Württemberg Uniforms Through the Ages

At the beginning of Württemberg’s military history stands the vassal army, i.e., when needed the subordinate vassals were summoned by the duke for military service to the extent deemed necessary. In the early 16th century the territorial ruler required the responsible officials: “Item es sol auch ain jeder syn wer und harnasch sauber haben und halten, und damit gerüßt syn jeder zyt uß zu ziehen.” Subsequently, the duke repeatedly called on tenants, vassals and retainers to present themselves equipped for military service in Stuttgart.

After the Thirty Years’ War (1618–48) the princes were officially granted the right to form a standing army (1654). On this basis the ducal household troops were created. Furthermore, the Duchy of Württemberg had to provide so-called Kreis troops. These were contingents from the individual Imperial Circles of the Holy Roman Empire that had to be provided to the Imperial Army. The Imperial Defensive Ordinance contained more detailed provisions. The Imperial matrikel (register) determined how many troops the individual Imperial estates had to provide to the Imperial Army.

In parallel, the Duchy of Württemberg long retained the so-called Landmilitia (Landesausschuss or -defension or fortress). Here the Württemberg estates had considerable say. In a regional ordinance (10.04.1515) conscription for every Württemberger within the framework of the territorial levy was codified. Those liable for service were summoned for inspection and drills to the respective administrative towns. In the event of an imminent military confrontation the entire territorial levy assembled for the defense of the land. Thus, in connection with the muster of the Landesausschuss in 1663 it was determined that among 58,376 male persons there were a total of 33,685 men liable for the Landwehr aged 17 to 55. About 9,000 of these were designated for service.

With the introduction of the standing army in the Duchy of Württemberg in the 17th century, its history is shaped by the duke’s struggle with the estates over the necessary financial means. Württemberg’s military history is marked for a long time by great instability, and as a consequence the lineage history of Württemberg’s units is particularly complicated. Especially under Duke Carl Eugen (* 11.02.1728 in Brussels; † 24.10.1793 in Hohenheim, ruling since 1744) various units were constantly reformed, reorganized, leased and disbanded.

In connection with the discussion of the picture manuscript of a young officer, Philipp Franz von Gudenus, against the background of the campaign on the Upper Rhine in 1734, Hans Bleckwenn comments on the early phase of Württemberg’s military history as follows:

"While mercenary service in Hesse-Kassel still had significant, even compelling economic aspects, the Württemberg circumstances lead us into the lowlands of petty-state soldier trading in the worst sense – practiced without economic or political compulsion, to finance the baroque proclivities of small and very small ‘Ludwigs’. The frivolous militarism of the Stuttgart dukes met the desired opportunity to maintain opera, ballet and mistresses at the same time.

Thus in 1733 two infantry and one dragoon regiment—each of 2,300 men, respectively 1,100 dragoons—were leased to the Emperor and handed over in January 1734. Independently of this, for the Imperial contingent of the Swabian Circle one infantry and one dragoon regiment each had to be provided, and Württemberg’s troops remained strictly separated in this sense even during the campaign.

Domestic politics remained tense. The estates, among whom on this occasion not the nobility but the towns and the orthodox Protestant church set the tone, opposed the now Catholic ducal house because of a constitution that the dukes repeatedly violated without scruple. Especially during the years of the War of the Polish Succession the affair of the court factor Süss Oppenheimer urged the explosion: on princely orders he had squeezed resources out of the land for a conspicuously strong army that was obviously intended to put a violent end to the privileges of the estates.

This decades-long dispute—1757 even saw bloody revolts of pressed soldiers against the duke—gives Württemberg military affairs in the 18th century a striking instability; nowhere else in the Empire are so many formations founded, repeatedly transformed and then dissolved again—a veritable kaleidoscope not only of uniforms but also of names and internal relations" (ibid., Reuter, Husaren und Grenadiere. Die Uniformen der Kaiserlichen Armee am Rhein 1734. Zeichnungen des Philipp Franz Freiherrn von Gudenus, Dortmund 1979, p. 73).

