Up the Poles!

[OotKust]

Up the Poles!

Any others, like me, enamoured of the various Polish corps that existed over the span of the wars, say about 18-20 years?

Now I have had, in my first ‘French’ incarnation army, a bit of everything, so there were the usual suspects- Garde Lancers (coz manufacturers skip the Light Horse version mostly); and the ‘line/ Vistula’ lancers incumbent under French service. I’ve only ever seen one 25mm Polish National Army, and another in 15s.

For me the old figures were expunged, put into storage as was La Garde in general. However seeing more modern research on the Poles come about after their adhesion to (hopeful) France in various guises of the Republican Era (1797+) to 1800, and that instance of being attached for a change to the Army of the Rhine (or Germany which is easier and descriptive) under Moreau, they fought at Hohenlinden 1800 in the famous flanking force (under Decaen) who assaulted the Austrian/ Bavarian LOC and Reserve.

Therefore, despite needing ‘new’ figures, I feel a modest demi-brigade outside the usual OB, coming on!

I have a lot of separate pics from the likes of Morawski? and P Courcelle, though I’m a little wary of the latter, but very little actual confirmation of strengths. However  ‘Empire’ figures can be dumbed-down by painting to avoid that overly flash look. Bonaparte/ Nap. wasn’t so honourable with the Poles he ‘used’, yet they fought well throughout the time.

cheers davew

Swinging from left to right no matter where the hobby goes!

[OotKust]

Cross- reference to:

More Research- 1798- Battle of Civita Castellana

~d

Swinging from left to right no matter where the hobby goes!

[OotKust]

Well a bit more scurrying around the depths of interwebs and one finds some more clarification:

@ https://sites.google.com/site/culturamag0/histoire/les-legions-polonaises-1796-1807
– –
B) The creation of the Danube Legion

September 8, 1799, it is decided to create a new legion Polish, who this time must serve in Germany. The general Kniazniewicz is appointed head of this legion. In order not to live again the same event in Mantua, the convention of 7 Fructidor Year VII considers Polish soldiers serving in this legion to be French soldiers.

The Danube Legion is divided into two forces, one in Strasbourg under the orders of General Moreau, the other in Mayence under the command of General Klein.

They return to campaign on April 30, 1800. This legion served in Germany until the signing of the Treaty of Lunville, February 9, 1801 (20 Pluvise Year IX). Once again, the Poles are sidelined. Once again, to raises the question for France of the usefulness of the Polish legions.

So we have a title, origins and some clarity on where this legion sits when almost all English language info resides around the various uses and creations that occured solely in the Italian domains.

I also had in my possession, yet without specific linking of facts, an illustration of their alleged uniforms. Were such as newly raised ‘foreign’ troops really this well dressed in a time of war?:

The abuse of their subsequent roles as detritus cannon fodder hauled off to the West Indies comes under the ‘Inconvenient Truth’ banner of colonialism and corruption.

cheers ~d

 

Swinging from left to right no matter where the hobby goes!

[Whirlwind]

I think Polish troops are the most sizeable missing contingent in my 6mm Napoleonic armies – definitely ‘on the list’ to do at some point.

[OotKust]

Yes they seem a common thought but then so few make it, apart from the ‘known’ elite.
-d

Swinging from left to right no matter where the hobby goes!

[OotKust]

Just a brief modelling update.
Despite the slightly excessive Empire style uniforms, I’ve decided to try some sample paints using the FN and DWN series of Miniature Figurines™ 25mm to obtain a cadre of men and horse.

Down playing some of the uniform elements; schapska cords and flounders minimised; large front plate ditto etc. removing aiguillettes and perhaps removing some epaulettes from the foot (manufactured as ‘voltigeurs’ yet having no complementing ‘fusilier’ in adequate uniforms).

The Legion is referred to in documentation above and others as composed of “chasseurs”- a good indication to me that they were a light corps- auxiliaries in parlance as we used to say, not line troops anyway, so the downplayed epaulettes isn’t such a big deal after all.

A small regiment of lancers will also add a little spice to the legion, so some time next year perhaps…
-d

Swinging from left to right no matter where the hobby goes!

