“Vorwärts, Building a Late Napoleonicprussian Wargames by Martinkelly

“VORWÄRTS, MEINE KINDER!” BUILDING A LATE NAPOLEONIC PRUSSIAN WARGAMES ARMY 1803-1815 1803-1815 By Martin Kelly. Photographs by Martin Kelly, and Stephen Maughan 1803-1815 of the Napoleonic Archive, www.napoleonic-archive.com Napoleonic Wars Napoleonic Napoleonic Wars Napoleonic Many Napoleonic wargamers in the English-speaking world have an understandably Anglo-centric view of the conflicts of that period. For them, wargaming revolves around the Peninsular War and the Battle of Waterloo. Is it surprising, then, that the Prussian army scores so low in the popularity stakes? After all, there were no Prussian forces in Spain and Portugal (save for the Regiment de Prusse in French service) and they turned up late in the day at Waterloo. The mere mention of the late Prussian army to many draws yawns and complaints of boring uniforms to paint and poor quality Landwehr milita units that are no fun to command. Yet anybody who subscribes to this with French tactics and leadership. In maximum of 40,000 men, Prussia had to view is mis-informed and is missing one day, 14 October 1806, French forces pay repartations of 100,000,000 francs out on the opportunity to add one of the under Davout at Auerstadt and Napoleon and the size of the Prussian state was period’s most fascinating and effective at Jena inflicted two heavy defeats on reduced by almost half. Within days forces to their collections. After all, the Prussia. Yet it wasn’t so much defeat of these harsh constraints, the Military turn around in Prussian martial fortunes in the battles themselves that lost the Reform Commission was appointed by between 1806 and 1813 is probably the campaign for Prussia, but rather the King Friedrich Wilhem III of Prussia to greatest comeback story of the age. shameful disintegration of the army in recommend how the Prussian military retreat and the subsequent surrender of should be modernized. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND many garrisons and fortresses, often The commission’s membership, led without a shot being fired. In 1806, alongside its ally Saxony, by von Scharnhorst, included several Prussia suffered a devastating defeat. Prussia quickly found itself under French key young figures in Prussia’s reform Although, man for man, Prussian occupation and had harsh limitations movement, such as Boyen, Clauswitz soldiers were a match for their French imposed on it by Napoleon in the Treaty and Gneisenau, and soon set about counterparts, the way they were of Tilsit, signed 9 July 1807 – the size implementing changes that were to commanded was not prepared to cope of Prussia’s army was limited to a eventually enable Prussia to take up arms against Napoleon in 1813. There was a Above: These Calpe figures are Reserve Infantry wearing the Spring 1813 grey uniforms. complete review of tactics, organization And by late 1812, the time was indeed But once the King was able to move East and command structures that resulted right, though it was Yorck, commander to Breslau, out of reach of Napoleon, in the establishment of the now famous of the Prussian forces that participated events moved quickly and the declaration Prussian General Staff service. Other in Napoleon’s invasion of Russia, rather to raise the landwehr militia forces was key changes included an enlightened than the King who lit the touchpaper announced and Prussia allied itself with attitude to discipline, opening up of of revolt against France. Having heard Russia by declaring war on France on 16 officer training to young men outside the of the fate that befell Napoleon’s main March 1813. aristocracy, and the implementation of army in Russia, Yorck contacted the the Krumper system, which ensured that Russians and, on 30 December 1812, The stage was set for the trained men rotated out of service to be signed the Convention of Tauroggen that Befreiungskriege or wars of liberation replaced by new recruits. This last idea declared the forces under his command that would eventually lead to Napoleon’s enabled the Prussian army to stay below to be neutral. Still within the clutches defeat and the late Prussian army, with the size limit imposed by Napoleon while of the French, King Friedrich Wilhelm its combination of regular soldiers, building up a large reserve of capable condemned Yorck and went through the trained reserves, volunteers and hastily motions of mobilising the rest of the Above: Silesia was the region that contributed the most Landwehr troops to the Prussian army men who could be called up to swell the assembled militia, was to play a Prussian army in support of Napoleon. and they were easily recognisable by their distinctive yellow facings ranks when the time was right. decisive role. 64 65 by the presence of a line grenadier Typical Prussian Brigade Structure, battalion. It was common practice to Autumn 1813 brigade together units from the same region. So each reserve infantry