After the death of the eleventh Württemberg duke Alexander (*24.01.1684 in Stuttgart; †12.03.1737 in Ludwigsburg), existing Württemberg units were partly ceded to the Emperor and to the King of Prussia.

The aforementioned duke Charles Eugene thereafter increased the household troops and modeled the maxims of training and uniforming on the Prussian example. In the Silesian wars Württemberg troops nevertheless fought—on the basis of subsidy treaties (with the Circle and later with France and then with the Emperor)—against Prussia. In these campaigns the bravely fighting Württemberg regiments suffered heavy losses, e.g., in the Battle of Leuthen on 05.12.1757. Afterwards Württemberg troops mainly fought in Hesse (see especially: Hessische Chronik. Reprint of the calendar of history published in the “hessischen Volksfreunde” in chronological order. Printing and publishing by Joh. Aug. Koch. Marburg 1855. Reprint Darmstadt 1993 with a foreword by Eckhart G. Franz), later in Franconia and Thuringia, e.g., in the Battle of Torgau (03.11.1760). The contingent to be provided on the basis of the subsidy treaty with the Emperor was to amount to 11,000 men (Müller-Loebnitz, Die württembergische Armee, p. 263). This was the last major battle of the Seven Years’ War (1756–63).

However, during the fighting with the Kingdom of Prussia the sympathies of Württemberg’s Protestant population lay with the Prussian King Frederick the Great, which led to prolonged conflicts with the estates, numerous desertions and even refusals to obey.

After the end of the Seven Years’ War the increased troop strength was initially maintained, but the financial difficulties continued. For this reason one regiment after another was disbanded or units were transferred, e.g., to the Dutch East India Company for payment. However, these were exclusively volunteers.

In the course of the wars with revolutionary France it soon proved disadvantageous that by handing over or otherwise tying up Württemberg troops, e.g., through leasing or as Imperial Circle contingents, the duchy’s own defensive capability was seriously weakened. For this reason it was necessary in an emergency to rely increasingly on the Landmilitia. With French columns crossing the Rhine and the withdrawal of the Imperial troops, the Duchy of Württemberg was forced to conclude an armistice with France, since the available household troops and the units formed on the basis of the Landmilitia were not sufficient for an adequate resistance.

On 01.01.1806 the Kingdom of Württemberg was created and existed until 1918.

The creation of the kingdom was driven by Napoleon I.

Previously it had been an electorate (1803), before that a duchy.

Under Duke Friedrich II the army was reorganized at the end of the 18th century and now consisted of 6 independent infantry battalions, 1 cavalry regiment and one artillery detachment.

In addition there were small fortress garrisons.

Overall the army counted 4,764 men and 495 horses.

These troops then served on the Austrian side and later in British pay.

Since 1805 Württemberg changed sides and was now allied with Napoleonic France.

The reward was the newly created Kingdom of Württemberg as part of the so-called Confederation of the Rhine.

Subsequently the military was expanded and, for example, supplemented by a Landwehr. The army now numbered about 10,000 men and 1,500 horses.

Württemberg troops were deployed in the campaigns against Prussia (1806) and against Austria (1809), but not in Spain.

For the 1809 campaign Württemberg provided 13,000 men, 2,600 horses and 22 guns. Of these, 14 officers and 500 men fell in the fighting against Austria.

For the Russian campaign in 1812 the Kingdom of Württemberg also had to provide its own troops: 15,800 men, 3,400 horses and 30 guns (Haythonthwaite, Uniforms of the Napoleonic Russian Campaign, p. 135). The Württemberg cavalry regiments were numbered from No. 1 to No. 5 (1st and 2nd Chevau-légers, 3rd and 4th Mounted Rifles and 5th Dragoons), however the 5th cavalry regiment (Dragoons) did not take part in the campaign. In addition there were 7 Württemberg infantry regiments, two Jäger battalions and two light infantry units.

