Newline Designs

Historical Background

In the mid 1700’s Frederick The Great, with his well-trained army seized the Austrian Province of Silesia, rich in resources and manpower. This sparked The Seven Years War with Austria and her allies.

After winning The Seven Years War, Prussia’s military reputation was established and most countries modelled their armies along similar lines. Prussia’s long term aim was to become established as a major European power; eroding the influence of the Austrian Empire achieved this.

In the later 1700’s Prussia had to resist the temptation of Austrian Belgium and hold fast to Bavaria, to deny Austria too much power in the upper Rhine.

In 1790, Prussia secretly agreed with Russia to seize parts of Poland without telling Austria. It was at this time that France was engulfed by the Revolution. By the time Russia and Prussia had agreed on a course of action, France had assembled some military defences. Instead of the Prussian and Russian armies attacking France fully, both powers held back a major part of their forces to "look after" their respective gains in Poland!

Because of this lack of commitment the invasion of France failed. The allied army was pushed back out of France right up to the Rhine. The Prussians elected to cut their losses west of the river and signed the Treaty of Basle; the only winner in a protracted fight with the French would be Austria.

Napoleon kept Prussia neutral with vague promises of strategically important Hanover while French victories began stripping Austria of more territory and prestige. Prussia almost joined England and Russia when Napoleon marched his forces through Ansbach, a Prussian territory, on his way to Ulm. However, Austria’s disaster at Ulm made Prussia hesitate and when Austerlitz was lost Prussia backed down.

Napoleon and the rest of Europe were now aware of Prussia’s intentions…

The War of 1806

Prussia was again spurred into action by the threat of becoming a minor power in Europe. The Prussian army was still believed to be the best in Europe, an alliance with Russia and financial backing from Britain led to the inevitable conclusion. War was declared!

1806 Army Composition

Saxony had been encouraged to join the allies and had augmented the standing forces of 111,400 infantry including artillerists and around 30,000 cavalry. The Prussian Army had no permanent organised units larger than a regiment so the standing forces were placed into 12 temporary divisions.

With the decision for war in 1806, the following forces were mobilised :

• 5 Grenadier battalions
• 22 Musketeer battalions
• 6 Fusilier battalions
• 5 Cuirassier squadrons
• 25 Dragoon squadrons
• 25 Hussar & Towarczy squadrons
• 8x 12lb batteries
• 2x 6lb reserve batteries
• 1x 7lb Howitzer battery
• 6 horse batteries

• 6 Grenadier battalions
• 19 Musketeer battalions
• 8 Cuirassier squadrons
• 16 Chevau-leger squadrons
• 8 Hussar squadrons
• 1x 6lb horse battery
• 2x howitzer batteries
• 1x 12lb battery
• 2x 8lb batteries
• 1x 4lb battery