Schwarze Brigade

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Origin and History

Uniforms in 1762 - Source: Richard Knötel

The unit was raised on December 23 1761 in Lübeck and Hamburg by Favrat. By the Summer of 1762, it already counted one battalion. However, the unit had been raised without Frederick's authorisation and had to be disbanded.

During the Seven Years' War, the chef of the regiment was:

• from December 1761 to 1762: Favrat

Uniform

Uniforms of the Hussars

Troopers

Uniform in 1762 - Source: Kronoskaf

Uniform Details

Headgear	black mirliton with a black wing; white plume; yellow cords with white knots and blue tassels
Neck stock	black
Pelisse	black Fur trim white Lace red cords and laces Buttons yellow
Dolman	yellow with red cords and yellow buttons Collar none Cuffs no information available
Cloak	no information available
Trousers	buff leather with black edged red "Schalavary"
Leather Equipment	Crossbelt white Waist-sash red Scabbard black decorated with white metal Boots black Hungarian boots
Horse Furniture	Saddlecloth black with a yellow scalloped lace edged red Sabretache no information available

Troopers were probably armed with a short curved sabre, two pistols and a carbine.

NCOs

NCOs wore the same uniform as the troopers with the following differences:

• black and white cords and tassels on the mirliton
• more elaborate laces on the pelisse

Officers

Officers wore the same uniform as the troopers with the following differences:

• no cord, knot or tassel on the mirliton
• golden gords and laces on the pelisse and dolman
• silver and black waist-sash

Musicians

no information available yet

Uniforms of the dragoons

Privates

Uniform in 1762 - Source: Dal

Uniform Details

Headgear	black unlaced tricorne with a yellow button with red pompoms
Neck stock	black
Coat	black lined red with 7 yellow buttons arranged 1-2-2-2 on both sides, the topmost button decorated with a red tab and the others with yellow laced button loops and yellow tassels; 2 yellow laced button loops with tassels on both side at the waist; 1 yellow laced button loop with a tassel on both side at the small of the back; and 3 yellow buttons on each side to fasten the skirts forming the turnbacks Collar red (none as per Knötel and Bleckwenn) Shoulder Straps yellow aiguillette on the right shoulder Lapels none Pockets no information available Cuffs red Hungarian-style cuffs, each with 1 yellow button with a yellow button loop and a yellow tassel Turnbacks red
Waistcoat	straw yellow with yellow buttons
Breeches	straw yellow
Leather Equipment	Crossbelt white Waistbelt white Cartridge Box no information available Bayonet Scabbard no information available Scabbard brown Footgear black boots
Horse Furniture	Saddlecloth no information available Housings no information available Blanket roll no information available

Troopers were probably armed with a sword, a pair of pistols, a musket and a bayonet.

NCOs

NCOs wore the same uniform as the private with the following differences:

• tricorne laced gold with a black and white quartered pompom and smaller black within white pompoms in the lateral cornes
• cuffs edged gold

Officers

Officers wore the same uniform as the private with the following differences:

• black tricorne scalloped gold with a black cockade fastened with a golden strap and a golden button; small black within silver pompoms in the lateral cornes
• golden aiguillette
• golden button loops with tassels
• coat with horizontal pockets piped gold, each with 2 golden buttons
• no turnbacks

They carried an officer stick.

Musicians

no information available yet

Uniforms of the Grenadiers

Privates

Uniform in 1762 - Source: Kronoskaf

Uniform Details

Headgear	mitre with yellow metal front plate; yellow metal headband, black backing piped red, red pompom
Neckstock	black
Coat	black lined red, 2 yellow buttons on the right side under the lapel; 2 yellow button loops with tassels on each side under the lapels; 1 yellow button loop with a tassel on each side at the small of the back; and 3 yellow buttons on each side to fasten the skirts forming the turnbacks Collar none Shoulder Straps yellow aiguillette on the right shoulder Lapels red, each with 6 yellow buttons and 6 yellow button loops with tassels arranged 2-2-2 Pockets none Cuffs red (in the Hungarian pattern), each with 1 yellow button and 1 yellow button loop with a tassel Turnbacks red
Waistcoat	straw yellow with yellow buttons with 1 row of yellow buttons
Breeches	straw yellow
Gaiters	black
Leather Equipment	Crossbelt white Waistbelt white Cartridge Pouch black Bayonet Scabbard brown Scabbard brown Footgear black shoes

Privates were armed with a short musket, a bayonet and a curved blade sabre.

NCOs

NCOs wore the same uniform as the private with the following differences:

• black and white quartered pompom on the mitre
• cuffs edged gold

Officers

Officers wore the same uniform as the private with the following differences:

• black tricorne scalloped gold with a black cockade fastened with a golden strap and a golden button; small black within silver pompoms in the lateral cornes
• golden aiguillette
• golden button loops with tassels
• coat with horizontal pockets piped gold, each with 2 golden buttons and 2 golden button loops with tassels
• no turnbacks

Musicians

no information available yet

Uniforms of the Jägers

Privates

Uniform in 1762 - Source: Kronoskaf

Uniform Details

Headgear	black unlaced tricorne with a small yellow button
Neckstock	black
Coat	black lined green, 2 yellow buttons on the right side under the lapel; 2 yellow button loops with tassels on each side under the lapels; 1 yellow button loop with a tassel on each side at the small of the back; and 3 yellow buttons on each side to fasten the skirts forming the turnbacks Collar none Shoulder Straps yellow aiguillette on the right shoulder Lapels green, each with 6 yellow buttons and 6 yellow button loops with tassels arranged 2-2-2 Pockets none Cuffs green (in the Hungarian pattern), each with 1 yellow button and 1 yellow button loop with a tassel Turnbacks green
Waistcoat	green
Breeches	green
Gaiters	not applicable
Leather Equipment	Crossbelt black (white as per Knötel) Waistbelt black (white as per Knötel) Cartridge Box black Bayonet Scabbard brown Scabbard brown Footgear black boots

Privates were probably armed with a rifle and a curved blade sabres.

NCOs

NCOs wore the same uniform as the private with the following differences:

• tricorne laced gold
• cuffs edged gold

Officers

Officers wore the same uniform as the private with the following differences:

• black tricorne scalloped gold with a black cockade fastened with a golden strap and a golden button; small black within silver pompoms in the lateral cornes
• golden aiguillette
• golden button loops with tassels
• coat with horizontal pockets piped gold, each with 2 golden buttons and 2 golden button loops with tassels
• no turnbacks

Musicians

no information available yet

Colours

None of the Freikorps units carried official colours, standards or guidons to the exception of von Kleist Frei Korps.

References

Bleckwenn, Hans (Hrsg.): Das Altpreussische Heer - Erscheinungsbild und Wesen 1713-1807, Teil III: Übersichten altpreußischer Uniformgestaltung, Band 5: Die Uniformen der preußischen Technischen Truppen, Rückwärtigen Dienste und Kriegsformationen 1753-1786, Osnabrück 1984

Cremer, Peter: Die Preussischen Freikorps im Siebenjährigen Krieg: Auflistung der Freikorps, ihrer Einsätze, der Uniformen, der Chefs und deren Geschichte, KLIO-Arbeitsgruppe 7jähriger Krieg, Friderzianische Epoche, Manuskript, o.J.

Funcken, L. and F.; Les uniformes de la guerre en dentelle

Großer Generalstab, Kriegsgeschichtliche Abteilung II (Publisher). Die Kriege Friedrichs des Großen. Dritter Teil: Der Siebenjährige Krieg 1756–1763, Vol. 1 Pirna und Lobositz, Berlin 1901, Anlage 1-2

Knötel, R.; Uniformkunde, Lose Blätter zur Geschichte der Entwicklung der militärischen Tracht, vol. V plate 7, Rathenow 1890-1921

Acknowledgments

Michael Zahn for the information provided for the creation of the initial version of this article.