The corresponding Württemberg division was practically annihilated; according to Müller-Loebnitz only 277 men, 110 sick and 132 horses returned. According to Karl von Seeger (Zweitausend Jahre schwäbisches Soldatentum, p. 55) only 500 Württembergers are said to have seen their homeland again.

In the following year the French army was rebuilt after the enormous losses in the Russian campaign and the French allies also had to provide their contingents. Württemberg raised 11,617 men and 2,724 horses.

According to the history of the 4th Württemberg Infantry Regiment No. 122 Kaiser Franz Joseph of Austria, King of Hungary 1806–1906 (by Herbert Müller, Heilbronn 1906, p. 45) the Württemberg division was organized as follows:

1. Cavalry Brigade: Major General von Jett, Regiments No. 1 and No. 3

2. Cavalry Brigade: Major General Count von Normann, Regiments No. 2 and No. 4

1. Infantry Brigade: Major General von Neuffer, Infantry Regiments No. 1 Prinz Paul and No. 2 Herzog Wilhelm

2. Infantry Brigade: Major General von Koch, Infantry Regiments No. 4 and No. 6 Kronprinz

3. Infantry Brigade: Major General von Stockmaer: Infantry Regiments No. 7, No. 9 and No. 10

Artillery: Colonel von Bartruff, 17 six-pounders and 7 howitzers

Strength: 4 cavalry, 7 infantry regiments and 4 batteries of 6 guns each, totaling 11,617 men and 2,724 horses.

In 1806 the Württemberg artillery comprised only 466 men of all ranks according to Jack Cassin-Scott. By 1809 there were already three batteries with 22 guns. In the Russian campaign two horse batteries and two foot artillery batteries took part. After the heavy losses in the Russian campaign, in early 1813 a foot artillery battery and a horse battery were re-established. The mounted Württemberg artillery initially had twelve-pounder guns and was considered very well equipped. Later they were six-pounder guns; in May further twelve guns were added.

Although the Württemberg troops did their duty and fought bravely in the ensuing campaign, the King of Württemberg switched to the Allies in the wake of Napoleon I’s decisive defeat at the Battle of Leipzig (16–19 October 1813). Already in the aforementioned battle the Württemberg cavalry had changed sides.

The commander of the Württemberg brigade (Karl Count von Normann-Ehrenfels, 1784–1822) had decided to defect on his own and wrote that same evening to King Friedrich: “In the bivouac 1 1/2 hours from Leipzig, 18 October,-

I most humbly report to Your Majesty that this morning I found myself in a situation which left me no doubt that the brigade would be completely sacrificed in vain. On 16 October the VI Corps was entirely shattered and we only found our salvation in flight; today it was attacked by superior force and I was cut off with the whole brigade. From all sides the allied powers advanced victoriously, and at that moment I could only save the remnants of the brigade by surrendering. I was immediately brought before the two imperial majesties and received permission to remain passively armed behind the armies until circumstances permit my return to the fatherland or until Your Majesty has decided about the brigade.

The pressure of the circumstances removed all possibility of communicating with General Count Franquemont; I had to act quickly and on my own and found this the only means to preserve 600 brave men for the fatherland.” (quoted after Karl von Seeger, Zweitausend Jahre schwäbisches Soldatentum, p. 112 ff.).

Count von Normann-Ehrenfels was then cashiered and banished by the King of Württemberg (on 16.11.1813) and could only return after the regent’s death. The two involved regimental commanders were also punished. The impending death penalty was averted through the intercession of the Austrian Emperor.

From then on Württemberg soldiers fought against Napoleon I.

The Württemberg contingent (13,400 men and 2,700 horses) took part successfully in the battles and engagements of Spinal, Brienne, Sens, Montereau, Arcis-sur-Aube, Fère-Champenoise and Paris and returned home in 1814.

For the summer campaign of 1815 Württemberg again assembled a force, which however no longer had to take an active part in the fighting, but was partly used as occupation troops (in Lower Alsace).

In the meantime the Württemberg army totaled 33,600 men, 4,600 horses and 42 limbered guns.

In 1815 the German Confederation was formed. This was a confederation of states based on an agreement of the princes and free cities of Germany including the Emperor of Austria and the Kings of Prussia, of Denmark with regard to Holstein and the Netherlands with regard to Luxembourg. It existed from 1815 to 1866. The task of the German Confederation was (among other things) to guarantee the internal and external security of the member states. For this purpose the Federal Army of the German Confederation was intended as an instrument. It was the armed force of the German Confederation from 1815 to 1866. Further details were regulated by the Federal War Constitution.

According to Ortenburg (H. A. Eckert and D. Monten, Das Deutsche Bundesheer, Band V, Dortmund 1981, p. 8 ff. – paperback edition) the Kingdom of Württemberg during its membership in the German Confederation had a total area of 19,504 km² with a population of 1,587,400.

The Württemberg military contingent consisted of a total of 13,955 men, namely 10,816 infantrymen, 1,994 cavalrymen, 1,145 artillerymen and engineers with 28 guns.

With these troops the 1st Division of the VIII Federal Army Corps was formed. With the reserve a total strength of 21,000 men was to be reached.

The Württemberg army overall comprised:

8 infantry regiments of two battalions each of four companies (= 11,332 men),

4 cavalry regiments of four squadrons each (= 2,851 men),

1 squadron Life Guard (= 163 men),

1 battalion of horse artillery with three batteries and

1 battalion of foot artillery with four batteries (= 1,113 men).

Furthermore there were

a General Staff with 16 officers,

the General Quartermaster’s staff with one pioneer company,

2 garrison companies and

1 field-jäger squadron (= 40 men).

However, the peacetime standing strength of the active service personnel amounted to only 6,500 men.

From 1841 the peacetime strength was increased.

With the founding of the Reich in 1870 (on 18.01.1871 – still during the Franco-Prussian War – in the Hall of Mirrors of the Palace of Versailles) the Württemberg military became part of the German Imperial Army.

The new German Empire consisted of a total of 25 federal states, namely the kingdoms of Prussia, Bavaria, Saxony and Württemberg; the grand duchies of Baden, Hesse, Oldenburg, Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Mecklenburg-Strelitz and Saxe-Weimar; the duchies of Anhalt, Brunswick, Saxe-Altenburg, Saxe-Coburg-Gotha and Saxe-Meiningen; the principalities of Lippe, Reuss Elder Line, Reuss Younger Line, Schaumburg-Lippe, Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt, Schwarzburg-Sondershausen and Waldeck-Pyrmont; the Hanseatic cities of Bremen, Hamburg and Lübeck; and the imperial territory Alsace-Lorraine. From the troop contingents of the aforementioned federal states the Imperial Army was formed as the armed force.

Bavaria, Saxony and Württemberg retained special rights. While Saxony and Württemberg kept only their own administrations (war ministries), the Bavarian army formed a self-contained component with its own administration under the military sovereignty of the Bavarian king.

For example, Württemberg infantry belonged to the XIII Army Corps; only the 8th Württemberg Infantry Regiment No. 126 Grand Duchy of Baden (Strasbourg i. E.) was assigned to the XV Army Corps. The infantry comprised regiments No. 119–127 and 180. Regiments No. 119 and 120 had already been established in 1623.

From 1895 onward Prussian officers could be transferred into Württemberg units without difficulty; previously only temporary detachments had been possible.

Stadlinger, J. L. v., Beiträge zu einer Militärischen Kostüm-Kunde oder Abbildungen der Kostüme und Uniformen des Württembergischen Militärs von der Zeit des 30jährigen Krieges bis auf unsere Tage, Stuttgart 1856. The following illustrations were produced based on the original separately issued portfolio. These are small-format lithographs mounted on cardboard.