The Uniforms of the Infantry of the German Imperial Army - 1871 – 1914. Part XI. Jäger and Schützen.

The first part of this series deals generally with the uniforms of the Prussian infantry - 1842 – 1914.

The second part addresses the distinctive features of the uniforms of the Guard and line grenadier regiments (No. 1 - 12).

The third part is dedicated to the Prussian line infantry regiments (musketeer/fusilier regiments).

In further parts the peculiarities of those units that were incorporated into the Prussian army (after 1866) or that, through special uniform features, adhered to certain (non-Prussian) traditions are discussed.

Additional contributions present the Saxon, Württemberg and Bavarian infantry, which in peacetime belonged to relatively autonomous contingents.

At this point follows a contribution about the Jäger and Schützen.

The conclusion is the article on the machine-gun companies of the infantry regiments and on the machine-gun detachments formed from 1901.

Before mobilization there were 18 Jäger or Schützen battalions in the German army, including the Guard Jäger Battalion, the Guard Schützen Battalion and 2 Saxon (No. 12 and 13), 1 Mecklenburg-Schwerin (No. 14) as well as 2 Bavarian (separate numbering – No. 1 and 2).

Each battalion was organized into 4 Jäger or Schützen companies, 1 machine-gun company and 1 bicycle company.

The Guard Jäger Battalion was garrisoned in Potsdam and traced its origins to the Korps Feldjäger zu Fuß founded on 15.06.1744 by Frederick the Great.

After the collapse of the old Prussian army in 1806/07 it was reformed with rations.

Since 1811 it bore the designation Guard Jäger Battalion.

The Guard machine-gun detachment No. 1 was assigned to the battalion.

On the shako — as with the Guard Schützen — the nickel silver Guard star was worn with the motto ribbon: With God for King and Fatherland.

The greatcoat was made of gray cloth and had ponceau-red collar patches.

The Guard Jäger wore yellow-camel yarn cords with small loops on the collar and on the Swedish-style sleeve cuffs of the dark green tunic. The braids were patterned.

Black horsehair plumes were worn for parade, with officers wearing a fluted plume and enlisted men a smooth cone (without field emblem).

At peacetime parades the horn players of the Guard Jäger Battalion carried antelope horns instead of the usual signal horns.

The flag bandolier introduced in 1901 had a red cloth strip between the braids for the Jäger.

The Guard Schützen Battalion was raised on 19.05.1814 in Neuchâtel from the battalion established by Marshal Berthier and from recruited men. Since 1815 the battalion was stationed in Berlin.

At mobilization in 1914 the battalion belonged to the 2nd Guard Infantry Division and fought 1914–18 on both the Western and Eastern Fronts.

It arrived at its demobilization location on 12.11.1918. The Guard Reserve Schützen Battalion belonged at mobilization to the 1st Guard Reserve Division.

Like the Guard Jäger, the Guard Schützen wore the white (silver) Guard star on the shako. Rosettes, buttons and scale chains were yellow (gold); a black horsehair plume was worn for parade.

The Guard Schützen wore the dark green tunic with black insignia and ponceau-red facings.

A distinctive characteristic of this unit were the Brandenburg-style sleeve cuffs with scalloped sleeve flaps.

The (yellow-camel yarn) braids on the collar and on the sleeve flaps are clearly visible.

From 07.06.1894 greyish-brown litewkas became common. From 1902–03 the litewkas became entirely gray.

The national cockade on the shako for officers was covered with black velvet and edged with silver wire.

The officers’ shako was covered with black cloth.

The overcoat had already been abolished in 1843, but it persisted unofficially as a practical garment.

The overcoat corresponded to that of the infantry, but for the Schützen it had a black-velvet collar with a red facing.

The chest lining was red; for the Guard Schützen it was made of green velvet.

From 1903 the overcoat became green, thus taking on the color of the tunic.

The cloth strip between the braids of the flag bandolier was black for the Guard Schützen.

