East Prussian Infantry and Cavalry Regiments

Frederick grabs the colours of the IR46 von Bulow regiment at Zorndorf.

Here is a listing of all Prussian infantry and cavalry regiments that were from East Prussia. The "record" comments are taken from Christopher Duffy in "The Army of Frederick the Great". I am using this information in the construction and painting of my Pomeranian Corps of Prussian troops that largely fought in the eastern theater against the Russians.

IR2  von Kanitz

Station: Rastenburg (East Prussia)

Record: Unusually hard fighting regiment (especially for an East Prussian regiment) with consistently high casualties. One battalion captured at Maxen.

Grenadier battalion: with Garrison Regt. No. 2 Manstein, Nesse (1758), Natalis (1760)

IR4  Rautter (1757), Kleist (1758), Thadden (1761)

Station: Prussian Holland (East Prussia)

Record: Badly knocked about at Gross Jagersdorf and behaved badly at Zorndorf. One of its Chefs, Rautter, was disgraced for his performance at Zorndorf, while Thadden was known as a drunkard.

Grenadier battalion: with IR16: Polentz, Kleist (1757), Willemy (1758), Thielau (1762). Severe losses at Zorndorf. Captured after fighting bravely at Maxen.

IR11  Below, Rebentisch (1758)

Station: Koenigsberg

Record: Large numbers of Austrian and Russian prisoners were incorporated in the Seven Years War. The regiment did notably badly at Zorndorf, and at Maxen, where it broke up before being captured with the rest.

Grenadier battalion: with IR14: Gohr, Petersdorf (1757), Beyer (1759), Oppen (1760). A generally reliable battalion.

IR14  Lehwaldt

Station: Friedland and Bartenstein (East Prussia)

Record: Suffered heavily at Gross Jagersdorf and Kunersdorf, and lost one battalion at Maxen.

Grenadier battalion: served with IR11

IR16  Dohna, Syburg (1760)

Station: Koenigsberg

Record: Heavy losses at Zorndorf and Kunersdorf. A middling East Prussian regiment, disliked intensely by Frederick.

Standing Grenadier Battalion 4 (Koenigsbergisches Grenadier-Battalion)

Record: raised from grenadiers of Garrison 1 and Garrison 13

Garrison 1 Puttkamer

Station: based at Memel in East Prussia

Grenadier battalion: with Garrison 11: Langenau

Garrison 2 Sydow, Alt-Sydow (1759)

Station: based at Pillau in East Prussia

Record: heavy losses at Gross Jagersdorf. At Torgau and Freiburg

Garrison 11 Manteuffel, Mellin (1760)

Station: based in East Prussia

Record: heavy losses at Gross Jagersdorf. The component battalions captured at Landeshut (1760) and Colberg (1761).

Grenadier battalion: with Garrison 1, formed an independent battalion Bahr.

New Garrison Regiment 2 

Station: Koenigsburg
Record: raised in the 1740s and again in 1756. Disbanded in 1757.

East Prussia Land Militia Battalion  von Katrezinsky
Station: Memel and Pillau
Record: the battalion was initially posted on the border. It was no match for the Russian regular and irregular troops in direct confrontation so it was used mainly in ambushes along the Russian communication lines and raids on baggage trains. It also had to stop Cossack incursions. In one engagement, supporting 200 hussars, it managed to prevent a landing of 2,000 Russian troops at Schaaken in the Curonian Lagoon. In January 1758 the battalion was disbanded to prevent its capture by the Russian army.

Uniform: the Lithuanian companies it had a unique grey coat with no lapels or collar, but blue Prussian style cuffs. The coat resembles a sleeved waistcoat in the French or Russian style. Waistcoat and breeches were supplied by the indivual militia man. Gaitors were grey. Grey gaitors. Black tricorn without hat lace.

The Prussian and Polish companies had a blue coat, similar to the description of the Lithuanian companies. Individual companies had different cuff colors.

Freibattalione - none are recorded as raised in East Prussia

Cavalry Regiments

Charge of the Black Hussars at Gross Jagersdorf - by Carl Rochling

DR6 Schorlemer, Meier (1760) - 10 Squadrons strong

Station: East Prussia

Record: The "Porzellan Regiment" taken from Saxon service in 1717. Heavily engaged at Zorndorf and Kunersdorf

DR7  Plettenberg

Station: East Prussia

Record: Highly distinguished at Zorndorf

DR8 Platen, Alt-Platen (1758)

Station: East Prussia

Record: distinguished at Gross Jagersdorf and Zorndorf.

DR9  Holstein-Gottorp, Pomeisske (1761)

Station: East Prussia

Record: lightly engaged until 1761, when destroyed in the campaign around Colberg.

DR10  Finck

Station: East Prussia

Record: at Gross Jagersdorf. In western Germany 1758-59 with Prinz Ferdinand's army, where it fought at Minden. Highly esteemed by Frederick.

HR5 (Black Hussars) Reusch, Lossow (1760)

Station: various, but recruited from East Prussia.

Record: renowned for the wealth of its officers and the ferocity of its hussars. Three squadrons distinguished in western Germany in Prinz Ferdinand' army.

HR7 (Second, formerly HR8 Gelbe Hussaren) Malachowsky

Station: varioius, but recruited from East Prussia.

Record: Distinguished at Zorndorf, lost six squadrons at Landshut. After peace it took the number of the disbanded HR7. Frederick specifically exempted it from criticism.