The Composition of the Prussian Infantry on 1 January 1703

Infantry OOB of the Prussian army

This Order of battle shows the infantry units of the Prussian army. With a division between units already existing under the great elector and those raised by King Frederick of Prussia.

1 Mousquetier Garde; Colonel Wartensleben

This unit descended from the guard of the Elector of Brandenburg. In 1656 it consisted of 4 battalions. In 1685 regiment number 5 was incorporated (that's why there is no number 5 on the table). In 1677 it shed some troops to found number 7, ditto in 1685 for number 12. In 1698 it shed 1 battalion for number 18. In 1708 number 5 became independent again. In 1713 it lost its rank as guard unit and lost its third battalion, from which 23 and 24 were made.

Colonels were: Von Pöllnitz, who died in 1671. He was succeeded by Colonel Wrangel, who died in 1675. Von Göss, who took his leave in 1685. Von Schöning left in 1691. Von Flemming died in 1698. Barfuss left in 1702. He was succeeded by Wartensleben, who left in 1723.

2 Dönhof Regiment

This unit was also stated to descend from the electoral guard. The Fürst Radziwill was its colonel in 1656 and left in 1670. On his death Dönhof became colonel of one of its battalions, and Von Flemming of the other. When Dönhof died in 1696 and Von Flemming went into Saxon service, both battalions were re-united under a Count Dönhof, son of the previous. Count D╠nhof died in 1717 and was succeeded by Von Röder.

3 Anhalt-Dessau Regiment

The third Prussian regiment had been founded as a completely new regiment of Germans in 1665. Its first Colonel was Von Förgel. In 1685 it shed some troops for founding number 12. In 1718 it was strengthened with an extra battalion raised in Dessau. When Von Förgel died in 1679 he was succeed by a Fürst von Anhalt-Dessau. On his death in 1693 he was succeeded by his son the famous Fürst Leopold von Anhalt-Dessau. In 1704 the Anhalt Dessau regiment fought at Blenheim. In 1747 Leopold died.

4 Jung-Dohna Regiment

This regiment was founded in Thiergarten, Berlin in 1671 under Colonel Count von Dohna. In 1685 it shed troops for founding number 12 and in 1702 for number 19. Count von Dohna died in 1677. He was succeeded by Von Barfuss, who became colonel of number 1 in 1698. He was succeeded by another Count Dohna, who was pensioned in 1716. He was succeeded by Von Vescheser, who got number 5 in 1731.

5 (Part of number 1 in 1703)

This regiment was founded in 1672 by Von Schöning. He died in 1674 and was succeeded by another Von Schöning. In 1685 this regiment was incorporated into regiment number 1. In 1708 it became independent again as Leib-regiment. Von Arnim became commander in 1708. In 1713 it dropped its title and Arnim became colonel of a regular regiment. He left in 1731.

6 Kronprinz Regiment

This regiment was founded in 1673 for the electoral prince. In 1685 it shed troops for number 12, and in 1702 for numbers 8 and 19. In 1704 it got a third battalion, and in 1710 a fourth. In 1713 it became the guard of King Frederic William and lost its third battalion, which became Number 22. The other three battalions continued as the Grosser Potsdamsche Grenadier Regiment till 1740.

The first commander of this battalion was Von Krummensee. He was succeeded by Von Velling; Von Krusemarck; Von Bismarck; De la Cave; Von Finckenstein. In 1704 the Kronprinz regiment fought at Blenheim. In 1711 the electoral prince took actual command.

7 Markgraf Ludwig Regiment

In 1677 this regiment was founded as Kurfürstin Dorothea with troops from the first regiment. In 1688 it was transferred to Markgrave Philipp von Brandenburg. The first commander was Von Borstel, who died in 1687. He was succeeded by his brother who left in 1693. In turn he was succeeded by Von Stille. In 1695 the nominal colonel Markgrave Philipp died and was succeeded by his brother Markgraf Ludwig. Von Stille became colonel of Number 20. He was succeeded as commander by Von Bredow, Von Marwitz and Von Plotho (difficult to decipher). In 1704 the Markgraf Ludwig regiment fought at Blenheim. When the Markgraf died in 1734 it became a normal regiment under Von Bredow.

8 Anhalt Zerbst Regiment

In 1677 this regiment was founded for Colonel Zieten from garrison troops. On his death in 1688 it was split. The first battalion came to Fürst Günter von Anhalt-Zerbst, the other went to Colonel Von Horn. In 1697 both companies were reduced to a single company. In 1702 the regiment was brought to stength on the Dutch model of 12 companies. It then entered the service of the United Provinces. In 1713 it returned and was re-organized to the Prussian model. In 1714 Fürst August von Anhalt-Zerbst became colonel and continued till 1747.

