"Saxons in ealry WAS" Topic

Hi all

I need some help with the early Saxon participation in the war of Austrian Succesion (1741 phase)

I know that they invaded Bohemia. My question is did they engage in any actions or battles against the Austrians?

How many troops were lost to such actions if they took part, or if no actions took aprt, how many due to disease etc?

With source citations if possible.

Thank you
KTravlos

Schuster, O Geschichte der Sachsischen Armee (3 volumes)

Austria Kriegsarchiv Österreichischer Erbfolge-krieg 1740-1748 (9 volumes and atlas)

Grossen Generalstab Der Erste Schlesische Krieg 1740-1742 maps LTR 1989 1893

Schuster, O Geschichte der Sachsischen Armee (3 volumes)

Austria Kriegsarchiv Österreichischer Erbfolge-krieg 1740-1748 (9 volumes and atlas)

Grossen Generalstab Der Erste Schlesische Krieg 1740-1742 1893 (2 vol)(Reprint by LTR 1989)and map atlas
Grossen Generalstabe Der Zweite Schlesische Krieg 1744-1745 1895(3 vol)(Reprint LTR 1989)

The text of most of the above are on Google, but lack maps and fold out appendices.
Interlibrary loan would work
I have originals so they are also on rare/used book market.

Thanks!

Nice Ken, but did they fight in any battles?

Dear KTravlos
You will find details in my new book.

Stephen Summerfield (2012)Saxon Army of the Austrian War of Succession and the Seven Years War: Uniforms, Organisation and Equipment, Ken Trotman Publishing.
ISBN No.: 978-1-907417-26-9

link

This is the first detailed record of the uniforms, equipment, flags, horse furniture and campaign history for the Saxon Army 1740-63. Drawing from a multitude of sources, Stephen Summerfield has created the most complete study ever attempted, making this a valuable companion to his best selling volumes on the Austrian Army of the Seven Years War and his Saxon Artillery 1733-1827.

The Saxons enjoyed a fascinating but checkered career in the War of the Austrian Succession, disastrously changing sides from Prussia to Austria. Despite most of the army being captured in Pirna at the start of the Seven Years War (1756-63), the Saxons raised an Auxiliary Corps of 10,000 infantry that fought bravely under French pay and their magnificent light cavalry (Chevauleger and Ulan) that fought with the Austrians. As with his Austrian volumes, Stephen deals with the army unit by unit: Guard, Infantry, Grenadier, Cuirassier, Chevauleger, Dragoon, Hussar and Polish Ulan regiments including a record of their Colonels-in-Chief.

The work draws upon most of the major sources on Saxon uniforms of the Seven Years War. The 450+ colour illustrations include 215 of uniforms after Brauer, Knötel, Eichhorn, and Trache plus 66 flags/standards, 65 uniform/equipment details, 15 OOBs and 30 Tables.

In addition, this new volume provides a detailed study and plans of the advanced Saxon Geschwindstück [quick fire guns.] with drawings by Christian Rogge. These could fire canister at up to 6-9 rounds per minute. The Saxons used 3-pdrs Geschwindstück in the WAS and 6-pdrs Geschwindstück in the 7YW. Interestingly the Prussians also used captured pieces.

Stephen

Thanks guys, but as Der Alte Fritz says I am primarily looking for info on any operations. I know they where part of the Franco-Bavarian's at the "storming" of Prague (according to Browing). Just wondering if they did anything else before they got out of the anti-austrian phase of the war.

@Stephen- Interesting info!

The sources I listed give all campaigns and battle narrative along with maps and ob's.
I assume you have Duffy's Army of Frederick the Great for an overview of the Bohemian and Saxony campaigns in 1745.
As to 1741, not so much…. 5 Nov 1741 Saxon Army left Dresden in 4 columns arrived at Prague 23-24 Nov in time for siege and storming wherein 4 Saxon Gren Bn's distinguished themselves (lost approx 50 men). 30 Nov marched back to winter quarters. On 24 Dec a few Saxons fought a skirmish with 2000 Austrians at Rejepin losing 2 men. Early next year Saxons participated in the Siege of Brünn. Full OB's etc.. are in the sources I cited.

All uniform information is avaiable on the free SYW site or Pengel Book.

Dear Travlos
Please note that there were considerable changed after the War of Austrian Succession in the Uniforms and the army was reduced considerably especially the cavalry.

You cannot use specific Seven Years War references to paint the army.

CAVALRY
1741
2 Guard Cavalry Regiments
8 Cuirassier
4 Dragoon in white with yellow, green, light blue and red facings.
2 Chevauleger [CL1 Green with red turnbacks & waistcoats, CL2 Grey with light blue facings.]
The Black Ulan Pulk

1742
CL4 raised [red with black facings]
Red and Yellow Ulan Pulks raised

1745
CL3 raised [Grey with black facings changed to green facings in 1753]
Now 6 Ulan Pulks

1748
The 8 cuirassier and 4 Dragoon regiments were consolidated to just 6 cuirassier regiments.
3 Ulan Pulks disbanded

1756
2 Guard Cavalry Regiments
6 Cuirassier
4 Chevauleger
3 Ulan [1 remained in Poland]

INFANTRY
1740
9 IR

1741
10 IR
1 Fus Regt

1742
12 IR
1 Fus Regt

1748
3 IR disbanded

1753-56
9 IR
1 Fus Regt.

There was apart from the differences above considerable differences in the facing colours. All this is in my book and probably more understandable.

Stephen

Did a quick and dirty google library search and dropped upon
Friedrich Graf von Beust, "Feldzüge der kursächsischen Armee", vol III, Camburg 1803. Not so bad a read. Saxons formed an army of approx. 20.000 men under count Rutowski near Eilenburg and Torgau beginning of May 1741. Here it remained until Franco Bavarian army invaded Bohemia. Saxony took her chance and joined in. Nov. 5 and 6 it entered Bohemia in 4 columns, taking pretty much the same route Frederick took in 1757. Arrived in camp of Horomiercziz 22 Nov. on the left of French Corps under general Gassion, marquis. Sax. siege train got stuck in Budin 60 miles behind for peasants refused to provide horses. First action attack on Prague 26 Nov. Here pp.68 ff. general Weißenbach and genie capt. Horst killed here. Aside from them 19 more killed and 43 wounded. Prague was captured, by the way, so I'd say they won this one.
Hope this helps,
Christian

Hope this helps

Thank you sirs! That was exactly what I needed!

Dear Christian
Thanks for that.
Stephen

The Saxons in this period had several uniform regulations or new coat issues, that were very slow in being enforced. They were 1734, 1742, 1744, 1753, 1756.
The army was probably dressed in their new 1744 coats for the 1745 campaign. The 1745 did not differ very much from 1741, but since they did not fight in 1741, I'd go with the 1745. In 1756, the difference from 1745 was:
IR16 changed facings and vests from orange/yellow to dark blue. IR26 changed from lt green to yellow with tin buttons. Leibgarde, IR25 and IR27 added lapels.
In 1745 the hv cavalry facings and collars were:
K4 blue
K5 blue
K10 lt yellow
K16 red
K17 yellow
K18 green
K23 dk blue
D25 lt red

I thought the question was upon units relevent to 1741-42 and in consequence their uniforms.
Stephen