Notes on the Light Infantry Battalions and their Uniforms

The uniforms of the light infantry battalions were basically the same as for the Prussian infantry but in dark green (very dark green for Saxony, pale blue for Bavaria) and with Swedish style cuffs (French style cuffs for the Guard Rifles, Saxon style cuffs for Saxony). Buttons were in yellow metal (white metal for Saxony and Mecklenburg). Prussian Jäger Battalions had red collars shoulder straps, collars (piped along the upper edge in dark green), cuffs, hatbands and piping. The Schützen and Bavaria, Saxony and Mecklenburg wore different colours and designs described below.

The headdress was a black leather shako (kepi-shako for Saxony) made from polished black leather with a polished metal front plate and Imperial and state cockades on the right and left sides respectively as on the infantry Pickelhaube and an additional oval state cockade at the top (replaced by a black horsehair plume for Saxony). On parade a black horsehair plume was worn above the cockade (red horsehair plume for musicians).

Prussian Guard Jäger Battalion
The Garde-Jäger-Batallion was formed in 1744 as part of the Korps Feldjäger zu Fuss of Frederick the Great's army during the War of Austrian Succession and first saw action against the Austrians in Silesia in 1745. In 1808 as part of the re-organisation of the Prussian army after the Treaty of Tilsit, the Korps Feldjäger zu Fuss was divided into the Guard, 1st and 2nd Battalions.

They took part in most of Prussia's campaigns from then (the Seven Years War, the War of Bavarian Succession, the Dutch Patriot Rebellion, the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, the Austro-Prussian War and the Franco-Prussian) notably seeing action at the Battles of Kaiserslautern in 1793, Jena in 1806, Leipzig in 1813, Königgrätz in 1866, Gravelotte-St.Privat, Sedan and the Siege of Paris in 1870.  

In 1914 they were garrisoned at Potsdam and formed part of the Guard Army Corps. During the First World War they saw action on both the Western and Eastern Fronts (including the Battles of the Somme and Verdun).

Prussian Guard Schützen Battalion
The Garde-Schützen-Batallion was formed in 1814, originally with recruits from the Swiss Principality of Neuchatel of which King Friedrich Wilhelm III was then ruler. In 1848 Neuchatel declared itself a republic within the Swiss Confederation, autonomous from Prussia and later recruits for the Guard Schützen came from other parts of the Kingdom of Prussia.

The Guard Schützen Battalion saw action against rioters in Berlin in 1848 and against Denmark later the same year. They also served in the Austro-Prussian War (including the Battle of Königsgrätz) and the France-Prussian War (including the Battles of Gravelotte-St.Privat, Sedan and the Siege of Paris).

In 1914 they were garrisoned at Berlin-Lichterfeld and formed part of the Guard Army Corps. During the First World War they saw action on both the Western and Eastern Fronts (including the Battles of the Somme and Verdun).

1st Prussian Jäger Battalion (East Prussian)
The Jäger-Batl.Graf Yorck von Wartenburg (Ostpreußisches) Nr.1 was formed in 1744 as part of the Korps Feldjäger zu Fuss of Frederick the Great's army during the War of Austrian Succession and first saw action against the Austrians in Silesia in 1745 and again in the Seven Years War. They took part in the 1812 Invasion of Russia as part of Napoleon's Grande Armée, then fought against Napoleon in the campaigns of 1813-15. They later fought in the Austro-Prussian War at the Battle of Königgrätz and in the Franco-Prussian War at the Battle of Gravelotte-St.Privat.

In 1914 they were garrisoned at Ortelsburg (modern Szczytno, Poland) and formed part of the XX Army Corps. During the First World War they first served on the Eastern Front (notably at the Battle of Tannenberg), then from 1917 in Italy and from Spring 1918 on the Western Front.  

2nd Prussian Jäger Battalion (Pomeranian)
The Jäger-Batallion Fürst Bismarck (Pommersches) Nr.2 was formed in 1744 as part of the Korps Feldjäger zu Fuss of Frederick the Great's army during the War of Austrian Succession and first saw action against the Austrians in Silesia in 1745. They also fought in the Seven Years War, Napoleonic Wars, the Austro-Prussian War (at the Battle of Königgrätz) and in the Franco-Prussian war at the Battle of Gravelotte-St.Privat and the Siege of Paris.

