Saxon Infantry 1866-1918

Introduction

Prior to the military convention between Prussia and the State of Saxony on the 7th February 1867, the latter state had maintained a completely independent army as one of the myriad states in the the then disunited Germany. Saxony had the misfortune to be on the losing side in the Seven Weeks War of 1866 between Prussia and Austria and most of the Southern German states. Consequently much of her former independence in military matters was lost. This article describes the organization of the Saxon Infantry from the time of its participation in the battles of Gitschin and Königgrätz in the above mentioned war and then its absorption into the Prussian/German Reich's order of battle as units of the XII Army Corps and eventually also of the XIX Army Corps.

1866:    By 1866 the Saxon army had dispensed with the regimental organization for its infantry and instead adopted a five battalion brigade system. Consequently when Crown Prince Albert led his country's relatively small army known as the Royal Saxon Army Corps into battle in June 1866 it consisted of 20 battalions of infantry including four of Jäger or light infantry divided among two infantry divisions and four infantry brigades:

1867:    Following the defeat at Königgrätz and the signing of the afore mentioned convention, Saxony reorganized its infantry with effect from the 1st April 1867 into nine regiments and two independent Jäger battalions. Although the divisional and brigade organization was retained, the inclusion into the Prussian line necessitated a renumbering and henceforth the state of Saxony provided the 23rd Infantry Division with the 45th and 46th Infantry Brigades and the 24th Infantry Division with the 47th and 48th Infantry Brigades. The formerly independent infantry battalions were formed into new regiments as follows. It will be noted that the regiments were given two numbers to reflect their seniority both within the German line and Saxon Corps:

Naturally enough, the Saxon corps was then uniformed and equipped along the Prussian fashion. The pickelhaube was introduced for the line infantry although the Schützen-Füsilier-Regiment and Jäger battalions retained a traditional Saxon shako and green tunics. Certain Saxon distinctions were retained such as Saxon cockades on caps and helmets, Saxon cuffs and pocket flaps on the "waffenrock" or tunic including piping along the lower skirt edge and of course the Saxon state of arms on the pickelhaube.

1870/71:    At the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian war in August 1870, the XII (Royal Saxon) Army Corps took the field as part of Prince Friedrich Karl's 2nd Army. The corps, as in the previous war was commanded by the Crown Prince. Following the defeat of the French Army of the Rhine at Gravelotte and the investment of the fortress of Metz, the Germans formed a new Fourth (Meuse) Army under Crown Prince Albert with the Saxon Corps command being passed onto his younger brother Prince Georg. The Saxon Corps became part of the new Meuse Army. The order of battle of the Saxon Infantry as at the 1st of August 1870 was as follows:

The Saxon infantry fought very creditably during the Franco-German war especially distinguishing themselves on the left flank of the Second Army during the battle of Gravelotte-St Privat where they turned the Flank of Marshal Bazaine's army which consequently retreated into Metz and eventually capitulated.

Peace:    During the long years of peace which followed the conclusion of the Franco-German war and the subsequent German unification, the Saxon army and infantry continued to expand: On the 1st of April 1881 two further infantry regiments were formed:

9.Infanterie-Regiment Nr.133

10.Infanterie-Regiment Nr.134

and  another the 11.Infanterie-Regiment Nr.139 on the 1st of April 1887.

This date also saw an increase in the divisional strength of the Saxon army with the formation of the 3.Infanterie-Division Nr.32 with Infantry Brigades Nr.63 and 64. Infantry regiments Nr.104 and 133 were subordinated to 63.Brigade and all the Jägers including the Schützen-Füsilier-Regiment and a newly raised 3.Jäger-Bataillon Nr.15 were placed in 64.Brigade.

On the 1st of April 1897 the 7. Infanterie-Brigade Nr. 88 and a further three regiments were formed from the IV half-battalions of existing infantry regiments. See the main infantry development page for a thorough explanation of this process. These regiments were numbered as follows:

12.Infanterie-Regiment Nr.177

13.Infanterie-Regiment Nr.178

14.Infanterie-Regiment Nr.179

Two years later a second corps staff and a fourth infantry division were raised: The XIX (2nd Royal Saxon) Army Corps plus the 4.Infanterie-Division Nr.40 and the 8.Infanterie-Brigade Nr.89.

With some further shuffling of regiments between divisions and corps and the raising of the 15.Infanterie-Regiment Nr.181 on the 1st of April 1900 and the 16.Infanterie-Regiment Nr.182 on 1st October 1912, the final peace time order of battle of the regular Royal Saxon infantry was as follows*:

* 3.Jäger-Bataillon Nr.15 was disbanded on 1st April 1900. See main infantry page for a discussion on Saxon machine gun detachments and companies.

At mobilization and during the following four years a huge expansion in the Saxon infantry was executed and this will be discussed in a following article.