#8309 Napoleonic Prussian Landwehr Marching

The Prussian Landwehr was created in 1813 as part of the great national mobilization against Napoleon. Prussia had been devastated by the defeats of Jena and Auerstadt in 1806, and the military reforms that followed sought to draw much more deeply upon the population. When Prussia joined the renewed war against France after Napoleon's retreat from Russia, the Landwehr provided thousands of additional infantrymen for the rapidly expanding army.

The Landwehr was a citizen militia rather than part of the old professional standing army. Men were raised locally and organized by province, creating regiments from areas such as East Prussia, West Prussia, Silesia, Pomerania and Brandenburg. The quality of training and equipment varied greatly at first, but the Landwehr quickly became an important part of the Prussian field army.

Box art

Official regulations issued in March 1813 prescribed a simple uniform centred upon the Litewka, a long dark blue or black coat. Collar colors identified the province, while shoulder straps could indicate the battalion. The usual headgear was the soft Schirmmütze, or peaked cloth cap, carrying the distinctive Landwehr cross and Prussian cockade.

In practice, uniformity was difficult to achieve. Prussia was already struggling to clothe and equip its regular and reserve troops, and the sudden expansion of the Landwehr created severe shortages. Grey, brown and black coats could appear beside regulation blue, captured French equipment was reused, and some units received British clothing and headgear. By the autumn of 1813 the worst shortages had eased, and by the Waterloo campaign of 1815 most Landwehr units were much better equipped.

Line drawings

The men were initially armed with whatever could be found. Some early Landwehr formations even carried long pikes until sufficient muskets became available. As equipment improved, the musket became standard and the Landwehr increasingly fought in the same basic formations as regular Prussian infantry. Packs, haversacks, rolled blankets and simple water containers added to the practical campaign appearance of the men.

Landwehr battalions fought throughout the Wars of Liberation in 1813 and 1814. They served in the great campaigns in Germany, including the fighting around Leipzig, and later advanced with the Coalition armies into France. Their performance varied from unit to unit, but many developed into dependable battlefield formations despite the hurried conditions under which they had been raised.

Test shot (may go through substantial revisions prior to release.)

In 1815 the Landwehr again formed a substantial part of the Prussian army mobilized against Napoleon. Landwehr regiments fought alongside regular infantry at battles including Ligny and Waterloo, and units of Bülow's IV Corps were heavily involved in the fighting around Plancenoit during the final stages of the Waterloo campaign.

This set contains 56 figures in six marching poses. The figures wear the characteristic Landwehr Litewka and peaked cap, creating the simple and practical appearance associated with these citizen soldiers. The marching poses are ideal for forming battalion columns, troops moving along roads, reserves approaching the battlefield or larger formations advancing with the Prussian army.

The relatively plain uniform also gives the modeller considerable scope for representing different provincial Landwehr units through changes in collar, shoulder-strap and cap-band colors. Small variations in trousers, equipment and clothing can further emphasize the irregular appearance that was especially common during the hurried mobilization of 1813.

This set is designed to complement our Prussian Landwehr Action set. Used together, the two sets allow Landwehr battalions to be shown both on the march and in battle, making them suitable for the campaigns of 1813-1815 from the War of Liberation in Germany through to Ligny, Plancenoit and Waterloo.