List of free troops and militias of the old Prussian army

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The free troops and militias of the old Prussian army comprised various units that were not part of the regular army , which, apart from the land regiments, existed only temporarily and were then disbanded or taken over into the regular army.

Free troops

The terms free battalion , free corps and free regiment came up in Germany from the second half of the 17th century for troops outside of regular units. With the development of linear tactics, light troops had become necessary for outpost, security and reconnaissance tasks. Less discipline than in regular units also played a role.

Free battalions

In Prussia , free battalions were first set up by Frederick the Great in the Seven Years' War . By setting up additional battalions , some free battalions became free regiments.

Seven Years War

  • F 1 Le Noble , formed in 1756, consisted of a battalion with a detachment of free hunters on foot (FJ 1). After the unit was captured on June 23, 1760, a second battalion was set up. The remnants of the unit were incorporated into the re-established Garrison Regiment No.VIII in Glaz in 1763 .
  • F 2 Mayr / Collignon / Courbiere , formed in 1756, the unit finally consisted of 2 battalions with a detachment on foot (FJ 2) and a hussar division (FH 2) In 1763 the 2nd battalion was transferred to garrison regiment No. IV incorporated into Prussia, while the 1st Battalion was retained as an intact unit as the only free battalion for the re-establishment of Garrison Regiment No.XII in Emden.
  • F 3 Kalben / Salenmon ( Favrat ), set up in 1756, consisted of a battalion that was captured in 1759 Maxen, whereupon a new battalion was set up that also included a division of hussars (FH 3). In 1763 the remnants were incorporated into garrison regiment No.IX in Geldern.
  • F 4 Angelelli / Collignon , formed in 1756, consisted at times of 2 battalions. In 1763 the remaining was dissolved and distributed to various Silesian regiments.
  • F 5 Chossignon / Monjou , formed on May 16, 1757 from Austrian prisoners and defectors in Nossen and Roßwein , consisted of one battalion and was reorganized the following winter after the battalion near Bautzen was captured by the Haidik Corps on September 6, 1757. On June 24, 1759, the unit was disbanded and the remainder were assigned to the Freedom Battalion Wunsch (F 7).
  • F 6 Rapin / Lüderitz , established in 1758, consisted of a battalion, the remnants of which were assigned to Garrison Regiment No.VIII in Glaz in 1763 .
  • F 7 Wunsch , set up in 1758, consisted of a battalion and 10 fighters (FJ 7) per company. It was reinforced in 1759 by remnants of other free battalions to 3 battalions and its remnants were assigned to Garrison Regiment No.VIII in Glaz in 1763 .
  • F 8 Du Verger / Quintus Icilius , formed in 1758, consisted of one battalion and 10 hunters (FJ 8) per company, was reinforced in 1761 to three battalions and in 1763 was divided between different regiments in Berlin and Magdeburg.
  • F 9 Hordt , formed in 1758, consisted of a battalion and in 1763 was distributed to various regiments in Pomerania.
  • F 10 Jeney (Voluntaires d'Ostfrise), established in 1760, consisted of a battalion and a division of hussars (FH 10). It was dissolved in Emden in 1763. Veterans of the unit were drafted into Silesian regiments.
  • F 11 Schack , formed in 1760, consisted of a battalion and 10 fighters (FJ 11) per company. In 1763 the remains were distributed to various Silesian regiments.
  • F 12 Heer (Swiss Volontaires), formed in 1760 from deserters, Swiss regiments in French service, consisted of one battalion. The remains were assigned to Fusilier Regiment 46 in 1763 .
  • F 13 Bequignolles , set up in 1760, consisted of a battalion and in 1763 was distributed to various Silesian regiments.
  • F 14 La Badie (Volontaires Etrangers), on February 20, 1761, recruitment from French deserters began . The formation (Royal Strangers) was built in Herford , then relocated to Leipzig . On August 31, 1761 about 300 men mutinied under the leadership of three officers on the march to Grimma and went over to the Imperial Army . Colonel Baron La Badie received his farewell the following day . The restored battalion was attacked on February 3, 1762 near Großbardau , the remainder now under the F 8 (Icilius).

War of the Bavarian Succession

In the War of the Bavarian Succession , Frederick the Great set up 12 free battalions.

Free Corps

In the course of the Seven Years' War, voluntary corps were also set up, which from the beginning consisted of different branches of the army or were pure cavalry formations. These were also dissolved after the war.

