Infantry

At the start of the War of Spanish Succession there does not appear to have been a standard organisation for the Prussian infantry. But during the course of this war the army moved towards standardising both the internal organisation of battalions and the number of battalions per regiment

There would appear to be two main internal organisations that were used by the infantry in this period. Either 5 companies of 136 men in a battalion or 12 companies of 70 men. This would give battalions of 680 or 844 men respectively. Generally if a unit had one battalion it was of the second, larger, organisation. While units with two or more had battalions of the first type, the smaller ones.

During the course of this period the infantry was increasingly standardised as two battalions of 5 companies of 136. So we see, table below, units losing and gaining troops to achieve this. In 1713 there was a major reorganisation of the infantry when this process seems to have been largely completed and a number of new units were raised.

Grenadiers: There is no doubt that Prussian units at this time included grenadiers. What though is less certain is how many and how they were organised.

These are tricky to pin down but I think I have at least a working theory to go on. First of all the German source (translated via an online programme) states that “In 1735 it received like all Regimenter — on the 1st of May for every battalion a grenadier's company in addition.”. This is just one of many references to the fact that it was not normal for Prussian battalions to have a grenadier company before 1735. It therefore seems likely that all battalions only got a grenadier company in 1735. This though raises two problems 1: how to explain the references to grenadier companies before this time and 2: where were the grenadiers before this.

First the references to grenadier companies before 1735. IR’s 3 & 11 are both noted as having grenadier companies. While for the landing at Rugen, 1715 five grenadier battalions are part of the Prussian contingent. The list also contains many references to “a company landed in the 1st battalion on Rugen” in the regimental history sections. Five battalions feature in these histories & the only five unidentified units on Rugen are the five grenadier battalions. Presumably then the company landed was the grenadier company. Perhaps the explanation for this may partly be found in the use of the word ‘company’ for what might be just the collected grenadiers of a unit rather than an organised unit. This would certainly make sense for the landing on Rugen – a typical dangerous ‘grenadier’ type task? IR 3 though is noted as having 3 grenadier companies while in garrison in 1717 and it does not explain this.

Perhaps though the clue is in another part of the text. It notes that IR 3 was considered the best unit in the army and then says (in English translation) “Out of from 1699 to 1718 it possessed — like the guard — three battalions with a grenadier's company and other privileges”. Now of course this isn’t wonderful English, but perhaps it means that it had permanent grenadier companies as a privilege? It certainly seems to imply this. While it also seems to imply that other units did also, it mentions the guard but perhaps IR 11’s grenadiers are another example.

But if some units had permanent grenadier battalions where were the other units grenadiers. Well as mentioned above some times it is likely that they were stripped out of the parent battalion and formed into an ad hoc company or battalion for a hazardous task. Usually though they would be spread in the ordinary companies. So in translation we have “On the 1st of May, 1735 it received like all Feldregimenter battalion a grenadier's company which were distributed up to now to the companies, without flag” from our German source about IR 27.

So my theory is that some units had permanent grenadier companies as a privilege of some sort. It is impossible to tell from the information I have if this was one of the five companies or if it was an additional company, as it was later on. While the majority just had a proportion in each line company. On occasion these could be formed into separate units for a particular purpose but usually they stayed with their company. The sources I have do not specifically state how many grenadiers there were per company. But in 1743, the grenadier companies were raised from 90 to 120 men, in both cases plus officers & bits, I think. This would mean there were about 100 men in a grenadier company before this and possibly might mean that something in the region of 16 to 20 grenadiers might have been in WSS / GNW companies.

See 'The invasion of Rugen' below for details of Prussian Grenadier battalions there.

Tactics: The Prussian army official adopted the 'Platoon firing' tactics developed by the British & Dutch armies in 1720. Yet it seems very likely that the units that were serving with the British & Dutch armies of this time were using these tactics from circa 1702. While it is possible that they had spread to units at home or serving with the Imperial forces as well before 1720.

