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Schwerin troops

In 1805, before the entry of French troops, the army of the duchy consisted of the following units :

- Leibgarde zu Pferde (Horse guards)
- Leib-Grenadier-Regiment (2 battalions)
- Infanterie-Regiment Erbprinz (1 battalion)

The infantry units are disbanded in April 1808 to be used as cadre for 1900 men of the federal contingent the duchy was due to provide.

The Schwerin army takes part in the 1809 campaign against the von Schill's insurgents and in the Russian campaign of 1812.

On 25 March 1813, the duchy of Schwerin leaves the Confederation and declares war to France. The Schwerin troops are regrouped in a brigade attached to the 2nd German Federal Corps under command of the duke of Brunswick.

During the entire Napoleonic era, Schwerin is ruled by the Duke Friedrich Franz I, which becomes Grand Duke in 1815.

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Brigade then regiment of the federal contingent

The federal contingent is organised as a brigade of four battalions. First two use cadres from the two battalions of the Leib-Grenadier-Regiment, 3rd uses the cadres from Erbprinz regiment and the 4th raised from nothing never achieved operational strength.

Each battalion is organised on the French basis of four centre companies (musketeers) and two elite companies (grenadiers and voltigeurs). Each company consists of :

• 1 Kapitain (captain)
• 1 Premier-Lieutenant (lieutenant)
• 1 Sekonde-Lieutenant (second lieutenant)
• 1 Feldscheer (NCOs)
• 8 Unteroffizier (sous-officiers)
• 3 Spielleute (musicians)
• 83 Gemeine (enlisted)

The decree of 11 March 1809 reorganises the brigade into a regiment of two battalions, issued from 2nd and 3rd battalions of the former brigade. Useable elements of the former 1st and 4th battalions are redistributed too in the new formation and these battalions themselves are disbanded when their remnants are transferred to the new Grenadier-Garde-Bataillon.Each battalion has six companies consisting of :

• 1 Kapitain
• 1 Premier-Lieutenant
• 1 Sekonde-Lieutenant
• 1 Feldscheer
• 10 Unteroffizier
• 2 Tambours
• 131 Gemeine

In preparation for the Russian campaign the regiment and the Strelitz infantry battalion are organised into the 7th Rheinbund-Regiment.

Finally the Schwerin infantry regiment fights during the 1813 and 1814 campaigns as part of Mecklenburg-Schwerin brigade.

Musketeers

• Dark blue double breasted coat closed by two rows of eight buttons. Collar in battalion colour (1st yellow, 2nd white, 3rd red, 4th peach). Blue shoulder straps. Swedish cuffs in battalion colour bearing two buttons. Scarlet turnbacks. White metal buttons.
  From 1809, same dress with scarlet collar and cuffs for both battalions.
  From 1812, same dress with blue shoulder straps trimmed scarlet and scarlet cuffs with blue flaps piped scarlet.
• White vest with blue collar and cuffs and blue shoulder straps trimmed white. Grey jersey breeches piped scarlet on seam. Black short gaiters.
• Black felt shako with black leather top and base band bearing the ducal cipher in die-cut brass plate. White wool pompon over red-blue-yellow cockade. In full dress, white cords and flounders. Brass chinscales and black leather peak.
  From 1812 the brass cipher seems to be replaced by a rhomboid brass plate stamped with ducal cipher.
• White leatherwork. Black leather cartridge pouch.

Grenadiers

Red fringed epaulets. Red pompon and in full dress red plume, cords and flounders. Infantry sabre with red sabre strap and brass grenade plate on cartridge pouch.

Voltigeurs

Green fringed epaulets. Green pompon and in full dress red plume, cords and flounders. Infantry sabre with green sabre strap and brass horn plate on cartridge pouch.

NCOs

Troopers dress with rank laces :

• Feldwebel 2 silver laces on both forearms
• Sergeant 1 silver lace on both forearms
• Fourier 1 silver laces on both arms
• Korporal 2 white laces on both forearms
• Gefreite 1 white lace on both forearms

In full dress cords and flounders in blue, red and yellow entwined threads. White plume and pompon with blue top for musketeers NCOs and red (green) plume and pompon with white top for grenadiers (voltigeurs) NCOs. Infantry sabre with white strap and company coloured tassel (1st white, 2nd dark blue, 3rd yellow, 4th light blue) for musketeers and red (green) tassel for grenadiers (voltigeurs) NCOs.

