#8310 Napoleonic Prussian Landwehr Action

The Prussian Landwehr was raised in 1813 as part of the great national effort to drive Napoleon's forces from Germany. Unlike the regular army, the Landwehr drew heavily upon civilians who had received little previous military training. At first many units suffered from shortages of muskets, uniforms and equipment, but they rapidly became an important part of Prussia's expanding field army.

Landwehr regiments were organized by province, with battalions raised in areas such as East Prussia, West Prussia, Silesia, Pomerania and Brandenburg. Their simple uniform centred upon the Litewka coat and peaked cloth cap, while provincial colors helped distinguish one formation from another. In the hurried mobilization of 1813, however, regulation clothing was far from universal and civilian garments, captured equipment and improvised packs could all appear in the ranks.

Box art

Weapons were equally varied. Early in 1813 some Landwehr units lacked enough firearms and had to issue pikes or other polearms to part of their strength. As the supply situation improved, muskets became much more widely available, although they came from several different sources and could include captured French weapons. By 1815 most Landwehr battalions were substantially better armed and equipped than they had been during their first months of service.

Once committed to battle, the Landwehr was expected to perform many of the same duties as regular infantry. Battalions could advance in column, form line to deliver musket volleys, defend villages and woods, or deploy men forward as skirmishers. Their early performance varied considerably according to training and leadership, but experience quickly transformed many units into reliable fighting formations.

Line drawings

Landwehr troops fought throughout the campaigns of 1813 and 1814, including the great struggle in Germany that culminated at Leipzig. They continued westward with the Coalition armies into France and gained valuable battlefield experience along the way.

In 1815, the Landwehr again formed a very large part of the Prussian army mobilized against Napoleon. They fought at Ligny on 16 June and returned to action two days later during the Waterloo campaign. Landwehr battalions in Bülow's IV Corps took part in the hard fighting around Plancenoit, where Prussian pressure against Napoleon's right flank became one of the decisive developments of the battle.

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

This set contains 56 figures in eight poses, showing the Landwehr in active combat. The men are firing, loading, advancing and using their muskets with fixed bayonets, while an officer and drummer provide command and support figures. The poses are designed to create firing lines, skirmishing groups and troops moving forward into action rather than the formed columns represented by our Landwehr Marching set.

The figures wear the characteristic Litewka and peaked Landwehr cap, but their equipment deliberately includes some variety. Different styles of packs, simple canvas bags, haversacks and water bottles reflect the practical and sometimes improvised equipment actually carried by these citizen soldiers.

This set is designed to complement our Prussian Landwehr Marching set. Used together, the two provide both formed troops moving toward the battlefield and men actively fighting once they arrive. They are especially suitable for the campaigns of 1813-1815, from the War of Liberation and Leipzig through to Ligny, Plancenoit and Waterloo.