Organization
Since 1 October 1803, Baden had been an ally of France. On 12 July 1806, the Duchy joined the newly formed Confederation of the Rhine, at which time Prince-elector Karl Friedrich was elevated to Grand Duke. During this period, and up until mid-1808 the Army was Joing through a number of significant changes in both sizes and internal structure.
Originally the Army consisted of the following units:
-
Infantry
-
Three regiments of infantry
One grenadier battalion
One light (jager) battalion
Cavalry
- Two squadrons of Garde du Corps
One Hussar squadron
One regiment of Light Dragoons (acquired from lands in Bavaria)
Artillery
- Two foot batteries
As a member of the Confederation, demands for additional, troops necessitated expansion of the armed forces from 2,000 in 1803 to 8,000 in 1807. Subsequently, the infantry increased to four regiments of two battalions each and four companies per battalion, the Light unit having a single four-company battalion. The average strength per company was 150 men. In addition to these there existed four garrison battalions with four companies each. These served as the depots for the line regiments. In October 1806 the following units were created or augmented:
-
Infantry
-
The fourth line regiment: Von Harrach
The reinforced line grenadier battalion became the Lieb Grenadier Garde, now with five companies
Cavalry
- Earlier in 1806 the Hussar regiment had been built
up to four squadrons.
Artillery
- An eight gun horse battery.
In 1808, the number of companies per battalion was increased to six whereupon the Grenadier and Voltigeur companies formed, and the musketeers became known as fusiliers. In the Light battalion, these became Carabiniers, voltiguers, and chasseurs respectively. At the same time, the number of men per company was brought up to 140 which brought them into line with their French counterparts. This increase gave the line regiments a paper strength of over 1,700 men. The Badeners were required to abandon the outdated Prussian style of warfare and to adopt the French 1791 regulations and tactics. The Army at this stage introduced French rank insignia.
Already stretched to its limits, in 1808 Napoleon
requested that Baden supply a 2,000 man contingent for
service in Spain. This was achieved by joining the 2nd
Batt./3rd Regiment and the 2nd Batt./4th Regiment, forming
a new 4th Regiment. With the 3rd company of foot artillery
they were despatched to the Iberian Peninsular. The 3rd
Regiment's 2nd Battalion was replaced by the 1st Battalion
of the 'old'4th Regiment!
The Light Dragoons and the Hussars were increased to four field and one depot squadron, giving them in excess of 480 men per regiment.
As opposed to the other two arms of service, the Artillery was well prepared for war. Of exceptionally good quality, very well trained, and supplied with excellent equipment, the Artillery was much sought after by their French allies. The Battalion consisted of:
- One Horse (1st) company with 6 x 6lb + 2 x 7lb
Howitzers.
Two foot (2nd and 3rd) companies, each also with 6 x 6lb + 2 7lb Howitzers.
In 1809 a third foot unit (that is, the 4th company) was raised.
In early 1813, Baden was required to build up her armed forces for the forthcoming campaign against the Allies. Only five squadrons of the Light Dragoons, four battalions (one of which was in the fortress of Glogau), a foot battery, were ready. The Hussar regiment was disbanded and eventually a second Light Dragoon regiment was raised in its place. After the Leipzig campaign, with their lands overrun by the Allies, Baden was forced to change sides. Once again she was required to hastily raise troops as well as raise eight battalions of Landwehr and a cavalry regiment. Baden struggled to meet its quota, and it is doubtful whether the Landwehr battalio ever reached their strength. The Landwehr cavalry did attain four squadrons and eventually converted into an Uhlan regiment.
In the 1815 campaign the Baden army campaigned as part of the main Austrian Army. It then consisted of:
- Four infantry regiments
One Light battalion
Six to eight Landwehr battalions
Three regiments of cavalry
The Guard
Artillery
Uniforms
Line Infantry
The line infantry wore a dark blue, Prussian-style uniform, designed in 1803. It had lapels closed to the waist, long scarlet coat tails and square cuffs, which had a blue, three-buttoned rectangular cuff flap. They wore white breeches and black, knee high, gaiters. Up until 1806, all facings were scarlet.
