Light Infantry (Saxony)

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1st and 2nd light infantry regiments

active 1793 to 1866
Country City arms Kingdom of Saxony
Armed forces Saxon Army
Branch of service Light infantry
Type regiment
structure see structure
Location see garrison
management
Commanders See commanders

The 1st and 2nd Regiment of Light Infantry were assembled in May 1809 from all infantry trained as snipers in the Saxon Army , at that time still in battalion strength .

organization

Insinuation

1809

  • IX. Army Corps (Saxony)
  • Saxon Corps

1811

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

1812

  • Grande Armée
  • 1st Division General v. Le Coq
  • 1st light infantry regiment
  • 2nd Division General v. Gutschmid later General v. Funck
  • 2nd Light Infantry Regiment

1818

Half-Brigade Light Infantry
  • 1st Rifle Battalion
  • 2nd Rifle Battalion
  • 3rd Rifle Battalion

1821-1853

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

1849-1853

2nd Saxon Division
  • Half-Brigade Light Infantry

During all exercises during this time, the 4 battalions were subordinated to the 4 infantry brigades. They formed a special infantry unit.

1853-1866

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

1866

During the German War, the Jäger battalions are each subordinate to an infantry brigade.

  • 1st Battalion 1st Infantry Brigade
  • 2nd Battalion 2nd Infantry Brigade
  • III. Battalion 3rd Infantry Brigade
  • IV. Battalion 4th (body) brigade

History of the light infantry

garrison

I. Battalion

place year
Chub January 1810
Oschatz December 1818
Dresden 1829-1830
Oschatz 1831
Leipzig 1849

II Battalion

place year
Eilenburg January 1810
Leipzig December 1818
Dresden 1829-1830
Leipzig 1831
Oschatz 1849
Leipzig 1850

III. battalion

place year
Spice up 1819
Dresden 1849
Spice up 1850

IV Battalion

place year
Leipzig 1849

Lineup

1793

As a result of the changes in warfare in Europe, the best marksmen were trained as snipers in every regiment of the infantry in the Saxon Army from 1793 . These soldiers should be used wherever the individual soldier has to act independently.

One officer and one drummer from each battalion and one non-commissioned officer and 8-10 men from each company were assigned special training. The drummers were replaced by horn players from 1804 . These then gave the signals for the shooters in battle.

According to the regulations, the shooters within a regiment always represent the avant-garde and the barrier-guard . With their rapid intervention and excellent shooting, they should cover the deployment of line infantry and other movements within the unit.

Due to these difficult demands on the troops, only the physically strongest and bravest members of the Saxon infantry could be trained as snipers. The training within the troops was a great honor for the individual soldier.

1809

As part of Napoleon's campaign against Austria, two battalions of light infantry were formed from all snipers in the infantry regiments in May of that year.

1810

With 1,683 men levied by other regiments, the 2 battalions became 2 regiments of light infantry. Together with the Jägerkorps founded in 1809, they formed the Light Infantry Brigade. Major General Sahrer von Sahr became the brigade commander .

1812-1815

Due to heavy casualties and a lack of replacements, the regiments were twice reformed into battalions.

1815

The two regiments of light infantry were converted into rifle battalions. The 3rd Rifle Battalion was formed from the Jägerkorps. All three battalions formed a half-brigade.

1853

In 1853 a fighter brigade with four battalions was established.

1867

In the course of integration into the North German Confederation, the half-brigade of light infantry was disbanded. Each battalion formed a 5th company from levies. The lot decided which company of the individual battalion formed the new base unit of the 1st battalion of the Rifle Fusilier Regiment "Prince Georg" (Royal Saxon) No. 108 . In addition, the 1st Battalion became the 1st Royal Saxon Jäger Battalion No. 12 , the 2nd Battalion formed the 2nd Battalion of the Rifle Regiment, the 3rd Battalion became the 2nd Royal Saxon Jäger Battalion No. 13 and the 4th battalion became the III. Battalion of the Rifle Regiment.

