The Grenadier-Regiment Königin Olga (1.Württembergisches) Nr.119 was originally formed on 1 June 1673 as the Herzogliches Regiment zu Fuß. The first company however traced its roots further back to 1638 as the Leib-Kompagnie and were the Duke of Württemberg’s personal guard.
The regiment first saw action against Turkey in 1683-88, including the Sieges of Vienna and Belgrade then returned to Stuttgart force the French from their homeland. They fought in the wars of Spanish and Polish Succession. They fought against Prussia in the Seven Years War and against France in the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars until Württemberg joined the Confederation of the Rhine.
The regiment was numbered in the Württemberg listings from 1810 as the Infanterie-Regiment Prinz Paul Nr. 1. In 1806-13 they fought alongside the French against Austria and Prussia and on Napoleon’s Invasion of Russia. After the Battle of Leipzig, they fought against France during the War of Liberation 1813-14. In 1813 they were awarded the title Leib-Infanterie-Regiment Nr. 1.
In 1864 Queen Olga of Württemberg was appointed regimental chief. The regiment saw action at the Battle of Tauberbischofsheim against Prussia in the Austro-Prussian War and fought at the Battle of Sedan and the Siege of Paris in the Franco-Prussian War. General Duke Albrecht of Württemberg was made regimental chief in 1914.
In 1914 the regiment was garrisoned at Stuttgart as part of the XIII Army Corps. During the First World War they initially served on the Western Front on the French frontier but before the end of the year were posted to the Eastern Front in Poland, transferring to the Serbian Front in 1915 and back to the West later that year where they saw action at the Battle of the Somme and Arras. In 1917 they transferred to the Italian Front for the 12th Battle of Isonzo. In 1918 they were back in the West for the German Spring Offensive.
Helmet Plate: White metal Württemberg Coat of Arms
State Cockade: Württemberg (black/red/black)
Parade Plume: White
Tunic Buttons: Yellow metal
Shoulder Straps: Red with a yellow crowned O monogram for Queen Olga of Württemberg
Collar: Red piped along the upper edge in dark blue with white Litzen
Cuffs: Swedish style in red with white Litzen
*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