Dalarnas Infantry

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Origin and History

It descended from the Dalafänikan raised in 1542 and the Storeregemente from Upplands, Dalarna and Västmanlands. The regiment was initially raised in 1617 as the Upplands Storeregement, one of the nine Grand Regiment organised by Gustavus Adolphus.

In 1621, the Dalarna unit was one of the first to make use of the allotment system that would become common in the Swedish army at the end of the century.

In 1626, this Grand Regiment was permanently split into three smaller regiments (Upplands, Dalarna and Västmanlands) and a cavalry regiment (Upplands).

On December 5 1682, the Grand Regiment was finally broken down into three distinct and independent regiments, giving birth to the Dalarnas Infantry regiment.

During the Great Northern War, the regiment initially served in Zeeland against Denmark but was soon transferred to the Baltic region where it took part in the Battle of Narva (November 30 1700). In 1701, it served in Livonia. In 1702, the regiment joined the Swedish Main Army at Warsaw and fought at Kliszów (July 19). It then returned to the Baltic region where it served from 1702 to 1705. In 1708, it was present at the battles of Holowczyn (July 14) and Malatitze (August 31). In 1709, the regiment surrendered after the Battle of Polatava fought on July 8. In 1710, the regiment was reformed with new recruits in Sweden. Stockholm garrison with one battalion, then transferred to Rügen in 1712 and then in Pomerania with Stenbock. Fought at Gadebusch (December 9, 1712). In 1713, the regiment surrendered at Tönningen. It was reformed once more in 1715 in Roslagen and in 1716 and 1718 it took part in the expeditions against Norway.

During the next war against Russia (1741-1743), the regiment was at the Battle of Villmanstrand (August 23 1741).

At the beginning of the Seven Years' War, the regiment consisted of 1,200 privates in 2 battalions of 4 companies. Each company had 150 privates and 11 officers, NCOs and musicians.

During the Seven Years' War, the regiment was commanded by:

• J. Cronstedt

Service during the War

In 1757, a battalion of the regiment (about 600 men in 4 coys) were sent to Pomerania.

In 1758, 2 companies of the other battalion (about 200 men) were also sent as reinforcement to Pomerania. On November 18, a detachment of the regiment was part of General von Lingen's force at the combat of Güstow.

The regiment remained in Pomerania until 1761.

Uniform

Privates

Uniform 1756 - Copyright Kronoskaf

Uniform Details as per
sketches of infantry uniforms from the
Swedish War Archives

Headgear	Musketeer black tricorne laced white with a tin button on the left side Grenadier Prussian style mitre with a blue bag (because of the great similarity of the Prussian and Swedish grenadiers, in the field the mitre was covered with a black wax cloth)
Neckstock	black
Coat	dark blue with 10 tin buttons down the front with yellow trimmed buttonholes and 2 tin buttons at the small of the back Collar saffron yellow Shoulder Straps on the left shoulder with one tin button Lapels none Pockets on each side with 3 tin buttons each Cuffs saffron yellow Turnbacks saffron yellow
Waistcoat	white
Breeches	white
Gaiters	white stockings with brown leather strap at knee
Leather Equipment	Crossbelt broad white leather shoulder-strap Waistbelt white with brass buckle Cartridge Box black Bayonet Scabbard none Scabbard black with brass fittings Footgear black shoes with brass buckles

Troopers were armed with a sword and a musket. The bayonet was permanently fixed to the musket.

Other interpretations

Schirmer as well as Pengel and Hurt mention white trimmed buttonholes.

NCOs

NCOs wore uniforms similar to those of privates with the following differences:

• silver lace on the tricorne
• no shoulder straps
• brass buttons (smaller than those of officers)

NCOs carried halberds but no cane.

Officers

Officers wore a blue uniform (coat) with blue distinctives (collar, cuffs, turnbacks). They were further distinguished from privates by:

• a gold lace on the tricorne
• no turnbacks on the coat
• a silver gorget
• brass buttons
• blue or black breeches (breeches of the same colour as those of the privates were also worn)

N.B.: contrarily to the custom in other armies, Swedish officers did not wear any sash

Horses were equipped with blue housing with a yellow border.

Musicians

The uniform of the drummers were identical to those of the privates but white laces decorated the collar, seems, edges and pockets of the coat.

The drum was brass with provincial coats of arms embossed on the front. The rims were blue with yellow edging.

Colours

The pikes used as staffs to carry the colours were always yellow. The Liffana had gold finials while the Kompanifana had steel finials. The colours measured 2.12 x 1.70 m. (1.81 x 1.33 m. as per Clifford).

Liffana (colonel flag): white field; centre device carried the crowned royal arms of Sweden flanked by 2 crowned golden lions; the outer corner of the first canton carried 2 crossed golden arrow surmounted by a golden crown.

N.B.: for the liffana, Clifford adds a pedestal supporting the arms, the letters “AFRS” above the arms and 1 royal crown in the corner of each of the 3 remaining cantons.

Kompanifana (ordonnance flag): dark blue field; centre device consisted of 2 crossed golden arrow surmounted by a golden crown; the whole surrounded by a green laurel wreath tied with a gold ribbon.

Liffana - Copyright: Kronoskaf

Kompanifana - Copyright: Kronoskaf

The colonel's battalion carried the Liffana and a Kompanifana. The lieutenant-colonel's battalion carried 2 Kompanifanor.

References

Großer Generalstab: Die Kriege Friedrichs des Großen - Dritter Teil: Der Siebenjährige Krieg 1756–1763. Vol. 6 Leuthen, Kriegsgeschichtliche Abteilung II (Publisher), Berlin 1904, pp.92-107, Annex pp. 11-16

Höglund, Lars-Eric and Ake Sallnäs: The Great Northern War 1700-1721, Colours and Uniforms, Acedia Press, Karlstadt, 2000

Economic Expert: Uplandia Grand Regiment (website)

Pengel, R. D. and G. R. Hurt: Swedish Army in Pomerania – 1757-1763, Birmingham, 1983

Purky, Jim: Swedish Army Organization, Seven Years War Association Journal Vol. X No. 1

Säwe, Teofron: Sveriges deltagande i Sjuåriga Kriget Åren 1757-1762, Beijers Bokförlagsaktiebolag, Stockholm, 1915

Schirmer, Friedrich: Die Heere der kriegführenden Staaten 1756-1763, published by KLIO-Landesgruppe Baden-Württemberg, Neuauflage 1989

Schorr, Dan: Swedish Flags 1757-1762 - Part II Infantry Flags, The Courrier, March-April 1980

Schorr, Dan: Uniforms of the Swedish Army, 1757-1762, The Courrier, June-July 1979

Swedish War Archives, Sketches of infantry uniforms

English Wikipedia - Dalregementet

Wilson, Peter: The Swedish Army in 1756, Seven Years War Association Journal Vol. X No. 1

N.B.: the section Service during the War is mostly derived from our articles depicting the various campaigns, battles and sieges.