End of the light infantry and tradition being passed on

The history of the light infantry as an independent unit ends with this conversion. The above mentioned Jäger Battalions and the Rifle Regiment No. 108 take over the tradition of the light infantry.

Armament and equipment

uniform

When the light infantry was founded, the individual soldiers were still subordinate to their units and therefore wore the individual infantry uniforms. After the rifle battalions were founded in 1809 and the soldiers returned home, they were completely redesigned. They received a green skirt with a black collar, and the horn was sewn onto the cartridge pockets. The horn was worn on the skirt from 1824. In 1822 the spring support, the symbol of the riflemen, fell away.

The officers' degree badges moved from the collar to the epaulettes in 1832 . In addition, the officers received a green overcoat with a black velvet collar. The individual battalions were distinguished by the different colored flaps on the tunic, and the headbands of the hats also wore this battalion color. In 1838 the headband of the field cap also went black.

In 1835 the shako received its sun decoration.

Officer designations

In 1833 the name of the officers was changed to German. The captain becomes the captain. From the first lieutenant of the lieutenant and from the Souslieutnant the lieutenant .

Armament

In 1820 the shooters with rifles smooth (be flintlock ) as standard. These are not as precise as the rifles that the hunters received, but they are better suited for bayonet attacks. The main weapon was still the side gun and fencing was the most important branch of training for shooters.

Many officers were hired as fencing masters at German princely houses. From 1838 the shooters were equipped with percussion rifles. A bayonet was also attached here.

Commanders

1st regiment

Commanders

Rank Surname date
captain from Metzsch 1809-1811
general Le Coq 1811-1815

2nd regiment

Commanders

Rank Surname date
Captain later lieutenant colonel by Edigy Fallen 1809–1812
general Sahrer from Sahr 1812-1818

From 1818 onwards, hardly any commanders were recorded for the individual rifle battalions.

Half-Brigade Light Infantry

Rank Surname date
Lieutenant colonel Bevilaqua 1819
general by Le Coq 1825
Lieutenant colonel by Leonhardt 1832
Colonel from Buttlar 1845
Colonel Schubauer 1848
Colonel Baron von Wagner 1866

Campaigns

Fifth coalition war (1809)

1809

The first battles of the light infantry regiments took place in the campaign against Austria . Under General von Gutschmid, the battalions distinguished themselves in the battles in Linz and Neumarkt. A captured enemy leader wrote: "The riflemen stormed near Neumarkt not like people, like madmen."

On the eve of the Battle of Wagram on July 5, 1809, we find the rifle regiments in the avant-garde of the French army. The 1st Battalion was subordinated to the French Dupas Division and took part in the assault on the village of Parbasdorf . Despite heavy losses, the village could not be completely occupied and the withdrawal was ordered. The 2nd Battalion attacked directly with the Zezschwitz von Raasdorf division from Wagram. But Edigy's battalion had to withdraw again because the French could not withstand the counterattack of the Austrian emperor. On the morning of July 6th, the two divisions united and attacked Raasdorf together, but this battle was also lost, because the order of the French infantry was more than inadequate. In addition, the French withdrew here as soon as the enemy seriously attacked. In general retreat, Napoleon appeared with fresh troops and decided the battle in his favor.

On July 11th, battle at Marchegg without significant contact with the enemy. The 2nd battalion achieved the greatest success of the Saxon army in this campaign near the town of Stampfen. Together with 2 squadrons of cavalry, a square was blown up and 12 officers and 340 men as well as 2 cannons and 1 flag were captured. In recognition of this achievement, the 2nd Battalion was henceforth allowed to carry a flag and a cannon in its stamp.

