"Please show us painted Frankfurt Battalion in 28mm" Topic

I do not recall ever seeing the Frankfurt battalion in 28mm, dress uniform, on the Miniatures Page. They went into Spain as part of the IV Corps in the "German" Division:

2nd Nassau, 2 battalions;
4th Baden regiment, 2 battalions
some Hessian guns

1st Battalion, 2nd Dutch and 2nd Battalion, 4th Dutch
Company of Dutch engineers
Dutch Horse battery

Hessen Darmstadt, Gros und Erb Prinz rergiment, 2 battalions.
The Frankfurt Battalion.
(the Garde de Paris composite battalion in both scarlet and green uniforms was with them).
Some Hessian guns.

If you're working on Frankfurt, please post whatever you find on their flags. That's always been quite a mystery.

Here's my Baden unit from my Peninsular French Forces.

Hello, Exeter: I do not know of a correct colour for the Frankfurt battalion, but would prefer to use the modern heraldry of the city, rather than "the wheel." I have not done figures for the unit, but once toyed with using Front Rank figures.

All companies of the Frankfurt unit had short sword and bayonets on a single crossbelt. Young Guard Tirailleurs (no "hair brush" epaulettes) for the center companies, and Young Guard Voltigeurs (with epaulettes), skirmishing for the voltigeurs; and advancing low port and high port for the grenadiers.

Has anyone ever attempted to use these Front Rank figures? I did not like the bulk of the figures, compared to my basic Stadden 30mm figures from the 1970's.

GdeP

Hello, Tas1812: Who makes the Baden figures? They look great! The helmets look exactly correct!

Years ago, Hourtoulle published 2 plates on the Badens. One with a unit fighting in a village, wearing short-tailed coats. The other was in all four regiments, but with long-tailed coats, much like the French of the day. In the 1970's, I converted a head made by Willy (30mm) to look just like the heads on your figures, but with a plume on the left side. I put it onto a Stadden 30mm Old Guard Grenadier. Made a mold in rubber, used 6 for Grenadiers (white plumes?) and 6 for flankers (green plumes); then cut away the plumes, and scraped off the epaulettes to make the four center companies. I used a Stadden Austrian grenadier officer, but with "green stuff" bicorn; and an Old Guard eagle bearer by Stadden, and with the Baden grenadier head; as well as an Old Guard Stadden Drummer with a Baden fusilier head, red french-style swallows nests; and white chevron lace on the sleeves.

The 4th Baden was sent to Spain, with a golden yellow cross colour. The troops in Hourtoulle had red lapels collars and cuffs with no edging. The were organized as for the French, with 2 battalions of one grenadier company, one flanker or voltigeur company, and four fusilier companies.

Such were the actions we had to take for lack of correct figures. We are far more lucky now to have so many sources.
GdeP

Capitaine Sauzey "Les Allemands sous les aigles Francaise Volume 1 – Regiment de Francfort" – translated by Greg Gorsuch has on their unforms as follows: PDF link

Rest of Greg's translation can be accessed at link

As to flags there is no information and some have cast doubt that any flags were carried at all; but I know we all like our figures to march under one or more standards.

Here is the Frankfurt battalion in 40mm with a flag:

link

link

link

There are more photos of the unit at that site.

Cheers Garde De Paris,

They're Perry Austrian plastics with French backpacks.

Well done, tas1812! I never would have guessed!

GdeP

Here is one of Knotel's illustrations of theFrankfurt Battalion in Spain, a voltigeur with light green facing; and a classic Grenadier faced scarlet.

This was done in perhaps 1915, and much may have been discovered since. It is my favorite "French" uniform of the period.

GdeP

Here is the other illustration provided by Knotel, showing a shorter, more French light infantry uniform coat that i prefer.

GdeP

I found this also, lots more in illustrations, if they copy here. My link – two posts above – does not work.

GdeP

link

I doubt much has changed since 1915 in the Frankfurt world of uniforms

Not your size, but I painted about 5 years ago the Frankfurt battalion in adler 6mm. I went with the later french style uniforms for my German Division. Also, the finished, but not based Dutch troops. Btw Garde de Paris have you read the Battle of Ocana book? It has uniform plates by Peter Bundee and some really great archival research. One review said it lacked campaign context, but someone who is more interested in archival stuff it is in my opinion the best of the series of uniforms books. link

Those are super close ups, but I was happy with the turnout.