Wuerttemberg Infantry Regiment von Spitznatz, 1756–1763

Wuerttemberg Infantry Regiment von Spitznatz of the Seven Years’ War, 1756–1763.

The owner of the regiment, Generalfeldmarschall-Leutnant von Spitznatz, commanded the two Wuerttemberg infantry brigades von Romann and von Roeder at the Battle of Leuthen, 5 December 1757. To avoid confusion with similarly uniformed Prussian troops, the Wuerttemberg grenadiers wore white cloth covers over their Prussian style grenadier caps. The three converged grenadier battalions von Pleß, von Georgi, and von Klettenburg covered the withdrawal of the left flank of the imperial army at Leuthen.

In 1758, General-Major von Romann became the new owner of the regiment which was now named Infanterie-Regiment von Romann. Johann Kaspar Schiller, father of German poet Johann Christoph Friedrich Schiller, was promoted lieutenant of Infanterie-Regiment von Romann in 1759. It is likely that his mentor and newly appointed commander of the regiment, colonel Christoph Friedrich von Gabelenz, had seen to it that Johann Kaspar Schiller was offered the vacant post. Colonel von Gabelenz later became the godfather of Christoph Friedrich Schiller, who was born on 11 November 1759 at Marbach.

In 1761, ownership of the regiment changed once again. The regiment was now called Infanterie-Regiment Prinz Friedrich Wilhelm von Württemberg.

Proprietor

  • G.F.M.Lt. von Spitznatz, 1752–1758
  • G.M. von Romann, 1758–1761
  • Prinz Friedrich Wilhelm von Württemberg, 1761–1762
  • Generalmajor von Gabelenz, 1762 – 1784

Commanding Officer

  • Oberstleutnant Hellmuth Dietrich von Plessen, 1752–1756
  • Oberst Franz Leopold von Larisch, 1756–1759
  • Oberst Christoph Friedrich von Gabelenz, 1759–1762
  • Oberst Gottfried Ludwig von Bilfinger, 1762–1764

Garrisons

  • Breisach im Breisgau, 1752–1758
  • Festung Hohenasperg, 1758–1761
  • Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt, 1761 – 1784

Organisation

  • Regimentsstab (regimental staff)
    • 1. Grenadier-Kompanie
    • 2. Grenadier-Kompanie
    • 1. Kompanie (Leibkompanie)
    • 2. Kompanie
    • 3. Kompanie
    • 4. Kompanie
    • 5. Kompanie
    • 6. Kompanie
    • 7. Kompanie
    • 8. Kompanie
    • 9. Kompanie
    • 10. Kompanie
    • two 3-pfünder Bataillonsgeschütze (battalion guns)

Illustrations

Uniform

  • dark blue coat of Prussian cut, with yellow buttons
  • red collar
  • red lapels with 3 × 2 yellow buttons,
    2 buttons below right lapel and two buttonholes below left lapel
  • red cuffs with 2 buttons
  • red turnbacks
  • red shoulderstrap on left
  • black stock
  • white Kamisol with yellow buttons
  • white breeches
  • black gaiters with yellow buttons
  • black tricorne hat with yellow border and black/yellow? pompom
  • Prussian style grenadier mitre cap with brass plate

Campaign History

  • Silesian Campaign, 1757
  • Siege of Schweidnitz, 1757
  • Battle of Breslau, 1757
  • Battle of Leuthen, 1757
  • Hessian Campaigns, 1758–1759
  • Engagement at Lutterberg, 1758
  • Engagement at Lauterbach, 1758
  • Silesian Campaign, 1760
  • Siege of Wittenberg, 1760

Lineage

  • 3. Württembergisches Infanterie-Regiment Alt-Württemberg Nr. 121, 1902
  • 13. (1. Württembergisches) Infanterie-Regiment, 6. und 8. Kompanie, 1921

The colour of pompoms and grenadier caps cannot be determined at this time, for lack of suitable illustrations of Infanterie-Regiments von Spitznatz.

The Army of Württemberg, 1756–1763