat of arms.
  • Trousers : For teams trousers feldgrau, breeches for officers, pushing forward on the side seams.
  • Headgear : Field cap and peaked cap field gray, red trim, with state cockade and imperial cockade.
  • Helmet : 1915 introduction of the M15 model, gray fittings (lacquered zinc sheet) with removable tip, which was equipped with a bayonet lock. Chin straps were worn on the helmet with its field-gray cover. From February 1916, the troops off Verdun were equipped with the steel helmet model 1916. In 1917, the introduction of the snow cover for the steel helmet. From 1918 camouflage in ocher colors was introduced to protect privacy.
  • Footwear : The boots, issued in their natural color when mobilized in August 1914. According to the regulations issued by the Supreme Cabinet Order of September 21, 1915, these had to be blackened.

A field preacher was assigned to each unit during the World War . So also the "Grenadier Regiment No. 89" of field preacher Karsten. Its uniforms have some peculiarities: the frock coat in field gray, as headgear a field gray hat with wide brims, on this the national cockade, including a silver cross. The military preacher wore a necklace with a cross over his frock coat and an armband with a cross on his left upper arm. The trousers resembled those of the officers. Field preacher Karsten was also awarded the Iron Cross II. Class and the Mecklenburg Military Merit Cross, which he wears on his frock coat.

Dress code 1919

On January 19, 1919, provisional regulations on clothing for the army in peacetime were issued. The background was the deliberate and visible departure from the old badges of rank.

  • Headgear : The only thing left to wear on the hats was a national-colored cockade on the trim. From the entry into force of the regulation, all members of the army were allowed to wear peaked caps.
  • Tabard : No changes were made to the uniforms.
  • Dienstgradabzeichen : The pending the adoption worn insignia accounted for and have been replaced by makeshift badges. These were made of dark blue cloth in the shape of stripes and of different widths. Depending on the rank, the stripes were worn on the upper arm or forearm of the tunic, the coat or the field blouse. The officers had the number of the unit on the widest strip.
  • Sidearm : The short infantry sidearm model 98/05 was designated as the standard sidearm. Officers, NCOs and soldiers had to carry their side guns strapped to their belts.

The provisions remained valid until May 5, 1919. Other provisions followed for the “provisional Reichswehr”.

Gallery uniforms

  • From left Mecklenburg-Schwerin grenadier, artillery officer and Strelitz infantry officer

  • I.) Parade uniform of a lieutenant of the I. or III. Battalions. II.) Uniform for teams (watch suit) of the II. Battalion (Strelitzer).

  • Uniform of the Schwerin Castle Guard.

  • Uniforms of the Grenadier Regiment No. 89 in 1915/16.

  • Uniforms of the Grenadier Regiment No. 89 in 1915/16.

  • Armpit flaps for tunic and coat of I., II and III. Battalions.

equipment

Subsidy Corps 1788

  • Knapsack made of calfskin
  • black cartridge pouches
  • Haversack made of linen
  • Canteen

Wars of Liberation 1813–1815

  • black cartridge pouch with heraldic star, made of brass
  • Knapsack made of calfskin, on which the rolled-up coat was attached

Turn of the century

  • Knapsack M / 87 with carrying frame and knapsack bag or knapsack M / 95 with shoulder strap and tent accessories bag for foot troops
  • portable tent equipment
  • Cartridge pouch
  • Haversack with an oiled black flap
  • Bandolier with cartridge for revolver ammunition (Train)
  • Cartridge for carbine ammunition
  • Canteen M87 or new model made of aluminum
  • Bulwark
    • Spades for infantry
    • Pickaxes for infantry
    • Field ax for infantry

Gas protection 1915-18

The gas war of the First World War began with the first German blow attack on April 22, 1915, also for the Mecklenburg soldiers. The question of protecting German soldiers now arose. For example, the so-called “Breathing and Mouth Guard Stage Ghent” was developed as the first gas protection system to guarantee basic protection, at least temporarily. This respiratory and mouth guard consisted of cleaning wool, which in turn was sewn into a garbage bag, whereby the cleaning wool was soaked in a sodium thiosulphate solution. In August 1915, the German army gas mask - with a removable filter - was introduced. The face mask protected the eyes, mouth and nose. Finally, in 1917, the German leather gas mask - made of impregnated leather - was introduced with an improved filter insert that also offered protection against chloropicrin and blue cross warfare agents .

Flags and awards

Flags

The battalion flags of the Grand Ducal Mecklenburg Grenadier Regiment No. 89 were kept and displayed in the armory of the Grand Ducal Arsenal in Schwerin during peacetime.

On July 12, 1915, Kaiser Wilhelm II ordered the flags and standards to be returned to the deputy general commandos. Up to this point in time, the flags had suffered numerous damage and the flag was temporarily lost. The Mecklenburg regiments were also affected. During the fighting in Liège, the flag of the 1st Battalion of Fusilier Regiment No. 90 had to be separated from the flagpole and buried. The battalion flag of III. The battalion and its standard-bearer Möller were lost during the fighting for Liège. The torn flag was not found until August 15, 1914, in the conquered Fort Loncin near one of the dead grenadiers.

Flag company (body company) of the regiment, lined up in front of the arsenal's hall of fame in Schwerin with the standard of 1813, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the liberation war on March 10, 1913.

Flags from 1786

In 1786, the Grenadier Regiment von Both received new flags, an advance flag and a retrier flag. The nailing of the flag took place in the "Old Garden" in Schwerin. Duke Friedrich Franz I of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and Duke Adolph Friedrich IV of Mecklenburg-Strelitz took part in the flag consecration . Auditor Reuss gave the solemn address.

I. Battalion

The Grenadier Guard Battalion received its new flag on July 18, 1810, which was handed over at the "Old Garden" in Schwerin.

On August 22, 1904, the 1st Battalion in Schwerin received a new flag. The flag was nailed in the armory of Schwerin Castle. The flags at the Friedrich-Franz II monument were then consecrated.

The flag was made of white silk. In the corners there is the crowned ducal monogram, which is framed by a laurel branch and a palm branch. In the middle the grand ducal coat of arms and the open visor helmet with crown and crest. In the coat of arms the motto " per aspera ad astra ". The coat of arms is framed by the chain of the order of the Wendish Crown , which was donated in 1864.

One of the standard-bearers of the 1st Battalion was Sergeant Karl Becker from Bad Kleinen. He was seriously injured and lost his sight on the battlefields of Flanders during World War I.

