The Organisation Of The German States Forces in 1866
 

In this article I shall detail the organisation of the German allies of the Austrians during the 1866 conflict. These are primarily designed for use my adaptation of the 'Fire and Fury' rules and are a supplement to the original article.

The scale is 1 stand = 300 men or 12 guns. The article covers the armies of the following states and formations:

The Bavarian Army ( VII Corps Federal Army) Corps
 
Commander: Prinz Carl of Bavaria 1 P. Ldr
 
1st Infantry Division: Stephan 1 Ldr 2nd Infantry Division: Von Feder 1 Ldr 3rd Infantry Division: Von Zoller 1 Ldr

Divisional Artillery:

  • 1 Foot Battery

Divisional Cavalry:

  • 3rd Chevauleger Regt *

1st Brigade:

  • 2nd Jager Btn. 2 / - / - (3 / 2 / -) L
  • Leib Regt. (2nd & 3rd Btns) 6 / 4 / 2
  • 1st Regt. (2nd & 3rd Btns) 6 / 5 / 3
  • 1st Btn, 2nd Regt. 3 / - / 2

2nd Brigade:

  • 4th Jager Btn. 2 / - / - (3 / 2 / -) L
  • 2nd Regt. (2nd & 3rd Btns) 6 / 5 / 3
  • 8th Regt. (3 Btns) 9 / 7 / 5

Divisional Artillery:

  • 1 Foot Battery

Divisional Cavalry:

  • 4th Chevauleger Regt *

3rd Brigade:

  • 7th Jager Btn. 2 / - / - (3 / 2 / -) L
  • 3rd Regt. (3 Btns) 9 / 7 / 5
  • 12th Regt. (2nd & 3rd Btns) 6 / 5 / 3

4th Brigade:

  • 3rd Jager Btn. 2 / - / - (3 / 2 / -) L
  • 7th Regt. (3 Btns) 9 / 7 / 5
  • 10th Regt. (2nd & 3rd Btns) 6 / 5 / 3

Divisional Artillery:

  • 1 Foot Battery

Divisional Cavalry:

  • 2nd Chevauleger Regt *

5th Brigade:

  • 5th Jager Btn. 2 / - / - (3 / 2 / -) L
  • 11th Regt. (3 Btns) 9 / 7 / 5
  • 15th Regt. (3 Btns) 9 / 7 / 5

6th Brigade:

  • 1st Jager Btn. 2 / - / - (3 / 2 / -) L
  • 6th Regt. (1st & 3rd Btns) 6 / 5 / 3
  • 14th Regt. (1st & 2nd Btns) 6 / 5 / 3
   
4th Infantry Division: Von Hartmann 1 Ldr Reserves  
     

Divisional Artillery:

  • 1 Foot Battery

Divisional Cavalry:

  • 6th Chevauleger Regt *

7th Brigade:

  • 8th Jager Btn. 2 / - / - (3 / 2 / -) L
  • 5th Regt. (3 Btns) 9 / 7 / 5
  • 13th Regt. (1st & 2nd Btns) 6 / 5 / 3

8th Brigade:

  • 6th Jager Btn. 2 / - / - (3 / 2 / -) L
  • 4th Regt. (2nd & 3rd Btns) 6 / 5 / 3
  • 9th Regt. (3 Btns) 9 / 7 / 5

Corps Reserve Infantry Brigade:
Prinz Luipold (Bijot later on) 1 Ldr

 
  • 1st Res Regt. (1st Btn, 4th Regt. & 2nd Btns of 6th and 10th Regts) 9 / 7 / 5
  • 2nd Res Regt. (3rd Btns of 12th, 13th and 14th Regts) 9 / 7 / 5
  • 1st Chevauleger Regt (2nd and 3rd Sqns. - i.e. half a unit) *
  • 1 Foot Batter
 
Reserve Cavalry Corps: Thurn und Taxis 1 Ldr
 
  • 1st Lt. Cav. Brigade (1st and 2nd Uhlan Regts) 4 / 3 / 2
  • 2nd Lt. Cav. Brigade (3rd Uhlan & 5th Chevauleger Regts) 4 / 3 / 2
  • Heavy Cav. Brigade (1st, 2nd & 3rd Kurassier Regts) 6 / 5 / 3
  • 1 Horse Battery

 
Corps Reserve Artillery:
 
  • 2 to 4 Foot Battery (the sources disagree) 1 Horse Battery
 
 
NOTES:
* The Divisional Cavalry units are 2 stands strong (1st Chevauleger is 1 stand). They may be ignored or combined to perform additional cavalry brigades, 1 of 4 / 3 / 2 and 1 of 5 / 4 / 3. These can be attached to two of the Infantry Divisions or added to the Reserve Cavalry.