Officers

Troopers dress with rank insignias :

• Major Silver strap and gold fringes
• Hauptmann Silver fringed epaulets
• Premier-Lieutenant Silver fringed epaulet left and silver fringeless epaulet right, both have with a red lace across strap
• Sekonde-Lieutenant As Premier-Lieutenant, with two red laces across strap

In full dress, collar bears two silver laces on each side. Shako with silver lace around top and plate with gilded rays and silvered centre stamped with ducal arms. Gold pompon, cords and flounders. In full dress company coloured plume (staff white, musketeers black, grenadier red and voltigeurs green) and gold silk sash shot with red and blue threads.Sword (staff and musketeers) or sabre (grenadiers and voltigeurs) with gold, red and blue entwined threads strap.Black leather Hungarian boots with silver tassel.

Drummers and hornists

Troopers dress with red-blue-yellow lace trim on collar and cuffs.For musketeers companies drummers, scarlet swallow nests trimmed with red-blue-yellow lace.

Sappers

Grenadiers dress with sappers insignia (red grenade over red crossed axes) on both arms.Black fur colback with blue bag trimmed red. Scarlet pompon and plume.Whitened leather apron.

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Grenadier Guard battalion

On 25 March 1810, the Life Guards and remnants of the 4th battalion of the contingent brigade are gathered to raise a new Grenadier-Garde-Bataillon of three companies.

In 1813 a 4th (light infantry) company is added as Garde-Voltigeurs-Kompanie.

1st company

• Dark blue French style habit-veste. Scarlet collar bearing two white buttonhole lace on each side in full dress. Red fringed epaulets. Dark blue lapels piped scarlet. Scarlet cuffs piped white with scarlet flaps (rectangular, three buttons) piped white bearing white buttonhole laces in full dress. Scarlet turnbacks. Brass buttons.Buttonhole laces are only worn in full dress.
• Grey jersey breeches piped scarlet on seam. Black short gaiters.
• In full dress, black fur bearskins with hemispheric brass plate stamped with ducal arms. Red plume and white cords and flounders. Brass chinscales.In other dresses, black felt shako with brass rhomboid plate stamped with ducal arms. Scarlet pompon with scarlet tuft. White cords and flounders. Brass chinscales and black leather peak.
• White leatherwork. Black leather cartridge pouch. Infantry sabre with red sabre strap.
  

2nd and 3rd companies

Same dress with scarlet shoulder straps trimmed white.No bearskin : in full dress black felt shako with brass plate stamped with ducal arms. Scarlet pompon, plume, cords and flounders. Brass chinscales and black leather peak ; in other dresses black pompon with red tuft.

4th company

Same dress with scarlet shoulder straps trimmed white.No bearskin : in full dress black felt shako with brass plate stamped with ducal arms. Scarlet pompon, plume, cords and flounders. Brass chinscales and black leather peak ; in other dresses black pompon with red tuft.

Sappers

1st company dress with whitened leather apron. Red cords and flounders.

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Artillery

A foot battery is raised in 1809 armed with six guns under command of a French officer. This unit fights along the federal contingent.

Reequipped in 1813 with British and Swedish guns, it is included in the Schwerin brigade.

Gunners

• Dark blue double breasted coat closed by two rows of eight buttons. Black collar. Blue shoulder straps trimmed black. Black cuffs. Black turnbacks. White metal buttons.
  From 1812, same dress with black collar piped scarlet, black cuffs and cuff flaps piped scarlet and scarlet turnbacks.
• Grey jersey breeches piped scarlet on seam. Black short gaiters.
• Black felt shako with black leather top and base band bearing a rhomboid white metal plate stamped with crowned crossed guns. Black plume over red-blue-yellow cockade. White cords and flounders. White metal chinscales and black leather peak.
  From 1812 scarlet plume, pompon, cords and flounders.

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Irregular troops

Landsturm and Landwehr (militia)

From April 1813, the Duke of Schwerin calls to voluntaries to raise a Landsturm. Armed militiamen (Landsturm 1.Klasse) are regrouped in each of the seven district in a Landwehr battalion.

In 1815 the Landwehr battalion number is reduced to three which are regrouped with the Grenadier-Garde-Bataillon and the infantry regiment in the Schwerin brigade.

Freiwilliger (voluntary) Jäger

The two units of voluntary jaegers (infantry battalion and cavalry regiment) raised in 1813 are included in the Schwerin brigade during all the 1813-1814 campaign. Both are disbanded in 1814.

Landwehr or Landsturm 1. Klasse

• Dark blue double or single breasted coat. White collar. White shoulder strap. White cuffs piped red with white or blue flaps piped red. Scarlet turnbacks. White metal or brass buttons.
• Grey trousers and black short gaiters.
• Black felt shako bearing a brass or white metal Landwehr cross. Chinscales and black leather peak.
  