In 1806, the regimental distinctives became:
| Regimental No. | Regt Title | Collar, Cuffs and Lapels | Buttons |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leib Regiment | Scarlet | White |
| 2 | Erbgrossherzog | Dark Yellow | Yellow |
| 3 | Markgraf Louis | White | Yellow |
| 4 | von Harrant | Poppy Red | White |
Regiment No.1 had two white lace bars on either side of the collar and white lace buttonholes on the cuffs.
In 1810, new coats were issued, still of the 1803 design. All regiments reverted back to scarlet facings but keeping their button colour. At this date, the number of the regiment now appeared on the buttons.
In 1813, when Baden changed sides, the newly constructed regiments were issued with Prussian blue double breasted coats with scarlet turnbacks and collar, cuffs, shoulder straps and lapels in the facing colour. Cuff flaps were as before. The regimental titles were abandoned.
In 1813, the regimental distinctives became:
| Regimental No. | Collar, Cuffs Lapels, and Shoulder Straps | Buttons |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Crimson | White |
| 2 | White | Yellow |
| 3 | Deep Yellow | Yellow |
| 4 | White | White |
The helmet was similar in design to the Wurtemburg and Austrian headgear, although with the fullness and shape of the Bavarian Raupenhelm. It was made of black leather with a brass comb and blackwool crest. Below the woollen crest ran a fine red and yellow fringe, although this was discontinued in 1809, being replaced by red enamelled embossing on the brass comb. The helmet was reinforced with "V" metal straps on the sides. The single black leather peak had no edging. At the base, in front of the helmet, ran a metal engraved plate with the title "GROSSHERZOGLICH-BADISCHES INFANTERIE REGIMENT I {or 11, III, IV as appropriate)".
Placed above the title band was a brass oval plate and crown in the Ducal coat-of-arms, although the Leib-Regiment had a white metal star pattern plate instead. The chin straps were leatherreinforced metal scales with plain round bosses. A fin chain ran from these bosses to the top of the oval plate. All metal work was brass except for the Leib-Regiment which had white metal fittings. The national cockade of yellow with a red centre was placed above the left chinscale boss. Grenadiers had white plumes while the voltigeurs had green. In 1813 the helmet was replaced by the Austrian doubled-peaked shako.
Equipment and muskets were initially of Prussian design until the introduction of standard French accoutrements and weapons. Elite companies were issued with the sabre-briquet, and apparently the fusiliers kept their bayonets fixed. Greatcoats were single breasted and were usually grey or light brown in colour. The men were also issued with a blue French-style bonnet de police trimmed in facing colour. All belts and straps were whitened leather.
Officers and NCOs
Prior to 1808 when the French ranking systems were introdc ced, Officers and NCOs wore Prussian distinctions. Subsequently, NCOs had metal edging to the helmet peak in the regimental button colour and French NCO stripes above the cuffs. Officers wore uniforms of the same cut as the men's but of finer quality. Whrte breeches were worn with black leather knee boots.
The officers wore bicornes with plumes, and had silver sashes interwoven with red and gold, tied into a bun and bow on the left hip. In 1808, the officers were issued with the helmet, gorges and epaulettes, although the bicorne and sash were retained. The helmet had a bearskin create and all metal work was silver or gold according to regiment. Officer's plumes were white, except those of the voltigeur companies who had green plumes with white tips. All officers carried straight bladed epees in a black scabbard with gilt fittings and suspended on a white leather waist belt with gold buckle.
Musicians
Grenadier and fusilier drummers, and voltigeur hornists, wore standard dress with the addition of musician's lace in the button colour with a red central stripe. They also had red 'swallow-nest' shoulder pads. The sleeves were decorated with six inverted chevrons, and the cuff buttonholes were laced. Grenadier and fusilier drummers had red or white plumes respectively. Drums were carried on a wide white leather shoulder belt and apron, embellished with a brass drum stick holder. Voltigeur hornists had, in addition, green epaulettes and plume and used brass horns with green cords.