regiment By Autumn 1813, a generic Prussian brigade would would typically serve in the same brigade normally (but not always) comprise the following: as its associated Stammregiment (parent line infantry regiment). And the landwehr infantry would usually come from the one line infanTRy RegimenT same region. This helped - composed of foster comradeship and morale within two musketeer the brigade. battalions and a fusilier battalion The bulk of a brigade’s light infantry 1803-1815 capability came from the line infantry regiment’s fusilier battalion. Additional light infantry was provided by the Wars Napoleonic one ReSeRve infanTRy RegimenT Freiwilliger Jager detachments of other battalions in the brigade. These - composed of volunteers were typically young men three battalions from professional or wealthy families and were thus expected to provide their own uniforms and equipment, including hunting rifles. The trade-off for this The cavalry element of brigades was between Spring 1813 and the One Above: A regiment of Silesian Landwehr expectation was that volunteering in this almost always some form of light cavalry, Hundred Days Campaign in 1815. During infantry begins it’s advance. Figures by way was a route into the officer ranks. one lAndwehR infanTR y RegimenT but could be anything from a prestigious the Spring 1813 campaign, Prussia had Calpe Miniatures. Yet more light infantry support came regiment like the Leib Hussars through to only just started mobilizing its forces - composed of from the “third rank” of line and reserve skewed towards the latter at this point. landwehr cavalry. The cavalry regiments and many units (especially the landwehr three battalions battalions who received some relevant in a brigade usually provided a total of infantry and cavalry) weren’t ready for But the armistice at the end of the Spring training. Even some of the landwehr about four squadrons between them and combat. That’s reflected in the historical campaign provided valuable time for the infantry became capable of skirmishing they too sometimes had Freiwiller Jager orders of battle. An instructive example Prussians to bring in more forces and as they gained battlefield experience. detachments. The brigade’s foot is von Zieten’s Upper Silesian Brigade re-organize the brigades. By the start of Wargames rulesets don’t seem to cope artillery battery was usually armed with serving with Blucher’s Second Corps. the Autumn 1813 campaign, Prussia’s ONE (or Two) cA vAlRy RegimenTS elegantly with skirmishing for the six 6-pounder cannons and two field army was organized into three corps The regional feel of the brigades and their Prussians. Most rules are explicit about 7-pounder howitzers. all-arms capability is already evident that boasted 12 brigades between them. how to use “elite” light elements, like If you intend to take the latter approach, in this example, but other aspects are (There were another two corps the French voltigeur companies or then it’s important to recognize that the yet to evolve. The ratio between the carrying out observation, blockade British light companies, though they structure of Prussian brigades evolved infantry and cavalry/artillery elements is and garrison duties.) seem to remain strangely silent about how you can deploy the “third rank” of one FooT artilleRy batteRy a Prussian battalion. I suggest that you von ZIEten’s Upper Silesian Brigade, Spring 1813 apply common sense and adjust such rules, while always bearing in mind Second SileSiAn infanTRy RegimenT that a Prussian commander would only FiRST SileSiAn infanTRy RegimenT ever allow a limited percentage of a battalion to be deployed in open order. One example is to adopt the section about The STRucTuRe oF would be a disservice to Prussian doctrine light infantry battalions in the General THE PRUSSIAN ARMY to say that they were the same. de Brigade rules. At a tactical level, the Prussian Army was While the Prussian brigade was similar in SILESIAN One Battalion from Two Companies composed of the elements familiar in all manpower to a division in other armies, it GRENADIER LEIB REGIMENT from the armies of the period – infantry battalions, was conceived from the outset as an all- BATTALION SILESIAN cavalry squadrons and artillery batteries. arms force capable of independent action. SCHUTZEN Similarly, at the top of the structure, Divisions in other armies would typically BATTALION the army comprised a number of corps. contain line (and sometimes light) The part that seems to confuse most infantry battalions and a battery of foot wargamers is the bit in the middle: as artillery, but the Prussian brigade went NEUMARK DRAGOON FiRST SileSiAn SECOND SILESIAN well as containing conventional reserve further by the inclusion of cavalry. There REGIMENT HUSSAR REGIMENT HUSSAR REGIMENT cavalry and artillery elements, each are two choices when building a brigade- Prussian corps was made up of sized Prussian force for wargaming several brigades.

Load more