miscellaneous
Austrian Jagers attacking Lindenau
austrian light infantry
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| Austrian Grenzer | Austrian Jäger |
ACTUAL FORCES AND STRENGHTS
(1) Austrian Grenzer
(Österreichische Grenzer)
The Grenze was the permanent Frontier behind the Danube and Save
Rivers, flanked by the Croatian and Carpathian Mountians, between the
Austrian and Turk Empires. The most of 850,000 population of the
Grenzer, hold their land direct from the Crown as free peasants but, in
return, they supplied at least one soldier for guarding the frontier or,
when required for the Army.
These soldiers formed the bulk of the light units of the Austrian
army. All Grenzers were trained as marksmen and skirmishing, usually
acting as advanced-guards. They could be deployed in open order but
still were able to fight like the Line.
In 1813, one battalion of the Croatian Warasdiener-Kreuzer Grenz
(899 men) and other of the Warasdiener-St. Georger Grenz (1,016 men)
were assigned to the 1st (Light) Division of the Austrian 3rd Army Corps
commanded by the Feldzeugmeister Graf I. Gyulai. This Corps fought
during the Leipzig campaign participating in the battle of Leipzig
(october 16-18) in the Lindenau sector, conforming the only
western way of retreat for the French Army.
(2) Austrian Jagers (Österreichische Jägers)
In 1801 a regiment of Tyrolean Jägers was formed to replace
the disbanded regular light infantry battalions existent from 1798. In
1808, nine 'divisions' of Jägers were formed, four in Bohemia, two each
in Austria and Moravia and one in Inner Austria. These units were
expanded in six-company battalions, with a force of 860 men.
Three Austrian Jäger battalions (Nos. #1, #2 and #7) were part of
the Liechtenstein's 1st Light Division, and were present in Lindenau
with a force of 1,920 men.
UNIFORMS AND MINIATURES
(1) Austrian Grenzer
(Österreichische Grenzer)
In 1813, the Grenzer wore the uniform of the 1809 regulations, i.e.
a
black-brown jacket of Hungarian cut
with pointed cuffs and bear's claws; a white waiscoat;
hungarian blue trousers of the looser Croatian cut; a trouser
belt; black gaiters; a calfskin backpack; black leather-work
and a shako with peak, which from 1811 onwards had the bell-top
wider than the base. The facings of both the Warasdiener Kreutzer
and Warasdiener St-Georger were crab red
in 1813 with, respectively, yellow and white buttons
My old Grenzer were painting conversions from ESCI 227 or
ITALERI 6002 French Line infantry. However, this time I'll use the
new
8204 HäT Austrian Grenzer, kindly sent to me by some months ago
by Harris (the HäT's owner) and also one box of 8027 HäT Napoleonic
Austrian Infantry. In total, I'll paint 60 figures, i.e 60x120
= 7,200 men in terms of 'normal' Napoleon's Battles, or 3,600 in
the 'one-half'
modification..
(2) Austrian Jagers (Österreichische Jägers)
Jägers wore pike grey breeches and singlebreasted jacket,
grass green collar, cuffs and turnbacks,
yellow buttons bearing the battalion number, and a black 'Corsican
hat' (Korsehut) with a feather and a leather chinstrap; this 'round
hat' with an upturned brim had a 2* in. high brass shield specified,
bearing the battalion number. Hornists had grass green wings laced
white.
There are not 1/72 plastic figures depicting this Austrian unit, but HäT
make a natural susbtitute: 8008 Napoleonic Brunswick Avantgarde
Jaeger wearing the unmistakable 'Corsican hat'. This was one of the
first HäT sets, so the overall quality is somewhat low when compared
with the last HäT releases but it is the only feasible alternative. The
box contains 48 figures, i.e. 5,760 men for 'normal' Napoleon's
Battles and 2,880 men in the 'one-half' modification.
I am very grateful to the members of the Benno's Figures and
ALKAID Forums for their useful considerations about the 'pike grey'
color ('gris lucio' in Spanish!)
| UNIT | FIGURES | COLOR SCHEME | PICTURES |
| Austrian Grenzer |
8204 HäT
Austrian Grenzer 8027 HäT Napoleonic Austrian Infantry |
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| Austrian Jäger | 8008 HäT Napoleonic Brunswick Avantgarde Jaeger |
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Links of interest:
Austrian Army of the Napoleonic Wars (I): Infantry. Philip
Haythornthwaite-Bryan Fosten. Osprey MAA 176 (1986)
Austrian Auxiliary Troops 1796-1816. Dave Hollins - Bill Younghusband.
Osprey MAA 299 (1996)
Austrian Infantry of the Napoleonic Wars 1805 - 1815