II Battalion

Flag with banners of the Strelitzschen Battalion, awarded by Grand Duchess Marie of Mecklenburg-Strelitz on May 10, 1830.

III. battalion

Battalion flags before the return on July 25, 1915. Flag bearer of the regiment: I. Battalion Vzfw. Wehring, 2nd Battalion Vzfw. Schwenn, III. Battalion Vzfw. Bremer.

The first regimental flag received the Grenadier Regiment winter on 26 March 1796 by the Duke of Mecklenburg Friedrich Franz I granted. The flag was accompanied by a handwritten letter from the Duke to Colonel Winter, who was in Güstrow at the time. The flag was 1.17 meters wide and 1.44 meters long and was composed of double silk white vertical stripes, which were fastened on each side with 78 pins. The edge was surrounded by a golden garland made of laurel and palm branches. In the corners was the name of the duke, which was crowned by the ducal crown, flanked by a laurel and a palm branch. The Mecklenburg coat of arms in the center of the flag rested on a green ground decorated with war symbols. The crowned golden coat of arms was surrounded by laurel and palm branches. The Mecklenburg heraldic animals bull and griffin flanked the coat of arms. The signature JH Suhrland, Ludwigslust 1795 was also found between the emblems . The ducal court painter Johann Heinrich Suhrlandt was responsible for the design of the regimental flag. The flag was attached to a three-foot-long white flagpole with a bronze tip. The monogram of Duke Friedrich Franz I was found in the top of the flag.

The advance flag is now part of the collection of the German Historical Museum .

On August 22, 1904, the III. Battalion in Schwerin a new flag. The flag was nailed in the armory of Schwerin Castle. The flag was solemnly consecrated at the Friedrich-Franz II monument in Schwerin.

IV Battalion

The 4th Battalion, which was set up in 1893, was awarded a new flag on July 16, 1894. The IV Battalion was surrendered on April 1, 1897. The flag was handed over to the 1st Battalion. During the First World War, this flag is carried by the 1st Battalion of the Landwehr Infantry Regiment No. 76.

Awards

  • 01st Battalion: On July 11, 1868, a flag ribbon in blue, with the years of the campaigns embroidered in gold. Ribbons of the commemorative cross donated by Prussia for 1866 without swords. Iron Cross and Mecklenburg Military Merit Cross. Ribbon of the war memorial coin 1870/71 with the golden battle clips and the 1900 commemorative sign, awarded to all flags and standards of the German army.
  • II. Battalion: A blue flag ribbon, with the foundation date 1701 embroidered in gold. One flag ribbon in the Mecklenburg state colors and one in the Hessian state colors. Band of the war memorial coin 1870/71 with the golden battle clasps. The 1900 commemorative symbol, awarded to all flags and standards of the German army.
  • III. Battalion: Awarding of a flag ribbon in blue with the years of the campaigns on September 11, 1858 embroidered in gold. Ribbons of the commemorative cross donated by Prussia for 1866 without swords. Ribbon of the war memorial coin 1870/71 with the gold battle clasps and an anniversary ribbon. The 1900 commemorative symbol, awarded to all flags and standards of the German army. Iron Cross and Mecklenburg Military Merit Cross.

Schellenbaum

In the Prussian tradition, the bell tree is not necessarily to be seen as an instrument, but rather as a trophy. The Grenadier Guard Battalion received its first Schellenbaum on May 25, 1822. It was a gift from the Prussian King Friedrich-Wilhelm III. , which was presented on the occasion of the marriage of his daughter Alexandrine to the Mecklenburg Grand Duke Paul Friedrich.

In 1870 the regiment received a new bell tree. The top of the new bell tree was crowned by the figurative representation of a griffin holding the parade flag in its claws. The crescent was marked with six bells and six asterisks. At the ends, on the other hand, were the garnet flames attached, with the horsehair tails hanging below, one of red color and the other of blue color. The big bell was also decorated with bells and asterisks.

One of the Schellenbaum carriers was Gefreite Hacker, who served in the 1st (body) company of the 1st Battalion from 1908 to 1910.

Regimental marches

The I. and III. The regiment's battalion was awarded the march to the Festival of the White Rose ( AMS III, 29) as a presentation march . The Alexander Cesarevich March (AMS II, 161), which was composed in 1852, was given to the two battalions as a parade march . The 2nd Battalion, however, was assigned the Vandalia March as a presentation march and the Sedan March (AMS II, 45 a) as a parade march .

Gallery Regiment

  • Flag of the 1st Battalion

  • Flag of the 2nd Battalion

  • Strelitzer Grenadiers in front of the Adolf-Friedrich Cave in Alsace

  • Birthday parade at Pontoise

  • Visit of the Grand Duke Friedrich Franz IV.

  • Strelitzer Grenadiers in their accommodation

Armament

The English rifles procured in 1813 were exchanged for more reliable rifles made in France in 1819. From 1837 the flintlock rifle was gradually replaced by the percussion rifle or the old French rifles were equipped with percussion locks, which should significantly increase the reliability of the rifles in use. The Dreyse needle gun was introduced in the Mecklenburg troop units in 1860. The standard side rifle was introduced in 1862. When it joined the North German Confederation, the Mecklenburg military also took over some of the Prussian weapons equipment. In the following years the Mecklenburg regiments were equipped with the latest developments in weapons technology. The Reichsgewehr M / 71 was introduced in 1875. The M 71/84 followed in 1887, which was replaced by the M / 88 commission rifle in 1890.

The shooting training of the 19th century was based on the regulations for shooting training, which were set out in the shooting instructions, which were subject to numerous changes until 1887 due to technical developments. The "Firing Regulations for Infantry" introduced in 1887 were the first to provide a comprehensive basis for close-to-war training, which had a positive effect on the regiment's level of training.

In autumn 1905, the Mecklenburg regimental and battalion units were rearmed to the Gewehr 98 .

Target practice at the location was carried out in the forest area of ​​Schelfwerder on the local shooting range. Further shooting training and combat training took place on the training grounds of the “IX. Army Corps “ Lockstedter Lager in Holstein.

In the course of the First World War there were fundamental adjustments to the weapons equipment of the infantry regiment. In 1917 the rifle companies were each equipped with five light machine guns and two grenade launchers. The machine gun companies, however, were each equipped with twelve heavy machine guns. Mine throwers were also introduced from 1917 onwards . The newly formed mine throwing trains were each equipped with four light throwers.