Landsturm

Frock coat with district coloured collar :

• Parchim noir
• Schwerin Jaune
• Wismar Vert
• Waren Blanc
• Rostock Rouge
• Güstrow Bleu céleste

bearing a yellow cross on left arm.

Voluntary Jaeger Bataillon

• Dark green double breasted coat closed by two rows of eight buttons. Scarlet collar bearing two yellow buttonhole laces on each side. Scarlet shoulder straps. Scarlet Swedish cuffs bearing two buttons and buttonhole laces. Scarlet turnbacks. Brass buttons.
• Grey trousers with scarlet side bands. Black short gaiters.
• Black felt shako bearing a rhomboid plate with brass rays and white metal centre stamped with ducal arms. Green plume over red-blue-yellow pompon. Green cords and flounders. Brass chinscales and black leather peak with brass strengthening.
• Black leatherwork. Black sabre belt with brass buckle and light infantry sabre with brass hilt and fawn-colour scabbard. Brass powder horn with fawn-coloured leather case.

Voluntary Jaeger horse regiment

• Coat as foot jaegers.
• Grey overalls with black leather inserts. Black light boots.
• Shako as foot jaegers with black drooping plume.
• Black leatherwork. Black leather hussar belt and French or Prussian light cavalry sabre with black sabre strap.· Light cavalry harness. English saddle with grey blanket.

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Flags

The two battalions of the infantry regiment and the guard grenadiers battalion were each issued with one flag.

The flag of the 1st battalion of the infantry regiment had a white stave with a gilt spearhead finial pierced to show the crowned ducal cipher. Obverse and reverse are identical : white 90´110cm field trimmed with a daisy-chain of palms and laurels, bearing in each corners gold crowned ducal cipher and in the centre the great arms of the duchy in an oval shield.

The flag of the 2nd battalion has the same pattern on a blue field.

The flag of the grenadiers battalion has the same pattern as the 1st battalion of the infantry regiment, but :Cipher are painted within laurel wreaths in natural colourThe ducal arms are on a rectangular shield.

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The duchy does not seem to have owned any significant unit before French occupation.

His federal contingent is defined in April 1808 as a 400 men strong battalion.Aside this battalion, the ducal army consists of a company of guard grenadiers and a platoon of military police.

On 30 March 1813, the duchy leaves the Confederation. The duke raises a hussar regiment which will fight in the 1813-1814 campaign in the 1st Prussian army corps.

During the entire Napoleonic era, Strelitz is ruled by the Duke Carl II, which becomes Grand Duke in 1815.

Federal contingent battalion

The 400 men strong contingent is orgaised as a prussian light infantry battalion of four companies. Each company sonsists of :

• 1 Feldwebel
• 7 Unteroffizier
• 2 Tambours
• 90 Gemeine

The battalion strength grows very slowly but reach the paper strength just before the Russian campaign. For this campaign the battalion (less 1st and 2nd companies detached to the 3rd division of the 1st French corps) and the Schwerin infantry regiment are organised into the 7th Rheinbund-Regiment.

Musketeers

• Dark blue double breasted coat closed by two rows of eight buttons. Scarlet collar. Scarlet shoulder straps. Scarlet Swedish cuffs bearing two buttons. Scarlet turnbacks. Brass buttons.
  From 1813, same dress with blue shoulder straps trimmed scarlet and scarlet cuffs with blue flaps.
• Grey jersey breeches piped scarlet on seam. Black short gaiters.
• Black felt shako with black leather top and base band bearing an oval crowned brass plate stamped with ducal cipher. Short black plume over red-blue-yellow cockade. Black leather peak.
  From 1813 the brass oval plate seems to be replaced by a rhomboid brass plate with white metal ducal arms. White wool pompon over cockade with white strap. White cords and flounders. Brass chinscales and black leather peak with brass strengthening.
• White leatherwork. Black leather cartridge pouch.

NCOs

Troopers dress with yellow lace trim to collar and cuffs and yellow top band on shako. Infantry sabre.

Officers

Troopers dress with gold rank epaulets.Gold leaves embroideries on shako top band. Gilded plate showing oval ducal arms with supporters. Black plume with red base. Gold silk sash with red and blue stripes.Black leather hussar belt and sabre with, probably, gold strap with red and blue thread shots.Black leather Hungarian boots.

Drummers

Probably the NCO dress with blue swallow nests trimmed yellow.

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Hussars regiment

On 2 April 1813, the duke calls to all voluntary between 17 and 30 years old to raise a hussars regiment of four squadrons.

