1st Grenadier Regiment “Crown Prince” (1st East Prussian)
The Grenadier-Regiment Kronprinz (1.Ostpreußisches) Nr.1 was originally formed on 20 December 1655 by Boguslav von Schwerin to serve under Friedrich Wilhelm, the Great Elector of Brandenburg as the Regiment zu Fuss von Schwerin. They first saw action against Sweden in 1659 at the Battle of Braunsberg in the First Northern War. They also fought against France in the Franco-Dutch Wars of 1664 and 1698, again against Sweden in the Scanian War (1675-79) and in 1683 in Hungary against the Ottoman Turks at the start of the Great Turkish War. The II Battalion also fought in the Balkans in the later stages of the Great Turkish War from 1691-98.
During the War of Spanish Succession they fought the French at the Battles of Oudenaarde and Malplaquet before returning home in 1711 and then serving in the Second (or Great) Northern War in 1715 against Sweden. From 1734-35 they fought in the War of Polish Succession. They fought in the War of Austrian Succession in both Silesian campaigns including the Battle of Hohenfriedberg in 1745. In the Seven Years War they saw action at the Battle of Torgau. They were again deployed for action against Austria in the War of Bavarian Succession. The regiment fought throughout the Napoleonic Wars firstly against France in 1806, then alongside the French on the Invasion of Russia in 1812 and finally against France at the Battle of Leipzig during the War of Liberation in 1813-14.
Prior to 1808 they had taken the title of their regimental colonel and had been listed in the former numbering system as Infanterie-Regiment Nr 2, from that date they were listed as the 1. Ostpreussisches Infanterie-Regiment. In 1860 they were renamed as Grenadiers and 1864 they were awarded the title Kronprinz in honour of Crown Prince Friedrich of Prussia (later King Friedrich III), who had been regimental chief since 1860. In the Austro-Prussian War they fought at the Battle of Königgrätz against Austria and Saxony. During the Franco-Prussian War they saw action at the Siege of Metz.
In 1888 the regiment changed title twice, firstly to Kaiser Grenadier-Regiment Nr.1 in March after Friedrich III’s accession to the throne, then Grenadier Regiment König Friedrich III. (1. Ostpreussisches) Nr.1 in June after his death. In 1900 they reverted to Grenadier-Regiment Kronprinz (1. Ostpreussisches) Nr.1.
In 1914 they were garrisoned at Königsberg in East Prussia (modern Kaliningrad in Russia) as part of the I Army Corps. The previous year an extra fortress machine gun company was added to the regiment. During the First World War they fought on the Eastern Front before transferring to the Romanian front in 1916 as part of the Carpathian Corps (Karpathen-Korps). After the defeat of Romania in 1917 they were sent back to Russia, then Italy before fighting from February 1918 on the Western Front. In March 1918 Crown Prince Wilhelm was made regimental chief.
Helmet Plate: Yellow metal Prussian Grenadier Eagle replacing the Old Grenadier Eagle from 1900. The eagle bore a yellow metal scroll with the date 1655 to commemorate their formation. The scroll was shown above the Old Grenadier eagle but across the breast of the new Grenadier Eagle from 1900. Prior to 1888, the scroll had mistakenly read 1619
State Cockade: Prussian (black/white/black)
Parade Plume: Black
Tunic Buttons: Yellow metal
Shoulder Straps: White with a red crowned FR III monogram for King Friedrich III of Prussia
Collar: Red piped along the upper edge in dark blue with white single Litzen
Cuffs: Brandenburg style in red with white Litzen piped in white around the vertical panel
Other Distinctions (I): Officers wore ornate yellow metallic Litzen in the form of decorated edging to the front and top of the collar and around the front top and bottom of the Brandenburg cuffs.
Other Distinctions (II): In February 1917, soldiers of the Carpathian Corps were awarded a commemorative badge to wear between the cockades of the field cap. It was in white metal and had stags antlers over oak leaves centred on a sword with a scroll bearing the title ‘Karpathenkorps’.
*Text from ‘Traditions of the Imperial German Infantry Regiments’ available worldwide on Amazon. Photo taken at the Fort de La Pompelle Museum.
*Text from ‘Traditions of the Imperial German Infantry Regiments’ available worldwide on Amazon. Photo taken at the Fort de La Pompelle Museum.