Hand weapons and edged weapons

1788-1796

  • Flintlock rifle (Subsidienkorps: 1500 pieces made by "Jean Corbusier et files zu Liège")
  • Short rifles for NCOs
  • Infantry sabers for teams
  • Epee for grenadier officers

1860-1895

Mauser 98 model
  • Firing needle rifle model M / 60 and M / 62
    • Socket bayonet for Dreyse model 1862
  • German Reichsgewehr model 1871
    • Infantry side rifle SG 1871
  • German infantry rifle model 1871/84
  • Commission rifle model 1888
    • Side rifle SG 71/84

1895-1918

  • "Commission rifle" model 1888
    • Side rifle SG 71/84
  • Multi-loading carabiner model Mauser 98
    • SG 98 infantry side rifle, SG 98/05 side rifle, Demag 1916 dagger bayonet
  • Self-loading pistol model 1896 , model 1896/1912

Explosive weapons

Machine gun department in defensive position
Light mortar 7.58 cm
  • Ball hand grenade introduced in 1913, modified in 1915
  • Stick hand grenade with igniter 15 (brass igniter)
  • Egg grenade (from 1917 with zinc burner)

Machine gun companies

In 1908 the first heavy machine gun company was formed in the regiment. However, it was not the first time such an armed unit had been deployed. As early as 1902, machine gun division No. 9 was set up in the Grand Ducal Mecklenburg Jäger Battalion No. 14 in Colmar.

Mortar departments

In the infantry regiments, the lightweight 7.58 cm mortar was mainly used. Which was of particular importance due to its mobility and the quick change of position that it made possible. The light mine throwers were used to take over barrage sections, to seal off access trenches and to hold down the enemy's reserves.

Heads of regiments and commanders

Regiment chief of I. u. III. Battalion, Friedrich Franz III. to Mecklenburg-Schwerin.
Regiment chief of the 2nd battalion, Adolf Friedrich V. von Mecklenburg-Strelitz.
Regiment chief of I. u. III. Battalion, Friedrich Franz IV. Of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.

Heads of regiments

Grenadier Guard Battalion

Rank Surname date
Major general Carl Wilhelm von Both April 21, 1818 to October 23, 1837
Lieutenant General Paul Friedrich of Mecklenburg-Schwerin October 23, 1837 to March 7, 1842
Colonel General Friedrich Franz II of Mecklenburg-Schwerin 0March 8, 1842 to October 1, 1867

I., III. and IV Battalion

Rank Surname date
General of the cavalry Friedrich Franz II of Mecklenburg-Schwerin 0October 1, 1867 to April 15, 1883
General of the cavalry Friedrich Franz III. to Mecklenburg-Schwerin April 15, 1883 to April 10, 1897
General of the cavalry Friedrich Franz IV of Mecklenburg-Schwerin April 10, 1897 until dissolution

2nd Battalion (Strelitz)

Rank Surname date
General of the cavalry Friedrich Wilhelm II of Mecklenburg-Strelitz 0October 1, 1867 to May 30, 1904
General of the cavalry Adolf Friedrich V of Mecklenburg-Strelitz May 30, 1904 to November 14, 1914
Colonel / Major General Adolf Friedrich VI. from Mecklenburg-Strelitz November 14, 1914 to February 23, 1918

Commanders

Rank Surname date
Lieutenant colonel Otto von Lützow 0October 1, 1867 to December 22, 1867
Lieutenant Colonel / Colonel Ewald Christian Leopold von Kleist January 22, 1868 to September 1, 1873
Colonel Wilhelm of the East 0September 2, 1873 to May 31, 1875
Colonel Walther Bronsart von Schellendorff 0June 1, 1875 to May 12, 1879
Lieutenant Colonel / Colonel Hermann von Giese May 13, 1879 to December 10, 1879 (in charge of the tour)
Colonel Hermann von Giese December 11, 1879 to September 15, 1885
Lieutenant Colonel / Colonel Alfred von Collas September 16, 1885 to September 5, 1887
Colonel Fedor of Byern 0September 6, 1887 to October 14, 1888
Lieutenant colonel Otto von Grone October 15, 1888 to March 21, 1889 (in charge of the tour)
Colonel Otto von Grone March 22, 1889 to January 26, 1892
Colonel Ernst von Scholten January 27, 1892 to February 6, 1894
Colonel Oskar von der Marwitz 0February 7, 1894 to February 14, 1896
Colonel Friedrich von Bock and Polach February 15, 1896 to April 27, 1897
Colonel Georg von Reibnitz April 28, 1897 to May 30, 1901
Colonel Rudolf von Bünau May 31, 1901 to February 13, 1905
Colonel Karl Ludwig von Oertzen February 14, 1905 to April 13, 1907
Colonel Heinrich von Vietinghoff called Scheel April 14, 1907 to March 21, 1911
Colonel Alfred von Böckmann March 22, 1911 to November 18, 1912
Colonel Johannes von Busse November 19, 1912 to August 1, 1914
Lieutenant Colonel / Colonel Curt von Wangenheim 0August 2, 1914 to April 25, 1917
major Maximilian Roeder von Diersburg April 26 to July 25, 1917
Lieutenant colonel Kurt of Quednow July 26, 1917 to March 2, 1918
major Franz de Rainville 0March 2, 1918 to January 17, 1919
major from Brockhusen January 17 to February 20, 1919 (in charge of the tour)
Colonel Hans von Werder February 21 to November 22, 1919

À la suite

Rank Surname date
Captain Hereditary Grand Duke Friedrich Franz of Mecklenburg 0October 9, 1867
General of the Infantry Walther Bronsart von Schellendorff January 22, 1893
lieutenant Hereditary Grand Duke Adolf Friedrich of Mecklenburg-Strelitz August 24, 1893
General of the Infantry Friedrich von Bock and Polach September 13, 1911

Memorial culture

Monuments

1899, inauguration of the Neustrelitz State Warrior Memorial for those who fell in the war of 1870–1871. Honorary formation of the 2nd Battalion presented the rifle.
Grenadier Monument Schwerin
War memorial in Neustrelitz Castle Park

Memorial to the campaigns of 1848/1849

On June 5, 1853, in the presence of the grand ducal family, the solemn unveiling and inauguration of the memorial for those who died in the campaigns of 1848 and 1849 took place on the hill - known as Monument Mountain - at the Haselholze parade ground. The monument consisted of a three meter high granite cube and the larger than life helmeted head of Mars, god of war. The granite base was surrounded by large field stones and was framed by a waist-high wrought iron fence.

There were memorial plaques on the visible surfaces. The first plaque was provided with the inscription Den Mecklenburg warriors who fell in Schleswig and Baden during the campaigns of 1848 and 1849 and their comrades . The second panel, on the other hand, showed the inscription It died the heroic death and the names of the 47 dead.

The memorial has not been preserved. The remaining remains were destroyed in the years 1971–73 during the construction work for the Großer Dreesch residential area .

State Warrior Memorial 1870–1871

The Landes-Krieger-Memorial for the fallen of the regiment in the Franco-German War 1870/71 was erected in Neustrelitz, where the 2nd Battalion was barracked, and was ceremoniously unveiled on October 15, 1899. The unveiling takes place in the presence of an honorary formation from the 2nd Battalion of the "Grand Ducal Mecklenburg Grenadier Regiment No. 89". The larger-than-life group of figures cast in bronze showed a fallen grenadier raised by the goddess of victory Victoria , holding a palm frond in her left hand, placing it over the grenadier's upper body, the goddess of victory directed her gaze invitingly towards heaven. The symbol of the palm frond stands for eternal life and resurrection. The memorial was created by the Berlin sculptor Martin Wolff ; the draft he submitted was selected in October 1895 after a previous call for tenders. The bronze group was dismantled in 1943 and melted down for the armament, the base of the monument was removed in 1946/47.

Memorial plaques in the garrison churches

On the decree of Grand Duke Friedrich Franz II on June 18, 1871, memorial plaques are placed in the garrison churches of the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin in memory of the dead in the campaign of 1870/71.

War trophies in the cityscape

Starting from the Franco-Prussian War, the custom developed in the garrison towns to set up field cannons captured from the war in front of public buildings. In keeping with the spirit of the times, they should be seen as a sign of victory. Around 1900 a total of 12 guns were set up in Schwerin, including French twelve-pounder field guns on the Marstall Peninsula. Two guns were set up in front of the war memorial in the Old Garden . A field gun and a mitral lock were set up in front of the quarters of the “Jäger Battalion No. 14”, and others were in the vicinity of the Schwerin arsenal.

Grenadier monument 1914–1918

A grenadier memorial for those who fell in World War I was unveiled on May 6, 1923 based on a design by Wilhelm Wandschneider on the edge of the palace gardens in Schwerin. It was considered one of the most artistically valuable monuments in the city. Replicas of the figurative representation of the returning grenadier were cast in bronze and zinc from 1926 onwards. In the Third Reich, the monument was able to avoid being melted down , thanks to Rostock professor Karl-Heinz Clasen . Its classification as "artistically valuable" ensured that the memorial was temporarily returned from the smelting operations for the war industry. The memorial survived the war years unscathed. In 1946 a state commission for demilitarization checked which militaristic monuments should be preserved. This commission comes to the conclusion that the monument is "artistically valuable" and should be preserved. Only the personal intervention of the then Mecklenburg KPD Interior Minister Johannes (Hans) Warnke in 1948 ensured that the Grenadier memorial was removed in 1949.

War memorial 1914–1918

A memorial for the Neustrelitz battalion was unveiled there on June 6, 1923 in the local palace gardens. The figure shows the idealized representation of a kneeling warrior, his gaze lowered, his head covered with a steel helmet, holding the lowered sword in his right hand. This figurative representation rests on a pyramidal base made of sandstone blocks. The base is provided with an inscription panel on the front, with the inscription “Our fallen comrades in the world war 1914–1918 as an indelible memory”. The memorial was created based on a design by the sculptor Hans Dammann , who created numerous such monuments. This monument in the Neustrelitz Castle Park has been preserved to this day.

Herstal Fallen Memorial

A memorial was erected in the Herstal cemetery in Belgium for the people of Mecklenburg who were killed in the conquest of Liège , and the fallen are buried here. The sandstone cube resting on a base has profiled surfaces, on the front and rear visible surface in the middle a wreath of oak leaves, in this the iron cross. Including the motto “ Per aspera ad astra ” and including the dedication “In memory of the Mecklenburgers who fell in the storm on Liège 6-8-1914”. On the two flanking pages, the names of the 95 dead, on the right the names of the dead fusiliers of the "Grand Ducal Mecklenburg Fusilier Regiment 'Kaiser Wilhelm' No. 90", on the left the names of the dead grenadiers of the "Grand Ducal Mecklenburg Grenadier Regiment No. 90". 89 ". The monument has been preserved to this day, the Herstal military cemetery is looked after by the German War Graves Commission.

tradition

Traditional Boizenburg music train

Numerous war clubs have been founded in Mecklenburg since 1871 . They should uphold tradition, maintain camaraderie, and maintain contact with active troops. The first war club was founded in Waren on September 1st, 1871; Teterow , Neubrandenburg , Schwaan , Boizenburg , Gnoien and Grevesmühlen followed in 1872 . In 1884 150 warrior associations were organized in the Mecklenburg Warrior Association.

The Schwerin and Strelitz grenadiers also organized themselves in such clubs after their active service. These associations organized numerous meetings, such as the federal meeting of the Mecklenburg Grenadiers held in Hagenow in 1925 . The abdicated Grand Duke Friedrich Franz IV, who was the patron of the Mecklenburg National Warrior Association in the 1920s, also took part in this meeting . Historical recordings show him in Hagenow when he was awarded a flag nail.

In Boizenburg, the sawmill owner Dührkopp founded the traditional musical train of the Grenadier Regiment No. 89 in the 1920s . This association existed until 1933 and was then incorporated into the SA as a musical train.

The tradition of the Grand Ducal Mecklenburg Grenadier Regiment No. 89 was assigned to the 1st (grenadier) company of the 6th Infantry Regiment in Schwerin in the Reichswehr . In the Wehrmacht , the 2nd Battalion of the 48th Infantry Regiment in Neustrelitz continued the tradition of the regiment.

