Napoleon Series Archive 2008

Re: Russo-German Legion
In Response To: Re: Russo-German Legion ()

Oliver,
I have found it. It was in an article in First Empire No 7 by James Field. He explains that the formation of the RGL was controlled by a "Committee for German Matters" founded in June 1812. James Field says:

"No detailed information or remnants of RDL [Russisch-Deutsche Legion] regimental Colours are available. The only information I found was a letter from Ernst Friedrich Graf von Münster, a passionate enemy of Napoleon and influential Hanoverian member of the British cabinet, who played the role of an intermediary between England and the Continent, to Stein [Carl Freiherr vom und zum Stein]. Münster here mentions his proposal for a RDL Regimental flag: St George killing the dragon with the inscription "Heran! Gekommen ist die Zeit, es fällt der bunte Drache, aus allen Landen weit und breit erschallt der Ruf der Rache. (Trans: Come on! The time has come, the motley dragon falls, out of all countries far and wide the call of revenge resounds). The most popular patriotic writer of his time, Ernst Moritz Arndt, mentions the "sign" in a leaflet he wrote. He adds that St George was encircled by oak leaves. He gives the beginning words of the text a little different: "Auf! Auf! gekommen ist die Zeit, (sic!)..." (English: Up! Up! the time has come..." but also "Come on"..." Arndt's version is probably the more accurate one, since he was at Königsberg and in contact with the committee when he wrote his leaflet."

James gives a reference for Arndt as "Zwei Worte über die Enstehhung und Bestimmeung der teutschen (sic) Legion, Berlin 1813. He has 9 other sources for his article, all German books, but it is not clear which one the Münster quote comes from.

Of course this was only a proposal, and does not prove that such a flag was actually adopted but it is interesting nevertheless.

Rod

Messages In This Thread

Russo-German Legion
Re: Russo-German Legion
Hannoverian and Lutzow flags?
Lutzow flags *LINK*
Re: Hannoverian flags?
Re: Russo-German Legion
Re: Russo-German Legion
Re: Russo-German Legion
Who was giving out the Russian colours ?
Re: Who was giving out the Russian colours ?
Title Correction; Prior Posts; Two Additional Vols
artillery of the German legion *LINK*
Re: Zweguintzow and Russian work.
Münster's proposal
Re: Münster's proposal
Re: Russo-German Legion Flags
Re: Russo-German Legion Flags