Weaponry: The Bavarian infantry are armed with the Podewil rifle, a MLR. The artillery was armed with a mixture of smoothbore and Krupp guns. The Horse artillery and the majority of the Foot (4 or 5) were SA, while the rest of the Foot artillery (3 or 4) were BLA.

Tactics: The Jagers may use skirmish tactics, all the infantry may use Assault Tactics if in Assault Column. The cavalry may only dismount as part of a scenario.

Leadership: The higher leadership was generally poor and ½ or more should be 'Poor', with 'Exceptional' leaders being very rare or nonexistent. On the other hand the lower (unit) leadership proved to be considerably better, 1/3 or more should be 'Exceptional'.

The VIII Federal Corps
 
Corps Commander: Prinz Alexander of Hesse 1 P. Ldr
1st (Wurttemberg) Division:
Von Hardegg 1 Ldr 		2nd (Baden) Division:
Prinz Wilhelm Von Baden 1 Ldr 		3rd (Hesse - Darmstadt) Division:
Von Perglas 1 Ldr

1st Brigade:

  • 1st (Konigin Olga) Regt. 6 / 5 / 3
  • 5th (Konig Karl) Regt. 6 / 5 / 4
  • 3rd Jager Btn. 3 / - / 2 (4 / 3 / 2) L

2nd Brigade:

  • 2nd Infantry Regt. 6 / 5 / 4
  • 7th Infantry Regt. 6 / 5 / 4
  • 2nd Jager Btn. 3 / - / 2 (4 / 3 / 2) L

3rd Brigade:

  • 3rd Infantry Regt. 6 / 5 / 4
  • 8th Infantry Regt. 6 / 5 / 4
  • 1st Jager Btn. 3 / - / 2 (4 / 3 / 2) L

Cavalry Brigade (1st and 4th Reiter Regt, plus 1 Sqn of 2nd Reiter): 4 / - / 3

Divisional Artillery: 2 Foot Batteries

1st Brigade:

  • 1st (Leib Grenadier) Regt. 6 / 5 / 3
  • 5th Infantry Regt. 6 / 5 / 4
  • Jager Btn. 2 / - / - (3 / - / 2) L

2nd Brigade:

  • 2nd (Konig von Preussen) Regt. 6 / 5 / 4
  • 3rd Infantry Regt. 6 / 5 / 4
  • 2nd Fusilier Btn. 2 / - / - (3 / - / 2) L

Cavalry Brigade: 2nd Dragoon Regt (to Corps Reserve Cavalry)

Divisional Artillery: 2 Foot Batteries

1st Brigade:

  • 1st (Leibgarde) Regt. 5 / 3 / 2
  • 2nd (Grossherzog) Regt. 5 / 4 / 3

2nd Brigade:

  • 3rd (Leib) Regt. 5 / 4 / 3
  • 4th ( Prinz Carl) Regt. 5 / 4 / 3

Light Infantry:

  • Homburger Jagers 2 / - / - (3 / 2 / -) L
  • Scharfschutzen Corps 3 / 2 / - (4 / 3 / 2) L

Cavalry Brigade: 1st Reiter Regt. (to Corps Reserve Cavalry)

Divisional Artillery: 1 Foot Battery

   
4th (Austro - Nassau) Division:
Neipperg 1 Ldr 		Reserves  
     

Austrian Brigade:

  • Infantry Regt. No 16 9 / 7 / 5
  • Combined Regt ( 1Btn from I.R 21, 49 & 74) 9 / 8 /5
  • 35th Feldjager Btn 3 / 2 /- (4 / 3 / 2) L

Nassau Brigade:

  • 1st Nassau Regt. 6 / 5 / 4
  • 2nd Nassau Regt. 6 / 5 / 4
  • Nassau Jager Btn 3 / - / 2 (4 / 3 / 2) L

Divisional Cavalry: Kurhessen Hussar Regt. (to Corps Reserve Cavalry)

Divisional Artillery: 1 Austrian Foot Battery 1 Nassau Foot Battery

Corps Reserve Cavalry:
Von Entress - Fursteneck 1 Ldr

 

