3rd Grenadiers IR

Inhaber
Astrakhan


Unit History
In March 1756, the third Grenadier companies from each Musketeer regiment were gathered into four constant Grenadier regiments this being the third of four. This unit fought at Kunersdorf, Gross-Jagersdorf and Kay. Lead the assault at Zorndorf and was counter-attacked by the charging cavalry under Seydlitz.
Two companies were converged into grenadier battalions that formed part of the main Corps under Tchernishev that raided Berlin on September 15, 1760. It was considered an elite unit within the Russian army.
At Gross-Jagersdorf, August 30, 1757, the unit was part of Andreas Manteuffel's brigade in third division under Browne. Initially located behind Norkittner Wood, the unit was sent into the wood to attack the Prussian brigade as part of the Russian counterattack. The fight in the woods was a fierce affair of bayonets and rifle butts only resolved when the Prussian battalions fighting deep in the Norkittner Wood came under friendly fire from the Prussian Garrison Regiment II. With the excitement of the fight and the obstruction of sight caused by smoke, the Prussian units gave up the position they had fought so hard for and retreated in confusion.
At Kay, July 23, 1759, the unit centred the first line commanded by Fermor. The unit helped beat back the first and third Prussian assaults along with the 2nd Moskow (No. 12), Kievski (No. 14), and Rostovski (No. 30). Later that fall, at Kunersdorf, the unit was stationed near the Großer-Spitzberg along with the 2nd Moskow (No. 12), Kievski (No. 14), Rostovski (No. 30) and Viatski (No. 35).

Comments
The flag is the Lieb flag for the regiment. These Front Rank Russians suffered the usual fate of many of my newly painted and proudly presented figures – my old gaming buddies still tease me about their artillery ‘bowling for Russians’ (even though it is more than fifteen years ago). Unit painted in 1991.

Sources
Flag: Osprey’s Russian Army of the Seven Years War (1) (Men-at-Arms 297)
Text: D. Meuser, Battle of Gross Jagersdorf, Seven Years War Association Journal Vol. X No.2
D. Meuser, Battle of Kay, Seven Years War Association Journal Vol. X No.2
F. Mueller, 1998 Frederick the Great Battlefield Tour, Seven Years War Association Journal Vol. X No.3
Osprey’s Zorndorf 1758 (Campaign 125)