Inhaber
1756 Prinz Bischof v. Würzburg
Unit History
The unit was the sister regiment to the Rote-Würzburg which had red (Rote) facings. The regiment was formed from a cadre of 500 men of the pre-war Kolb Regiment. This cadre was formed into the first battalion w
hile the second battalion had to be raised entirely from scratch. The Rote-Würzburg joined the Austrian field armies in March 1757 while the Blaue regiment was diverted to counter the threat of a Prussian raid on Franconia in May 1757 and so accompanied the Imperial army on its march towards Saxony. Both regiments thus shared the respective fates of the forces to which they were attached. The Rote regiment losing 24 officers and 755 men killed or captured during its defence of the churchyard at Leuthen while the Blaue regiment suffered 291 casualties and prisoners at Rossbach when it fled along with the Kurtrier regiment. The unit was considered to be of fair quality by the French general Soubise.
In 1758, the second battalion was in Eger in Bohemia, while the other continued to be part of the nominal Austrian contingent with the Reichsarmee. The unit fought along side the Hohenzollern Cuirassiers at Meilrichstadt along the Rhine.
In August 1759, most of the first battalion was captured, prompting the Austrians to release the other battalion to the Rote Regiment that had continued to serve with the main Austrian army (1758-59) and had been present at the battles of Leuthen (famously defending the churchyard) and Hochkirch.
The heavy losses placed an increasing strain on Würzburg's limited resources, and the Bishop of Würzburg began pressing the Austrians to amalgamate the two regiments into a single regiment entitled Kaiserliche Würzburg. While one battalion remained in Eger as a depot, the other two battalions served with the Austro-imperial army operating in Saxony in 1761 and 1762. These battalions were present at the battle of Freiberg.
Late in 1762 the field elements were sent to the Austrian Netherlands (modern day Belgium and Luxembourg) as part of a vain effort to seize Prussian territory in Westphalia. However, the Peace of Hubertusburg put an end to all such attempts and the regiment was formally discharged from service on February 24, 1763.
Comments
I enjoyed creating the speculative flags for the unit. The eagle is an imperial (Hapsburg) eagle which the coat of arms of the city. The outer fringe is based on the Austrian pattern of waves in alternating colours. The colours themselves are based on the coat and lapel colours of the uniform. Unit painted in 2003.
Sources
Text: P. Wilson, Wurzburg and Bamberg in the Seven Years War, Seven Years War Association Journal Vol. IX No.2 Speculative Regimental then Leib flag 
Inhaber
1756 Wildenstein, 1757 Gudenus, 1758 v. Brencken
Unit History
The regiment was formed by the Elector Johann Friedrich Carl v. Mainz who was, as Primate of the Empire, an enemy of the King of Prussia and the evangelical church. One battalion was taken into Austrian service in November 1756. The troops with Austria were badly mauled at Prague (May 6 1757) but still rated as good at Hochkirch and Rossbach. At Rossbach, the battalions were detached near Kosen on the river Saale. The unit was considered to be of fair quality by the French general Soubise. From 1758, the unit was in Prinz von Zweibrücken's corps. It spent 1760 to 1762 in Saxony consolidating the Austrian control of the region.
At Freiburg, October 1762, the unit, brigaded under Rosenfeld with Kurtrier, was on the right centre. The brigade collapsed under the concentrated Prussian attack, even though the Reichsarmee was protected by temporary field works.
After Maxen and Torgau, the unit had a poor reputation as raw Catholic recruits had replaced the original experienced Haustruppen. At best a regular unit prior to 1758 but later at par with Militia. Unit dissolved in the late 18th century.
Comments
I enjoyed creating the speculative flags for the unit. The eagle is an imperial (Hapsburg) eagle which the coat of arms of the city. The colours themselves are based on the coat and lapel colours of the uniform and follow the pattern of other Reichsarmee units from the Kurrheinisches Kreis. I painted the unit after being inspired by a visit to Mainz-Kastel (a small garrison located across the river from Mainz). A very interesting garrison that suffered from its location in a swamp – very high mortality rates due to mosquito bourn illnesses. Unit painted in 2003.