  • FI Frei-Corps Trümbach (Voluntaires de Prusse), formed in 1759, consisted of a battalion of infantry (FI I), two companies of hunters (FJ I), who were transferred to the Quintus Icilius Free Battalion (F 8) in 1760, and a division of Dragoons (FD I), from which two squadrons of hussars (FH I) were formed in 1760, which were transferred to the Frei-Husaren Bauer (F VI) in 1761. In 1763 the Freikorps was disbanded and the remnants were distributed among Westphalian regiments.
  • F II Frei-Corps Kleist , established in 1759, consisted of 10 squadrons of dragoons (FD II), 10 squadrons of hussars (FH II), 10 squadrons of lancers (FL II), 1 battalion "Green Croats", from which two battalions "Hungarian Infantry "were (FI II), 3 hunter companies z. F. (FJ II) and 1 battery of artillery. In 1763 the Freikorps was dissolved.
  • F III Frei-Dragoon Glasenapp , established in 1760, consisted of 5 squadrons of dragoons and was disbanded in 1763. The men were forced into Prussian cavalry regiments.
  • F IV Frei-Corps Schony , established in 1761, consisted of a battalion of grenadiers (FI IV) and 3 squadrons of hussars (FH IV) and was disbanded in 1763, the teams were distributed among different regiments.
  • FV Frei-Corps Gschray , formed in 1761, consisted of a battalion of infantry (FI V) and 6 squadrons of dragoons (FD V) and was disbanded in 1763.
  • F VI Frei-Hussaren Bauer , was set up in the British service in 1759 and increased to 4 squadrons by 1761, then taken over by Prussia and enlarged to 5 squadrons. In 1763 the Frei Hussars were disbanded.
  • The Légion Britannique (FV) was a Kurhannoversches Freikorps set up in 1759/60, which was taken over by Prussia in 1762 and dissolved in 1763.
  • The Volontaires Auxiliaires Rauch (F VI) formed in the service of Braunschweig in 1762, consisted of 3 companies of grenadiers, 1 squadron "Turks" or "Spahis" (Uhlans), 1 squadron of hussars and 1 squadron of grenadiers on horseback. Prussia took over the formation in 1763 and disbanded it in the same year by distributing the remnants to different regiments.
  • Freihusaren Lubomirski , set up in September 1758, dissolved in November 1758, because Prince Lubomirski could not raise enough money to complete the formation of the formation, which he wanted to finance himself in return for the rank of major general.
  • Black Brigade ( Favrat ), established in 1761, consisted of hussars, dragoons, grenadiers and hunters. The brigade had to be disbanded in 1762 because it had been set up without instructions from Frederick the Great.
  • Little is known about the Freihusars Barowski. It is believed that the constellation was canceled.
  • Bosniaks from Petrovsky
  • Tatar Ulan Corps Kreczowsky , the corps was established from October 15, 1761 and should consist of eight flags of 50 Towarczys and 50 Pacholken each. The recruitment was carried out by Colonel Kreczowsky in Poland and should be completed on May 1, 1762, the corps then be concentrated in Cosel . After objections from the Polish government, the flags that had already been advertised had to be canceled and the advertising was moved to Wallachia . As a result, the complete construction was not carried out by the end of the war.

Free regiments from 1786

In 1786 Frederick the Great set up three regular regiments of light infantry, which were also called free regiments and were disbanded by Friedrich Wilhelm II in the following year in favor of fusilier battalions. They are listed in the list of infantry regiments of the Old Prussian Army .

militia

Militia 1707-1713

Friedrich I established a militia in the offices of Oranienburg , Köpenick and Potsdam in 1707 . The targeted strength of 10,000 men was not reached; at the dissolution on March 4, 1713 the real strength was 7,767 men. The militia had not complied with the military views of Friedrich Wilhelm I.

Land regiments

In 1729 , Friedrich Wilhelm I founded four land regiments to perform some of the tasks of a militia . These were only assembled when there was a risk of war and to represent troops who were absent from the location. The officers, NCOs and reels received half their pay. The commoners received pay only when they were present. Since they consisted of old soldiers who were still considered soldiers in this position, these are to be regarded as standing regiments rather than militia and are included in the list of infantry regiments of the old Prussian army . They were dissolved in 1788.

Militia in the Seven Years' War

When the French, Swedes and Russians threatened his territory in the course of the war and no troops for effective protection could be dispensed with, Frederick the Great had militias set up again.

