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Seven Years’ War Austro-Hungarian Infantry
UniformInfo - Military Modelling magazine
Q.
Sirs,
I am interested in collecting a selection of armies of the Seven Years War. Whilst information on British, French and Prussian armies is easily available, I am at a loss for information on Austrian regiments.
Could you please provide information on Austrian regimental facing colours and details of some standards?
In addition could you please explain the organisation of horse grenadiers in the British Army — were there squadrons of these attached to each regiment of dragoons and or horse?
Warrington, Lancs. W. Nevett
A.
Uniform information regarding the Austro-Hungarian Army during the Seven Years War is of a highly complex nature and cannot be dealt with in any great depth in the space afforded by these columns. When we state that there were 59 regiments for the infantry alone, plus 7 National Grenz and Volunteer regiments; plus the fact that the regular line regiments were divided into German and Hungarian regiments, both clothed in different fashions (as were the Grenz units), you can begin to appreciate the implications of what you ask. Superimposed on this, a number of regiments changed their facing colours during the course of the war!
The information that follows is very basic indeed, and for a full list of facing colours we suggest that you consult Knotel-Sieg's Handbuch der Uniformkunde. Although the text is in German the book has tables which can be quite easily followed with the aid of a German dictionary. Most important, it is readily available through specialist booksellers and is comparatively cheap. Ask your local reference library if they can obtain a copy. It is well worth going to the trouble of trying to obtain it.
The uniform of the ʹGermanʹ infantry was a black tricorne hat trimmed with braid of the button colour. At the left front a yellow woollen pom-pom with a black centre. The coat, waistcoat and breaches were white. The coat being fashioned with lapels and large turned-back cuffs in the regimental facing colour. Black gaiters. The stock worn around the neck was red. Grenadiers wore a fur cap and carried a sabre as well as a bayonet.
The ʹHungarianʹ infantry wore the hat as described above. The coat was white, but fashioned without labels. The cuffs were pointed. Cuffs and turnbacks were in the regimental facing colour. On each side of the coat was a coloured woollen buttonhole loop with a tassel. The waistcoats and breaches were coloured and the waistcoat fashioned in the style of the hussar dolman with cording across the breast. A barrelled sash was worn around the waist under the coat. Short black boots.
All carried the sabre. The stock for these Hungarian units was black. Another hussar innovation worn by the regiment ʹErzherzog Ferdinandʹ was a sabretache which was worn very high beneath the coat.
We give you below a description of a ʹGermanʹ Regiment and a ʹHungarianʹ regiment which will enable you to start to paint your wargame army.
Regiment No.4. ʹHoch & Deutschmeisterʹ
Hat as described above and trimmed with yellow lace. Gold for officers. White coats with Saphire Blue lapels, cuffs and turnbacks, yellow metal buttons. White waistcoat and breeches.
Hungarian Infantry Regiment No.32 ʹGiulayʹ
Hat as described above with yellow trimming, gold for officers. White coat with blue turnbacks and cuffs, Yellow metal buttons. Red buttonhole lace. Blue waistcoat and breaches. Red hussar braiding and piping on the waistcoat. Barrelled sash, blue and red.
The organisation of Horse Grenadiers in the British Army was one troop per regiment.