Chapter 247: Heixingen Brigade
As the Franco-Prussian War began to unfold, France initiated its mobilization efforts on July 15. The French Parliament officially declared war on Prussia the following day. During this time, the four southern German states with strong nationalist sentiments—Bavaria, Baden, Württemberg, and Hesse—aligned themselves with Prussia.
Prussia, at this point, had three legions, with the southern front mainly composed of the Third Legion led by Crown Prince Friedrich William (Frederick III). This Third Legion included:
- Fifth Army under the command of Kirchbach
- 6th Army under the command of Tumplinger
- 11th Army under the command of Brose
- Bavarian 1st Army under the command of Tann-Rat Zamhausen
- Bavarian 2nd Army under the command of Hartmann
- Württemberg Division
- Baden Division
- Cavalry 2nd and 4th Divisions
- Hexingen Brigade
The Hexingen Brigade was an interesting addition to this force. Due to the unique position of the Princely Kingdom of Hexingen, it was designated as a separate combat unit, theoretically on par with the Prussian army.
In this war, the Hexingen Brigade was entirely formed by the Hexingen royal family. Not only were the personnel sourced from Hexingen, but the weapons and equipment were also provided by the Hexingen arsenal in the German region, making integration with the Prussian army's logistics easier.
Leopold served as the commander of the Hexingen Brigade, answering directly to the regiment commander, Frederick III. The brigade was composed of 4,372 individuals from the Princely Kingdom of Hexingen, including third-year students from the Hechingen Military Academy, as well as some second and first-year students and conscripts recruited by Hexingen and Sigmaringen.
The Hexingen Brigade stood out during the assembly of the armies. It was characterized by its youth, capability, and organization. Frederick III took a keen interest in this brigade, particularly its readiness and discipline.
Frederick III was concerned about the readiness of the other state armies. Prussia, which had a well-established military tradition, was confident in its own forces. However, some of the other states, like Baden and Württemberg, had not seen significant military action for an extended period, making their readiness uncertain. Bavaria was an exception due to its previous conflicts.
Frederick III was pleasantly surprised by the Hexingen Brigade's performance. He noted its youthfulness, capability, and neatness. Despite its small size compared to the other armies, it was highly organized and disciplined.
As the supreme commander of the Third Army, Frederick III inspected the armies of the other states, and the Hexingen Brigade's performance caught his attention. It was a positive sign that a relatively small, well-organized unit like the Hexingen Brigade could make a significant contribution on the battlefield.
Despite his interest in military affairs, Prince Ernst of Hexingen was not directly involved in the Hexingen Brigade's training. Instead, he took a hands-off approach and focused on his business ventures and overseas colonization. Leopold explained that Ernst preferred business and overseas colonization over military matters, and that the Hechingen Brigade was his way of contributing to Germany's interests.
The Franco-Prussian War was underway, and the French Army, known as one of the world's finest, was the opponent. Frederick III expressed concerns about the readiness of the other state armies, but Leopold remained optimistic about their performance on the battlefield.