East Prussia

  • Land Militia Battalion Katrezinsky, established in 1757, disbanded in 1758 so that it would not end up in Russian captivity. Each company had a few foot fighters and a few mounted fighters.

Neumark

  • Land Battalion No. I von Heiderstädt, formed in 1757, consisted of 4 companies and was disbanded after the war.
  • Land Battalion No. II de Rège, formed in 1757, consisted of 4 companies and was broken up in 1759. The remnants joined Infantry Regiment No. 24 from the Goltz on.
  • Land Battalion III von Arnim, 1761: von Bornstedt, formed in 1757, consisted of 4 companies and was disbanded after the war.
  • Chamber Hussars von Maltitz , 1759: Schmidt, established in 1757, consisted of 1 squadron and was incorporated into the Land Hussars von Hohendorff in 1762.
  • Jäger Corps von Sohr, established in 1757, consisted of 60 hunters on foot and 40 hunters on horseback. Further information about him is not known.

Kurmark

  • Borck Land Militia Regiment, established in 1757, consisted of 3 battalions of musketeers and was disbanded in 1763.
  • Land Hussar Squadron von Wangenheim, established in 1758, consisted of 118 men and was used in 1762 to form the Provincial Hussar Battalion Hohendorff and was disbanded at the end of the war.

Magdeburg and Halberstadt

  • Land Militia Regiment Jung-Wegnern, established in 1757, consisted of 3 battalions of musketeers and was disbanded in 1763.
  • Chamber Hussars de Collignon, established in 1758, consisted of 34 men and was disbanded in 1763.

Pomerania with Uckermark

Land militia
  • Land Militia Battalion No. 1 Natzmer, 1758 Schlichting, established in 1757, finally consisted of 5 musketeer companies and 1 grenadier company. It was disbanded at the end of the war.
  • Land Militia Battalion No. 2 Schlichting, set up in 1757 with 5 musketeer companies, was disbanded in 1758 and distributed to the other Pomeranian Land Militia battalions.
  • Land Militia Battalion No. 3 Alt- or Schwarz-Wedell, established in 1757 with 5 musketeer companies, it was disbanded in 1758 and distributed to the other Pomeranian Land Militia battalions.
  • Land Militia Battalion No. 4 Ingersleben, 1758 Wassmer, formed in 1757, finally consisted of 5 musketeer companies and 1 grenadier company. It was captured by the Swedes in Wollin in 1759 and never rebuilt.
  • Land Militia Battalion No. 5 Sydow, formed in 1757, finally consisted of 5 musketeer companies and 1 grenadier company. It was dissolved in 1762.
  • Land Militia Battalion No. 6 Klitzing, formed in 1757, finally consisted of 5 musketeer companies and 1 grenadier company. It was dissolved in 1762.
  • Land Militia Battalion No. 7 Grumbkow, formed in 1757, finally consisted of 5 musketeer companies and 1 grenadier company. It was dissolved in 1762.
  • Land Militia Battalion No. 8 Jung-Wedell, formed in 1757, finally consisted of 5 musketeer companies and 1 grenadier company. It was dissolved in 1762.
  • Land Militia Battalion No. 9 Schmeling, formed in 1757, finally consisted of 5 musketeer companies and 1 grenadier company. It was dissolved in 1762.
  • Land Militia Battalion No. 10 Kleist, formed in 1757, finally consisted of 5 musketeer companies and 1 grenadier company. It was dissolved in 1762.
  • Provincial-Frei-Grenadier-Corps von Wussow, von Hüllessem, set up in 1758 with 2 grenadier companies, it was disbanded after the end of the war.
  • Recruit Grenadier Battalion von Paulsdorff, formed in 1759 from the grenadier companies of the Pomeranian Landmilit Battalion and disbanded at the end of the war. These grenadier companies were founded as training companies.
  • Recruits Grenadier Battalion von Schöning, formed in 1759 from the grenadier companies of the Pomeranian Landmilit Battalion and disbanded at the end of the war. These grenadier companies were founded as training companies.
Recruit battalions
  • Melirtes recruit battalion from Tettau (from 1759: 1st Szczecin Recruit Battalion), set up in 1757, initially consisted of 4 musketeer companies and 1 grenadier company. The grenadier company was given up in 1758 to set up the Pomeranian grenadier battalion Ingersleben. A fifth musketeer company was set up for this purpose. After renaming in 1759, the battalion was reinforced with a grenadier company. It was dissolved in 1762.
  • Enrolled recruits battalion von Stosch (from 1759: 2nd Stettiner recruiting battalion), established in 1757, consisted of 4 musketeer companies and 1 grenadier company. In 1762 it was dissolved.
  • Recruit Battalion Bevern (III./ Braunschweig-Bevern Infantry Regiment; from 1759: 3rd Stettiner Recruit Battalion), established in 1758 as a training company for Infantry Regiment No.7 Braunschweig-Bevern, it was expanded to a battalion with 5 musketeer companies and 1 grenadier company. In 1762 it was dissolved and the remnants of the main regiment took over.
  • Grenadier Battalion von Ingersleben, set up in the winter of 1758–59, consisted of 4 grenadier companies that were taken over by other militia units. After the war it was used to rebuild the captured II. Standing Grenadier Battalion Unruh.
Hussars and hunters
  • Land Hussars von Hohendorff, 1758: von Natzmer, von Stülpnagel, 1761: von Hohendorff was set up as a Land Hussar Squadron in 1757 and expanded into a Land Hussar Corps in 1758 with a second squadron. In 1762 it formed the Hohendorff Provincial Hussar Battalion with other militia riders. In 1763 the hussar battalion was disbanded.
  • Provincial-Jäger-Corps von der Goltz, established in 1757, consisted of 4 officers, 60 mounted hunters and 80 hunters on foot. It was dissolved in 1762.

See also

literature

  • Hans Bleckwenn (Hrsg.): The old Prussian army : appearance and essence; 1713–1807, 8 parts in 16 volumes, Osnabrück 1973ff, ISBN 3-7648-0187-5 .
  • Peter Cremer: The Prussian Freikorps in the Seven Years War: List of the Freikorps, their missions, the uniforms, the bosses and their history , manuscript, no date.
  • Martin Guddat : Handbook on Prussian Military History 1688-1786, Hamburg, 2011.
  • Curt Jany : History of the Prussian Army from the 15th Century to 1914 . Ed .: Eberhard Jany. Biblio Verlag, Osnabrück 1967 (extended edition of the original edition from 1928). 3 volumes.
  • Eduard Lange : The soldiers of Frederick the Great , Hermann Mendelssohn, Leipzig [1853], pp. 415–424
  • Adolph Menzel : The army of Frederick the Great in their uniform: 100 panels in color facsimile reproduction / drawn. and ext. by Adolph Menzel . Ed .: Franz Skarbina and Curt Jany. Weltbild, Augsburg 2002, ISBN 3-8289-0523-4 (reprint of the plate work of the same name, probably from 1908 to 1912 in the Oldenbourg publishing house, Berlin).
  • Frank Wernitz : The Prussian free troops in the Seven Years War 1756 - 1763. Podzun-Pallas-Verlag GmbH, 1994

Web links

  • Kronoskaf's Seven Years War page, accessed December 7, 2017.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Unless otherwise mentioned, the information on the Kronoskaf page , accessed on December 7, 2017, or in the works listed under literature is documented.
  2. ^ Martin Guddat : Handbook on Prussian Military History 1688-1786, Hamburg 2011, p. 90 f.
  3. ^ Martin Guddat : Handbook on Prussian Military History 1688-1786, Hamburg, 2011 p. 90 f.
  4. ↑ a b c Peter Cremer: The Prussian Freikorps in the Seven Years War: List of the Freikorps, their missions, the uniforms, the bosses and their history. Manuscript, undated
  5. ^ Olaf Groehler : The Army in Brandenburg and Prussia from 1640 to 1806 - The Army , Berlin 2001, p. 82.
  6. ^ Martin Guddat : Handbook on Prussian Military History 1688-1786, Hamburg 2011, p. 90 f.
  7. ^ Renouard: History of the war in Hanover, Hesse and Westphalia , Volume 3 The campaigns of 1761 and 1762 , Kassel 1864, p. 536.
  8. ^ Franz Genthe: The Bosniaks in the Prussian Army . In: Scientific reports from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Bosnian-Herzegovinian State Museum in Sarajevo, Volume 8, Vienna 1901, p. 22.
  9. ^ Martin Guddat : Handbook on Prussian Military History 1688-1786, Hamburg 2011, p. 91.
  10. ^ Martin Guddat : Handbook on Prussian Military History 1688-1786, Hamburg 2011, p. 191.
  11. ^ Martin Guddat : Handbook on Prussian Military History 1688-1786, Hamburg 2011, p. 191.