The creation of new types of troops is always preceded by the invention of a new type of weaponry. So it was with the grenadier troops. From the middle of the 16th century, in some European countries, hand-held matchlock grenades began to be used in battles.
Pomegranates of the seventeenth century
Spherical in shape, made of cast iron, stuffed with gunpowder and bullets, grenades of the seventeenth century caused damage not only to the enemy. They also posed a danger to grenade launchers. The Grenada, as they were then called, did not have a percussion type fuse. Grenadiers set fire to a wick inserted into a wooden cork. The weight of the grenade was approximately 800 g, and it required strength and skill to throw it.
In those days, the concept of standardization was very arbitrary, so grenades often exploded in the hands of soldiers who set fire to the fuses. But in war as in war, and by the middle of the 17th century, grenadier regiments were in many European armies.
Grenadiers in Russia
In Russia, grenadier troops appeared at the beginning of the 18th century, during the global reforms of Peter the Great. Companies of grenadiers were formed in regiments by decree of 1704. In 1708, the existing companies were consolidated into five infantry andthree cavalry grenadier regiments.
For service in the grenadier troops gathered heroes. The minimum height was set at 170 cm. This was not a whim of the king: to throw a wick grenade weighing almost a kilogram, remarkable strength and fearlessness were required. Throwing distance played a significant role: the risk of death from the explosion of one's own grenade was reduced, and the enemy had little chance of throwing this grenade back.
Grenadiers differed from infantrymen in uniforms and weapons. A brimless hat, called the "grenadier", did not interfere with throwing grenades. It was decorated with the image of a burning grenade. The same image was on grenade bags and buckles. Later it became the basis of the badge of the grenadier regiments.
In addition to grenades, the grenadiers were armed with fusees shortened by about 10 cm, equipped with belts. When throwing grenades, guns were worn on the back.
On the edge of attack
Grenadier regiments have always been the main assault force. In battle, they were either in the forefront of the attackers, or covered the flanks during the linear formation of the infantry. Due to their weight and size - from seven to fifteen centimeters in diameter - the standard armament of each ordinary grenadier included only five grenades. After using them, the grenadiers took up their guns and fought like ordinary infantrymen or cavalrymen. However, in hand-to-hand combat, such a soldier outnumbered any infantryman.
The infantry regiments of the line had grenadier companies composed of heavily armed, aggressive and skilled soldiers. Some companies of grenadiersremained in the ranks of the infantry after the creation of regiments, but abandoned grenades. Instead, each grenadier company became heavy infantry, a group of the largest and strongest soldiers in the regiment.
After the death of Peter I, the grenadier regiments were transformed into musketeers and dragoons.
They reappeared in the "Rumyantsev" era of the reign of Empress Catherine II. Immediately after the overthrow of the hated husband of Peter the Third, Catherine canceled all the "Holstein" orders in the army and returned the regiments to their former names and the Elizabethan military uniform.
Life Guard Grenadier Regiment
Formed by Field Marshal Rumyantsev on March 30, 1756. Existed until 1918.
There are many glorious military victories in the history of the regiment: it participated in many battles of the Seven Years' War, and was the first to enter Berlin. For courage and heroism shown during the Russian-Turkish war of 1768–1774, the regiment was awarded the title of Life Grenadier in 1775, and Empress Catherine II became its chief. Before the fall of the empire, all subsequent emperors were the chiefs of the regiment.
The regiment fought in the Russian-Swedish war of 1788-1790. During this campaign, the regiment's grenadiers as part of the naval squadron participated in battles near the islands of Hogland and Sveaborg, as well as in patrols and naval battles in the B altic Sea.
For participation in the Patriotic War of 1812, the regiment was awarded the St. George regimental banner.
In honor of the 150th anniversary of the regiment, a commemorative badge of the Life Grenadier Regiment with the monograms of Elizabeth and Nicholas II was issued.
The regiment with honor carried the banner of the regiment along the fronts of all the wars waged by the Russian Empire in the period from 1756 to 1918
Soldiers and officers of the regiment were repeatedly awarded orders, medals and nominal weapons. The first in the history of the Order of St. George 3rd class was awarded to Colonel of the Life Grenadier Regiment F. I. Fabritsian.
