Chris’ Curious Regiments
Which infantry regiment inspired the modern German Flag?
25th Infantry Regiment “von Lützow” (1st Rhineland)
The Infanterie-Regt. von Lützow (1.Rheinisches) Nr.25 were officially formed on 18 February 1813 as the Lützowisches Freikorps a volunteer unit to fight the French in the War of Liberation. They were led by a charismatic Prussian officer, Ludwig von Lützow. The volunteers were drawn from all over Germany (including Austria and the Tyrol) and became representative of the united German effort to rid themselves of Napoleonic domination. The Freikorps consisted of infantry, cavalry and artillery units and became renowned for bravery and action behind enemy lines, despite them also having a high desertion rate.
Many German political reformers and artists joined the Freikorps as part of a dream of a united Germany, including the Saxon author, Theodor Körner who died from wounds recieved while negociating under a flag of truce at Klitzen in 1813. At least two German women also served in the Freikorps disguised as men. Eleonore Prochaska died of wounds recived at the Battle of the Göhrde in 1813. Anna Lühring also fought with the unit at the Siege of Jülich, she was allowed to march with the regiment until their return to Berlin despiter her gender having been previously discovered. She was later awarded the Prusian Iron Cross medal.
The Lützowisches Freikorps initially wore improvised and captured uniforms dyed black and became nicknamed the Black Hunters or Schwarze Jäger. These uniforms with their later red piping and gold buttons became a symbol of German democratic unification in the mid-19th century and are the inspiration for the colours of the national flag of the modern German Federal Republic.
In 1815 the Freikorps was disbanded and its infantry contingent became the 25. Infanterie-Regiment of the Prussian Army (the cavalry contingent of the Freikorps were formed into the 9th Hussars and the 6th Lancers of the Prussian Army). The new infantry regiment saw action at the Battles of Ligny and Waterloo. The province name 1st Rhineland was added to the regiment in 1816.
During the 1848 Revolution the I and III battalions of the regiment were deployed against rebels in Baden. In the Austro-Prussian War of 1866 the regiment fought at the Battle of Langensalza against the Hanoverian army. In the Franco-Prussian War the regiment did not see action at any of the major battles but ended the war in at Belforth. The 25th Regiment was respectively awarded the title von Lützow in 1889.
In 1914 they were garrisoned at Aachen as part of the IX Army Corps. During the First World War they initially fought on the Western Front, transferring to the East in early 1916 and then back to the West for the latter stages of the Battle of the Somme where they remained for the rest of the war.
Helmet Plate: Yellow metal Prussian line eagle
State Cockade: Prussian (black/white/black)
Parade Plume: None
Tunic Buttons: Yellow metal
Shoulder Straps: Blue with a red number 25
Collar: Red piped along the upper edge in dark blue
Cuffs: Brandenburg style in red
*Text from ‘Traditions of the Imperial German Infantry Regiments’ available worldwide on Amazon.
*Text from ‘Traditions of the Imperial German Infantry Regiments’ available worldwide on Amazon.
** Painting by Richard Knötel