In 1914 they were garrisoned at Kulm (modern Chełmno, Poland) and formed part of the XVII Army Corps. During the First World War they served on the Eastern and later Western Fronts.

3rd Prussian Jäger Battalion (Brandenburg)
The Brandenburgisches Jäger-Batallion Nr. 3 was formed in 1815 as the Feld-Jäger Batallion of the Prussian II Army Corps. They served in both the Schleswig Wars of 1849 and 1864 against Denmark, and at Königgrätz against Austria 1866. They also fought at the Battles of Mars-la-Tour and Gravelotte-St.Privat in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870.

In 1914 they were garrisoned at Lübben and formed part of the III Army Corps. During the First World War they initially served on the Western Front, notably at the Battles of Mons and Verdun. In 1917 they were transferred first to the Russian Front, then to the Italian Front, then back to the Western Front.

4th Prussian Jäger Battalion (Magdeburg)
The Magdeburgisches Jäger-Batallion Nr 4 was formed in 1815. They took part in the campaigns against Austria-Hungary in 1866 and France in 1870-71, most notably at the Battles of Königgrätz, Beaumont, Sedan and the Siege of Paris.

In 1914 they were garrisoned at Naumburg and formed part of the IV Army Corps. During the First World War they served on the Western Front most notably at the Battles of the Marne, the Somme and the 1918 Spring Offensive. Later that year they were transferred to Finland.

5th Prussian Jäger Battalion (1st Silesian)
The Jäger-Batallion von Neumann (1.Schlesisches ) Nr.5 was formed in 1808 as the 1. Schützen-Abteilung (Schlesische). They fought Napoleon at the Battles of Leipzig and Waterloo, Revolutionaries in Baden in 1849, Austria- Hungary at Königgrätz in 1866 and France again at Wörth and Sedan in 1870. Since 1901 Archduke Ferdinand Carl of Austria-Hungary was honorary Colonel in Chief of the battalion.

In 1914 they were garrisoned at Hirschberg (modern Jelenia Góra, Poland) and formed part of the V Army Corps. During the First World War they served on the Western Front, notably at the Battles of the Marne and Verdun.

6th Prussian Jäger Battalion (2nd Silesian)
The 2. Schlesisches Jäger-Batl.Nr.6 was formed in 1808 as the 2. Schützen-Abteilung (Schlesische). The the title Jäger was only applied to them in 1845. They took part in suppressing the revolt in Breslau in 1849 and the campaigns against Austria-Hungary in 1866 and France in 1870-71. 

In 1914 they were garrisoned at Öls (modern Oleśnica, Poland) and formed part of the VI Army Corps. During the First World War they served mostly on the Western Front (including the Battle of the Somme) but were transferred to Finland in 1918.

7th Prussian Jäger Battalion (Westphalian / Schaumburg-Lippe)
The Prussian 7th Jäger Battalion was originally formed after the defeat of Napoleon in 1815 as the 2. Schützen-Batallion, being renamed the Westfälisches Jäger-Batallion Nr.7 in 1860. They saw action against Denmark in 1849 and 1864 and Austria-Hungary in 1866.

Meanwhile in 1842 the tiny principality of Schaumburg-Lippe (by population, the smallest state of the German Empire) formed a Jäger Battalion which saw action against Denmark in 1849 and against Prussia in 1866. After concluding a military convention with Prussia in 1867, Schaumburg-Lippe contributed their troops to the 7th Jäger Battalion and later saw action against France in 1870-71.

This was the only contingent of the Imperial German Army made up of troops from Schaumburg-Lippe. Successive heads of state of Schaumburg-Lippe were the colonels-in chief including Prince Adolf Georg (from 1869-93) and Prince Georg (from 1893-1911).

In 1914 they were garrisoned at Bückeburg, the capital of Schaumburg-Lippe and formed part of the VII Army Corps. During the First World War they served on the Western Front, including the Battles of the Somme and Verdun.

8th  Prussian Jäger Battalion (Rhineland)
The Rheinisches Jäger-Batallion Nr.8 was formed in 1815 after the defeat of Napoleon as the Rheinisches Schützen-Bataillon. They saw action against revolutionaries in Baden and Rhineland-Pfalz in 1849, against Austria-Hungary at the Battle of Königgrätz in 1866 and against France at the Battle of Gravelotte-St.Privat in 1870.

In 1914 they were garrisoned at Schlettstadt in Alsace and formed part of the XV Army Corps with whom they fought during the opening campaign of the First World War on the Western Front, later being transferred to the Balkans and Rumania.

9th Prussian Jäger Battalion (Lauenburg)
In the first half of the 19th Century the Duchy of Saxe-Lauenburg had been ruled by France, Hanover, Prussia, Sweden and then Denmark. In 1864 it was again annexed by Prussia and King Wilhelm I became the ruling Duke. In 1876 the duchy was dissolved and became part of the Prussian province of Schleswig-Holstein.

The Prussian Lauenburgisches Jäger-Batallion Nr. 9 was formed in 1866 and first saw action during the Franco-Prussian War most notably at the Battle of Gravelotte-St.Privat.

In 1914 they were garrisoned at Ratzeburg and formed part of the IX Army Corps. During the First World War they served initially on the Western Front, including the Battles of Ypres and the Somme. In October 1916 they were transferred to the Rumanian Front and spent the rest of the War there and in the Ukraine.

10th Prussian Jäger Battalion (Hanoverian)
The Prussian Hannoversches Jäger-Batallion Nr. 10 was formed in 1866 when Prussia annexed the Kingdom of Hanover and absorbed their army, though their official date of formation was 1803 as the light infantry of the Hanoverian Army. They traced their history further back to service under the British crown, most notably at the Siege of Gibraltar in 1779–83, then later at Venta Del Pozo in 1812 during the Peninsular Campaign and at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.

More recently the Light Infantry had been part of the Hanoverian army that defeated the Prussians at the Battle of Langensalza in 1866. As the new Prussian 10th Jäger Battalion they saw action in the Franco-Prussian War, including the Battles of Mars la Tour and Gravelotte-St. Privat.

In 1914 they were garrisoned at Goslar and formed part of the X Army Corps with whom they fought during the opening campaign of the First World War on the Western Front. In 1915 they were transferred to the Alpine Corps, seeing action in Italy, Serbia, Romania and again on the Western Front.

11th Prussian Jäger Battalion (Electoral Hessian)
The Prussian Kurhessisches Jäger-Batallion Nr.11 traced its origins back to 1813 in the the different Jäger and Schützen companies of the Electorate of Hessen-Cassel and the Principality of Nassau. These units became the Hessisches Jäger-Bataillon Nr. 11 of the Prussian army in 1867 when Hessen-Cassel and Nassau were annexed by Prussia following the their defeat in the Austro-Prussian War.

The new battalion saw action in the Franco-Prussian War at the battles of Wörth and Sedan. To celebrate the Triple Alliance of 1882 between Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy, Queen Margarita of Italy was made honorary colonel-in-chief of the battalion in 1897.

In 1914 they were garrisoned at Marburg and formed part of the XI Army Corps. During the First World War they took part in the Invasion of Belgium, then were deployed on the Eastern Front until the collapse of the Russian Empire when they were transferred back to the Western Front in time for the Springs Offensives of 1918.  

12th Royal Saxon Jäger Battalion
The Königlich Sächsisches 1. Jäger-Batallion Nr.12 was formed in was formed in 1809 as part of the the Saxon contingent of the Confederation of the Rhine and as such took part in the Invasion of Russia in 1812. They fought against Prussia in the Austro-Prussian War at Königgrätz and alongside Prussia  the Franco-Prussian War (notably at the Battles of Gravelotte-St.Privat and Sedan and the Siege of Paris).

In 1914 they were garrisoned at Freiburg and formed part of the XII Army Corps. During the First World War they served on the Western Front at the Battles of the Marne, the Somme and the Spring Offensive of 1918.

13th Royal Saxon Jäger Battalion
The Königlich Sächsisches 2. Jäger-Batallion Nr.13 was formed in 1809 as part of the the Saxon contingent of the Confederation of the Rhine and as such took part in the Invasion of Russia in 1812. They fought against Prussia in the Austro-Prussian War at Königgrätz and alongside Prussia  the Franco-Prussian War (notably at the Battles of Gravelotte-St.Privat and Sedan and the Siege of Paris).

