Württemberg Leib Grenadier Regiment

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Origin and History

Württemberg Leib Grenadier in 1758 - Source: von Stadlinger, 1856

In 1758, the Garde zu Fuß was twice reorganised: on August 30, a second battalion had been erected; and on October 1, this second battalion became the core of the new Leibgrenadierregiment while retaining its two other battalions. The Leibgrenadierregiment then recruited other troops to bring its total force to 3 battalions.

In 1762 and 1763, two battalions were detached from the regiment to form independent grenadier battalions designated as Hausgrenadierbataillon and Herzogsgrenadierbataillon. The Leibgrenadierregiment now counting a single battalion was renamed Leibgrenadierbataillon.

During the Seven Years' War, the successive Kommandeure of the regiment were:

• since 1758: colonel Johan Friedrich Karl von Linckensdorff
• from 1761 to 1765: colonel Karl August von Lengefeld

In 1765, the Leibgrenadierbataillon was disbanded.

Service during the War

Only one battalion took part to the war. From July 1760 to January 1761, it campaigned in Saxony.

Uniform

The regiment probably retained the uniform worn when its two battalions were still part of the Garde zu Fuß.

Privates

Uniform - Source: Frédéric Aubert

Uniform Details
as per L., J. Stadlinger, completed with other sources where necessary

Headgear	Musketeer not applicable Grenadier Prussian style mitre cap with a brass front plate decorated with a mirrored C (for Carl Eugen) surmounted by a star and a ducal crown, with a red bag, a brass headband, yellow piping and a yellow/black pompon
Neckstock	black
Coat	dark blue in Prussian cut with 2 yellow buttons and 2 white buttonholes with white tassels under the lapel Collar carmine red Shoulder Straps carmine red with a white aiguillette on the right shoulder Lapels carmine red set with 8 yellow buttons and 8 white buttonholes with white tassels arranged in pairs Pockets horizontal pockets, each with 3 yellow buttons Cuffs carmine red Swedish cuffs with 2 yellow buttons and 2 white buttonholes with white tassels Turnbacks red fastened with a yellow button
Waistcoat	yellow
Breeches	white
Gaiters	black during campaigns
Leather Equipment	Crossbelt white Waistbelt white Cartridge Box black Bayonet Scabbard n/a Scabbard black with a yellow handle Footgear black

Troopers were armed with a musket and a sword.

Officers

NCO's tricorne was probably laced silver. Furthermore, they wore beige gloves and carried a baton and a partisan.

Officers wore a uniform quite similar to the troopers with the following exceptions:

• tricorne decorated with a gold lace
• gold gorget
• no turnbacks
• gold buttonholes
• gold sash
• brown and gold scabbard
• beige gloves
• spontoon

Musicians

no information available yet

Colours

Informations about the colours of the Württemberger infantry regiments are very scarce. The following descriptions represent an "educated guess" based on these few sources.

Leibfahne: white field with, on both sides, the arms of the duke of Württemberg, surmounted by a gold and red ducal crown. The coat of arms consisted of an oval shield surrounded by a necklace of the Order:

• Necklace: 8 red links with a golden eagle, 8 blue links depicting precious stones and a red cross over a yellow background
• Upper left canton: yellow and black checkerboard pattern (Teck arms)
• Upper right canton: yellow flags on a blue field (Reichssturm)
• Lower right canton: brown head with a red bonnet on a yellow field (Heidenheim arms)
• Lower left canton: two gold fish on a red field (Monbéliard arms)
• Central escutcheon: 3 black stag antlers on a yellow field

Here follows a tentative reconstruction of this flag:

Leibfahne - Source: PMPdeL

Regimentsfahne: probably red field with

• Right side: probably the arms of Württemberg (identical to those on the Leibfahne) surmounted by a gold and red ducal crown
• Left side: probably the duke's cipher (a mirrored C)

Here follows a tentative reconstruction of this flag:

Regimentsfahne - Source: PMPdeL

N.B.: the Württemberger colours also carried the motto "Provide et constanter". However, the exact location (side and position) of this motto on the colours is unknown.

References

• Becher, Johann Christian: Wahrhaftige Nachricht derer Begebenheiten, so sich in dem Herzogthum Weimar by dem gewaltigen Kriege Friedrichs II., Königs von Preußen, mit der Königin von Ungarn, Marien Theresen, samt ihren Bundesgenossen zugetragen, Weimar, ca. 1757-1760
  • Original (Stiftung Weimarer Klassik - Herzogin Anna Amalia Bibliothek Weimar)
  • Copy (Deutsches Historisches Museum)
  • Copy (NYPL Digital Gallery, The Vinkhuijzen collection)
• Boehm, E.; Rottgardt, D., Die Reichsarmee 1757-63. I. Teil: Zusammensetzung und Organisation, KLIO-Arbeitsgruppe 7jähriger Krieg, Friderzianische Epoche, Manuskript, o.J
• Boehm, E.; Rottgardt, D.; Weirich, W.-D., Die Reichsarmee 1757-63. II. Teil: Die einzelnen Einheiten, ihre Stärke, Zusammensetzung, Uniform und Feldzeichen, KLIO-Arbeitsgruppe 7jähriger Krieg, Friderzianische Epoche, Manuskript, o.J.
• Deutsche Uniformen, Bd. 1, Das Zeitalter Friedrich des Großen, 240 Bilder von Herbert Knötel d. J., Text and explanations by Dr. Martin Letzius, published by Sturm-Zigaretten GmbH, Dresden 1932
• Evrard P., Praetiriti Fides
• Großer Generalstab, Die Kriege Friedrichs des Großen. Der Siebenjährige Krieg, Berlin 1901-1914
• Kaufmann, Michael, Wurtemberg during the Seven Years' War, Nec Pluribus Impar
• Knötel, R., Farbiges Handbuch der Uniformkunde: Die Entwicklung der militärischen Tracht der deutschen Staaten, Österreich-Ungarns und der Schweiz, published in 1937 by Herbert Knötel d.J. and Herbert Sieg.
• Koch, A.U., Der modische Wandel der Uniform im 18. Jahrhundert. Reich und Württemberg. (Officer's portraits 1730 to 1790), in Zeitschrift für Heereskunde, Nr. 330, LI. Jg (1987), S. 33-36
• Kroll, I., Truppen der kriegführenden Staaten in Nordwestdeutschland 1757-1762, in Die Zinnfigur, Heft 12 (1987), pp. 361-362, 375-378
• Military Miniatures Magazin, Die Armee von Carl Eugen Herzog von Württemberg, Herzogtum Württemberg 1756 – 1763
• Rogge, Christian; The French & Allied Armies in Germany during the Seven Years War, Frankfurt, 2006
• Service Historique de l'Armée de Terre - A4 XXVII, pièce 22
• Stadlinger, L., J. von, Geschichte des Württembergischen Kriegswesens – von der frühesten bis zur neuesten Zeit, Stuttgart, 1856
• Zahn, Michael, Die Herzoglich Württembergische Armee im Siebenjährigen Krieg, Manuskript, Stuttgart: January 2008