PRUSSIA
30th "Von Kannacher" Regiment
Battle of Leuthen 1757

The Regiment was raised in Anklam and Demmin in 1728 as a fusilier regiment.
Its troops came from a former garrison regiment and the new unit continued to garrison Anklam and Demmin.
It recruited in the districts of Anklam, Demmin, Treptow, Usedom and Wollin and in the towns of Anklam, Demmin, Jarmen, Neuwarp, Penkun and Ueckermünde.
During the War of the Polish Succession, the regiment served on the Upper Rhine in 1734.
On December 16 1740, the regiment was transformed into a musketeer regiment.
During the War of the Austrian Succession, the regiment served in Silesia in 1741. On May 17 1742, it fought at the battle of Chotusitz. In 1745, it took part to the battles of Hohenfriedberg (June 4) and Kesselsdorf (December 15), distinguishing itself in the latter battle.
During the Seven Years' War, the regiment was commanded by:
The regiment was disbanded in November 1806 after the capitulation of Ratekau.
Service during the War
Blanckensee Infantry storming an Austrian redoubt - Copyright: Harald SkalaOn the eve of the Seven Years' War, the regiment was still garrisoning Anklam and Demmin.
On August 26 1756, when the Prussian Army proceeded to the invasion of Saxony, the regiment was part of the left column led by the Prince of Bevern. This column had concentrated in the area of Lübben, then advanced through Lusatia by Hoyerswerda and Bautzen, to Hohenstein (Sept. 8) then to Lohmen north of the Elbe near Pirna. On October 1, the regiment took part in the Battle of Lobositz where it was assigned to the Brigade of Lieutenant-General Prince von Bevern. It lost 275 men in this battle. On October 2, the second battalion of the regiment was sent forward to occupy the village of Sulowitz. On October 19, the same battalion was ordered to escort the bakery to Linai.
On May 6 1757, during the invasion of Bohemia, the regiment took part in the Battle of Prague where it was deployed in the first line in Ferdinand of Brunswick's Brigade. On November 22, the regiment fought in the Battle of Breslau where it was deployed in Ingersleben's Brigade, in the first line of the infantry centre. On December 5 at the Battle of Leuthen, the regiment was deployed in Kahlden's Brigade in the first line of the infantry centre.
In the Spring of 1758, the regiment took part in the failed Prussian invasion of Moravia. On October 14, it fought in the Battle of Hochkirch where it was initially deployed in the first line to the left of the village of Hochkirch. Personally led by Keith, the regiment recaptured the Prussian battery near Hochkirch and pushed the Austrians back before being overwhelmed by number and forced to retire. Keith was killed during the action. Around 7:00 a.m., the rallied regiment supported Itzenplitz Infantry during its attack and temporary recapture of the village of Hochkirch. During this battle, the regiment suffered heavy casualties (around 50%).
On September 2 1759, the regiment, as part of Zieten's Corps, fought in the Combat of Sorau.
On September 17 1760, the regiment took part in the Combat of Hochgiersdorf where it was attached to the vanguard led by Lieutenant-General von Forcade. On November 3, the regiment took part in the Battle of Torgau, where it suffered heavy losses. The same year, it was also involved in engagements at Meißen and Böhmisch-Friedland.
On May 12 1762, the regiment took part in the Combat of Doebeln where it was attached to the centre left column led by Major-General Joachim Friedrich Stutterheim (Alt-Stutterheim). On October 29, the regiment took part in the Battle of Freiberg.
(from http://www.kronoskaf.com/syw/index.php?title=Blanckensee_Infantry)
Its troops came from a former garrison regiment and the new unit continued to garrison Anklam and Demmin.
It recruited in the districts of Anklam, Demmin, Treptow, Usedom and Wollin and in the towns of Anklam, Demmin, Jarmen, Neuwarp, Penkun and Ueckermünde.
During the War of the Polish Succession, the regiment served on the Upper Rhine in 1734.