9 Schlabrendorf Regiment

This regiment was founded as a single battalion regiment for Colonel von Pollnitz in 1677. In 1695 it was re-inforced with a battalion of Alt-Holstein and became a regular regiment. In 1697 it was reduced to a single battalion. In 1702 it was brought on a Dutch footing with companies from numbers 3, 10 and 14. In 1713 it returned to Prussian service and the next year it was re-organized to the Prussian model. Its first colonel Von Pollnitz died in 1683. He was succeeded by Briquemaur, who died in 1692. He was succeeded by Von Büste who died at Landau that same year. In 1693 Schlabrendorf became colonel. In 1703 he was succeeded by Colonel Wulffen. He died at the Schellenberg in 1704. During the battle of Blenheim the regiment was still deisgnated as Wulffen. After him came Colonel von Tattorf, who died in 1708. He was succeeded by Du Trossel, dead in 1714 and succeeded by Von Heyden.

10 Erbprinz von Hessen-Kassel Regiment

This regiment was founded as a single battalion regiment for the Prince of Kurland in 1683. In 1685 it was extended with a second battalion. The prince died in one of the sieges of Budapest and so his brother Prince Ferdinand became the regiment. In 1689 he left the Prussian service, and in 1690 the regiment was split. One battalion became the new number 16, and the other continued under Von Heyden. In 1703 it went into Dutch service. That year the erbprinz of Hessen-Kassel (later king of Sweden) became the regiment. It returned to Prussian service in 1713. In 1715 Frederic of Hessen-Kassel became its colonel.

11 Holstein-Beck Regiment

The regiment was founded in 1685. Its dirst colonel was the Duke of Holstein-Beck. He was succeeded by his son Frederic in 1721.

12 Markgraf Philipp Regiment

Founded for Markgraf Philipp von Brandenburg in 1685 with elements of numbers 1;3;4;5;6 and 7. In 1704 the Markgraf Philipp regiment fought at the battle of Blenheim. The Markgraf died in 1711 and left it to his son Markgraf Heinrich. He held on to it till 1741.

13 Varenne Regiment

This regiment was formed from Huguenots in 1687, one battalion strong. Its first colonel was the Marquis de Varenne. In 1697 it was reduced to 1 company. In 1702 it was brought on a Dutch footing with soldiers from other regiments and joined the service of the United Provinces. In early 1703 it joined an expedition force under van Goor and in 1704 it fought at Blenheim as part of the Dutch army there. In 1713 it returned to Prussian service. In 1715 Varenne was promoted and succeeded by Von Pannwitz.

14 Canitz Regiment

In 1688 this regiment was founded for Von Belling, who died in the 1689 siege of Bonn. He was succeeded by Von Brand, who died in 1701. Next came Colonel von Canitz. The regiment participated under his name in the Battle of Blenheim. In 1707 the Prince of Orange became the nominal colonel and Canitz the commander. Canitz died in 1711 and was succeeded by Count von Finckenstein. In 1713 the titel Orange was dismissed and in 1735 Von Kleist became colonel.

15 Lottum Regiment

This regiment was founded from number 13 in 1689. In 1694 its battalion in Hungary became number 17. Its first colonel was Count von Lottum. During the battle of Blenheim the Von Lottum fought on the right wing with 1 battalion. Von Lottum died in 1718. He was succeeded by Freiherr von Konen zu Siegenwerpp.

16 Alt Dohna Regiment

In 1690 this regiment was founded for the Count von Dohna with 1 battalion from number 10 and a garrison battalion from Pillau. Count von Dohan died in 1728 and was succeeded by Von Flans.

17 Grumbkow Regiment

In 1694 this regiment was created from a battalion of number 15. In 1702 it joined the service of the United Provinces. In 1713 it returned to Prussian service. Sydow seems to have been the first colonel, selling it to Grumbkow in 1703. Grumbkow lived till 1739.

18 Grenadier Garde Von Tettau

In 1698 one battalion was detached from number one and named Grenadier Garde. In 1706 the second battalion was founded. The first colonel was Von Pannwitz. In 1703 he was succeeded by Von Tettau. In 1709 Tettau was killed at Malplaquet and succeeded by Von Gersdorff.

19 Brandenburg Schwedt Regiment

This regiment was founded in 1702 to join the Dutch service. It seems that in the end this failed, because it was brought back to the Prussian model in 1703 and given to Markgraf Albert von Brandenburg. (story could be a typo of 1703 for 1713) He held on to it till 1731.

Other Regiments

In 1706 regiment number 20 was founded for Von Borstel. In 1713 numbers 21 till 25 were founded, and in 1714 number 26.

Sources for the Prussian Infantry

The table was made first. Information was added later from: 'Kurzgefasste Stamm- und Rangliste aller Regimenter der Königlich-Preussischen Armee, von deren Stiftung an bis ende 1785' by Christian Friedrich Himburg, Berlin 1786. The work is here: Prussian Stamm- und Rangliste.