Royal Saxon Army

Royal Saxon Army
Banner of the Union Poland Saxony Lithuania
Active	January 1, 1682 (1682-01-01) – November 11, 1918 (1918-11-11)
Headquarters	Dresden Königstein Chemnitz Krakow Leipzig Großenhain Bautzen Plauen
Patron	The Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, & Saint George
Colors	Black, Green, Yellow, White

Overview

The Royal Saxon Army (with a strength not more than 2 divisions) was under the command of the Rulers of Saxony. With the formation of the Confederation of the Rhine by Napoleon the Royal Saxon Army joined the French "La Grande Armée" along with 37 other German states. The commander of the Royal Saxon Army at this time, was Frederick Augustus I of Saxony. He was a staunch ally of Napoleon Bonaparte.

History

The army at the time of the Electorate of Saxony (1682-1807)

The founder of the standing army in Saxony was Elector Johann Georg III. Convinced the Saxon Estates in 1681, that establish the current practice, in case of war mercenaries heere and to dismiss in peace, dear was as the formation of a standing army. First were then in 1682 the hitherto existing home troops and Guard and other small units in Line Regiment, it was transformed. The army consisted of six at this time infantry regiments of eight companies and five cavalry regiments. The field artillery had a thickness of 24 guns.

During the Northern War proved the combat power of the Saxon army to be very low, so that was conducted after the war a military reform, with the aim to increase this. As part of this reform, the Saxon army was brought to a strength of 30,000, which consisted almost exclusively of Saxony. Thus it differed from the armies of other European states, which supplemented their staff frequently with foreigners.

Following the reform, the army was now out of Guard Infantry, line infantry, and cavalry regiments (Chevauleger s, Dragoon and cuirassier s) together. The artillery as a third independent branch of service was made up of field artillery and in-house. Also belonging to the artillery, were Minier and pontoniers established companies. The army was divided into four General House e and classified according to the state of Saxony into four military divisions. For the first time for the accommodation of the troops barracks were built.

In the Second Silesian War, allied with Austria, the Saxon army suffered under Friedrich August Graf Rutowski in Kesselsdorf is a bitter defeat against Prussia. The growing crisis prompted the finances of the Saxon Prime Minister Graf Brühl in 1749, the reduction of the army to have 17,000 men.

In the Seven Years' War the Saxon army was under the Prussian invasion of Saxony included at the Siege at Pirna and had on 16 October 1756 capitulate completely. Only four cavalry regiments and two Lancers bomber formations, which were located in Poland, escaped the surrender. Frederick II of Prussia forced the Saxon regiments, drop the oath of allegiance to Prussia, which at least most of the officers refused. Ten infantry regiments and one Chevaulegerbataillon were provided with Prussian uniforms and placed in the hostile army. However, this was not successful because the majority of the troops deserted. From 1757, most of the "booty-regiments" resolved, only three of whom experienced the war's end. In the same year was in Hungary a Saxon corps under Prince were Franz Xaver von Sachsen, which dealt with only moderate performance in the French federation on the western front. The Saxon troops to Prussia as deserters and should in order to escape harsh punishment in imprisonment, not fight against Prussia. For the unsuccessful integration of the Saxons in the Prussian army in detail see Jany 1967: 370 ff. The pro-Prussian historiography was amazed at the Saxon resistance: "The unfortunate Saxon army wasted its admirable loyalty to dire circumstances, [...]." Bleckwenn 1984: Volume IV, p. 74 </ ref> Prince Xavier, who after the war, administrator for the underaged | was, the army sought to increase again Friedrich August I. (Sachsen) Friedrich August III. and to reform the Prussian model, but failed at the resistance of the estates because of high costs.

Saxons fought in the Fourth Coalition War in 1806 initially on the side of Prussia. In the Battle of Jena and Auerstedt However, the Saxon army, together with the Prussian army defeated.