Literature and Sources

literature

  • OV Koch: From the Baltic Sea to the Canal. The 17th Division in the campaign in 1870/71 with special consideration of the Mecklenburg Grenadier Regiment No. 89. Verlag der Hofbuchhandlung G. Barnewitz, Neustrelitz 1874.
  • Rudolph Freiherr von Langermann and Erlenkamp, ​​Werner von Voigts-Rhetz: History of the Grand Ducal Mecklenburg Grenadier Regiment No. 89. Stiller'sche Hofbuchhandlung (J. Ritter), Schwerin 1895.
  • Paul von Bärenfels-Warnow: Short history of the Grand Ducal Mecklenburg Grenadier Regiment No. 89. Verlag Hermann Freise, Parchim 1904.
  • Kurt Freiherr von Wangenheim: Grand Ducal Mecklenburg. Grenadier Regiment No. 89 (= memorial sheets of German regiments. Issue 13). Verlag Gerhard Stalling, Oldenburg u. Berlin 1922.
  • Ernst Zipfel : History of the Grand Ducal Mecklenburg Grenadier Regiment No. 89. Printed and published by Bärensprung'sche Hofbuchdruckerei, Schwerin 1932.
  • Karl von Clausewitz : The 1812 campaign in Russia and the wars of liberation from 1813-15. Ferdinand Dümmler publishing house, Berlin 1906.
  • Otto Vitense : Mecklenburg and the Mecklenburgers in the great period of the German Wars of Liberation, 1813-1815. Printed by O. Nahmmacher, Neubrandenburg 1913.
  • Erich Ludendorff : My memories of the war 1914–1918 . Volume I. u. II., ES Mittler & Sohn. Berlin 1919.
  • Reichsarchiv Potsdam (Hrsg.): The World War 1914 to 1918, The military operations on land . Volumes I. to XIV., (Edited in the Reichsarchiv), ES Mittler & Sohn, Berlin 1925–1944.
  • Claus Dieter Hoppe, Cornelia Nenz , Detlef Weiß: French times in Mecklenburg. Hinstorff Verlag GmbH, Rostock 2007, ISBN 978-3-356-01220-0 .
  • Gerhard Donat: Lützow's wild, daring crowd. The Mecklenburg Grenadier Regiment 89 in both world wars. Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück 1990, ISBN 3-7648-1772-0 .
  • Jürgen Kraus : Handbook of the associations and troops of the German army 1914-1918. Part VI: Infantry. Volume 1: Infantry Regiments. Verlag Militaria, Vienna 2007, ISBN 978-3-902526-14-4 , p. 159 f.
  • Klaus-Ulrich Keubke, Ralf Mumm: Mecklenburg Military History 1701–1918 (= series of publications of the studio for history and portrait painting. Volume 5). Schwerin 2000, ISBN 3-00-005910-5 .

Printed sources

  • Mecklenburg-Magazin (MM), Kleine Mecklenburgische Uniformkunde No. 1–39 , regional supplement of SVZ , Landesverlag- und Druckgesellschaft Mecklenburg, years 1991–1997.
  • Mecklenburg-Magazin (MM), Mecklenburg military , regional supplement of SVZ, Landesverlag- und Druckgesellschaft Mecklenburg, years 1991–1999.

Unprinted sources

  • Federal Archives
    • Inventory: (RH 61/199), War History Research Institute of the Army: 2 Department A, 2.1 Group I (World War II), 2.1.1 1914, 2.1.1.2 Western Front, 2.1.1.2.3 advance through Belgium, conquest of the Liège Fortress (collection of material ): Duration 1920–1932
    • Inventory: (PH 8-I / 164, PH 8-I / 165), infantry divisions: 17th Infantry Division, copies from war diaries and copies of systems, Stab / Grenadier Regiment 89: war diary, July 30th - August 8th. 1918, running time: 1918
    • Inventory: (PH 8-I / 172), Infantry divisions: 17th Infantry Division, copies from war diaries and copies of systems, Staff / Grenadier Regiment 89: War Diary, Aug. 18 - Sept. 18, 1918, I. - III . Battalion / Grenadier Regiment 89: Diary, Aug. 17 – Aug. 18. Sept. 1918, running time: 1918
  • State Main Archive Schwerin
    • Existing: (2.21-1 / 5813), Secret State Ministry and Government: Application for the formation of a special grenadier company with staff instead of the grenadiers with all companies in the manner of the Alt-Zülow Regiment, duration: 1763.
    • Holdings: (2.21-1 / 5321), Secret State Ministry and Government: Appointment of auditors to the von Both-Winter-Hobeschen Grenadier Regiment, duration: 1796–1807.
    • Holdings: (2.21-1 / 5377), Secret State Ministry and Government: Request from the notary Johann Friedrich Gottlieb Meyer from Wismar for release from the von Both regiment, stating the reason for the heavy desertions of the soldiers from Schwerin, duration: 1785.
    • Holdings: Acta Militaria: Grand Ducal Cabinet I., Subsidia Commissions.
    • Stock: (2.12-2 / 18) Military: IV. Individual branches of arms / formations / special troops, infantry u. a. Grenadier Regiment No. 89.
  • Schwerin City Archives
    • Holdings: (7095 and 11258), file group 02/14/04/03. - Billing of various Mecklenburg units, announcement of the imminent billeting of the "Prince Friedrich Grenadier Regiment", duration: 1784.
  • State Church Archive Schwerin
    • Holdings: Oberkirchenrat Neustrelitz: Generalia and Varia, (V048), file group 02.02.06. - Funeral and commemoration of the dead, the deaths that occurred in the 2nd Battalion of the Mecklenburg Grenadier Regiment No. 89 during the 1870/71 campaign. Jubilee celebration of the 2nd Battalion 1895. National War Memorial 1899. Duration: 1871–1900.