Jäger wore dark green tunics as a peacetime uniform with ponceau-red insignia (collar, shoulder straps, facings) and so-called Swedish sleeve cuffs.

The red collar was rounded.

The shoulder straps were also ponceau-red and displayed the yellow battalion number (only the Kurhessian Jäger Battalion No. 11 – Marburg/ District of Kassel – had, since 1897, a name cipher: M with crown).

The buttons were tombac and the gold braids were plain.

The gray greatcoat had red collar patches.

The black-lacquered shako showed for the Prussian Jäger the usual line eagle; for battalions No. 1, 2, 5 and 6 it still took the form of the so-called old grenadier eagle (= eagle with name cipher: FWR on an oval breastshield).

It had a blackened chinstrap.

The horn players wore red horsehair plumes on the shako; otherwise these were black.

The cap was made of dark green cloth with a red trimming strip and a similar red facing on the brim.

Leg and footwear corresponded to those of the infantry.

The leather equipment was black. The box lock was also the infantry model.

The backpack was black-brown and made of calfskin. The backpack flap was made of badger fur and showed a reproduced badger head.

The information on the formation and uniforming of the respective units is drawn primarily from:

Alexander v. Lynker, The Prussian Army 1807 - 1867 and its genealogical sources, Berlin 1939.

and

B. Friedag, Guide through Army and Navy. 11th year 1914, reprint Krefeld 1974.

The Jäger Battalion Graf York von Wartenburg (East Prussian) No. 1 continued the tradition of the old Prussian Feldjäger corps.

Therefore its foundation day was also 15.06.1744.

The first commander was Hermann v. Lichtenhayn (1808–10), the last commander was Hermann Frank (1918–19).

After 1848 enlisted replacements were drawn from the replacement for the Guard from all provinces, especially from Brandenburg.

The unit belonged to the XX Army Corps and was dissolved on 01.10.1919.

On the emblem eagle on the shako, instead of the letters "FR", there was a breastshield with the name cipher "FWR".

The Jäger Battalion Fürst Bismarck (Pomeranian) No. 2 also traced its tradition back to the old Prussian Feldjäger corps on foot.

The foundation day was 15.06.1744.

The unit was formed on 13.04.1821 in Greifswald from the 2nd and 3rd companies of the Jäger Battalion Graf York von Wartenburg (East Prussian) No. 1.

The first commander was Hans Georg Ernst Czettritz (1821–1824), the last commander was Ulrich von Rosenberg (1918–19).

Replacements were drawn from Vorder- and Hinterpommern (Western and Eastern Pomerania).

Belonging to the XVII Army Corps, the unit was dissolved on 01.10.1919.

On the emblem eagle on the shako, instead of the letters "FR", there was a breastshield with the name cipher "FWR".

The Brandenburg Jäger Battalion No. 3 was raised on 21.06.1815 in Valcourt from men of the Saxon Jäger Battalion and the banner of the volunteer Saxons as well as the Jäger company of the Russian-German legion.

The aforementioned date served as the foundation day.

The first commander was Friedrich August Bock, the last commander was Kurt v. Schweidnitz.

Replacements were drawn from the Province of Brandenburg, the Spreewald and Lusatia.

Belonging to the III Army Corps, the Brandenburg Jäger Battalion No. 3 was dissolved on 01.10.1919.

The Magdeburg Jäger Battalion No. 4 was formed on 13.04.1821 in Halle a. S. from the 2nd and 3rd companies of the 2nd Jäger Battalion.

The first commander was Gottfried Karl v. Bockelmann (1821–1831), the last commander was Hans Ott (1914–1918).

Replacements were drawn from the Province of Saxony.

The dissolution took place on 01.10.1919.

The Jäger Battalion von Neumann (1st Silesian) No. 5 was raised on 21.11.1808 in Reichenbach in Silesia and in Liegnitz.

It was formed from the remnants of 13 light infantry and Jäger units raised during the 1807 campaign.