Infantry Units:

The I.R. column refers to the designation that the unit would be given later on in the time of Frederick the Great.

btn / btns = battalion / battalions. large btn = battalion using the larger organisation.

Sapherson = the number of battalions according to this source.

Where the first organisation or unit commander has a date it means that the unit was formed at that time.

Notes and other units

Infantry Regiment 1: Yes this unit really had 6 battalions – 30 companies! Even though this may only have been administratively. Certainly IR 5 had had an independent existence before this time and was separated again afterwards. It lost 5 co’s in 1703 which went it IR 18. In 1707 IR 5 was reformed as an independent regiment after having been part of this regiment – it had 10 co’s.

Infantry Regiment 18 & the Preussische Garde: Sapherson has a 2 battalion strong unit called the 'Preussische Garde' in existence until it was disbanded in 1703. The history of what would become IR 18 states that it was formed, as a single battalion, in 1698 from detachments from the guard battalions. Then in 1703 Tettau raised a second battalion from the 'Prussian Garde' and added it to this regiment. It therefore seems clear that by 1703 at the latest these two units were the same and may have been earlier.

Grenadier Garde: Sapherson has this as an additional unit to IR 6 above, with 2 battalions. They also have an unusual organisation, 5 companies of 116 men per battalion. Perhaps there were two units but more likely it seems to me is that this unit is IR 6 in some earlier form.

Heiden's and Waldburg-Truchsess battalions (Hei and WT): See IR 26. These two units were combined together to form a regiment in 1714 / 15. Sapherson has the Heiden battalion being formed in 1704.

Micrander battalion, Schoneneck from 1713 (Mic): This unit was part of the garrison of Kolberg in 1715 and may have been so for some time. In 1715 a battalion of IR 10 replaced it and it seems to have taken part in the 1715 campaign, or at least the initial stages.

Marwitz Regiment, Schlabrendorff from 1703 (Sch): Sapherson lists this unit with 2 battalions but I have no information about it's deployment or history. It may be that this is a case of confusion with IR 25, which is otherwise absent from Sapherson's list. But the available facts are difficult to reconcile with this idea.

Corneaud Battalion: This unit, a battalion, was formed in 1704 and disbanded in 1708 according to Sapherson. While the regimental histories has the 2nd battalion of IR 20 being formed in 1713 from a variety of sources. Including the 'free company' of Cornuaud which it says was raised in1686.

I have no evidence for this but I believe it might be that this unit had dwindled down to a company sized unit, or was a garrison unit, at the start of this period. Perhaps then it was used for active service or brought up to strength for the period 1704 - 08. Following this it was placed in garrison and allowed to dwindle in size before going to form part of IR 20. Alternatively of course this might be totally wrong!

Pannewitz Regiment / Battalion: Sapherson has a unit of this name raised in 1713. I think this is most likely that this unit has been confused with IR 13 Varenne which is also mentioned in his list. It may be though that this was an independent battalion (probably) in addition to this unit. Or it may be that it is one of the battalions which were formed in 1713 and subsequently formed into a regiment.

Wolfenbuttal Regiment / Battalion (Wolf): This unit which appears to be a single 'large' battalion fought in the battle of Blenheim, 1704. It is likely that it is one of the units listed above with a different name, possibly IR 9.

Nassau-Dillenburg Battalion: A unit of Nassau troops that were attached to the Prussian army, returned 1711.

Schwerin Battalion: A unit of Mecklenburg troops that were attached to the Prussian army, returned 1713.

Sidow, Prinz von Holstein, Billerbech, Barleben and Reinach Grenadier battalions: See 'The invasion of Rugen' below for details of Prussian Grenadier battalions.

Deployment

The table gives the know deployment of units at various key events.

'Y' = present but unknown number of battalions.

? = unit possibly present.

gren = grenadier company / grenadiers present.

something ? = see notes below

Cavalry

Horse, sometimes called Cuirassier, and Dragoons. One of the problems though with the Prussian army was that during this period some regiments were changed from Dragoon units to Horse units.

As with the infantry there was considerable variations in the organisation of Prussian mounted units in this period. But also as with the infantry the trend was towards greater uniformity. This resulted in the reorganisation of the regiments in 1718 so that all units were of 5 squadron (10 companies) of 120 to 130 men.

During the big reorganisation of the mounted troops in 1717 - 18 four former Dragoon regiments were converted into Horse / Cuirassier regiments. In the case of CR 12 this may have been a case of formalising an earlier arrangement. This unit performed well during the invasion of Rugen and battle of Stresow in 1715 and was probably raised to Horse / Cuirassier status at this time. Although whether this made any practical difference is difficult to say.

'Unit ID' is the units later designation in most case, i.e. CR 1 refers to the unit that will become Cuirassier Regiment number 1 in the time of Frederick the Great. Designations such as CR H refer to units which did not survive later than this period.

Often the sources I have use 'company' and 'squadron' indiscriminately, so I have indicated where it may be that the other is more likely. Also they do not always mention the fact but it seems likely that each squadron has 2 companies and vice versa, this has been assumed in the table below.

'reorg' - The unit was reorganised into 5 squadrons of about 130 men at this

time.

Horse/Cuirassiers

In general the Prussian heavy cavalry of this period were organised into regiments of 3 sqns. Some units had different organisations but during the early part of this period they were changed to this organisation. The notable exception to this rule was the two guard units, the Gendarmes (CR 10) & the Trabant Guard / Garde du Corps (CR 13). They were always non standard units, as detailed below. It seems that the Trabant Guard / Garde du Corps (CR 13) was not an active unit, it did not participate in any of Prussia's wars of this period. Instead most or all of its personnel were transferred into the Gendarmes. So by 1708 it appears that it only had a strength of 1 company and it was disbanded totally in 1713 only to be reborn when Frederick the Great came to the throne.

Each squadron had two companies of between 55 and 75 men. This would give three squadron regiments of between about 350 and 550 men at full strength and including regimental staff. In 1717 - 18 a major reorganisation took place. In which some units were disbanded and all units were made into regiments of 5 squadrons of 120 - 130 men, giving regiments of about 800 at full strength and with regimental staff.

Where the first organisation or unit commander has a date it means that the unit was formed at that time.

Note: See also below for Dragoon regiments converted to Horse / Cuirassier in 1718

Dragoons

As with the other arms of the army the Prussian Dragoons seemed to have started the period with no standard organisation. But also similar to the other arms units were standardised during the early part of the period to 4 squadrons per regiment. Each squadron had two companies of between 55 and 75 men. This would give four squadron regiments of between about 500 and 750 men at full strength and including regimental staff.

In 1717 - 18 the Dragoon regiments were reorganised in a similar fashion to the heavy cavalry, i.e. they became regiments of 5 squadrons of 120 - 130 men, giving regiments of about 800 at full strength and with regimental staff. One difference was that many units were converted to Horse / Cuirassiers at this time, or indeed early - see above.

Where the first organisation or unit commander has a date it means that the unit was formed at that time.

Cavalry Deployment

? = I have contradictory information here. The Leib Horse regiment (CR 3) is listed at Blenheim and CR 6 is not. Yet their histories reverse this situation, i.e. CR 6 is mentioned as present but CR 3 is not. Similarly the Ansbach Dragoons (DR 1) are listed as present but according to the unit histories they were not and did not participate in this war until 1705. While the opposite is true for CR 7, which was Sonsfeld's Dragoons at the time. Also The Gendarmes (CR 10) are mentioned as present in it's unit history but not mentioned elsewhere. This is possibly due to their small size at that time.

?? See 'The Invasion of Rugen' below.

It seems likely that the Gendarmes were present but overlooked due to their small size. While there has been some confusion about which of the units were there. I feel it is most likely though that CR 6 and CR 7 were present.

The Invasion of Rugen

The invasion of the island of Rugen was an operation undertaken in 1715 by a combined Prussian, Danish, Norwegian and Saxon army. The allied army consisted of 8 Danish battalions and 16 squadrons, 2 Norwegian battalions, 10 Prussian battalions and 15 squadrons, 4 Saxon battalions and 2 squadrons, and 26 field cannon. Details of these forces and the battle can be found at Dan Schorr's Battles and Campaigns and on the individual nations forces pages on this site.

This battle though does pose some problems when we consider the Prussian contingent to the force. First of all 5 of the Prussian battalions were grenadier battalions. Secondly there is conflicting evidence about the identity of the other 5 Prussian battalions used. While finally we have an unidentified Dragoon regiment there and gaps in our mounted OOB.

Grenadier Battalions: During the invasion and the subsequent battle of Stresow the Prussian's fielded five grenadier battalions. These were the battalions of Sidow, Prinz von Holstein, Billerbech, Barleben and Reinach. Each of these units seem to have consisted of companies composed of the combined grenadiers from a variety of regiments. I do not know how many such companies were in each battalion or how big they were. I do though have some information about which units grenadiers where in which battalion. Unfortunately the source of this information identifies the battalions as the 1st, 2nd, etc rather than by a name.

Known composition.

1st Battalion: The combined grenadier company from IR 22

2nd Battalion: The combined grenadier company from IR's 20, 21 (?) & 23

3rd Battalion: The combined grenadier company from IR's 14 & 25

4th Battalion: The combined grenadier company from IR's 12 &19

5th Battalion: The combined grenadier company from IR 26

IR 10 is mentioned as having 'companies' participate in the invasion. So probably this means the grenadiers, possibly more than one company. I have no definite information though about this.

It seems likely to me that the grenadiers from the ordinary battalions that took part in the invasion would also have been in these units.

IR 21 may have contributed it's grenadiers to the 2nd battalion or it may have contributed it's 2nd battalion as a whole to the invasion, see below. If it was just it's grenadiers then they were in the 2nd grenadier battalion. If not it is likely that the grenadiers were formed in to a company and fought with an unknown grenadier unit.

Line Battalions: There seems to be considerable confusion about which 5 'Line' battalions took part in these actions. First of all the 'Anhalt' regiment is identified, in my 2 sources, as present but this might have been the regiment of Anhalt Dessau (IR 3) or Anhalt Zerbst (IR 8). It seems most likely that it was the second of these as the regimental history also places IR 8 in the invasion force. While IR 3 is not mentioned by either source as present.

This leaves us with 4 other unidentified Prussian 'Line' units. The regimental histories give IR's 5, 9, 11 and 21 each with a battalion present. While the account on Dan Schorr's Battles and Campaigns site lists IR's 4, 16, 19 and 23 as present with one battalion each. In the absence of further information it is impossible to chose between these two alternatives.

Mounted Units: 15 squadrons of Prussian mounted troops were used in the invasion. 11 of these squadrons are identified in the tale above with out any problems, but the remaining 4 squadrons are not so easy. Also we have an unidentified unit called the 'Dorsting' dragoons in the battle with a strength of 2 squadrons, let us look at this unit first.

CR 12, which was at that time a dragoon regiment, is identified as being involved in the invasion with an unknown number of squadrons. It also is mentioned in the regimental history that this unit did well during the invasion / battle and was subsequently promoted to 'Horse' status. It therefore seems likely that this unit, CR 12, is the 'Dorsting' dragoons and that it had 2 squadrons. Especially as at about this time the commanders of CR 6 and 12 were 'swapping' commands, possibly leading to a temporary title for this unit.

If this my theory mentioned above is correct this leaves us with 2 unidentified squadrons. CR 1 is mentioned as participating in the invasion so at least one of the squadrons will be from this unit. Indeed both could be from her or it might be that other unidentified units were present. It is though most likely that the missing 4 squadrons were 2 squadrons from CR 1 and 2 from CR 12.