engleski

Defending the Queen: Croatian Grenzer Regiments during the Seven Years War

Croatian Grenzers or just Grenzers fought on the battlefields of Seven Years’ War (1756-1763). Depending on the occasion and strategical wartime need, mainly known as Karlstädter-Likkaner, Ottochaner, Oguliner, Szluiner origin from the Karlovac Generalcy of Military Frontier, and as Banalisten, Gradiscaner, Brooder, Peterwardiener from Varasdin Generalcy and Slavonian part of Military Frontier, these aforementioned infantry regiments were incorporated in forms of its battalions into battle corps leaded by many famous in career uprising Austrian officers. Grenzers were mainly used, although they were organized as line infantry, as elite light troops (similar was the usage of Grenzer Hussar regiments and its battalions) for special tasks characteristic for small war (such as General Hadik famous raid on Berlin in October 1757, many attacks on enemy convoys, intrusions on enemy territory, skirmishes). On regular battlefield Grenzers as light infantry mostly had position in specific location conditioned by battlefield terrain (groves and forests, hills and plateaus) and specific tasks (forming a vanguard or rear guard, protecting of the marching army flanks, performing reconnaissance patrols and skirmishes, interceptions of enemy correspondence and capturing or arrresting deserteurs). According to these specific duties and tasks that austrian military command gave to them, Grenzers were regarded as skilled, brave and reliable soldiers and warriors. As many sources indicate and display, between gun smoke and fire of artillery and line infantry Grenzers were successful, stubborn-in-defence, fierce- in-offence soldiers. According to aforementioned indications, author of this paper will present and analyze role of Grenzer detachmenst in several selected battles of Seven Years’ War (battle of Lobositz 1st October 1756, battle of Prague and battle of Moys in 1757, battle of Hochkirch in October 1758, battle of Kunersdorf and Maxen in 1759, battle of Landshut and Liegnitz in 1760) Author will also additonally present and analyse the role of Grenzers in several smaller encounters, skirmishes, intrusions and raids from the domain of Grenzers conduction of small war (storming of the city and fortress Tetschen in October 1756, intrusion on the prussian winter camp in winter 1756/1757, storming of prussian military depot ad Gabel in July 1757, ambushes on prussian columns and trains at Kamnitz, Hassel und Kaltenbach in July 1757, raid on Berlin in October 1757 and storming of Schweidnitz in October 1761).

Grenzers, Military Frontier, Seven Year's War, small war, Maria Theresia

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