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Prussia

Being a veteran and a patriotic German, Knötel took considerable pleasure in "doing" Prussians. When I left
the identity of any plates in my monthly contingent to his judgement, they were practically certain to be Prussian
one reason for this wide coverage of that army.
Considering the late 18th Century Prussian Army, that mysterious, wandering Welsh soldier of fortune, Henry
Lloyd, who had served both in and against it, described it as made up chiefly of foreigners of all nations, manners
and religions. Frederick the Great had drilled and disciplined it into a "vast and regular machine", but - were
Frederick removed - it probably would fall to pieces.
The Prussian Army that went confidently against Napoleon in 1806 was Frederick's army still in most regards
- a framework of foreigners, enticed into its harsh service, filled up with part-trained native Prussian reservists. A
few days fighting shattered it.
Thereupon Prussian officers began rebuilding it, with vengeance and conquest very much in mind. It became
a national force, the active army backed after 1813 by a landwehr of older men, and infused with a growing
national spirit. Prussia however was a poor nation with a limited armament industry; only lavish English subsides
enabled it to keep a strong army in the field through 1813-1814. By 1815 it was worn thin, armed with a mixture
of weapons from practically every European country. Its supply system never had been particularly efficient, and
the artillery was definitely inferior to the French.
Prussia was a predatory nation, eager to seize territory on any pretext or opportunity. Its soldiers were tough
fighters, capable - if well led - of great exertions, tautly drilled and disciplined. They also were arrogant in
victory, remorseless looters and brutal in their plundering. In 1815 Belgians complained that the Prussians
billeted on them were worse than Cossacks.

See also Volume 11, Foreign Troops and Imperial Guard,


I am especially indebted to my friends, Peter Hofschröer and Lt. Col. Jack Gill, for help in untangling
Prussian Army organization.

Index

Plate 1. King's Aide de Camp, Cavalry Full Dress, 1813


Plate 2. General, Field Uniform, 1812
Plate 3. General von L’Estoq, Chief of Towarczys, Full Dress, 1806
Plate 4. General Staff Officer, 1815
Plate 5. Mounted Field Jäger Corps, 1815
Plate 6. Jäger Regiment, Field Uniform, Private, 1806
Plate 7. Fusilier Battalion Graf Wedel (5th), Private, Field Uniform, 1806
Plate 8. Line Infantry Regiment Von Winning (23rd), Grenadier, Field Uniform 1806
Plate 9. Line Infantry Regiment Von Winning (23rd) Musketeer, Field Uniform, 1806
Plate 10. Line Infantry Regiment Prince Henry (35th) Sergeant, Field Uniform, 1806
Plate 11. West Prussian Reserve Battalion, Musketeer Private, 1807
Plate 12. 2nd Battalion, 4th East Prussian Infantry Regiment, Standard Bearer, Field Uniform, 1813
Plate 13. 2nd Pomeranian Infantry Regiment, Volunteer Jäger, 1813
Plate 14. 1st Silesian Grenadier Battalion, Private, 1813
Plate 15. 28th infantry Regiment. Musketeer Private, Field Uniform, 1815
Plate 16. Thüringian Battalion, Fusilier Private, 1813
Plate 17. 1st Reserve Infantry Regiment, Fusilier (3rd) Battalion, Lieutenant, Field Uniform, 1813
Plate 18. 1st Reserve Infantry Regiment, 1st Battalion, Musketeer Private, 1813
Plate 19. 1st Reserve Infantry Regiment, 1st Battalion, Drummer, 1813
Plate 20. 7th Reserve Infantry Regiment, 1st Battalion, Musketeer Private, 1813
Plate 21. 8th Reserve Infantry Regiment, 1st Battalion, Musketeer Private, 1813
Plate 22. 1st Elbe Landwehr Infantry Regiment, Musketeer Private, 1813
Plate 23. 4th Westphalian Laiidwelir Infantry Regiment, Volunteer Jäger, 1813-1814
Plate 24. Hussar Regiment Von Köhler (3rd), Private, 1795
Plate 25. Hussar Regiment Von Koehler (7th), Private, 1796
Plate 26. Hussar Regiment Von Blücher (8th), Trumpeter, 1806
Plate 27. Hussar Regiment Von Usedom (10th), Officer, 1806
Plate 28. Hussar Battalion Von Bila (llth), Private 1806
Plate 29. 2nd Leib Hussar Regiment, Private, 1812
Plate 30. 2nd Brandenburg Hussar Regiment (Von Schill), Private, 1809
Plate 31. Pommeranian Hussar Regiment (Bliicher), Volunteer Jäger, 1813
Plate 32. 1st (Upper) Silesian Hussar Regiment, Private, Full Dress, 1812
Plate 33. 2nd (Lower) Silesian Hussar Regiment, Officer, Full Dress, 1812
Plate 34. Towarczys Regiment, 3rd Squadron, Private, 1806-1807
Plate 35. Brandeiiburg (3rd) Uhlan Regiment, Private, 1813
Plate 36. Dragoon Regiment Ansbach-Bayreuth (5th), Officer, 1806
Plate 37. Dragoon Regiment Von Heyking (10th), Private, 1806
Plate 38. 2iid West Prussian Dragoon Regiment (4th), Sergeant, 1812
Plate 39 Neumark (6th) Dragoon Regiment, Volunteer Jäger Sergeant, 1813~1814
Plate 40. Curassier Regiment Von Beeren (2nd), Trumpeter, 1806
Plate 41. Gens d'armes Regiment (10th), Private, 1806
Plate 42. Brandenburg Cuirassier Regiment, Private,1813
Plate 43. East Prussian National Cavalry Regiment, 4th Squadron, Private, 1813
Plate 44. Silesian National Hussar Regiment, Private, 1813
Plate 45. Pomeranian National Cavalry Regiment, Elite Company, Private, 1813~1814
Plate 46. 3rd Silesian Landwehr Cavalry Regiment, Private, 1813
Plate 47. Horse Artillery, Battery No. 18, Private, 1815
Plate 48. Foot Artillery Company, Brandenburg Brigade, Private,1813
Plate 49. Miners, Field Uniform, Private, 1806
Plate 50. Pioneers, Private, 1813-1814
Plate 51. Train Troops, Field Uniform, Private, 1813-1814
Plate 52. Free Corps Von Marwitz, Infantry Private, 1807
Plate 53. Krockow's Free Corps, Bayonet Jäger, 1813
Plate 54. Lützow's Free Corps, Jäger, 1813
Plate 55. Liitzow's Free Corps, Hussar Officer, 1813
Plate 56. Hellwig's Free Corps, Infantry Private, 1813~1814
Plate 57. Hellwig's Free Corps, Hussar Private, 1813-1814
Plate 58. Normal Infantry Battalion, Fifer, Full Dress, 1812
Plate 59. Foot Guard Regiment, Grenadier, Full Dress, 1812
Plate 60. Kaiser Alexander Guard Grenadier Regiment, Officer, 1815
Plate 61. Stettin Guard Landwehr Battalion, Private, 1815
Plate 62. Guard Hussar Squadron, Private, Full Dress, 1813
Plate 63. Guard Uhlan Squadron, Private, 1812
Plate 64. Guard Volunteer Cossack Squadron, Private, 1812
Plate 65. Guard Horse Artillery, Officer, Full Dress, 1810

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