Sources
Pengel & Hurt, The Reichsarmee: Organization, Flags & Uniforms 1756 to 1762, Imperial Press
Speculative Regimental
Inhaber
1756 v. Coll, 1759 v. Brackel
Unit History
The regiment was formed from the only two weak regiments that Trier possessed. The unit was considered to be of poor quality by the French general Soubise. Mobilized in 1757 and assigned to the corps commanded by von Hildburghausen. It was brigaded in the corps with the Kurpfalz Garde under von Rosenfeld in August 1757. At Rossbach, brigaded under Varell and fled the battle along with the 'Blaue Würzburg. Just prior to the batlle, the regiment was classified as poor by the French General Soubise. From 1758 to 1762, the regiment served in Prinz von Zweibrücken's corps.
At Freiburg, October 1762, the unit, brigaded under Rosenfeld with Kurmainz, 
was on the right centre. The brigade collapsed under the concentrated Prussian attack even though a portion of the force was protected by temporary field works.
The unit was filled with Catholic recruits. It is generally considered at par with Garrison troops, or Militia, as was most of the Reichsarmee. The regiment, like many other Lower Rhine state regiments, disappeared at the turn of the 18th century.
Comments
This was one of the first regiments in my collection and originally painted as one of the French regiments. The figures are early Front Rank and are slimmer but not as well sculpted as the later figures released. When I purchased the Dixon French, I decided to convert the original Front Rank unit to a Reichsarmee unit and chose Kurtrier as it involved little repainting. Unit painted in the late 1980’s.
Sources
Flag: Warflag at http://www.warflag.com/Text: Pengel & Hurt, The Reichsarmee: Organization, Flags & Uniforms 1756 to 1762, Imperial Press
Inhaber
1746 Graf v. Hesse-Darmstadt
Unit History
Formed from a small, well-equipped army organized and trained on Prussian lines. The Inhaber was originally Louis VIII, Landgraf of Hesse-Darmstadt, who was loyal to Austria. His successor, Louis IX, served under Frederick the Great. The unit was commanded by Oberst Stutzer from 1753 to 1766. It used primarily Protestant recruits and was considered one of the best units of the Reichsarmee although still only a regular unit. The unit was considered to be of good quality by the French general Soubise.
Mobilized in 1757 and assigned to the corps commanded by von Hildburghausen. 
It was brigaded in the corps with the Varell regiment under von Stolberg in August 1757. At Rossbach, November 1757, it was brigaded with Blaue-Würzburg under Hollenstein and distinguished itself by covering the flight of the Imperial Army. It was stationed in Leipzig in the summer of 1759. At Maxen, November 1759, the unit was brigaded under von Stolberg and blocked the Prussian route of retreat from Maxen. From 1758 to 1762, the regiment served in Prinz von Zweibrücken's corps in Saxony.
The regiment later formed part of the 15th Reichswehr Infantry regiment.Comments
This is my favourite Reichsarmee unit. I used to visit Darmstadt regularly when meeting a friend and somehow thinking that many of the men would have been pulled off the streets of the old city left an impression. I also like the colours of the unit that seem much more 19th century from its pattern. These troops occasionally masquerade as Hessians serving along with the Anglo-Prussian forces and look very much like the Hessian Mansbach regiment. Unit painted in 2003.
Sources
Flag: Warflag at http://www.warflag.com/Image: Knötel at http://www.grosser-generalstab.de/Text: Pengel & Hurt, The Reichsarmee: Organization, Flags & Uniforms 1756 to 1762, Imperial Press
InhaberUnknownUnit History
The Cuirassier regiment was formed from two squadrons of Prinz Frederich Cuirassiers and one of the Oberrheinisches Kreis. The unit had the best rating of all the Reichsarmee cuirassiers but their horses were regarded as mediocre. The Sturm card reference shows the uniform of one of the Prinz Frederich squadrons and forms the basis of the uniform painted for the unit. 
