The Infanterie-Leib Regiment Großherzogin (3. Großherzoglich Hessisches) Nr.117 was originally formed on 10 June 1697 as the Kreis-Regiment. They saw action in the war of Spanish Succession, the War of Austrian Succession (in Dutch service), the Seven Years War including the Battle of Rossbach and in the French Revolutionary Wars. In 1806 they were awarded the tile Leib-Regiment and formed part of Hesse-Darmstadt’s contingent in the Confederation of the Rhine. Allied with France, the regiment fought against Prussia in 1806-07, against Austria in 1809, against Britain in the Peninsular Campaign 1809-12, against Russia in 1812 and against the Sixth Coalition at the Battle of Leipzig in 1813. After the Battle of Leipzig they fought against the French during the Allied Invasion of France in 1814-15. In the Austro-Prussian War they fought the Prussians at the Battle of Frohnhofen. In the Franco-Prussian War they fought the French at the Battle of Gravelotte-St. Privat.
The III Fusilier Battalion of the 117thRegiment was formed on 1 January 1872 with personnel from the other Grand Ducal Hessian infantry regiments and the former Großherzoglich Hessisches Pionierkompanie (which became the 117th Regiment’s 9th Company). Consequently from this date onwards 9. Kompanie of the 117th wore the Pioneers’ anchor, axe and pick device on the helmet plate.
In 1897 Grand Duchess Victoria Melitta, wife of Grand Duke Ernst Ludwig of Hessen was given the title of regimental chief. This title was withdrawn in 1902, the year after the couple’s divorce. Instead from that year, the regiment was awarded the title Großherzogin in memory of Grand Duchess Alice of Hessen (1843-78), daughter of Queen Victoria of Great Britain, husband of Grand Duke Ludwig IV of Hessen and mother of the reigning Grand Duke Ernst Ludwig.
In 1914 the regiment was garrisoned at Mainz as part of the 25th Hessian Division of the XVIII Army Corps. During the First World War they served with the rest of the Hessian Division on the Western Front, seeing action at the Battles of the Marne and Verdun. In 1915 the German army trailed 60 Danish Madsen light machine guns by forming two new battalions of automatic gun battalions. In March 1916, these units were re-designated as the new IV and V Battalions of the 117th Regiment. The trial did not go well and the units were transferred to other machine gun companies soon afterwards.
Helmet Plate: Yellow metal Hessian Lion with laurel and oak leaves on either side. From 1897 a scroll was added across the leaves reading 1697 on the right side and 1897 on the left. The 9th Company had a small white metal anchor and crossed axe and pick badge on the front of the lion, making them the only single company of the infantry regiments to have their own insignia.
State Cockade: Hessian (white/red/white) with a double red stripe on the Pickelhaube cockade
Parade Plume: Black
Tunic Buttons: White metal
Shoulder Straps: Prior to 1897, blue with a red number 117. From 1897, blue with a red crowned VM for Grand Duchess Victoria Melitta. From 1902, blue with a red crowned A monogram for Grand Duchess Alice.
Collar: Red piped along the upper edge in dark blue
Cuffs: Brandenburg style in red with vertical panel in blue
*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.
*Photo from the Fort de la Pompelle Museum