Thomas Legler

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Thomas Legler (born February 21, 1782 in Dornhaus , Switzerland; † September 4, 1835 in Axel , Netherlands ) was a Swiss officer who became famous for his participation in the Russian campaign in 1812 and the " Beresinalied ".

Life

Thomas Legler lost his father, ship master Thomas Legler, when he was just two years old. He died of a stroke. Thomas Legler attended the cadet school in Bern and joined the 3rd Helvetian half-brigade on March 7, 1799 as a sub-lieutenant. He fought under Schauenburg on the Danube, later in the 2nd Helvetian Line Infantry Regiment. In 1801 he was promoted to first lieutenant. In 1803 he entered French service with his battalion and took part with the 1st Swiss Regiment in the campaigns on Corsica, Elba and in Naples. In 1812 he took part in the campaign against Russia. He fought in the two battles for Polotsk and in the battle of the Berezina . Here the Swiss regiments played a considerable part in the fighting on the west bank. Together with French troops, they fought back the Russians, which enabled thousands of Napoleon's soldiers to cross the river. Many civilians who were in the army's train also crossed the river. After the battle only 300 Swiss were able to fight, many of them wounded. At the request of his commander Blattmann, Thomas Legler sang the Beresina song that went down in history. Legler was promoted to captain and knight of the Legion of Honor .

With the 2nd Swiss Regiment he defended Schlettstadt against the Allies in 1814 . After Napoleon abdicated, Legler entered the service of Louis XVIII. and remained loyal to him even after Napoleon's return from Elba. The Swiss Federal Diet awarded him the medal for loyalty and honor. He returned to Switzerland and was promoted to lieutenant colonel.

At the head of the Glarus division he took part in the federal campaign of 1815 and took part in the siege of the Hüningen fortress . In 1816 he entered the Dutch service and, after the withdrawal of the Swiss troops, took command of a Dutch battalion. With this he made the Belgian campaign. In 1835 he died after a stroke in Axel, near Terneuzen .

Works

  • Thomas Legler: Memories from the Russian campaign of 1812 , 1962

Remarks

  1. ↑ He was found dead at the Linthaler Linthbrücke. Of his four brothers, Johann Legler, Joachim Legler and Melchior Legler also died of strokes. Likewise their father Thomas Legler

literature

  • Yearbook of the Historical Association of the Canton of Glarus Fourth Book , Meyer & Zeller 1865
  • Yearbook of the historical association of the Canton of Glarus Fifteenth volume, page 97ff. , Meyer & Zeller, 1878

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Legler, Thomas
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Swiss officer
DATE OF BIRTH February 21, 1782
PLACE OF BIRTH Dornhaus , Switzerland
DATE OF DEATH September 4, 1835
Place of death Axel , Netherlands