In 1914 they were garrisoned at Dresden and formed part of the XII Army Corps. During the First World War they served on the Western Front at the Battles of the Marne, the Somme and the Spring Offensive of 1918.

14th Grand Ducal Mecklenburg Jäger Battalion
The Großherzoglich Mecklenburgisches Jäger-Batallion Nr.14 was formed in 1821 as the Leichtes Infanterie Batallion of the army of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. They took part in the First Schleswig War, the suppression of the 1849 Rebellion in Baden, the Austro-Prussian War (on the Prussian side) and the Franco-Prussian War. Duke Johann Albrecht of Mecklenburg-Schwerin was honorary colonel-in-chief of the battalion from 1901.

Having previously been garrisoned at Schwerin, from 1890 they were based at Colmar in Alsace as part of the XV Army Corps. During the First World War they served on the Western Front before being transferred to Finland in 1918.

15th Royal Saxon Jäger Battalion
The Königlich Sächsisches 3. Jäger-Batallion Nr.15 was formed in 1887 but disbanded in 1900 to form the cadre of the new 181st Saxon Infantry Regiment. Up until that point it had been garrisoned in Wurzen as part of the XII Saxon Army Corps.

1st Royal Bavarian Jäger Battalion
The Königlich Bayerisches 1. Jäger-Battalion König was formed in 1815 as part of the reorganisation of the Bavarian army after the defeat of Napoleon. They fought against Prussia in the Austro-Prussian War and alongside Prussia in the Franco-Prussian War (notably at the Battles of Wörth, Beaumont and Sedan and the Siege of Paris).

In 1914 they were garrisoned at Aschaffenburg and formed part of the I Bavarian Army Corps. During the First World War they initially served on Western Front but in 1915 were transferred to the Alpine Corps, seeing action in Italy, Serbia, Romania and again on the Western Front.

2nd Royal Bavarian Jäger Battalion
The Königlich Bayerisches 2. Jäger-Battalion  traced its origins back to 1753 but only became the 2nd Bavarian Jäger Battalion in 1825. In 1849 they fought revolutionaries in Hessen, in 1866 they fought the Prussians at the Battle of Kissingen and in 1870 they fought the French at Sedan and the Siege of Paris.

In 1914 they were garrisoned at Aschaffenburg and formed part of the II. Bavarian Army Corps. During the First World War they initially served on Western Front but in 1915 were transferred to the Alpine Corps, seeing action in Italy, Serbia, Romania and again on the Western Front.

Officer's Shako of the Guard Jäger or
Guard Schützen Battalions
Photo from the Zeughaus, Berlin / WikiCommons

Tunic of an NCO Signaller of the
Guard Schützen Battalion
Photo by C Dale at the Military Museum, Rastatt

Jäger of the Guard Jäger Battalion
or Schütze of the Guard Schützen Battalion
Photo © Joe Robinson

Badger Hide Backpack
As carried by the Prussian Jäger Battalions
Photo by C Dale at the Military Museum, Rastatt

Hauptman von der Groeben
of the 7th Westphalian Battalion
Photo © Joe Robinson

The Standard Bearer of the
9th Lauenburg Battalion
Photo © Joe Robinson

Jäger of the 10th Hanoverian Battalion
Note the "Gibraltar" cuff title just visible on his right arm
Photo © Joe Robinson

Shoulder Straps for the 2nd and 11th Battalions
Photo by C Dale at the Military Museum, Rastatt

Jäger of the 11th Electoral Hessian Battalion
Photo © Joe Robinson

Other Ranks Saxon Shako
Photo from the House of Wettin / WikiCommons

 
Shoulder Straps for the 12th (pre-1873)
and 15th (pre-1900) Saxon Battalions
Photo by C Dale at the Military Museum, Rastatt

Jäger of the 12th Saxon Battalion
Photo © Joe Robinson

Other Ranks Mecklenburg Shako
Photo by C Dale at the Army Museum, Brussels

Shoulder Straps for the 14th Mecklenburg and
2nd Bavarian Battalions
Photo by C Dale at the Military Museum, Rastatt

Bavarian General Officer's Jaeger Shako
Note the expensively enamelled colour shield
Photo by C Dale at the Bavarian Army Museum, Ingolstadt

Officer of a Bavarian Jäger Battalion
Photo © Joe Robinson

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