Web links

Commons : Großherzoglich Mecklenburgisches Grenadier-Regiment Nr. 89  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Paul von Abel: Stammliste of the Royal Prussian Army. ES Mittler & Sohn, Berlin 1905, p. 131.
  2. ↑ Claus Dieter Hoppe, Cornelia Nenz, Detlef Weiss: Franzosenzeit in Mecklenburg. Hinstorff Verlag, Rostock 2007, p. 33.
  3. ↑ a b c Klaus-Ulrich Keubke: Listed according to rank, the transfer of the Mecklenburg officers to the Prussian army in 1868. In: Mecklenburg-Magazin. No. 21, 1995, Landesverlags- und Druckgesellschaft, Schwerin, p. 6.
  4. ^ Negotiations of the German Reichstag in 1873. Document No. 18. Accessed on September 21, 2016 .
  5. ^ A b c Klaus-Ulrich Keubke, Ralf Mumm: Mecklenburg Military History 1701–1918. Series of publications on the history of Mecklenburg, (Ed.) APH, Schwerin 2000, p. 16 f.
  6. ^ Gustav Hempel: Geographical-statistical-historical handbook of the Mecklenburg country. Edmund Frege, Güstrow 1837, p. 279 f.
  7. ↑ a b c d e f The Royal Prussian Standing Army, History of the Infantry Regiments and the Jäger Battalions. (Ed.) Simon Schropp Hof map collection, Berlin 1869, 321 ff.
  8. ↑ a b c d Gerhard Donat: Lützow's wild daring crowd. The Mecklenburg Grenadier Regiment 89 in both world wars . Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück 1990, p. 19 f.
  9. ↑ a b c Hans Joachim Falk: Mecklenburg military, with sounding game, Werder barracks in Schwerin turns 95 . Mecklenburg-Magazin, regional supplement of the SVZ, Landesverlags- u. Druckgesellschaft Schwerin 1999, No. 16, p. 23.
  10. ↑ Gisela Pekrul, Manfred Krieck: Schwerin on historical postcards , part 1: Schwerin within the boundaries of 1884. The old town, Great Moor, EDITION digital, ISBN 978-3-931646-34-9 .
  11. ↑ Gisela Pekrul, Manfred Krieck: Schwerin on historical postcards , part 1: Schwerin within the boundaries of 1884. Short biography Hugo Berwald, EDITION digital.
  12. ^ Klaus-Ulrich Keubke: Small military history of Mecklenburg . Stock & Stein, Schwerin 1995, p. 61.
  13. ^ Reinhard Parchmann: Military buildings in Mecklenburg 1800-1918 . (Ed.) Writings of the studio for portrait and history painting, Schwerin 2001, p. 31, ISBN 3-00-008019-8 .
  14. ↑ Klaus-Ulrich Keubke and Ralf Mumm: Mecklenburgische Militärgeschichte 1701-1918, series of publications on the history of Mecklenburg, (ed.) APH, Schwerin 2000, p. 8.
  15. ↑ LHAS inventory: (2.21-1 / 5819), Dutch Subsidy Commission and Fund (1788–1804), advertising events for the Dutch troop corps, duration: 1789.
  16. ↑ a b c d e f Archive for regional studies in the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg . Thirteenth year, published by AW Sandmeyer, Schwerin 1863, pp. 69–72.
  17. ↑ Today on the site of the old cemetery in Schwerin.
  18. ↑ LHAS inventory: Acta Militaria No. 5971, Subsidie-Tractaat. Capitulatie Mecklenburgsche troepen , point 7, including taking an oath on the republic.
  19. ↑ a b c Klaus-Ulrich Keubke, Hubertus Köbke: Mecklenburg-Schwerin troops in the Netherlands 1788–1795. Fonts for Atelier u. History painting, Schwerin 2003, pp. 77–81, ISBN 3-00-010984-6 .
  20. ↑ Oskar Heavernick: Summary of the history of the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg Fusilier Regiment "Kaiser Wilhelm # 90." 1788-1908 . ES Mittler & Sohn, Berlin 1908, p. 7 f.
  21. ↑ Wolf Karge, Ernst Münch, Hartmut Schmied: The history of Mecklenburg , Hinstorff Verlags GmbH, Rostock 1993, p. 108.
  22. ↑ a b Ernst Boll: History of Meklenburg with special consideration of the cultural history. Volume 2. Self-published by the author, p. 338.
  23. ↑ a b c Claus Dieter Hoppe, Cornelia Nenz, Detlef Weiß: Franzosenzeit in Mecklenburg . Hinstorff Verlag GmbH, Rostock 2007, p. 33.
  24. ↑ Claus Dieter Hoppe, Cornelia Nenz, Detlef Weiss: Franzosenzeit in Mecklenburg. Hinstorff Verlag GmbH, Rostock 2007, p. 49.
  25. ↑ P. von Wrochem et al. O. Heavernick: History of the Grand Ducal Mecklenburg Fusilier Regiment No. 90. 1788–1906. ES Mittler & Sohn, Berlin 1907, pp. 109–111.
  26. ↑ Claus Dieter Hoppe, Cornelia Nenz, Detlef Weiss: Franzosenzeit in Mecklenburg . Hinstorff Verlag GmbH, Rostock 2007, p. 61.
  27. ↑ a b Claus Dieter Hoppe, Cornelia Nenz, Detlef Weiß: Franzosenzeit in Mecklenburg . Hinstorff Verlag GmbH, Rostock 2007, pp. 61-69.
  28. ^ Gustav Hempel: Geographical-statistical-historical handbook of the Mecklenburg country . Edmund Frege, Güstrow 1837, p. 99 f.
  29. ^ Werner Behm: The Mecklenburg 1812 in the Russian campaign . (Ed.) R. Hermes, Hamburg 1912, pp. 125-130.
  30. ↑ Erna Keubke: Mecklenburg military, Grand Ducal Mecklenburg Grenadier Regiment No. 89, Mecklenburg-Magazin, regional supplement of the SVZ, Landesverlags- u. Druckgesellschaft Schwerin 1993, No. 7, p. 4.
  31. ↑ Wolfgang Neumann: Mecklenburg Military 1800–1813, poorly armed for war . Mecklenburg-Magazin, regional supplement of the SVZ, Landesverlags- u. Druckgesellschaft Schwerin 1992, No. 17, p. 4.
  32. ↑ Otto Vintense: The Mecklenburg in 1812 in the Russian campaign
  33. ↑ Claus Dieter Hoppe, Cornelia Nenz, Detlef Weiss: Franzosenzeit in Mecklenburg . Hinstorff Verlag GmbH, Rostock 2007, p. 73.
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  35. ^ CLE Zander: History of the war on the Lower Elbe in 1813. Verlag von Herold and Wahlstab, Lüneburg 1839, p. 103.
  36. ^ The campaign in Mecklenburg and Holstein in 1813 . (Ed.) G. Reimer, Berlin 1817, p. 6 f.
  37. ↑ a b c C.le Zander: History of the War on the lower Elbe in 1813. Publishing of Herold and election staff, Lüneburg 1839 S. 118th