Drum Distinctives
| Regt No. | Barrels | Hoops |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | painted gold with ducal arms | blue, white, scarlet diagonal stripes |
| 2 | painted gold with ducal arms | white, scarlet, yellow diagonal stripes |
| 3 | full length alternative red and white flames | red, yellow diagonal stripes |
| 4 | full length alternative red and white flames | red, yellow diagonal stripes |
| Garde | painted gold with ducal arms | blue, white, scarlet diagonal stripes |
Light Infantry Battalion "von lingg"
The battalion's coat was identical in cut as the line infantry, except that it was coloured green and had shorter tails. The collar, cuffs, lapels and tails were black piped white. The unit wore green epaulettes, with Corporals having a white wool crest and the Sergeants silver. In 1813 this was changed to yellow or gold respectively. Breeches were white for full dress and light grey fo' field, although in 1813 the men were issued with green overalls.
The headgear was the Bavarian Raupenhelm with a light green raupe and plume, and a leather chin strap. Below the plume on the left side was brass hunting horn, and at the front of the helmet were the FC cipher and crown. All leather work was black, and the jacket had white metal buttons. Fatigue caps were green, piped white. The packs and greatcoats were as for the line infantry.
Half of each company was equipped with rifles and sword bayonet, while the remainder of the unit had carbines and sabre- briquets. This combination proved very successful in terms of both range and firepower. Officers wore bicornes with white plumes, silver epaulettes and buttons (gold in 1813), green breeches and black leather boots trimmed in the appropriate lace colour. They carried curved sabres in black leather scabbards with gold fittings and hilt, suspended on a black leather, light cavalry style belt.
Musicians wore light infantry uniform with black swallow- nest shoulder pads, musician's lace and brass horns with cords.
Service in Spain
When the 2/3rd and 2/4th were posted to Spain, they continued to wear their original uniforms. In 1810, the now re-numbered 4th Regiment adopted a blue French 1804-1810 habit veste with red collar, cuffs, lapels and turnbacks. The cuffs had a three button rectangular flap with three brass buttons. All leather work was white and the buttons were brass. French shakos replaced the helmet. Grenadiers and voltigeurs added red or green cords and plumes to their shakos, whilst centre companies had white ball pompons. The voltigeurs had a brass hunting horn on the front of the shako, and the grenadiers and fusiliers had a brass grenade badge. Officers lost their sashes.
Garde-grenadier Battalion
Originally, the jacket was of the usual infantry colour and cut, double breasted without lapels. All facings were scarlet. The buttons were white, and the button holes on the cuff flaps and coat front were embellished with white lace and tassels. The three button holes on the horizontal tail pockets, piped red, also received Garde lace.
In 1808, a coat similar in cut to the French surtout was introduced. The major differences to the uniform were that white piping was added to the collar, turnbacks and cuffs (not cuff-flaps), and eight broad white tasselled bars across the chest. A white aiguillette hung from the white shoulder, attached to the 2nd and 3rd top button holes on the chest.
The black bearskin was similar to that worn by the French Grenadiers a Pied. At the front of the bearskin was a semi-circular white metal plate embossed with the Ducal coat of arms and at the rear was a red patch with a white embroidered flaming grenade. The headgear was completed with white cords. On the left was a white plume quartered in red at the top and bottom. The national cockade was positioned below the plume and midpoint on the bearskin. Equipment was as per the line infantry and white leather work.
Officer, NCO and musician distinctives were the same as for the line, with silver and white lace respectively.
Landwehr Infantry
The uniforms for the Landwehr are not very well documented. They are thought to have worn a blue coat similar to the Prussian Landwehr, white trousers and infantry shakos.
Next issue: Cavalry, Artillery and Staff Uniforms, Standards and Battle History, Orbats, etc.
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