See also: List of Saxon regiments of the early modern period

The army at the time of the Kingdom of Saxony (1807-1918)

Saxony was then still in 1806 Confederation State and on 20 December 1806 a kingdom of Napoleon graces.

The participation of Saxon troops at Fifth Coalition War in 1809 was against the Empire of Austria the politicians and military leaders at the Dresden court, that some thorough changes were needed. The goal was to build a modern and organized army in the French style, especially since the Saxon Kingallyhigh (so used to the reigning king Friedrich August Napoleon to call it) and more directly to penetrated.

On the basis of an already 1804 neuverbessertem drill book for the infantry (the crux including the rapid march with 90 instead of previous 75 steps per minute was and after the maneuver battles were won as planned by the King's party) and by the excellent French infantry regulations of 1808 elaborated General Lecoq , the Major-Generals Karl Wilhelm Ferdinand von Funck, Karl Friedrich Wilhelm von Gersdorff and Johann Adolf von Thielmann and Colonel Friedrich von Langenau in the spring of 1810, the new Saxon regulations. This was the first May 1810 officially entered into force.

Further changes in the Saxon military reforms:

1. Rejuvenation of the corps
2. Reduction of the surgical staff at the same time improving the Military Medicine being
3. Discontinuation of rifles for officers - instead, service with a drawn enforcement sword
4. Output of flags [] [artillery] at the head of the armory - swearing the only team in the gun
5. Resolution of the interim (1809) erected Battalion Staff
6. Improvement of the military administration of justice - say senior officers in criminal matters - a ban on corporal punishment as a punishment measure
7. Change the uniform of the French model and the introduction of new rifles, bayonets and side arms
8. Training in new combat methods: columns with skirmishers instead of the old, rigid form of Linear Tactics
9. Launch a first drill regulations s for the artillery
10. Instead of advertising in Germany using recruitment, now nationwide recruiting circuit with commissions as a replacement system with a fixed period of service of ten and eight years for the recruits

The Royal Saxon Army learned from this reorganization a boom. In addition, with the reorganization, which ended up to that familiar Company Management. . The new army administration brought totally different conditions, especially in relation to food, clothing and equipment of the troops. The command of the renewed army led nominally by the King. In 1810, Major General by Cerrini was Minister of War, General von Gersdorff General Staff Schefer. As a result of military reform, the Royal Saxon Army was with the beginning of the following units:

• The first Cavalry Division with three brigades, one regiment of Hussars and the [] [Garde du Corps].
• The first Infantry division with two brigades and a regiment of Grenadier Guards,
• The second Infantry division with two brigades and one light infantry brigade.

To these were added:

• Artillery units (horse and foot artillery) and
• Special corps, which were subordinated to the chief of staff. These were:
  • Genius with being an engineer corps of sappers and pontoniers (later the engineer units)
  • Garrison companies such as the semi-invalids from companies not fit for field service, Cadet Corps and the Royal Swiss Guard.

Overall, the army came after the reforms of 1810 to 36-budgetary squadrons of the cavalry with a total of 6577 men, 31 infantry battalions and artillery brigades, together with 24 937 men, and a eximiniertes corps with 266 men, all in all, 31 780 men

On 15 February 1812 made the army for the upcoming Russian campaign Napoleon mobile. The Saxon contingent took as 21 and 22 Division of the VII Army Corps of Grande Armée under the command of the French General of Division Earl Reynier - who always had a heart for his soldiers from Saxony - participated in this campaign. A total of 18 infantry put the Saxons battalion e, 28 Cavalry squadron s, 56 (six-and four-pounder) guns, together, these were 21 200 men and 7,000 horses.

The following liberation war s became the Saxons after the invasion of the Russian-Prussian Allies in the spring of 1813 a theater of war. King Frederick Augustus, who had sent the army into the fortress of Torgau and even fled to Bohemia had succeeded, it does not hide his negotiations for an alliance with Austria against Napoleon. After the defeat of the Allies at Großgörschen and Bautzen and due to the hesitant attitude of Austria he had no choice but to rejoin Napoleon. Thus, the Saxon army was also during the autumn campaign on the French side. In the Battle of Leipzig on the third day of battle was a major part of the Saxon contingent to the Allies, Friedrich August was taken prisoner. By Johann Adolf von Thielmann Saxon army was reorganized in 1814 participated in the occupation of the Netherlands. The adopted at the Congress of Vienna in favor of division of Saxony by Prussia deprived the country next to a large portion of its population and parts of his army, the Prussians were slammed shut. Protests of the troupe, however, were violently suppressed. The scaled-1815 Saxon Corps took part in the campaign under Allied command in the Upper Rhine.

In Armed Forces of the German Saxons turned to the Federal Constitutional War of 9 April 1821 Austria, Prussia and Bavaria, the fourth-largest contingent, which together with the quotas Hesse-Cassel and Nassau, the mixed IX. Army Corps was formed.

During mobilization at the beginning of the Prussian War in 1866 was about 32,000-strong army and gathered in Dresden | election Albert (of Saxony) Crown Prince Albert to Commander. After the declaration of war passed the Prussian army on 16 July 1866, the border with Strehla and Löbau. Saxony unsuccessfully called the army and Austria for support and pulled back because of the military situation, his troops into Bohemia. In Saxony, was a so-called National Commission. In Bohemia, the army took part in the Battle of Gitschin and the decisive Battle of Hradec Kralove, where they shared the complete defeat of Austria.

After the Nikolsburger peace of 26 July 1866 Saxony joined the North German Confederation at. According to the Military Convention of 7 February 1867 it presented a closed Army Corps, the . XII, the federal government and handed over the Fortress Königstein of Prussia. The Kingdom of Saxony took following the 1870 German-Prussian War in part on the side of Prussia. Saxon troops fought herein with other successful at Gravelotte, Sedan and Villiers. The successful general, Prince Albert, who took over after the battle of the newly formed Gravelotte Meuse, was after the war ended with the appointment to the Prussian Field Marshal and Inspector General of the I. Army Inspectorate honored, the Saxon Minister of War Alfred was by Fabrice was appointed governor-general of Versailles. Saxony also financially benefited from the campaign: his share of the French reparations flowed in part in the construction of Albert City, a modern complex of barracks in Dresden.

Even after the Founding of the German Empire on 18 January 1871 remained in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles, the Kingdom of Saxony in military matters, its limited autonomy under the Convention of 1867. It retained, despite certain jurisdictional disputes in the postwar period, a separate Ministry of War, his staff and his officers' academy. The Saxon army was in the German army continue to XII. (Royal Saxon) Army Corps, based in Dresden, consisting of the 23rd 1 and 2 Division. In 1889, the Saxon Corps 32nd to a 3 Division, and in 1899 was extended after the establishment of a 4 Division, the formation of a second General Command, based in Leipzig, the number . XIX received. Saxon troops also provided a share of the occupation forces in the Kingdom of Alsace-Lorraine ( XV Corps). The brother of the now King Albert Prince George was (1888) to the Prussian Field Marshal and Inspector General of an Army Inspectorate (the II in Dresden appointed), he was thus a candidate to take over command of an army in wartime.

Of technical troops until the First World War came to Saxon Army:

• 2 Königl. Battalion of the Royal Saxon. Prussian Railway Regiment 1
• Royal. Saxon fortress Telephonic Company No. 7
• 3 Königl. Saxon Airship Company of the Battalion 2
• 3 Königl. Saxon Company of Battalion No. 1 Flyer
• Royal. Saxon Detachment of the 2nd Company of the battalion motor vehicles
• Royal. Detachment at the Royal Prussian Saxony Traffic Technical Examination

World War I === === In the First World War, the two Saxon Army Corps, and the Saxon XII. Reserve Corps as part of the 3 Army mobilized their command of the former Saxon War Minister, Colonel-General Max von Hausen took over. A little later, a XXVII. Placed (Saxon-Wuerttemberg) Reserve Corps, to the 4 Army came in Flanders. During the advance was by Belgium on 23 August 1914 674 residents of the city südbelgischen Dinant Saxon troops from the 3rd Army for alleged guerrilla killed an. A monument in the city commemorates the plight of these people. 2001 recognized the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany their moral obligation to apologize formally to the descendants of former victims.

