Infanterie-Leib-Regiment

Formed:    16th July 1814                        IV.Bataillon  19th August  1893

Introduction

The Infanterie-Leib-Regiment was the senior regiment on the establishment of the Royal Bavarian Army. At the outbreak of the Great War in 1914, the Munich based guards regiment was a component of 1st Bavarian Infantry Division within 1st Bavarian Army Corps. The regiment fought its opening engagements during the border battles in Lorraine in August and September 1914 under command of Generaloberst Prinz Rupprecht's sixth army. During the Autumn and Winter of 1914/15 the regiment found itself involved in static warfare in the area of the River Somme under command of second army (Generals von Bülow and then General von Below).

With the formation of the Alpenkorps in May 1915, the Leib-Regiment was brigaded with the 1st Bavarian Jäger Regiment (1st and 2nd Bavarian Jäger Battalions and 2nd Bavarian Reserve Jäger Battalion) in the 1st Bavarian Jäger Brigade under the Command of Generalmajor Ritter von Tutschek. After alpine training, the regiment was deployed in the Dolomite Mountain area under command of an Austrian Division - the K.u.K. Division Kommando "Pustertal" commanded by Feldmarschalleutnant (Lieutenant General) Ludwig Goinger. The regiment fought throughout the Summer and Autumn of 1915 in the Cortina and Carnic Alps area to the South of Sillian in present day East Tyrol.

In late October the regiment left the Tyrol firstly as army reserve in the Ardennes and was then involved in the Serbian campaign of late 1915, consequently being involved in the border battles on the Greek frontier. Moving back to the western Front the regiment was committed to the Verdun fighting through May to August 1916 with a short interlude in the Argonne Forest before being sent East again to participate in the invasion of Rumania. Returning West again in May 1917, the regiment fought in Lorraine until late July and once again switched fronts and was deployed in the East particularly on the River Sereth before moving yet again to the Italian Front.

In the early hours of October 24 1917 the 12th battle of the Isonzo commenced with the Leib-Regiment attacking West from the area of Tolmein (Tolmino) in close proximity to the Württemberg Mountain Battalion to secure the Kolovrat Ridge area and Monte Kuk. These objectives were taken in short order with Leutnant Ferdinand Schörner winning the Prussian Order "Pour le Merite" for capturing Hill 1114. Following these initial gains the regiment moved Southwest towards the River Tagliamento and thence to the River Piave  where the Caporetto offensive finally ground to a halt. After some further fighting in the Venetian Alps the regiment (with the rest of the Alpenkorps) moved back to the Western Front, initially in the Vosges Mountains and then North to Armentieres and Flanders. The regiment remained throughout the Summer in France before moving for the last time to the East to be deployed in the Balkans in Macedonia and Serbia as part of XXXIX Reserve Corps, 11th army under command General von Steuben.

At the conclusion of hostilities The regiment retreated back to Germany via Hungary and was dissolved. 

Commanders 1871-1914:

Combat engagements pre 1914: Franco-Prussian War 1870-71

Colonel in Chief 1914:

Wartime Commanders:

Engagements:

Ritterkreuz des Militär Max-Joseph-Ordens:

Pour le Merite: