Alt-Dönhof Infantry
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Origin and History
The regiment was raised by Bogislaw von Schwerin in Pomerania and Neumark according to a warrant issued by the Elector of Brandenburg Friedrich Wilhelm on 20 December 1655. In 1656, it took part in the Battle of Warsaw. In 1657, it was transferred permanently to East Prussia and took up quarters in Rastgenburg and Gerdauen. In 1659, it took part in the affair of Braunsberg.
In 1672, the regiment formed part of a relief corps sent to Poland.
In 1674, during the Franco-Dutch War (1672-78), the regiment campaigned on the Lower-Rhine. In 1675, it was present at the Battle of Turckheim. The same year during the Swedish-Brandenburg War (1675-79), the regiment took part in the storming of Rathenow. In 1676, it campaigned in Pomerania and took part in the siege and capture of Anklam. In 1677, it participated in the siege of Stettin. In 1678, it returned to Prussia.
In 1683, during the Great Turkish War, four companies of the regiment formed part of the relief corps sent to Hungary. In 1686, one battalion was sent to Hungary and took part in the siege of Ofen.
In 1688, during the Nine Years’ War (1688-1697), the regiment was stationed in Altmark and Pomerania. In 1689, it campaigned in Westphalia and took part in the siege of Bonn.
In 1691, the second battalion was sent to Hungary where it took part in the victorious Battle of Slankamen and in the siege of Gross-Wardein. In 1692, this battalion returned to Prussia.
In 1693, the first battalion took part in the campaign in the Low Countries. Meanwhile, the second battalion marched once more for Hungary where it took part in the siege of Belgrade.
In 1694, the first battalion campaigned in Brabant where it took part in the siege and capture of Huy. Meanwhile, the second battalion was encircled by the Turks in the camp of Peterwardein during three weeks.
In 1695, the first battalion campaigned in Brabant where it took part in the siege and capture of Namur. Meanwhile, the second battalion continued to operate in Hungary.
In 1696, the first battalion campaigned in Brabant. Meanwhile, the second battalion continued to operate in Hungary.
In 1697, the first battalion campaigned in Flanders. Meanwhile, the second battalion continued to operate in Hungary where it fought in the Battle of Zenta.
In 1700, the first battalion returned to Prussia.
During the War of the Spanish Succession, the regimental Chefs were:
- from 3 March 1696 to 27 December 1717: Count Otto Magnus von Döhnhoff
Service during the War
In 1701, two companies of the regiment were sent to the Rhine along the 5,000 men strong Prussian contingent hired by the Dutch. Meanwhile the first battalion remained in Prussia because war had broken out (the Great Northern War) between Sweden and Denmark.
In April 1702, the two companies belonging to the Prussian contingent were in the region of Wesel. They took part in the siege of Kaiserwerth which capitulated in June. The Prussian contingent then took part in the sieges and capture of Venlo and Roermond. Meanwhile the first battalion was in Memel and the second in Tilsit and Insterburg.
In January 1705, the second battalion was sent to Frankfurt/Main. In September, it took part in the siege of Drusenheim; and in October, in the siege of Haguenau. It took up its winter-quarters in Halberstadt. The same year, the grenadiers of the regiment were sent to Italy. On 19 May, they took part in an affair near Ossetto. On 16 August, they fought in the Battle of Cassano where they lost 14 men killed and 6 wounded.
In 1706, Prussia getting increasingly involved in the Great Northern War, the second battalion was recalled from Halberstadt to the Mark while the first battalion operated on the Vistula. Meanwhile, the grenadiers continued to campaign in Italy. On 19 April, they took part in the Battle of Calcinato; on 7 September, in the Battle of Turin; and on 25 October, in the capture of Pizzighetone.
In 1707, the first battalion was sent from Pomerania to East Prussia and the second battalion, to the Low Countries.
On 11 July 1708, the second battalion took part in the Battle of Oudenarde, where Ensign Count Dohna was mortally wounded, and afterwards in the siege and capture of Lille where it lost Joh. Gerhard von Gaudecker, Staff-Captain Robert von Hamilton and Sub-Lieutenant von der Liepen, killed. Overall, during the siege, the battalion lost 43 men killed, 85 wounded, and 72 who died from disease or deserted.
In 1709, the first battalion went from Tilsit to Königsberg. The same year, the second battalion took part in the siege of Tournai and, on 11 September, in the Battle of Malplaquet where it lost 1 officer (Ensign Walt. Sebastian von Bronsart), 2 NCOs and 29 privates, killed; and 4 officers(Lieutenant Ernst Wilhelm von Sadoffski, Lieutenant Melchior Erdmann von Bronsart, Ensign Corvin von Wiersbitzki, Ensign Paul Sievers), 2 NCOs and 54 privates, wounded.
In 1710, the first battalion campaigned in the Neumark while the second battalion took part in the siege of Douai.
In 1711, the first battalion marched from the Neumark to Prussia while the second battalion started the campaign in the Low Countries, taking part in the siege of Bouchain before returning to Stargard in Pomerania.
In 1711, the first battalion was stationed in Königsberg; and the second, in Berlin.
Uniforms
From 1700, each Prussian unit started to wear a distinguishing uniform. A regulation was issued in 1709 to standardize the uniform and equipment.
Privates
| Headgear |
| ||||||||||||
| Neck stock | red | ||||||||||||
| Coat | blue with yellow buttons below the lapels
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| Waistcoat | yellow | ||||||||||||
| Breeches | yellow | ||||||||||||
| Stockings | red | ||||||||||||
| Gaiters | white | ||||||||||||
| Leather Equipment |
|
Armaments consisted of a musket and a sword. Grenadiers were also armed with hand grenades.
NCOs
To do
Officers
Uniforms of officers were always of finer cloth, better cut and better embroideries than those of the privates.
Officers carried a spontoon, an epee and a black and silver sash. From 1709, they also had a black and silver porte-epee and a gorget.
Musicians
To do
Colours
Colonel colour (Leibfahne): White field sown with golden stars and flaming grenades; centre device consisting of a black armed and crowned eagle surrounded by a golden laurel wreath and surmounted by a golden crown; above the centre device, a white scroll bearing the motto "NON SOLUS ARMIS" in gold; golden corner flames.
Regimental colours (Kompaniefahnen): Black field sown with golden stars and flaming grenades; centre device consisting of a white medallion surrounded by a golden laurel wreath and surmounted by a golden crown. The medallion is decorated with a black armed and crowned eagle; above the centre device, a white scroll bearing the motto "NON SOLUS ARMIS" in gold; golden corner flames.
References
This article incorporates texts from the following books which are now in the public domain:
- Oelsnitz, Alexander Carl von der: Geschichte des koeniglich preussischen ersten Infanterie-Regiments, Berlin: Mittler & Sohn, 1855
Other sources
Fahnen und Standarten der brandenburgisch preussischen Armee, 1623-1713; Redlin, Reinhold, compiler & publisher 1975
Hohrath, Daniel: The Uniforms of the Prussian Army under Frederick the Great from 1740 to 1786; Vol. 2; Verlag Militaria, Vienna: 2011, p. 18
Wikipedia
- German Wikipedia