The Saxon troops were mostly at the Western Front used, the initially existing use in the army closed dressing was given up soon. As the war progressed, it came through the necessary additions and recomposed to increasing the quotas for mixing with the other German states. Sent a total of about 750,000 soldiers in the Saxon war, not of which about 229 000 return.

Army organization

Outline of the Saxon infantry in 1810

regiment	garrison	-	Grenadier Guards	Dresden	-	1 Line Infantry Regiment Royal	Dresden and Großenhain	-	2 Line Infantry Regiment vacant Niesemeuschel	Dresden and Großenhain	-	3 Line Infantry Regiment Prince Anton	Bautzen, Görlitz and Sorau	-	4 Line Infantry Regiment vacant Low	Luckau Guben and Sorau	-	5 Line Infantry Regiment Prinz Maximilian	Chemnitz, chub and Freiberg	-	6 Line Infantry Regiment vacant rights	Zwickau, Neustädtel and Sorau	-	7 Line Infantry Regiment Prince Friedrich August	Torgau, Wittenberg and Oschatz	-	8 Line Infantry Regiment Prinz Clemens	Leipzig, and Wittenberg Eilenburg	-	1 Light Infantry Regiment	Weißenfels Zeitz and	-	2 Light Infantry Regiment	Naumburg, and Merseburg	-	Rifle Corps	Eckartsberga	-

Outline of the Saxon infantry in 1810

- Class = "hintergrundfarbe6"	Regiment	Garrison	-	Grenadier Guards	Dresden	-	1 Line Infantry Regiment Royal	Dresden and Großenhain	-	2 Line Infantry Regiment vacant Niesemeuschel	Dresden and Großenhain	-	3 Line Infantry Regiment Prince Anton	Bautzen, Görlitz and Sorau	-	4 Line Infantry Regiment vacant Low	Luckau Guben and Sorau	-	5 Line Infantry Regiment Prinz Maximilian	Chemnitz, chub and Freiberg	-	6 Line Infantry Regiment vacant rights	Zwickau, Neustädtel and Sorau	-	7 Line Infantry Regiment Prince Friedrich August	Torgau, Wittenberg and Oschatz	-	8 Line Infantry Regiment Prinz Clemens	Leipzig, and Wittenberg Eilenburg	-	1 Light Infantry Regiment	Weißenfels Zeitz and	-	2 Light Infantry Regiment	Naumburg, and Merseburg	-	Rifle Corps	Eckartsberga	-

Outline of the Saxon cavalry in 1810

- Class = "hintergrundfarbe6"	Regiment	Garrison	-	Garde du Corps	Dresden, Dippoldiswalde Pirna and Radeberg	-	Leibkürassiergarde	Oederan . Frankenberg, Marie Berg and Penig	-	Cuirassiers von Zastrow	Grimsby, Borna, Geithain and Rochlitz	-	Hussar Regiment	Cölleda Old Cities Artern Bretleben Bottendorf Heldrungen, Langensalza, Roßleben, Beautiful Hoyerswerda Schönfeld and Wiehe	-	Chevauxlegers-Regiment Prinz Clemens	Pegau Lützen Schkeuditz and Zwenkau	-	Chevauxlegers Regiment vacant Polenz	Querfurt h Freyburg Schafstädt and Sangerhausen	-	Chevauxlegers Regiment Prinz Johann	mill mountain, Duben Kemberg and Schmiedeberg	-	Chevauxlegers Regiment Prinz Albrecht	Lubben Cottbus and Lübbenau	-