[OotKust]

2024 Developments!

In an out-of-the-blue assault on my modelling, someone came along with some nicely painted Polish/ Duchy of Warsaw Miniature Figures 25mm, that I had factored in to a ‘maybe’ project for adding the unheard of ‘Danube Legion’ of 1798/99.

AND perhaps sufficient for a battalion or two of 1807 campaign add-ons. Given these wore borrowed/captured Prussian uniforms I’d say more grey overalls will be in use!

So my plan is to defile and downgrade these to 1800, but as carefully as possible. To join the

https://www.thewargameswebsite.com/forums/topic/1800-army-of-the-rhine-moreau/

cheers d

Swinging from left to right no matter where the hobby goes!

[OotKust]

To add, another facet is exciting…

and it’s placement even more so. And Polish Artillery á Cheval- two 8 pounders! Superb!!!

OB_Hohenlinden 1800 graphic _JeffBerry©

-d

Swinging from left to right no matter where the hobby goes!

[OotKust]

Pecking the ground so to speak, another snippet of corroboration comes my way.

https://www.napoleon-series.org/military-info/organization/Poland/VistulaLegion/c_loststandards.html

As the ‘elastic’ movements and loyalties of the ‘Poles’ isn’t clearly defined under most histories, this helps, under the title ‘The Vistula Lancers Regiment’ :

“This prestigious body of light cavalry was made up of about 1000 men, all of Polish nationality, distributed in four squadrons of two companies, commanded by Colonel J. Konopka.

Although the name of Vistula Legion was given to them by the Emperor on the 2nd March 1808, in fact its origins went back to the 8th September 1799 when it was created as the “Regiment of Lancers of the Polish Legion of the Danube”, which in 1801 took the name of the “Regiment of Polish Lancers” and in 1807 that of “Lancers of the Italian Polish Legion”.

Its showy and unmistakable uniform [! rich coming from a Spaniard] consisted of trousers and short jacket of turquoise-blue cloth, with yellow collar, facings and lapels and silver-plated buttons. Their headgear were the typical Polish czapska, in this case yellow, and each lancer carried a small arsenal consisting of his lance with red and white guidon pennants, sabre, two pistols and a carbine….”

I’ve corrected some words to better reflect the ‘English’ usage than transliteration from the original Spanish.

Although other resources cite lancers AND chasseurs in a composite unit, my ‘lancers’ can be adequately depicted with near stock figures with minor amendment, always a better prospect:

…

Although this cites 1805, I’ll forego the aiguillettes as I just don’t see them in use  by troops this early except by staff officers.

-d

Swinging from left to right no matter where the hobby goes!

[OotKust]

Those s/h figures I picked up recently, variety of paint jobs and skill levels I see after a review. Some minor defects of bodies but generally all pretty good.

Here’s a trinket I thought I’d try out- the flag was flying right to left as originally placed and neither guy could see where they were going!

Ex- misc Polish Eagle 1807 WIP by DaveW, on Flickr .

So in a moment of ‘resting’ I decided to strip it off, (with the inherent difficulties that could have occurred)  I’ve repositioned it fore and aft and made sure to reglue with PVA as tightly as possible. Also touched up a little of the figures, new black top to czapskas for now as the lace was way too broad; added a little additional facing colour, but will need later to tone down the massive shading streaks on all figures in unit (one of the few with 26 figures for some reason).

And whether the flag should be Polish Crimson or not I don’t yet know (yes I have a bunch of resources, just didn’t realise I’d ever be fishing again…

[I’m] Considering these later looking elements a bonus for the 1805-07 Army, rather than for 1799/1800. Too many would need changing for me to bother, besides latter is only one demi-brigade and needn’t be full strength, but I’m sure it will be.

~dave

Swinging from left to right no matter where the hobby goes!

[OotKust]

Another enquiry- anyone have a clue where this missive comes from. A very brief piece of history of the Polish emigres/PoW ‘legions’.

Some of the info conflicts with other resources- and sadly this one completely devoid of reference to the ‘Danube Legion’ of 1799.

I picked it up in 2020, not sure where as my record keeping wasn’t encyclopaedic back then… hmmm… it’s a matter of what to leave in, what to leave out!

thanks dave

Swinging from left to right no matter where the hobby goes!

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