During the early mobilization, the unit was part of the first corps under GFM von Hildburghausen.
At Rossbach, November 1757, the unit was on the right flank along with the Hohenzollern Cuirassiers, the Austrian Bretlach Cuirassiers (No.29) and Trautmannsdorf Cuirassiers (No. 21). These units formed the advance guard which tried to stem the initial charge from Seydlitz’s cavalry corps. This corps included the Prussian cuirassier regiments Gensd'Armes (No. 10) and the Gardes du Corps (No. 13).
From 1758 to 1760, the unit was in the corps commanded by GFM Prince von Zweibrücken.
Prior to being dissolved in 1918, the unit formed the basis of the 4th Bavarian Chevauleger regiment of the Reichswehr.
Comments
The Reichsarmee from the Kurrheinisches Kreis needed a bit of additional support and stiffening and so they received the best cavalry they could get – which historically was not much. The banner is speculative and uses the Pfalz lion rampart in a circle of laurel leaves much like the Hohenzollern cuirassiers. The key differentiator between this regiment and the Hohenzollern is the lack of a hat trim rather than the white trim of the Hohenzollern. Unit painted in February 2006.
Sources
Pengel & Hurt, The Reichsarmee: Organization, Flags & Uniforms 1756 to 1762, Imperial Press
InhaberUnknownUnit History
The Cuirassier regiment was recruited from Catholics 
and had sixty different contingents in its command. Clearly, the poor quality reflected the diverse mix of troopers. According to the French general Soubise, the cavalry was barely able to follow simple orders and contributed to the disaster at Rossbach.
During the early mobilization, the unit was part of the second corps under Markgraf von Baden-Durlach. Later at Rossbach, November 1757, the unit was on the right flank along with the Kurpfalz Cuirassiers and the Austrian Bretlach Cuirassiers (No. 29). These units formed the advance guard which took the initial charge from Seydlitz’s cavalry corps and quickly fled.
From 1758 to 1760, the unit was in the corps commanded by GFM Prince von Zweibrücken and did not see significant action.
As with many Reichsarmee units, this regiment dissolved at the end of the 18th century.
Comments
With the Austrians suffering from a lack of heavy cavalry and the surprise gift of a few Prussian cuirassier figures from a good war-gaming friend, Robert Swan, I decided to give the Reichsarmee a bit of additional support and stiffening. Not that the quality of the cuirassiers is overwhelming but the two Reichsarmee cuirassiers squadrons (Kurplafz and Hohenzollern) bearing down on ones troops does inspire just a little bit of respect. This is the last cavalry unit painted for my SYW collection and was done in March 2006.
Sources
Flag: Warflag at http://www.warflag.com/Text: Pengel & Hurt, The Reichsarmee: Organization, Flags & Uniforms 1756 to 1762, Imperial Press
Inhaber
Unknown
Unit History
The Reichsarmee artillery was a mix of diverse groups whose military experience varied tremendously and the artillerymen wore a wide variety of uniforms.
Comments
The surprise gift of troops from a good war-gaming friend, Robert Swan, I decided to give the Reichsarmee a bit of additional support and stiffening by adding the Prussian artillerymen in a variety of uniforms as Reichsarmee. Mind you, I did not give them very powerful guns but only a mix of howitzers and battalion guns.
Sources
Pengel & Hurt, The Reichsarmee: Organization, Flags & Uniforms 1756 to 1762, Imperial Press
hile the second battalion had to be raised entirely from scratch. The Rote-Würzburg joined the Austrian field armies in March 1757 while the Blaue regiment was diverted to counter the threat of a Prussian raid on Franconia in May 1757 and so accompanied the Imperial army on its march towards Saxony. Both regiments thus shared the respective fates of the forces to which they were attached. The Rote regiment losing 24 officers and 755 men killed or captured during its defence of the churchyard at Leuthen while the Blaue regiment suffered 291 casualties and prisoners at Rossbach when it fled along with the Kurtrier regiment. The unit was considered to be of fair quality by the French general Soubise.
