This week, let’s look at the only infantry regiment with a battle honour for fighting for Napoleon!
88th Infantry Regiment (2nd Nassau)
The 2. Nassauisches Infanterie-Regiment Nr.88 was formed on 27 September 1866. During the Franco-Prussian War they saw action at the Battles of Wörth and Sedan and the Siege of Paris. In 1899 it was decided to acknowledge the memory of the former Nassau army by associating the 88th Infantry with the former Nassauischen 2. Infanterie-Regiment, setting the official formation date of the regiment to 13 August 1808. This regiment had fought for Napoleon in the Peninsular Campaign (for which the 88th inherited the 1809 battle honours Mesa de Ibor and Medellin) and against Napoleon at Waterloo in 1815 (for which they inherited the battle honour La Belle Alliance).
The awarding of Peninsular campaign battle honours to the regiment was unique in that it was the only time honours were awarded to an Imperial German infantry regiment for fighting on the French side in the Napoleonic Wars. Ironically battle honours for fighting against the French in the same campaign were awarded to the 73rd Hanoverian Fusilier Regiment.
In 1848 they were deployed against revolutionaries in Baden and the following year took part in the First Schleswig War against Denmark. During the Austro-Prussian War they fought against the Prussians at the Battles of Tauberbischofsheim and Gersheim. Following the war, the Duchy of Nassau was annexed by Prussia.
From 1913 the newly enthroned and strongly pro-German King Constantine of Greece was made regimental chief. The same year a fortress machine gun company was added to the regiment. They were garrisoned at Mainz with the II Battalion at Hanau as part of the XVIII Army Corps. During the First World War they served on the Western Front and saw action at the Battles of Verdun and the Somme.
Helmet Plate: Yellow metal Prussian Line Eagle with the battle honours LA BELLE ALLIANCE, MESA DE IBOR and MEDELLIN on a scroll either side of the eagle’s neck from 1897.
State Cockade: Prussian (black/white/black)
Parade Plume: None
Tunic Buttons: Yellow metal
Shoulder Straps: Blue with a red number 88, replaced from 1913 with red crowned K monogram for King Constantine (Konstantin in German) of Greece.
Collar: Red piped along the upper edge in dark blue
Cuffs: Brandenburg style in red with yellow piping around the vertical panel
*Photo taken at the Fort de la Pompelle Museum, France. illustration by Richard Knötel. Text from ‘Traditions of the Imperial German Infantry Regiments’ available worldwide on Amazon.