I do not have much room left for more Bavarian Beer Steins, so I found this Saxon one to fit in. So in this article, I will be showing the small cup as well as we will see a bit about the history of this Regiment: The Infanterie-Regiment „Kronprinz“ (5. Königlich Sächsisches) Nr. 104.
It is a small glass, just 11 Cms tall, so small compared with a “Bierkrug”. It was made to commemorate the 200 Years existence of this Regiment, from 7th of December 1701 until 1901. This is actually, what it states in the cup itself, along with the full name of the unit.
In the other side, we see the monogram of the Regiment itself, which would also appear in the shoulder straps of the members of that unit.
We can already imagine the long list of battles, where they took part during those 200 years. As I don’t want to bore you with a 20 pages article, I will just list a couple of them and then concentrate in the First World War.
The participated in the Spanish succession war (1701-1714), Polish succession war (1733-1738), the 7 years war (1756-1763)… Also they fought against France in 1806-1807 as well as from France after this years. The Regiment was almost decimated by the
During the “Bruderkrieg” of 1866, they fought alongside Austria against Prussia, suffering a great defeat in the famous battle of Königgrätz.
They also fought in the Franco Prussian War of 1870/1871 in famous battles like Gravelotte or Sedan.
For a bit more Information about this Regiment, I recommend, as usual the book from Chris Dale listed below in the sources.
Before the start of the First World War, this Regiment was part of the 40th Infantry Division, XIX Army Corps, 3rdArmy. Their Garrison was located in Chemitz.
The Regiment crossed north of Luxemburg on the 13th of August 1914 and from them to Belgium and France (Somme Area). This Regiment took part in the Battle of the Marne in September 1914 along with the whole XIX Army Corps, with the results, that we all know.
From there, to Flanders and under the Control of the Kronprinz Rupprecht von Bayern.
There will remain until August 1916, when the division was sent to the Somme, where it fought hardly and ended up been withdrawn due to the casualties.
1917 will be also a hard year for them, participating in the Battle of Arras against the British and after, in Flanders, in the battle of Messines, where the regiment lost 224 men, who were taken prisoners.
They were withdrawn from the line and sent to St. Quentin, but to be sent back to Flanders in October to keep fighting and to suffer very heavy casualties.
At the end of the year, the fully Saxonian Division was sent to Russia, only to be sent back to France on February 1918 for the big Spring offensive. Having said that, their role was not an offensive one. They were considered as second class troops until 1918.
Fighting in Woevry, the Marne and Arras, at the end of the war, they were not far away from Ypres.
Sources:
– “Traditions of the Imperial German Infantry Regiments” – Chris Dale.
– Histories of the 251 Divisions of the German Army, which participated in the War 1914-1918.
– Map from Wikiwand