The Reichsarmee: speculative flags of the Kurmainz Infantry Regiment

Disclaimer: As Kronoskaf points out, we have no information on the flags carried by this unit, so these flags are entirely speculative and versions can be found floating about on the Internet; the one with the cipher RK has been used by many wargamers but I have also provided a possibly more plausible version with the eagle represented on both sides of the regimental flag.

Kurmainz was created from drafts of men from at least 2 (and possibly 3) of the Mainz Infantry Regiments for the duration of the war. It was a strong regiment, of 4 battalions with 2 grenadier companies and 8 3-pounder guns. As a single contingent unit it was one of the best of the Reichsarmee units; Soubise in 1757 rated it as "good".

Cogswell in Zweybrücken In Command gives various tables listing the Kurmainz Regiment, which suggest that only 3 of the 4 battalions were in the field. In May 1758 the 4 battalions had a nominal strength of 2524 but an actual strength of 2260. From the end of March to the 19th April only 3 battalions are listed for Mainz and so it is for the rest of the campaign year of 1758. The 2 grenadier companies had around 200 men in total.

The regiment was lucky to avoid Rossbach in November 1757, as it was on detached duty on the Saale River. Kronoskaf says that as its original composition was diluted with raw recruits so the unit quality deteriorated and its performance was consequently erratic.

In 1758 the regiment served with the Reichsarmee in Bohermia and then Saxony; one battalion was in garrison in Erfurt.

In 1759 the regiment ran away with the rest of the Reichsarmee infantry at the battle of Zinna (or 1st Torgau) on Septemebr 8th; the only Reichsarmee unit to behave well that day was the consistently excellent battalion of Hessen-Darmstadt. Mainz was at Korbitz on September 21st and Maxen on November 20th, at neither of which does it seem to have performed any important duty.

In 1760 the regiment was at the messy and inconclusive combat of Strehla on August 20th. Later it participated in the defence of Dresden.

In 1761 it was in Saxony. Its moment of glory was at Freiberg on October 29th 1762; as part of the left flank division of Mayern it helped delay the Prussian attack by Seydlitz and Kleist for a considerable time (see Duffy, By Force Of Arms).

The regiment was disbanded in 1763.

This was the uniform in 1756: