For those interested in WWI units

George Anderson · 11-01-2004, 03:20 PM

The German word Jaeger translates as "hunter" in English. The proper military translations would be fusilier, and musketeer. In American 19th century usage ...skirmisher.

During the 17th and through the 19th century professional armies utilized controlled massed frontal musket fire to overwhelm the enemy in set piece battles. Most of these massed troops were impressed or conscrpited peasants who could march and manipulate a musket but only with an NCO armed with a pike standing behind him. The pikes were used to manage one's own troops not the enemy.

The idea of skirmishers or free moving marksmen maneuvering ahead of the frontal assaults seems to have reached its zenith in the Napoleonic wars. The idea was for these "irregulars" to move ahead of the main force using cover offered by the terrain to pick-off targets of opportunity. Such targets were primarily officers, NCOs and signalmen.

Interestingly enough, the frequent use of "Jaegers" can probably be given some of the credit for the American colonists' defeat of both the french in the French and Indian War (Seven Years War) and our British cousins in the War for Independence.

I don't know to what extent Imperial Jaeger units were manned with actual hunters as hunting in Europe is considered almost a profession and the number of hunters is small. Shooting fraternities though, have always been popular in the German speaking regions and any small town may boast a dozen marksmen but only a single hunter. I would be interested to know if the ranks of Jaeger battalions were filled with conscripts or volunteers.

As with all my posts, there is a good chance that I have no idea of what I am talking about.

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11-01-2004, 03:20 PM	#4
George Anderson Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: VA Posts: 3,592 Thanks: 1,773 Thanked 2,531 Times in 788 Posts	The German word Jaeger translates as "hunter" in English. The proper military translations would be fusilier, and musketeer. In American 19th century usage ...skirmisher. During the 17th and through the 19th century professional armies utilized controlled massed frontal musket fire to overwhelm the enemy in set piece battles. Most of these massed troops were impressed or conscrpited peasants who could march and manipulate a musket but only with an NCO armed with a pike standing behind him. The pikes were used to manage one's own troops not the enemy. The idea of skirmishers or free moving marksmen maneuvering ahead of the frontal assaults seems to have reached its zenith in the Napoleonic wars. The idea was for these "irregulars" to move ahead of the main force using cover offered by the terrain to pick-off targets of opportunity. Such targets were primarily officers, NCOs and signalmen. Interestingly enough, the frequent use of "Jaegers" can probably be given some of the credit for the American colonists' defeat of both the french in the French and Indian War (Seven Years War) and our British cousins in the War for Independence. I don't know to what extent Imperial Jaeger units were manned with actual hunters as hunting in Europe is considered almost a profession and the number of hunters is small. Shooting fraternities though, have always been popular in the German speaking regions and any small town may boast a dozen marksmen but only a single hunter. I would be interested to know if the ranks of Jaeger battalions were filled with conscripts or volunteers. As with all my posts, there is a good chance that I have no idea of what I am talking about.