New in the Web Shop - Prussian Infantry of 1870

One of the central figures in the 16 mini boxed set.

Flag is from GMB's excellent range.

Dear readers, this week saw a fantastic amount of interest for Eagles of Empire Miniature’s newly released Wave II, not only visible by the many visits to our Facebook page, but also a huge backing of the range translating into orders in our web shop. Thank you all very much! 

Your continued support is what drive this project and range forward.

One of Neumann's wonderful litographic prints from the period.

In this post, I want to take a closer look at our newly released Prussian Infantry in summer uniforms (yes, Prussian Infantry in winter uniforms is in the sculpting pipeline for those harsh winter battles in late 1870 and early 1871).

"Zum Befehl!"

With a beard like that, you better obey...

In accord with last weeks focus on the feared Francs-Tireurs, I’ve composed a short historical background on the Prussians, to set the scene properly. I hope you’ll welcome these boys in blue to the centre stage of the Franco-Prussian War!

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The Prussian army of 1870

After the rollercoaster ride of the Napoleonic Wars, with huge defeats but also glimmers of prestige like at Waterloo under Blücher, the Prussian army was bound for a road of reform and modernization. In 1859, King Frederick William IV tasked Minister of War Albrecht von Roon with the modernization of the Prussian fighting machine. 

Prussian trooper taking careful aim with his Needlegun.

Roon would form part of a triangle of brilliant Prussian leaders along with Bismarck and Moltke. Together these three conservative Prussian gentlemen would instrument profound change; introducing new effective tactical doctrines based on steam-age wonders like railroad and the telegraph, and channelling industrial innovation like the ultra modern Needle Gun rifle and perhaps the World’s best artillery hardware from the Krupp factories into the Pikklehube clad legions.

Another of the central minis in the box,

again with a proper 19th century beard.

All the above would later be refined into perfection in a series of wars known as the Wars of Unification. First the Second Schleswig War in 1864, then the Austro-Prussian War of 1866, and finally Moltke’s and Bismarck’s finest hour would be provoking Imperial France into the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71,which lead to German unification and empire under Prussian leadership. 

Thank you all very much for your support and interest in this project!