On December 16 1740, the regiment was transformed into a musketeer regiment.
During the War of the Austrian Succession, the regiment served in Silesia in 1741. On May 17 1742, it fought at the battle of Chotusitz. In 1745, it took part to the battles of Hohenfriedberg (June 4) and Kesselsdorf (December 15), distinguishing itself in the latter battle.
During the Seven Years' War, the regiment was commanded by:
- since November 5 1755: Berend Sigismund von Blanckensee
- from October 19 1756: Hans Samuel von Pritz
- from January 21 1757: Ernst Ludwig von Kannacher
- from January 1 1759 until November 23 1768: Joachim Friedrich von Stutterheim (aka Alt-Stutterheim)
The regiment was disbanded in November 1806 after the capitulation of Ratekau.
Service during the War
Blanckensee Infantry storming an Austrian redoubt - Copyright: Harald SkalaOn the eve of the Seven Years' War, the regiment was still garrisoning Anklam and Demmin.
On August 26 1756, when the Prussian Army proceeded to the invasion of Saxony, the regiment was part of the left column led by the Prince of Bevern. This column had concentrated in the area of Lübben, then advanced through Lusatia by Hoyerswerda and Bautzen, to Hohenstein (Sept. 8) then to Lohmen north of the Elbe near Pirna. On October 1, the regiment took part in the Battle of Lobositz where it was assigned to the Brigade of Lieutenant-General Prince von Bevern. It lost 275 men in this battle. On October 2, the second battalion of the regiment was sent forward to occupy the village of Sulowitz. On October 19, the same battalion was ordered to escort the bakery to Linai.
On May 6 1757, during the invasion of Bohemia, the regiment took part in the Battle of Prague where it was deployed in the first line in Ferdinand of Brunswick's Brigade. On November 22, the regiment fought in the Battle of Breslau where it was deployed in Ingersleben's Brigade, in the first line of the infantry centre. On December 5 at the Battle of Leuthen, the regiment was deployed in Kahlden's Brigade in the first line of the infantry centre.
In the Spring of 1758, the regiment took part in the failed Prussian invasion of Moravia. On October 14, it fought in the Battle of Hochkirch where it was initially deployed in the first line to the left of the village of Hochkirch. Personally led by Keith, the regiment recaptured the Prussian battery near Hochkirch and pushed the Austrians back before being overwhelmed by number and forced to retire. Keith was killed during the action. Around 7:00 a.m., the rallied regiment supported Itzenplitz Infantry during its attack and temporary recapture of the village of Hochkirch. During this battle, the regiment suffered heavy casualties (around 50%).
On September 2 1759, the regiment, as part of Zieten's Corps, fought in the Combat of Sorau.
On September 17 1760, the regiment took part in the Combat of Hochgiersdorf where it was attached to the vanguard led by Lieutenant-General von Forcade. On November 3, the regiment took part in the Battle of Torgau, where it suffered heavy losses. The same year, it was also involved in engagements at Meißen and Böhmisch-Friedland.
On May 12 1762, the regiment took part in the Combat of Doebeln where it was attached to the centre left column led by Major-General Joachim Friedrich Stutterheim (Alt-Stutterheim). On October 29, the regiment took part in the Battle of Freiberg.
(from http://www.kronoskaf.com/syw/index.php?title=Blanckensee_Infantry)
In the picture here above, it's possible to see the the complete Prussian 30th Regiment (on 2 battalions) at its full strength at the Battle of Leuthen in 1757 at 1:1 ratio. The entire battalion is 74 cm wide and has around 540 men. This image can give the idea of what it was to face a battalion.
Thanks to the company-sized stands, I can simulate also the fighting by companies with rapid changing from line to coloumn as in the following pictures.
Thanks to the company-sized stands, I can simulate also the fighting by companies with rapid changing from line to coloumn as in the following pictures.
The result of the turning from line to coloumn is as follows
here above: every battalion had 5 colours. The 1st battalion had the Leibfahne and 4 Regimentsfahnen.