With this act, the riflemen also showed their king that they were authorized as an independent unit in the newly structured Saxon Army. On October 1, 1809, the 1st and 2nd Battalions of Light Infantry were officially formed by royal decree.

losses

I. Battalion

4 officers 328 men (death, missing, wounded)

II battalion

3 officers 191 crews (death, missing, wounded)

Wars of Liberation (1812-1815)

1812

The VII Army Corps marched towards Lviv at the beginning of the campaign against Russia . Napoleon wanted to draw the Russians' attention to their left wing and then attack on his left wing in the north. The first goal of the march was Lublin . After the deception of the Russians did not work and they did not fall for Napoleon's ruse, the corps had to return to Warsaw and then to the Narew . The Russians gathered their forces in the north to face the impending danger. While the Saxons marched north and tried to catch up with the Russians, they made acquaintance with the mounted Cossacks . In order to master this threat, the cavalry was deployed together with the light infantry as the vanguard of the VII Corps. The battles with the Cossacks fought as the vanguard of the corps were almost daily and entailed high losses on both sides.

The aim was to prevent the unification of the Russian army in Volhynia with the army advancing from Moldova . The VII Corps under General Reynier was sent against General Tormasov's army . Tormassov's army threatened the supply route of the Grande Armée marching towards Moscow . VII Corps was outnumbered by the Russian army. The Saxon troops were particularly troubled by the weak cavalry. The tasks of the cavalry, e.g. B. the flank cover and vanguard work, the shooters of the light infantry had to take over. An exhausting everyday life with enormous losses. After the Russians had enclosed and captured the Saxon Brigade von Krengel (mid-July), Reynier withdrew with his corps to Slonim and united with the Austrians under Schwarzenberg .

In the coming months the Saxons fought alongside the Austrians. According to an order from the Emperor, according to which the VII. Corps had to defeat the Russians together with the Austrians, the Russians faced battle on August 12 at the village of Gorodeczno , despite being numerically inferior and with hardly any cavalry . The light infantry was used as advance party and as a flank guard. The Schwarzenberg army under Count Reynier succeeded in defeating the Russians and forcing them to retreat. This victory was fought for with a lot of blood for the Saxons. The light regiments alone had 95 dead and 444 wounded.

After this victory the corps marched via Kobryn , Brest-Litowsk , Luboml to Torczyn. The Russians had holed up in the swamps of the Pripyat and made the front against the Saxons and Austrians. Since the Russians avoided any major battle in order to gain time so that General Tschitschagow and his 34,000-strong army could be drawn from Moldova, the light marched with the corps to the Styr . By crossing the bow , Count Reynier tried to avoid being surrounded by the Russians.

Since the Grand Army of the Emperor left Moscow on October 19, with ¼ strength, General Schwarzenberg decided to cross the Bug again and cover the retreat of Napoleon's defeated army. At Lesna there was a strong battle with the Russians, as a result of which the former commanders of the rifle battalions, Major v. Metzsch and Lieutenant Colonel v. Egidy fell. As a result of this loss, many riflemen gave up all cover, overran the enemy and covered the retreat of the corps. After the Russians passed over the Bug, they moved to Warsaw via Brest-Litovsk. At Biala the 1st regiment faced the advancing Russians. The regiment achieved a brief success against the overwhelming forces and even captured a Russian cannon and crew. Nevertheless, the connection to the Grande Armée was completely broken.

When the Russian army of Chichagov marched east to fall into the flank of Napoleon's main force, the Saxon corps tried to obstruct the enemy. The VII Corps won one last victory near Wolkowysk , after two days of battle they captured over 8,000 Russians. Due to the heavy losses of the two regiments and the lack of replacement from home, they were reduced to two battalions in November 1812. In addition, all Saxon infantry regiments had to hand over their best soldiers to the light ones.

1813

In January of that year we find the light infantry in the Warsaw area. In the spring, the remnants of the Saxon Corps moved towards Torgau to reinforce themselves with the 8,000 men newly raised by General von Thielmann. The newly assembled battalions advanced on Bautzen.

