Jägerkorps of the City and Republic of Bern
The Rifle Corps of the city and Republic of Berne was founded in the 18th century branch of service of the city and Republic of Berne . In German-speaking countries, light infantry is referred to as a hunter's force . Hunters are among the oldest branches of the modern armies .
Building up the infantry (1782–1798)
The Bernese army organization of 1760/68 had implemented the principle of territorial recruitment of troops with unrivaled consistency by dividing the country into 15 German-Bernese and 6 French regimental districts, with the Aigle regiment belonging to the German part. Büren and Avenches formed special battalion districts. No changes were made to this division until the fall of the old republic in 1798. On the other hand, the first contingent experienced an improvement in its efficiency due to the defense order of 1782. The field army was now organized in such a way that the previous order of the day could be dropped.
The infantry regiment raised two main battalions from each of its two main districts . The main battalion comprised all conscripts of a subdistrict between the ages of 16 and 60. It formed the framework from which the elite troops were selected. The able were drawn out as grenadiers and musketeers . Each main battalion gave up a grenadier company and a musketeer company of 125 men, the so-called select companies. The four main battalions of a regiment thus provided a grenadier and a musketeer battalion of 500 men, which formed the outgoing regiment. Incidentally, the term musketeers no longer made sense, as the musket had long since fallen out of use. The field army now only included the selective companies, for which there was no longer any annual replacement, but grenadiers and musketeers were able to exempt themselves from the obligation to move out after the age of 45. About two thirds of the team were divided into the fusilier companies , which, depending on their age, served as Landwehr or Landsturm . At first the grenadiers and musketeers were also assigned to the fusilier companies and had to march with them when the large regiment moved out. In 1786, however, the select companies were completely separated from the fusiliers and provided with their own officers , so that the battalions of the large regiments now numbered six companies.
Hunter Corps
In 1768 Franz Rudolf Frisching was appointed captain of the 1st Bernese hunter company . Following a recommendation from General Robert Scipio von Lentulus , who was in the Prussian service, three hunter companies were formed in 1768 from good riflemen from the Oberland regiments . An older unit of this type already existed, the Aelen Freikorps ( Aigle ) , established in 1751 . Since the hunters, or snipers , as they were later called, proved their worth, the number of their companies was increased to eight by 1798, each with 110 men. The first Bernese sniper units thus date from 1768. In 1776/77 the Jägerkorps was reorganized under Franz Rudolf Frisching, who had advanced to become colonel , and for the first time received printed regulations in German and French.
In the regiments that did not provide snipers, the best riflemen were drawn out as hunters since 1782, initially half a company, and since 1794 a whole company of 110 men. In contrast to the snipers, the so-called field or battalion hunters did not form an independent force; they were preferably assigned to the battalions and were to serve as light infantry with them.
At the end of the 18th century the infantry of the Bernese field army consisted of:
- 21 migrant regiments, including staff of 1,018 men: total 21,378 men
- 4 selective companies of the 2 battalions Büren and Avenches, including staff: a total of 512 men
- 14 hunter companies: a total of 1,540 men
- 8 sniper companies: a total of 894 men
Total infantry of the Bernese field army: 24,324 men
Jägerkorps uniform
When the hunting companies were set up in 1768, it was determined that the hunters should wear a dark blue skirt with light blue lapels and flaps ( lapels ). The officers' skirt also had silver-plated buttons and a pair of epaulets with silver fringes. According to the decree of the Grand Council on the defense order of March 4, 1782, the snipers received round hats, so-called chapeaux corses, and half-leggings . Also in accordance with the decree of March 4, 1782, the field or battalion hunters established in 1782 should initially only wear the light blue collars and lapels of the snipers in their previous militia uniforms and then gradually acquire vests and trousers the color of the blue uniform. Her skirt had no discounts .
Guns of the hunter corps
Knowing full well that the good marksman wants to use the weapon he is familiar with, they decided not to fix the sniper armament too tightly. Initially, the snipers were given the choice of wielding an ordinary infantry shotgun or a rifle . The Stutzer , who after 1777 was allowed to be provided with an engraver , a device that was otherwise forbidden on the guns on the target sites, became more and more popular. The side guard of the sniper was the hunting hunter .
The battalion hunter should possibly have a rifle with a rifled barrel, as well as keep the bayonet and the leather gear of the infantryman, but he had to equip himself with a round, elongated fur rag that was carried over his shoulder.
literature
- Roland Petitmermet: Berner Uniforms 1700 - 1850. Historical Association of the Canton of Bern, 1977, ISBN 3-85731-002-2
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c d Roland Petitmermet: Berner Uniforms 1700 - 1850. Historical Association of the Canton of Bern, 1977, ISBN 3-85731-002-2 , p. 42
- ↑ a b c Roland Petitmermet: Berner Uniforms 1700 - 1850. Historical Association of the Canton of Bern, 1977, ISBN 3-85731-002-2 , p. 43
- ↑ a b Roland Petitmermet: Berner Uniforms 1700 - 1850. Historical Association of the Canton of Bern, 1977, ISBN 3-85731-002-2 , p. 44.