1st Combined Cavalry Brigade:
(Wurtt - 3rd Reiter & 1 Sqn of 4th Reiter, Hesse Darmstadt -Kurhessen Hussar) 3 / - / 2

2nd Baden Cavalry Brigade:
(Leib, 2nd and 3rd Dragoon Regt.) 5 / 4 /3

3rd Hesse Darmstadt Cavalry Brigade:
(1st and 2nd Reiter Regt.) 4 / 3 / 2

½ Wurttemberg Horse Battery

 
Corps Reserve Artillery:
 
  • 1 Wurttemberg Foot Battery
  • 1 Baden Foot / Horse Battery
  • 1 Hesse Darmstadt Foot / Horse Battery
  • 1 Nassau Foot Battery
  • (maximum of 1 Horse battery)
 
NOTES:

Weaponry: The infantry are all armed with MLR's, mostly the Podewil. The Austrians troops, and possibly the Nassau, are armed with the Lorenz rifle. The artillery is more confusing, with the various contingents have a mix of smoothbore and rifled guns. The rifled artillery are probably muzzle-loading, but may be breach-loading for the non Austrians. The Baden artillery, and possibly the Wurttemburg artillery, are all SA. As are ½ of the Hesse Darmstadt and Nassau guns. The Austrian guns, ½ of the Hesse Darmstadt and Nassau guns and possibly 1 of the Wurttemburg guns are RA (or possibly BLA).

Tactics: The Jagers, and others marked 'L', may use skirmish tactics, all the non-Austrian, infantry may use Assault Tactics if in Assault Column. The Austrians are subject to the restrictions outlined in the original article, ********. As indeed may be some of the non-Austrian infantry. The cavalry may only dismount as part of a scenario.

Leadership: The higher leadership was generally poor and ½ or more should be 'Poor', with 'Exceptional' leaders being very rare or nonexistent. Similarly the unit leadership was not great, with 1/6 being 'Exceptional' generally, but 1/3 for Hesse Darmstadt.

The Electoral Hessian (Hesse - Kassel) Division
   
Divisional Commander: Von Lossberg 1 Ldr

   
1st Brigade:
  • Guard Infantry Regt. 8 / 5 / 2
  • 1st Infantry Regt. 8 / 5 / 3
  • Rifle / Sharpshooters Btn. 3 / 2 / - (4 / 3 / 2) L
2nd Brigade:
  • 2nd Infantry Regt. 8 / 5 / 3
  • 3rd Infantry Regt. 8 / 5 / 3
  • Cavalry Brigade: (1st and 2nd Hussar, plus Guard du Corps Regts.) 4 / 3 / 2

Divisional Artillery:

  • 2 Foot Batteries
   
NOTES:
Weaponry: The Hessian infantry are armed with the Prussian Dreyse needle gun, a NG. The artillery was armed with a mixture of ½ smoothbore and ½ Krupp rifled guns.

Tactics: The Rifle / Sharpshooters Btn. may use skirmish tactics, all the infantry may use Assault Tactics if in Assault Column. The cavalry may only dismount as part of a scenario.

Leadership: The higher leadership was generally average, with 1/6 being 'Poor' and 1/6 being 'Exceptional' leaders. On the other hand the lower (unit) leadership proved to be quite good, 1/3 should be 'Exceptional'.

The Hannoverian Army Corps (Army)
Commander: Von Arentschildt 1 P. Ldr
 
1st Infantry Brigade: Von Dem Knesebeck 1 Ldr 2nd Infantry Brigade: De Vaux 1 Ldr 3rd Infantry Brigade: Von Bulow - Stolle 1 Ldr
     
  • Guard Infantry Regt. 6 / 4 / 2
  • 1st (Leib) Infantry Regt. 6 / 4 / 2
  • Guard Jager Btn. 3 / 2 / - (4 / 3 / 2) L
  • Konigin Hussar Regt. *
  • Brigade Artillery **
  • 2nd Infantry Regt. 6 / 5 / 3
  • 3rd Infantry Regt. 6 / 5 / 3
  • 1st Jager Btn. 3 / 2 / - (4 / 3 / 2) L
  • Cambridge Dragoon Regt. *
  • Brigade Artillery **
  • 4th Infantry Regt. 6 / 5 / 3
  • 5th Infantry Regt. 6 / 5 / 3
  • 2nd Jager Btn. 3 / 2 / - (4 / 3 / 2) L
  • Kronprinz Dragoon Regt. *
  • Brigade Artillery **
     
4th Infantry Brigade: Von Bothmer 1 Ldr Reserves  
     
  • 6th Infantry Regt. 6 / 5 / 3
  • 7th Infantry Regt. 6 / 5 / 3
  • 3rd Jager Btn. 3 / 2 / - (4 / 3 / 2) L
  • Guard Hussar Regt. *
  • Brigade Artillery **
Reserve Cavalry Brigade
  • Cavalry Brigade (Guard du Corps & Guard Kuirassier Regt.) 4 / 3 / -
  • 2nd Horse Battery: **

Corps Reserve Artillery: **

 
NOTES:
* These cavalry units are 2 stands strong. They may be ignored or combined to perform additional cavalry brigades, 2 of 4 / 3 / -. These can be attached to two of the Infantry Divisions or added to the Reserve Cavalry.

** The number of guns available for the army to use is not definitely known. 2 to 4 batteries may be deployed, 1 per slot with a **.

Weaponry: The armament of the Hannoverian army is uncertain, but probably was similar to the other German states. Therefore the infantry are armed with a MLR. The artillery are armed with a mixture of ½ smoothbore (SA) and ½ rifled (RA, or possibly BLA) guns.

Tactics: The Jager may use skirmish tactics, all the infantry may use Assault Tactics if in Assault Column. The cavalry may only dismount as part of a scenario.

Leadership: The higher leadership was generally average, with 1/6 being 'Poor' and 1/6 being 'Exceptional' leaders. On the other hand the lower (unit) leadership proved to be quite good, 1/3 or more should be 'Exceptional'.

The Saxon Army Corps
 
Corps Commander: Crown Prince Albrecht of Saxony 1 Ldr
1st Infantry Division: Von Schimpff 1 Ldr 2nd Infantry Division: Von Stieglitz 1 Ldr Cavalry Division: Fritsch 1 Ldr
     

2nd Brigade:

  • 2nd Jager Btn. 3 / 2 / - (4 / 3 / 2) L
  • 5th and 6th Btns. 6 / 5 / 3
  • 7th and 8th Btns. 6 / 5 / 3

3rd Brigade:

  • 3rd Jager Btn. 3 / 2 / - (4 / 3 / 2) L
  • 9th and 10th Btns. 6 / 5 / 3
  • 11th and 12th Btns. 6 / 5 / 3

Divisional Cavalry:

  • 1 Sqn each from 2nd & 3rd Reiter Regt. *

Divisional Artillery:

  • 1 Foot Battery

4th (Leib) Brigade:

  • 4th Jager Btn. 3 / 2 / - (4 / 3 / 2) L
  • 13th and 14th Btns. 6 / 5 / 3
  • 15th and 16th Btns. 6 / 5 / 3

1st Brigade:

  • 1st Jager Btn. 3 / 2 / - (4 / 3 / 2) L
  • 1st and 2nd Btns. 6 / 5 / 3
  • 3rd and 4th Btns. 6 / 5 / 3

Divisional Cavalry:

  • 1 Sqn each from Guard & 1st Reiter Regt. *

Divisional Artillery:

  • 1 Foot Battery
  • 1sr Reiter Brigade ( Guard & 1st Reiter Regts.) 4 / 3 / 2
  • 2nd Reiter Brigade (2nd & 3rd Reiter Regts.) 4 / 3 / 2
  • 1 Horse Battery
     
Reserves    
   

Corps Reserve Artillery:

  • 2 Foot Batteries
   
NOTES:
* The Divisional Cavalry units are included in the Cavalry Division.

Weaponry: The Saxon infantry are armed with the Podewil rifle, a MLR. The artillery was armed with a mixture of smoothbore and rifled (probably muzzle-loading, but possibly breach-loading) guns. The Horse artillery and half of the Foot (2) were RA (or possibly BLA), while the rest of the Foot artillery (2) were SA.

Tactics: The Jagers may use skirmish tactics, all the infantry may use Assault Tactics if in Assault Column. The cavalry may only dismount as part of a scenario.

Leadership: The higher leadership was generally poor and ½ or more should be 'Poor', with 'Exceptional' leaders being very rare or nonexistent. On the other hand the lower (unit) leadership proved to be considerably better, 1/3 should be 'Exceptional'.