In the battle of Reichenbach, on the Töpferberg, the light battalions were in the avant-garde together with the Reynier corps. Further participation in the battles of Görlitz and Leupoldishain. These victories bought time and the Wroclaw Armistice was used for further training and replacement.

During the armistice, the Swedes and Austrians switched sides and now additionally threatened Napoleon's army. The Saxons were to fight in the Margraviate of Brandenburg against the Crown Prince of Sweden, the same Bernadotte who had led them in the Battle of Wagram. At Großbeeren and Dennewitz , the Saxons and the entire French gentleman were crushed. At Dennewitz, the light infantry suffered heavy losses, 51 dead and 133 wounded, as well as almost 500 prisoners.

The decision was to be made in the Battle of the Nations near Leipzig . The only losses suffered by the light infantry were in the defense of Paunsdorf. The VII Corps had bivouacked in this place. On October 19, the Saxon parts of the VII Corps sided with the Prussians. The Saxons were not allowed to take part in any battle against the French. The light one was used in the siege of Torgau and thwarted several attempts by the French to fail.

1814

The corpse infantry took part in the siege of Antwerp with other Saxon troops . In addition, Maubeuge fought against the French.

1815-1818

Stationed in France as part of the occupation army.

Schleswig-Holstein War (1848-1851)

The 3rd Rifle Battalion (main battalion of the 2nd Royal Saxon Jäger Battalion No. 13 ) and two companies of the 2nd Battalion (main battalion of the 1st Royal Saxon Jäger Battalion No. 12 ) were sent to Schleswig to protect German interests. More detailed descriptions under the individual battalions.

German-Danish War 1863–1864

A Saxon brigade under the supreme command of Major General von Schimpf , with them the 1st and 4th Jäger Battalions, moved north together with their allies.

The Saxons did not take part in the direct battles with the Danes. After a few exploratory missions near Friedrichstadt, the hunters had to guard the Holstein coast near Brunsbüttel. At the end of March 1864, the Saxons were sent to the east coast across from Fehrmann. The only shots of the Saxons fell from artillery shells on a warship, which approached the port of Neustadt, but quickly withdrew.

In November the Saxons went home without having really played a decisive role in the war.

German War 1866

In the summer of 1866 the Saxon army was mobilized. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd Jäger Battalions, together with the 8th and 12th Infantry Battalions, formed the Saxon avant-garde. The 4th joined the 4th (body) brigade in the bulk of the army.

On June 15, war was declared on Saxony and the Prussians crossed the borders. Since the Saxons were far inferior to the Prussians, they withdrew to Bohemia. There they united with the Austrian main armed forces. As of June 25, the four infantry brigades were each subordinated to a hunter battalion. Alone too weak to oppose the Prussian Elbe army under Herwarth von Bittenfeld , the corps under Crown Prince Albert abandoned Dresden. After retreating from Saxony to Bohemia , the Saxon corps reached union with the Austrians on June 27th to attack the Prussians together. The Austrians under General Clam-Gallas had lost the battle at Podol on July 27th and the Battle of Münchengrätz on July 28th, and were retreating behind the Jizera.

On June 29, the Saxon Corps intervened in support of the battle near Gitschin . The first attack was the village of Diletz. The 1st Battalion pushed the Prussian infantry out of the village, but was mistakenly mistaken for Prussia by the Austrians due to its black uniforms and shot at in the back. After the battalion sent reporting hunters to the Austrians, the misunderstanding was cleared up and the attack continued. Despite the good outcome of the battle, the Saxons had to break off the battle. The 4th (body) brigade with the 4th battalion was supposed to defend Gitschin to cover the retreat. Together with the 13th and 4th Battalion, they managed to throw the Prussians out of Gitschin at short notice. In the evening the Prussians attacked the village again and the entire Austro-Saxon army was forced to retreat. At first this seemed very uncontrolled, only when the commander of the Leib-Brigade, Colonel Clemens Freiherr von Hausen , stood in the way and called for order, the withdrawal could take place in an orderly manner. Despite the orderly withdrawal, the Saxon 1st Battalion had 29 dead (1 officer), 60 wounded and 6 people left. On June 30th they reached Smidar and went to the bivouac . Feldzeugmeister Benedek ordered his I. Corps to evade the enemy and retreat to Königgrätz .

