Prague Prussian Flags Project - Flags of Prussian Fusilier Infantry Regiment 41 Wied

The Prague Prussian infantry flags project moves towards its close with this, the penultimate flag set. It is not one of the most exciting or attractive sets of these flags nor is the last flag set, that of IR3, which will be posted sometime soon. After that I may, as part of the plan ultimately to post all the Prussian infantry flags, work on the the flags carried at Kolin that have not already been produced in this and previous projects.

 

Chef: 27th July 1746 to 1765 Colonel Franz Carl Ludwig, Count von Wied zu Neuwied, later Lieutenant General

 

 

First raised for the service of Württemberg in 1716, the regiment was taken into Prussian service in 1741.

The regiment took part in the siege of Pirna in 1756. Increased by 300 men in January 1757, it went to Bohemia in April 1757 and fought at Prague on May 6th as part of the second line, right wing, reinforcing Hautcharmoy's division in the breakthrough south of Kej. It fought at Kolin on June 18th along with its grenadiers. The regiment was taken out of the second line of the left wing by the King and sent into the gap between Prinz Franz and Pannewitz's Brigades to launch a new attack on the Krzeczhorz Heights. The King himself led the attack with drawn sword and the attack succeeded around 5.30pm. In the battle's finale at Novemesto the grenadiers helped protect the retreat of the second line's right wing, with the artillery, wounded and fugitives. The regiment lost 1018 men including its commander Colonel Herwarth von Bittenfeld. (Duffy, Army of Frederick the Great, 1st Edition (henceforth Duffy AFG1) shows around 75% casualties; the grenadiers with IR44 lost about 25% casualties.) In August it was sent with Bevern to Silesia. On September 7th the grenadiers were part of the defence of the Jäckelsberg at Moys and lost 204 dead and 68 wounded. On November 22nd in the battle for Breslau the regiment stood its ground and then at Leuthen in December it fought on the right wing, losing 79 dead and 73 wounded.

In 1758 the regiment fought in the siege of Schweidnitz; the grenadiers stormed the Gallows Fort on April 16th. The grenadiers fought at Domstadl and the musketeer battalions in the defeat at Olmütz June 1st to July 1st. On the march back to Landeshut the regiment captured Kronau, which was held by eight grenadier companies. On August 11th the King took it to join Dohna’s Corps. It occupied the ruined city of Küstrin and then helped secure Lusatia against the Austrians. At Hochkirch on October 14th the grenadiers were on the right wing near the village and suffered about 30% casualties (Duffy AFG1) and the rest of the regiment fought against the Swedes at Fehrbellin under Wedell in October before moving to Torgau to secure the Mulde.

In 1759 it was sent to Franconia with the Saxon Corps. In August at Kunersdorf it suffered very heavy losses in the Kuhgrund including its regimental commander Colonel von Böhm. (Duffy AFG1 shows about 40% casualties.) At Maxen the grenadiers were taken prisoner. At Liegnitz on August 15th the regiment led the counterattack on Panten and the commander received the Order of the Black Eagle in consequence. At Torgau on November 3rd the regiment was with Zieten in the Tettenborn Brigade and took the village of Süptitz in the attack from the south that decided the battle after the Austrians thought they had won it.

In 1761 and 1762 the grenadiers fought in Pomerania and Upper Silesia and the two musketeer battalions were with the King at Peilau on August 16th, their last action of the war.

In 1763 the regiment had 1093 Prussians, 125 Saxons and 402 foreigners. The regiment was one of those most highly favoured by the King.

 

And this was the uniform in 1756: