2/4 Papenheim Grenadiers
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Origin and History
In January 1760, at the death of Wilhelm VIII, the new landgrave Friedrich II changed the organization of the army of Hesse-Kassel. Friedrich already was a general in the Prussian service, owning the Prussian Infanterie Regiment Nr. 45 and was a fervent admirer of the Prussian military machine. Therefore, he completely reorganised the Hessian army along the lines of the Prussian one, even changing the uniforms. As in the Prussian army, the grenadiers were converged into 6 battalions of 4 companies each. Thus the grenadiers from the Füsilier-Regiment von Bartheld (2 coys) and Bischhausen Infantry (2 coys) were converged into the Grenadier Battalion 2/4 counting four companies.
During the Seven Years' War, the battalion was commanded by:
- since its creation in 1760: Lieutenant-Colonel von Papenheim
- from 1761: Lieutenant-Colonel Schmidt
- from 1761: Lieutenant-Colonel von Knoblauch
Service during the War
On July 24 1760, the battalion took part in the combats of Volkmarsen and Cülte. On July 31, it fought in the Battle of Warburg where it was deployed in the third line of the centre between Ossendorf and Menne. On September 30, it participated in the encirclement of Wesel.
On February 15 1761, the battalion took part in the capture of Fritzlar. On March 27, it fought in the combat of Korbach. On July 4, it was at the combat of Unna. On July 15 and 16, it took part in the Battle of Vellinghausen. On August 18, it was at the combat of Ossendorf. On August 24, it was part of the force who relieved Hamm. On August 30, it participated in the storming of Dorsten.
On April 19 1762, the battalion took part in the capture of the Castle of Arnsberg. On August 22, it was at the encounter near Grünberg; on August 25, at the combat of Grüningen; and on August 30, at the Combat of Nauheim (aka Johannisberg). On September 11, it took part in a rearguard combat near Atzenhain. From October 15, it took part in the siege of Kassel.
Uniform
The grenadiers wore the uniform of their respective regiments. For details about these uniforms, please refer to the articles related to the Füsilier-Regiment von Bartheld and Bischhausen Infantry.
Colours
The converged grenadier battalions did not carry any colour.
References
Bleckwenn, Hans: Europa kämpft in Flandern... Die Morier-Bilder in Windsor Castle, Teil IV: Hessen-Kassel 1748, in: Zeitschrift für Heereskunde, XXX Jg. (1960), Nr. 207, S. 122-125 and Nr. 208, S. 166-168
Böhm, Uwe Peter: Hessisches Militär: Die Truppen der Landgrafschaft Hessen-Kassel 1672-1806, Herausgegeben im Auftrag der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Heereskunde e.V., Beckum 1986
Großer Generalstab, Kriegsgeschichtliche Abteilung II (Publisher). Die Kriege Friedrichs des Großen. Dritter Teil: Der Siebenjährige Krieg 1756–1763. Band 5 Hastenbeck und Roßbach, Berlin 1903
Henry, Mark: Hessian Army of the 7 Years War, Seven Years War Association Journal Vol. VII No. 3
Manley, S.: Uniforms of the Danish and German States armies 1739-1748, Potsdam Publications
Mohr, Kurt: Einiges über die Hessen-Kasselsche Infanterie 1760, in: Artikel für KA7-Sammler aus alten "Zinnfigur" Heften (1924-1944), KLIO-Arbeitsgruppe 7jähriger Krieg, Manuskript, Köln 1980, S. 106-107
Mulder, Luke, Some Notes on Landgraf Friedrich II of Hessen-Kassel Re-Organization of 1760, Seven Years War Association Journal Vol. XI No. 2
Noeske, Rolf: Die Heere der kriegführenden Staaten 1756-1763, 1. Ergänzung Hessen-Kassel, KLIO-Landesgruppe Baden-Württemberg e.V., Magstadt 1989
Ortenburg, Georg: Das Militär der Landgrafschaft Hessen-Kassel zwischen 1783 und 1789, Herausgegeben im Auftrag der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Heereskunde e.V., Potsdam 1999
Pengel & Hurt: German States in the Seven Years War 1740 to 1762, Imperial Press
Renouard, Carl: "Geschichte des Krieges in Hannover, Hessen und Westfalen von 1757 bis 1763", 3 Bände, Cassel, 1863-64
Rogge, Christian: The French & Allied Armies in Germany during the Seven Years War, Frankfurt, 2006
Schirmer, Friedrich: Die Heere der kriegführenden Staaten 1756 - 1763. KLIO-Landesgruppe Baden-Württemberg e.V., Magstadt, 1989
Schirmer, Friedrich: Die Infanterie des Landgrafentums Hessen-Kassel während des Siebenjährigen Krieges, in: Artikel für KA7-Sammler aus alten "Zinnfigur" Heften (1924-1944), KLIO-Arbeitsgruppe 7jähriger Krieg, Manuskript, Köln 1980, S. 104-106
Witzel, Rudolf: Hessen Kassels Regimenter in der Allierten Armee 1762, bearb. u. hrsg. von Ingo Kroll, Norderstedt 2007
Zahn, Michael: Stammliste und Gefechtskalender der Regimenter der Landgrafschaft Hessen-Kassel im Siebenjährigen Krieg (1756-1763) - Teil 1: Infanterie, Metzingen, 2009