On July 1st the Saxons had reached the area west of Königgrätz , here the decisive battle of the campaign was to take place on July 3rd. Benedek assigned the Saxon corps the left flank, the locations Problus and Nieder-Prim. In the evening the Elbarmee attacked General Herwarth von Bittenfeld. The 2nd Brigade under Colonel Hake withstood the attack for two hours, until it subsided slightly and the Prussians only fired their artillery. The Crown Prince Albert realized that his corps only had a chance if it anticipated the Prussian attack. The Leib-Brigade was ordered to take the pheasantry. After the 4th Battalion under Major Julius Carl Adolph von Schulz took the crew of the Fasanerie under close fire, the other infantry units of the brigade attacked and threw the Prussians back. After this victory, the Saxons were strengthened in their view that they might still win the war. The Prussian 30th Infantry Brigade under Major General von Glasenapp threatened the flank of the Saxons, and the Austrian Schulz Brigade was dispatched to protect it. When the Crown Prince realized how strong the attack was, he also sent the 2nd Brigade for support. When they arrived in Nieder-Prim, the Austrians were already defeated and on the whole front in retreat. The Saxons came too late and the Crown Prince gave the order to retreat near the pheasantry.

The tide had turned on the northern battlefield as well. The Austrians were defeated after the intervention of the Prussian 2nd Army. The key point of the battle, the place Chlum, was in Prussian hands. The Crown Prince gave the order to withdraw completely. The 3rd Brigade with the 3rd Jäger Battalion had been in the small town of Problus since that morning. When the Prussians saw that victory was facing them, they stormed the place. The 3rd Battalion had the order to hold the village as long as possible so that the brigade can march away. In this battle, the 3rd Battalion lost 9 officers and 120 men dead and wounded. The battalion commander, Lieutenant Colonel von der Mosel , and the brigade commander, Major General Georg von Carlowitz , were also killed in this battle.

The 1st Jäger Battalion under Lieutenant Colonel Gustav Erwin Nehrhoff von Holderberg had the task of defending the forest of Bor. After the Prussians tried to take the forest on the left flank and the battalion defended it tenaciously, the order came to retreat. The fighters of the 1st Battalion were the last to leave the battlefield. At Freihöfe they met their Crown Prince, who fearlessly persevered in the hail of bullets and monitored the retreat. The first hunters were the crown prince's bodyguards and brought him safely to Pardubitz . On the evening of the day of the fight, the 1st in Pardubitz and the 2nd, 3rd and 4th in Neu-Königskrätz in the bivouac. On July 7th, the Saxon corps was reunited in Zwittau . The camp near Olomouc was reached on July 11th . Over 120,000 Austrians and the remains of the Saxon army were gathered here.

On July 26, Austria and Prussia signed a peace treaty. The negotiations on the content dragged on until October. With the defeat, Austria left the German Confederation and Saxony was obliged to join the North German Confederation .

In November the Saxon troops marched back home.

Operations in unrest in Saxony

1830

The rifle battalions were deployed to end the unrest in Dresden and the mountains (Erzgebirge). The use of the weapon against civilians was prohibited.

1831

The 2nd Rifle Battalion was sent to Leipzig to suppress an uprising.

1848

Parts of the rifle battalions were sent to put down the unrest in Altenburg, Weimar, Rudolstadt and Jena.

1849

Suppression of the May uprising in Dresden

References

Individual references / comments

Most of this article is based on the regimental chronicle mentioned under literature.

literature

  • Captain knight and noble lord v. Berger: '' History of the King. Saxon. Prince Georg Rifle Regiment No. 108 ''