The first commander was Baron Friedrich Gans Edler Herr zu Putlitz (1808–1810), the last commander was Leopold Wegner (1918–1919).

Replacements were drawn from Silesia.

Belonging to the V Army Corps in peacetime, the formation was dissolved on 01.10.1919.

On the emblem eagle on the shako, instead of the letters "FR", there was a breastshield with the name cipher "FWR".

The 2nd Silesian Jäger Battalion No. 6 (Oels in Silesia) was formed on 13.04.1821 in Breslau from the 3rd and 4th companies of the 1st Schützen Battalion.

The foundation day was considered to be 21.11.1808 referring to the tradition of the Silesian Schützen Battalion.

The first commander was Bernhard Count v. Roedern (1821–1824), the last commander was Maximilian Fr. v. Sinner.

Replacements were drawn from Silesia.

In peacetime the unit belonged to the VI Army Corps; the formation was dissolved on 01.10.1919.

On the emblem eagle on the shako, instead of the letters "FR", there was a breastshield with the name cipher "FWR".

The well-known Bückeburg Jäger belonged to the VII Army Corps and were initially raised on 03.10.1815 as the 2nd Schützen Battalion (Rhenish).

The unit was formed in Königswinter

from men of disbanded volunteer Jäger detachments,

from men of disbanded Saxon and Nassau formations and

from parts of the Bergisches Jäger Battalion

The first commander was Heinrich v. Böhler (1815–1816), the last commander was Rudolf Teichmann (1918–1919).

The unit’s chief was from 1869–1893 Prince Adolf Georg of Schaumburg-Lippe and from 1893 Georg Prince of Schaumburg-Lippe.

Replacements came from the Rhineland, and in the period 1818 to 1846 also from the area around Wetzlar.

From 1897 the battalion received a field emblem in the colors of the Principality of Schaumburg-Lippe (= white-red-blue).

In peacetime the formation belonged to the VII Army Corps. It was dissolved on 01.10.1919.

Im Frieden gehörte die Formation VII. AK. Sie wurde 01.10.1919 aufgelöst.

The Rhenish Jäger Battalion No. 8 was formed on 03.10.1815. Core troop elements were the 3rd and 4th companies of the 2nd Schützen detachment.

The first commander was Ludwig Friedrich Heinrich v. Holleben (1821–1830), the last commander was Curt v. Plüskow (1917–1918).

Replacements were drawn from the Rhineland and the area around Wetzlar.

In peacetime the unit belonged to the XV Army Corps and was dissolved on 01.10.1919.

The Lauenburg Jäger Battalion No. 9 (Ratzeburg) was formed on 21.06.1866 in Berlin from men of all Jäger and Schützen battalions.

The first commander was Otto Baron v. Medem (1866–1867), the last commander was Georg Jeltsch (1917–1918).

The unit belonged to the IX Army Corps and was dissolved on 01.10.1919.

The Hanoverian Jäger Battalion No. 10 (Goslar) was formed on 30.10.1866.

The foundation day was considered to be 19.12.1803. Thus it was linked to the tradition of the Royal Hanoverian Army.

The formation was assembled in Potsdam from men of the Guard Jäger and Guard Schützen battalions, the Jäger battalions 1, 2, 5 and 6, furthermore from men of the Kurhessian Schützen Battalion and the Hanoverian Jäger battalions.

The first commander was Georg Baron v. Rechenberg (1866–1867), the last commander was Heinrich Kirchheim (1916–1919).

Replacements were drawn from Hanover, Oldenburg and Bremen.

In peacetime the unit belonged to the X Army Corps and was dissolved on 01.10.1919.

The Hanoverian Jäger Battalion No. 10 was stationed in Goslar and bore as an award on the right sleeve above the cuff a light-blue band inscribed: Gibraltar as well as on the shako-eagle a distinction ribbon: PENINSULA WATERLOO VENTA DEL PONZO.

