"Best German Units in the Wars of German Unification?" Topic
9 Posts
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OldReliable1862 | 09 Mar 2020 6:56 p.m. PST |
The various nations involved in the Wars of German Unification each had their elite and hard-fighting units, but I wanted to see what everyone here considered the best of the bunch. For Prussia, I would say the elite Prussian Guard Corps certainly deserve a mention; their charge at St. Privat managed to succeed, despite heavy casualties and dogged French resistance. Overall, I think I'd say the III Corps from Brandenburg, under Constantin von Alvensleben, was probably the best, however. |
Perris0707 | 09 Mar 2020 7:13 p.m. PST |
The French Zouave and Turco regiments were the best of the French. |
Bargain Bin DM | 09 Mar 2020 7:29 p.m. PST |
..for the Austrians their jaegers, when allowed to fight as trained marksmen!.. |
Incavart77 | 09 Mar 2020 7:54 p.m. PST |
I do not know how you mean the best because a unit's morale can vary from moment to moment but always loved the Bavarians for their uniforms. |
OldReliable1862 | 09 Mar 2020 11:39 p.m. PST |
I do not know how you mean the best because a unit's morale can vary from moment to moment but always loved the Bavarians for their uniforms. You're certainly correct, but I think it's also true that certain units tended to have consistently higher morale than others. Part of it is luck, of course – the fighting at St. Privat was a near-run thing, but I think it is true that that some units just tended to get the job done more often than others. |
Holdfast | 10 Mar 2020 2:24 p.m. PST |
Surprised with the reference to the Bavarians. They were pretty sticky in 1870 and managed to be discomforted in 1871. I would go for the Saxons, who pulled the Prussian Guard chestnuts out of the fire at St Privat. |
ChrisBBB2 | 11 Mar 2020 4:12 a.m. PST |
For the German army in 1870, I agree it's hard to look any further than Alvensleben's III Corps. Not only was it the rock that the French army foundered on at Mars-la-Tour, it was at the forefront again right at the end in the final battle at Le Mans. Chris Bloody Big BATTLES! groups.io/g/bloodybigbattles bloodybigbattles.blogspot.com link |
All Sir Garnett | 11 Mar 2020 8:23 a.m. PST |
Hanoverians at Langensalza |
OldReliable1862 | 14 Mar 2020 2:04 a.m. PST |
For the German army in 1870, I agree it's hard to look any further than Alvensleben's III Corps. Not only was it the rock that the French army foundered on at Mars-la-Tour, it was at the forefront again right at the end in the final battle at Le Mans. While I definitely agree, I'd also like to give a shoutout to the Prussian artillery as a whole in 1870-71. For the III Corps, I'd say Constantin von Alvensleben's leadership was also greatly important. In a list of the best German corps commanders in the Wars of German Unification, he certainly belongs, along with Von der Tann and others. |
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