Schloß-Garde-Kompanie
The Königlich Preußische Schloß-Garde-Compagnie, also Schloß-Garde-Kompanie and Schloßgarde-Kompanie, was an elite guard unit of the Prussian Army stationed in Berlin and subordinated to the Guard Corps (German: Garde-Korps). The house troops (German: Haustruppen) of the Margraves and Electors of Brandenburg as well as the Swiss Guard (German: Schweizer Garde) of Kurfürst Friedrich III, later King Friedrich I (they served him as a palace and life guard from 1696 to 1713), were the model.
Contents
History
The Castle or Palace Guard Company was founded on 30 March 1829 as a Guard NCO Company (German: Garde-Unter-Officier-Compagnie or Garde-Unteroffizier-Kompanie) and renamed on 3 October 1861. It was in charge of guarding the royal palaces and gardens of the Kingdom of Prussia in Berlin, Charlottenburg, Potsdam and Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe until 1918. On ceremonial occasions, they wore high grenadier caps from the 18th century.
The Guard Company consisted of semi-invalid infantry non-commissioned officers (mainly from the Garde-Invaliden-Compagnien) who had served for at least twelve years. Only in rare cases were none-invalid NCOs admitted if they had been awarded high decorations in battle. Participation in campaigns was mandatory (the oldest NCO had fought against the French in 1792), military awards were desired. The troops were supplemented without exception from Prussia (until 1866). The command was with a wing adjutant (German: Flügeladjutant) of the King of Prussia.
The company numbered one Feldwebel-Leutnant for the management of daily business, two Feldwebel-Sergeanten (later Feldwebel), five Feldwebel-Unteroffiziere (later Vizefeldwebel) and 62 non-commissioned officers (70 Schloßgardisten). Since 20 March 1849, after 25 years of service, the non-commissioned officers received the portepee, as of 14 June 1855 sword (German: Degen) with portepee, and as of 15 October 1855 (under King Friedrich Wilhelm IV) a sword with a crown (German: Krondegen) and were therefore called crown guards (German: Krongardisten). It was a great and trustworthy honour to serve or command the guard. As of 1 January 1893, as Leo von Pfannenberg writes, only higher NCOs (Feldwebel and Vizefeldwebel) and at least 1.83 m tall served. Also, since 8 May 1829, 2nd and 1st Lieutenants (Sekondeleutnants and Premierleutnants), who had served in a Garde-Regiment, were commanded to the Garde-Compagnie for a short term of service (mostly for a year, no more than 10, as of 1909 14 at a time), the first ones being Premierleutnant Eduard August von Brauchitsch (later Flügeladjutant and commander) and Sekondeleutnant von Heister. Both troop units in Berlin and Potsdam received a commanded (not transferred) company surgeon. The troop unit in Charlottenburg was treated medically by the doctors of the Gardes du Corps Eskadron.
From 1861 to 1871, in lack of non-commissioned officers who took part in battles, semi- or half-invalid NCOs could apply, but had to meet highest standards with at least twelve years of service. As of 1872, the Württemberg Army also had a Schloßgarde-Kompanie in Stuttgart.[1]
The Swiss Guard of the Electoral Hessian Army was incorporated into the Castle Guard Company after the Austro-Prussian War on 23 November 1866 (for Schloß Wilhelmshöhe, Löwenburg and the palaces of Hesse). On 13 October 1880, the last former Schweizer Gardist, Feldwebel Weltner (who had once guarded te captured Napoleon), died.
As of 27 January 1904, the Schloßgarde-Kompanie and the Leibgendamerie were subordinated to the Generalkapitän der Schloß- und Leibgarde Generalleutnant (finally Generaoberst) and Generaladjutant Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig Georg Ernst Karl von Scholl (1846–1928).
Strength
1829
- Berlin: Feldwebel-Leutnant, 4 Feldwebel and 26 Unteroffiziere
- The first Feldwebel-Leutnant was Feldwebel Wilhelm Treptow from the 1. Garde-Regiment zu Fuß who served from 7 May 1829 until 21 February 1861; promoted to Sekondeleutnant on 27 August 1829, received the Charakter als Hauptmann on 25 June 1850, died 20 June 1871.
- Charlottenburg: 1 Feldwebel, 8 Unteroffiziere; dissolved 1846 (the men were transferred to Berlin)
- Potsdam: 4 Feldwebel, 26 Unteroffiziere
1 April 1873
- Berlin: 1 Premierleutnant, 1 Feldwebel-Sergeant, 4 Feldwebel-Unteroffiziere, 45 Unteroffiziere
- Potsdam: 1 Feldwebel-Sergeant, Feldwebel-Unteroffizier, 15 Unteroffiziere
- Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe: 2 Unteroffiziere (+ Feldwebel Weltner from the Swiss Guard)
1909
- Berlin: 1 Hauptmann and 44 Schloßgardisten
- Potsdam: 21 Schloßgardisten
- Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe: 4 Schloßgardisten
Notable commanders (excerpt)
- Hans Mathias Ludwig Philipp von Boehn
- Friedrich „Fritz“ Emil Ludwig Leopold Ferdinand von Friedeburg
- Eberhard Alfred Konrad Karl von Hofacker
- Gustav Emil Bernhard Bodo von Kessel
- Oskar Fromhold Friedrich Olof von Lindequist
- Bernhard Joseph Adolph von Lippe
- Alfred Franz Julius Leonhard Höffer von Loewenfeld
- Helmuth Johannes Ludwig von Moltke
- Johannes Heinrich Maximilian von Mutius
- Carl Gustav Ernst von Petersdorff
- Carl Philipp August Graf von Schlieffen (2nd commander)
- Heinrich Helmuth Otto Eduard Bruno Freiherr von Steinaecker
- Wilhelm Hermann Heinrich von Thümen (1st commander)
- Bernhard Franz Wilhelm von Werder
- Hugo Hans Carl von Winterfeld
Further reading
- Otto Süß: Geschichte der Königlichen Schloß-Garde-Kompagnie zu Feier ihres 50jährigen Bestehens. In: "Der Soldatenfreund", Berlin 1879
- Leo von Pfannenberg: Geschichte der Schloß-Garde-Kompanie Seiner Majestät des Kaisers und Königs 1829–1909, Verlag von Georg Stilke, Berlin 1909
- Rolf Selzer: Der Infanterie-Offizier-Degen a/A der preussischen Schloß-Garde-Kompanie, 2006
References
- ↑ The company, based in Stuttgart, was formed in 1872 from parts of the disbanded mounted Feldjäger squadron. It had to perform guard and representation duties in the royal palaces and gardens and reported to the king's adjutant general in command matters and directly to the Ministry of War in administrative matters.