The motto ribbon had been awarded to the battalion in 1899 and was intended to recall the glorious past of the Hanoverian parent troops.

The sleeve band was only added from 1901. It was also worn by infantry regiments No. 73 and 79.

The Kurhessian Jäger Battalion No. 11 (Marburg) was formed on 30.10.1866 in Wetzlar from men

of the Guard Jäger and Guard Schützen battalions,

of Jäger battalions No. 3, 4, 7 and 8, and

of the Kurhessian and Nassau Jäger battalions

The first commanders were Moritz v. Frankenberg and Ludwigsdorff (1866–1867), the last commander was Eduard Baron Schenk zu Schweinsberg (1918–1919).

Replacements were drawn from Kurhessen, Nassau and the Rhine Province.

In peacetime the formation belonged to the XI Army Corps and was dissolved on 01.10.1919.

Im Frieden gehörte die Formation zum XI. AK und wurde 01.10.1919 aufgelöst.

The Grand Ducal Mecklenburg Jäger Battalion No. 14 traces its origins to the light infantry battalion established on 01.06.1821.

This unit was formed from detachments of the 4th company of the Grenadier Guard Battalion.

The strength from this early period is given as 7 officers and 325 men. The latter were partly on leave.

In 1823 the 2nd company was dissolved and distributed.

In 1845 the unit was increased by two companies, so that it then counted 6 companies.

From 1850 it was designated Mecklenburg-Schwerin Light Battalion, but on 24.10.1857 the battalion was dissolved.

Subsequently a Mecklenburg Jäger battalion was reformed; it had two companies with a total of 351 men.

In 1867 it was integrated into the Prussian army and received the designation “Grand Ducal Mecklenburg Jäger Battalion No. 14” (from 01.10.1867).

Garrison was Colmar in Alsace and the battalion belonged to the XV Army Corps.

The peacetime uniform consisted of a dark green tunic with light-green trim with white braids on collar and cuffs as well as a ponceau-red facing (also on the shoulder straps).

The shako corresponded to the Prussian model. Shako ornament was the sun made of tombac with the Mecklenburg crowned state coat of arms in nickel silver surrounded by a laurel wreath.

The field emblem was quartered and showed the provincial colors.

On the trim strip of the field cap the cockade was carried in the provincial colors: blue-yellow-red.

This was a battle of the Franco-Prussian War. The encounter between three corps of the French Loire Army and the grand duke of Mecklenburg’s army detachment north of Orléans was decided in favor of the German troops.

The Jäger wear the field cap. These are decorated with fir-green.

Until 1890 the Bavarian army included 2 Jäger battalions, thereafter still 2. The Bavarian Jäger battalions only received 1 machine-gun company each from October 1914 onward.

Among the Bavarian Jäger the tunic, cap and trousers were light blue, while collar, sleeve cuffs, shoulder straps, cap and trouser piping were light green.

On the shako the usual — reduced — Bavarian helmet emblem was worn.

The special quality of the self-procured uniforms is clearly visible.

The Saxon Infantry Regiment No. 108 called Schützen (Fusilier) Regiment Prinz-Georg (Dresden) was uniformed like the Saxon Jäger, however with yellow braiding, buttons and shako fittings.

On the belt buckle was the name cipher of Prince Georg with crown.

The Saxon Jäger (battalions No. 12 and 13) wore the uniform of the Saxon Schützen Regiment No. 108, only with white buttons.

The tunic (and the cap) were thus made of dark green cloth, collar and sleeve cuffs were black.

A particular characteristic of the Saxon Schützen and Jäger was the shako, to which a black plume without cone was worn for every duty.

The officers’ shako was covered with silk felt, that of the enlisted with black cloth.

As a helmet emblem the white star with the superimposed Saxon coat of arms and a Jäger horn was worn. Officers also wore a leather chinstrap on the shako.

Different officer ranks were indicated by bands of gold embroidery on the upper edge of the shako.