This regiment is the cavalry of the 2nd brigade of the 1st Prussian army corps and became famous during the battle of Möckern where they captured the flag of the 1st marine artillery regiment.The regiment is disbanded in 1816.

Hussars

• Hussars style dress. Black dolman with yellow braid and laces. Black collar trimmed yellow. Black pointed cuffs trimmed yellow. Yellow wool sash with black barrels. Brass buttons. Black pelisse with yellow braid and laces and white fur trim.
• Sky blue Hungarian breeches with yellow knots and side bands. Black Hungarian boots with yellow tassel and trim.
• Black felt shako with black leather top and base band bearing a brass Landwehr cross. Red-blue-yellow pompon. In full dress yellow cords and flounders. Brass chinscales and black leather peak with brass strengthening.
• Black leatherwork. Black leather hussar belt with black leather sabretache bearing a brass crowned ducal cipher and Prussian light cavalry sabre with iron hilt and scabbard and black sabre strap.
• Black leather harness. Hungarian saddle with black saddle cloth trimmed with sky blue wolf-teeth piped yellow. Round portmanteau of grey cloth.
  

NCOs

Troopers dress with yellow lace trim to collar base and front and to cuffs. Cords and flounders of entwined yellow, red and blue threads. Yellow tassel to sabre strap.

Officers

Troopers dress. Black cloth epaulets with gold rank lace trim and red piping on dolman and pelisse. Rank Hungarian knots embroideries on breeches and over cuffs. Sky blue silk sash with gold barrels with red and blue shot. Light grey fur trim to pelisse. Gold sabre strap with red and blue shot.

Trumpeters

NCOs dress with black swallow nests laced yellow.

Voluntary hussars

Same dress in green cloth. Green cords and flounders.

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Landsturm

Beginning in April 1813, the Duchy raises a militia or Lansturm. Each of the seven district is due to organise one battalion of four companies.

• Black or dark blue frock coat bearing a red cross on left arm.
  

Flags

Strelitz troops were not issued with flags during the 1805-1814 period.

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Sources

• ARMIES OF GERMANY AND THE CONFEDERATION OF THE RHINE, Vol.I, G.F.NAFZIGER 1993
• COMPAGNIE D'ELITE, UNIFORMTAFEL N°15, P.SCHUCHHARDT 1998
• DAS ZEITALTER FREIHEITSKRIEGE 1813-1815, Deutsche Uniformen Band 2, H.KNÖTEL D. J. ET M.LETZIUS, sur le site de L.-H.THÜMMLER (www.grosser-generalstab.de)
• DEPESCHE,
  • 4. Jahrgang Nr.13, Quellen aus erster Hand...Dömitzer Bilderhandschrift, Klaus Tosche
• FLAGS OF THE NAPOLEONIC WARS, Vol. III, T.WISE et G.ROSIGNOLI, Osprey 1978
• GESCHICHTE DER GROSSHERZOGLICH MECKLENBURGISCHEN GRENADIER-REGIMENT NR.89, R.v.LANGERMANN-ERLENKAMP ET W.v.VOIGTS-RHETZ, SCHWERIN 1895, extraits de la collection JPP
• GROSSE UNIFORMKUNDE, BAND I BLATT 48, R.KNÖTEL
• HANDBUCH DER UNIFORMKUNDE, H.KNÖTEL ET H.SIEG, MEISENHEIM 1960
• LES UNIFORMES DE L'ARMEE FRANÇAISE, Tome V " Garde nationale, troupes alliées ", LIENHART ET R.HUMBERT, 1990
• NAPOLEONIC UNIFORMS, Vol. III, J.R.ELTING, Emperor's Press 2000
• NAPOLEONIC UNIFORMS, Vol. IV, J.R.ELTING, Emperor's Press 2000
• THE CONFEDERATION OF THE RHINE, HESSE-DARMSTADT, MECKLENBURG & NASSAU, W.J.RAWKINS, privately published 1980
• TRADITION MAGAZINE
  • Le manuscrit de WEILAND, Hors série n°4, 1998
  • Le bourgeois de Hamburg, Hors série n°5, 1998
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• ZEITSCHRIFT FÜR HEERESKUNDE,
  • Mecklenburger Militär bis 1815, K.-U.KEUBKE 1990
  • Das Tagebuch des Sekondeleutnants Otto von Raven, K.-U.KEUBKE 1994
  • Mecklenburgische Uniformen, F.HERMANN 1995
• ZINNFIGUR,
  • Farbeangaben zur Bemalung der Figuren, "Zeit 1809 : Mecklenburgisches Kontingentregiment", 1935