Historical Reenactment and Rhine-Crossing at Kaub, 10 March 2001

Feldmarschall Blücher and men of the Prussian Leib-Infanterie-Regiments rest after their reenactment of the Rhine crossing at Kaub.

Feldmarschall Blücher and soldiers of the Prussian Leib-Infanterie-Regiments wait for the car ferry to return them to Kaub following their reenactment of the Rhine river crossing. The Rheinpfalz castle can be seen in the background, it rests on the sandbank from which the second section of the pontoon bridge was thrown across the Rhine. The Prussian Leib-Infanterie-Regiment crossed the pontoon bridge on 2 January 1814. At 2:30 a.m. the previous day, infantry of the Prussian Avantgarde had begun crossing the Rhine in river barges to establish a bridgehead on the left bank. By 4:00 p.m. that day, 18 battalions were already across. Infantry of the 1st Prussian brigade crossed at 7:30 p.m. that night, followed by the infantry of the 2nd Prussian brigade. The pontoon bridge was completed at 9:00 a.m. on 2 January, and the ferry service could be temporarily interrupted.

Reenactment Units

  • Preußisches Leib-Infanterie-Regiment (Nr. 8)
  • Hessisches Leib-Garde-Regiment

Rhine-Crossing at Kaub

Prussians and Hessians in front of the Blüchermuseum, Metzergasse in Kaub.

Prussians and Hessians in front of the Blüchermuseum, Metzergasse in Kaub

March to the Exerzierplatz drill ground.

March to the Exerzierplatz drill ground

Blücherstraße in Kaub is very steep, and there are several historic Taverns along it.

Blücherstraße in Kaub is very steep, and there are several historic Taverns along it.

Vineyards along the road to Weisel.

Vineyards along the road to Weisel.

Unteroffizier of the Leib-Regiment drilling his men.

Unteroffizier of the Leib-Regiment drilling his men

Zur Mittagspause weggetreten – lunch break.

Zur Mittagspause weggetreten – lunch break

Freiwillige Jäger volunteer light infantry skirmishing in front of the Leib-Regiment.

Freiwillige Jäger volunteer light infantry skirmishing in front of the Leib-Regiment

Unusual, but typically Prussian drill for the final phase of a bayonet charge.

Unusual, but typically Prussian drill for the final phase of a bayonet charge

March past the Blücherdenkmal.

March past the Blücherdenkmal

The ramp leading to the car ferry at Kaub.

The ramp leading to the car ferry at Kaub

On board the car ferry, looking south, Rheinpfalz castle in the background.

On board the car ferry, looking south, Rheinpfalz castle in the background

In the middle of the river, looking north.

In the middle of the river, looking north

Approach march to the Gedenkstein monument on the left bank of the Rhine.

Approach march to the Gedenkstein monument on the left bank of the Rhine

Prussians and Hessians at attention in front of the Gedenkstein.

Prussians and Hessians at attention in front of the Gedenkstein

Feldmarschall Blücher and his men waiting for the car ferry.

Feldmarschall Blücher and his men waiting for the car ferry

Furling the colours of the Leib-Infanterie-Regiment.

Furling the colours of the Leib-Infanterie-Regiment

Military Miniatures Photo-CD

Military Miniatures Magazine was there to cover the Rhine crossing on 10 March 2001. We took over 400 photos, of which the best 143 shots were selected for our Photo-CD of the event. These high-resolution photos in .jpg-format may be edited on any PC or Mac, and they may be printed on high-quality photo paper at your local photo shop.

Blücher’s Rhine-Crossing at Kaub