  38. ^ Friedrich Rudolf von Rothenburg: Battles, sieges and skirmishes in the year 1813 . Printed by A. St. von Hirschfeld, Vienna 1835, p. 28.
  39. ^ History of the wars in Europe since 1792 as a consequence of the change of state in France under Louis XVI . Tenth part, volume I., printing and publishing house ES Mittler, Berlin 1841, p. 109.
  40. ^ The campaign in Mecklenburg and Holstein in 1813 . (Ed.) G. Reimer, Berlin 1817, p. 13 f.
  41. ^ Freiherr von Langermann and Erlenkamp: History of the Grand Ducal Mecklenburg Grenadier Regiment No. 89 . Stiller'sche Hofbuchhandlung (J. Ritter), Schwerin 1895.
  42. ^ Friedrich Rudolf von Rothenburg: Battles, sieges and skirmishes in the year 1813 . Printed by A. St. von Hirschfeld, Vienna 1835, p. 62.
  43. ↑ a b Claus Dieter Hoppe, Cornelia Nenz, Detlef Weiß: Franzosenzeit in Mecklenburg . Hinstorff Verlag GmbH, Rostock 2007, p. 73.
  44. ↑ (Ed.) Great General Staff: Moltke's War History Works, History of the War against Denmark 1848/49 . ES Mittler & Sohn, Berlin 1893, p. 158 f.
  45. ^ Diary of the Tenth Federal Corps under the orders of General Halkett during the campaign in Schleswig-Holstein in 1848 . Hahn'sche Hofbuchhandlung, Hanover 1851, p. 117 f.
  46. ↑ a b Diary of the Tenth Federal Corps under the orders of General Halkett during the campaign in Schleswig-Holstein in 1848 . Hahn'sche Hofbuchhandlung, Hanover 1851, p. 287.
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  49. ^ Theodor Fontane: The German War of 1866. Volume II. Publishing house of the royal secret Ober-Hofbuchdruckerei, Berlin 1871, pp. 273-279.
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  51. ↑ Bernd Kasten: The entry of the Mecklenburg troops into Schwerin on June 14, 1871 in picture and reality. In: Association for Mecklenburg History and Archeology (Hrsg.): Mecklenburgische Jahrbücher. Volume 125. Schwerin 2010, pp. 251-266.
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  55. ↑ List of names of war graves at Herstal cemetery, memorial for the fallen Mecklenburgers.
  56. ↑ Rostocker Zeitung of Aug 14, 1914, Volume 204, Official loss list of Aug 6, 1914.
  57. ↑ a b c d e f g h (Hrsg.) Reichsarchiv Potsdam : The World War 1914 to 1918, The military operations on land . Volume IV. (Edited in the Reichsarchiv), ES Mittler & Sohn, Berlin 1926, pp. 53–72.
  58. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j Gerhard Donat: Lützow's wild daring crowd. The Mecklenburg Grenadier Regiment 89 in both world wars . Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück 1990, pp. 10-14.
  59. ^ A b (Ed.) Moritz Schäfer: Mecklenburgs Sons in World War I , issue 13, Verlag der Carl Boldschen Hofbuchdruckerei, Rostock 1915, pp. 313-317.
  60. ↑ a b c (Ed.) Reichsarchiv Potsdam : Battles of the world war, The Easter battle near Arras , Part I between Lence and Scarpe. Printed and published by Gerhard Stalling, Oldenburg 1929, p. 90 f.
  61. ^ A b c Gerhard Donat: Lützow's wild daring crowd. The Mecklenburg Grenadier Regiment 89 in both world wars . Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück 1990, p. 94.
  62. ↑ a b Battles of World War , The Easter Battle of Arras. Volume 29, Part II: Between Scarpe and Bullecourt, printed and published by Gerhard Stalling, Berlin 1929, pp. 150–170.
  63. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Gerhard Donat: Lützows wilde daring crowd. The Mecklenburg Grenadier Regiment 89 in both world wars . Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück 1990, pp. 15-18.
  64. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j Gerhard Donat: Lützow's wild daring crowd. The Mecklenburg Grenadier Regiment 89 in both world wars . Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück 1990, pp. 18-21.
  65. ↑ Baron v. Wangenheim: History of the Grand Ducal Mecklenburg Grenadier Regiment No. 89 1914-18. Lists of losses as of 1922
  66. ^ W. Neumann: From the Prussian Army Corps to the Pomeranian Infantry Division: Mecklenburg Troops in the Reichswehr 1919-1934. In: Mecklenburg-Magazin. No. 23. Schwerin 1992, p. 4.
  67. ↑ a b Gerhard Donat: Lützow's wild daring crowd. The Mecklenburg Grenadier Regiment 89 in both world wars. Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück 1990, p. 21 f.
  68. ↑ Uwe Schulte-Varendorff: Colonial hero for emperors and leaders: General Lettow-Vorbeck - myth and reality. Ch. Links Verlag, Berlin 2006, ISBN 978-3-86153-412-9 , pp. 82-94.
  69. ↑ Ludwig v. Hirschfeld: Friedrich Franz II. Grand Duke of Mecklenburg Schwerin and his predecessors. Volume II., Verlag von Duncker and Humblot, Leipzig 1891, p. 15 ff.
  70. ^ Department of War History of the Great General Staff (ed.): The Franco-German War 1870–71 . Second part, history of the war against the republic , ES Mittler & Sohn, Berlin 1881, p. 1443.
  71. ^ Grand Ducal Mecklenburg-Strelitz State Calendar 1824 . Pressure and Verlag GF Spalding & Sohn, Neutrelitz 1824, p. 84 f.
  72. ↑ a b c Richard Knötel: Handbuch der Uniformkunde . Publishing house by JJ Weber, Leipzig 1896, p. 146 ff.
  73. ↑ a b c Grand Ducal Mecklenburg - Schwerin and Mecklenburg Strelitz troops. Lithograph plate No. 18, drum major and Hautboist , L. Sachse & Co., Berlin 1831.
  74. ↑ Erna Keubke: Kleine Mecklenburgische Uniformkunde No. 30 , Paukenschläger from America, Mecklenburg-Magazin, regional supplement of the SVZ, Landesverlags- u. Druckgesellschaft Schwerin 1996, No. 30, p. 4.
  75. ^ Richard Knötel: Handbuch der Uniformkunde . Publishing bookstore by JJ Weber, Leipzig 1896, pp. 145–149.
  76. ↑ Ulrich Herr u. Jens Nguyen: The German Infantry from 1871-1914. Uniforms and Equipment , Volume II, Verlag Militaria, p. 557.
  77. ↑ a b c d e Regulations on the Clothing of Troops in Peace of April 30, 1868, Table I., (Ed.) R. v. Decker, Berlin 1868, p. 36 u. Pp. 72-85.
  78. ^ HG Ströhl: German coat of arms roll . Published by Julius Hoffmann, Stuttgart 1897 p. 89.
  79. ^ Richard Knötel: Handbuch der Uniformkunde . Publishing bookstore by JJ Weber, Leipzig 1896, pp. 145–149.
  80. ↑ Ulrich Herr u. Jens Nguyen: The German Infantry from 1871-1914. Uniforms and Equipment , Volume II, Verlag Militaria, p. 557.
  81. ^ Richard Knötel: Handbuch der Uniformkunde . Publishing bookstore by JJ Weber, Leipzig 1896, pp. 145–149.
  82. ↑ AKO No. 735 of September 21, 1915, regarding changes to the uniforms of officers and men.
  83. ↑ Freiherr von den Osten-Sacken: Germany's army in war and peace uniform. PM Weber Verlag, Berlin 1916, pp. 5-34.
  84. ↑ Klaus-Ulrich Keubke: Mecklenburg military, Grand Ducal Mecklenburg Grenadier Regiment No. 89 , Mecklenburg magazine, regional supplement of the SVZ, Landesverlags- u. Druckgesellschaft Schwerin 1993, No. 6-9, p. 4.
  85. ↑ See Appendix Officer's Clothing Regulation No. 6, p. 20, No. 68.
  86. ↑ Erna Keubke: Little Mecklenburg Uniform Knowledge No. 37, frock coat for the man of God . In: Mecklenburg-Magazin, regional supplement of the SVZ, Landesverlags- und Druckgesellschaft Schwerin 1996, No. 35, p. 24.
  87. ^ Provisional regulations on the clothing of the peace army. In: Army Ordinance Sheet 1919. No. 85.
  88. ^ Regulations on the use of infantry equipment M / 95, ES Mittler & Sohn, Berlin 1899.
  89. ^ A b c Günter W. Gellermann: The war that did not take place . Bernard & Graefe Verlag, Koblenz 1986, p. 34 f.
  90. ↑ a b c d E. Keubke: Kleine Mecklenburgische Uniformkunde No. 38 , only the flag remained colored, Mecklenburg magazine, regional supplement of the SVZ , Landesverlags- u. Druckgesellschaft Schwerin 1997, No. 39, p. 24.
  91. ^ Gerhard Donat: Lützow's wild daring crowd. The Mecklenburg Grenadier Regiment 89 in both world wars . Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück 1990, p. 7 f.
  92. ↑ The advancing flag was carried on the advance, the retrier flag on the retreat.
  93. ↑ a b c d e E. von Voss (Premier lieutenant in the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg Grenadier Regiment No. 89): Contributions to the Mecklenburg flagship. Schwerin 1880.
  94. ↑ Friedrich Borchert: Nah Fieerabend: "Läuschen" from old Schwerin. (Ed.) Behrend Böckmann, BoD - Books on Demands 2013, p. 46.
  95. ↑ DHM collection: inventory no. Fa 59/67 Mecklenburg avancier flag of the "Grenadier Regiment Winter", later of the "Grenadier Regiment No. 89" / III. Battalion.
  96. ↑ a b c d e f Stammliste of the royal Prussian army . ES Mittler & Sohn, Berlin 1905, p. 132.
  97. ↑ Erna Keubke: Kleine Mecklenburgische Uniformkunde No. 34, a flag for music , Mecklenburg magazine, regional supplement of the SVZ, Landesverl- u. Druckgesellschaft Schwerin 1997, No. 29, p. 20.
  98. ^ Klaus-Ulrich Keubke: Military music and military musicians in Mecklenburg around 1900 (= writings on the history of Mecklenburg. Volume 30). Schwerin 2014, ISBN 978-3-00-047854-3 , p. 213.
  99. ↑ Oskar Heavernick: Summary of the history of the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg Fusilier Regiment "Kaiser Wilhelm # 90." 1788-1908 . ES Mittler & Sohn, Berlin 1908, p. 37.
  100. ↑ P. von Wrochem et al. O. Heavernick: History of the Grand Ducal Mecklenburg Fusilier Regiment No. 90. 1788–1906 . ES Mittler & Sohn, Berlin 1907, p. 326.
  101. ^ Rudolf Schmidt: General armament for the infantry . Schmid Francke u. Co, Bern 1888, pp. 67-69.
  102. ^ Rudolf Schmidt: General armament for the infantry . Schmid Francke u. Co, Bern 1888, p. 89, p. 117.
  103. ↑ Appointment as head of the "Grenadier-Guard-Battalion" by Friedrich Franz I, accompanied by the promotion to major general.
  104. ^ Klaus-Ulrich Keubke and Ralf Mumm: Soldiers from Mecklenburg. Pictures of life from 1701 to 1871. (Lieutenant General Paul Friedrich zu Mecklenburg-Schwerin), Writings on the history of Mecklenburg, Volume 14, Schwerin 2004.
  105. ^ Günter Wegmann (Ed.), Günter Wegner: Formation history and staffing of the German armed forces 1815-1990. Part 1: Occupation of the German armies 1815–1939. Volume 2: The occupation of the active infantry regiments, as well as jäger and MG battalions, military district commands and training managers from the foundation or list until 1939. Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück 1992, ISBN 3-7648-1782-8 , p. 227.
  106. ↑ Ranking list of the royal Prussian army for 1908. P. 246 f.
  107. ^ Günter Wegmann (Ed.), Günter Wegner: Formation history and staffing of the German armed forces 1815-1990. Part 1: Occupation of the German armies 1815–1939. Volume 2: The staffing of the active infantry regiments, as well as jäger and machine gun battalions, military district commands and training managers from the foundation or list until 1939. Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück 1992, ISBN 3-7648-1782-8 , p. 228.
  108. ^ Photo monument Monumentenberg (Repro: MLHA). In: Mecklenburg Magazin. No. 7 (1993). P. 4.
  109. ↑ Illustrierte Zeitung , Volume 105, No. 2729 of October 19, 1895, Verlag JJ Weber, Leipzig 1895, p. 496.
  110. ↑ Kanonen zu Kanonen, The fate of a monument type , Mecklenburg magazine, regional supplement of the SVZ, Landesverl- u. Druckgesellschaft, Schwerin 1993, No. 11, p. 5 f.