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Prussian Infantry, 1813-5

The Prussian army, after being trounced at Jena, was absorbed into the French army for Napoleon's invasion of Russia.  When Napoleon returned in 1813, he faced a Prussia in open revolt.  The Prussian army switched sides, fought the Wars of Liberation against France in 1813-4, and  presented the coup de grace at Ligny and Waterloo in 1815.

The Prussian Infantry during this period was made up of four elements.  The line infantry (regiments 1-12) were probably the best in overall quality, and certainly the best equipped.  The reserve infantry (regiments 13-24) were initially clothed in whatever uniforms were available.  By Waterloo, when they were incorporated into the line, most reserve regiments had adopted the uniforms of the line.  The Landwehr were the Prussian militia, and were, at the outset, possibly the worst equipped troops in all of Europe.  By Waterloo, some degree of uniformity was evident in these units as well.  Volunteer Jager provided more muscle at the skirmish line.

Four  sets are available in plastic for the Prussian infantry of this period: Revell Prussian Line Infantry, HaT Prussian Reserve Infantry, HaT Prussian Volunteer Jager, and Airfix Prussian Landwehr.

The Revell set is perhaps the oddest set I have ever seen in 1/72 scale plastic.  The figures are very thin, almost resembling metal "flats," and they have the same  lack of facial detail that  is a fault of nearly every Revell figure set.   They can be used to portray the regiments of the line from 1813-5, and reserve regiments in the Waterloo campaign.   Facing colors (collar and cuffs) and shoulder strap colors vary from regiment to regiment.
 

These Revell figures are painted as line infantry of the 6th (1st W. Prussian)  Regiment.  The first two battalions of each regiment were line infantry.
 

These Revell figures are painted as fusiliers of the 6th (1st W. Prussian)  Regiment.  One fusilier battalion was attached to each regiment.  The only real difference in painting fusiliers is that their leather straps are all black.  Otherwise they are uniformed the same as line infantry of their regiment.


The Prussian Reserve infantry were former regulars who had returned to civilian life.  In time of war they returned to the army.  Each line regiment "fed" its soldiers to a reserve regiment.  In 1813 the Prussian Reserve Infantry were hurriedly equipped, and the result continues to perplex wargamers, modelers, and historians.  The HaT set depicts the regulation uniform.
 

These are men of the 12th (4th Brandenburg) Reserve Infantry in 1814.  The provisional uniform was a very modern looking light gray with facing colors corresponding to the regiment's home province.  These really look more like troops from the Great War than from Napoleon's day!
 

This is an example of one of the more varied uniforms of the reserve regiments.  The 28th Infantry Regiment was formed by infantry from Berg.  The first two battalions were line infantry and the third battalion grenadiers.  These men had been fighting for years in the French service, and retained their French style uniforms.  They wore these uniforms at Waterloo.


The Airfix Landwehr set, reissued by HaT Industries, is a gorgeous set - one of my favorites in 1/72 scale plastic.  The figures' uniforms are perfectly correct (maybe a little too correct for Landwehr), raised detail makes them easy to paint, and, unlike many Airfix sets, they are perfectly proportioned.  Landwehr regiments had facing colors reflecting the province from which the troops were drawn, and shoulder straps colored in order of seniority.
 

These are the 2nd Westphalian Landwehr.  The figures look great in every way.  This was a rush paint job!


In theory, all Prussian infantry was capable of skirmishing.  The third rank of line, reserve, and landwehr regiments were supposed to be trained to fight in open order.  Whether they did in fact do so is a matter of much debate that will not likely be settled for some time.  What we do know is that each line and reserve regiment, and even many regiments of landwehr, had attached companies of volunteer jager ("hunters").  These men provided their own uniforms and rifles muskets.  They had the facing distinctions of their parent regiment.  HaT has made a set of volunteer jager suitable for the War of Liberation and the Hundred Days campaign.
 

The HaT set is one of the very best in 1/72 plastic.  The figures are depicted in campaign dress, with gray trousers and black shako covers.  Facial detail, poses, equipment, uniforms, and sculpting are all fantastic.  These figures are painted as the jager company of the 6th (1st W. Prussian) Infantry Regiment.