| Lange Kerls |
But it may have been more than that. He might rightly have thought of how
intimidating a sight it would seem to an average size foreign army. He gave his
son, the future Friedrich the Great, his own toy regiment, the Crown Prince
Cadets, made up of 131 little boys whom the Prince could command and play
with as he liked. Friedrich was made a major of the giant Potsdam Grenadiers
at age 14, and he commanded the giants on the parade ground daily. When his
father died in 1740, Friedrich relieved the giants, over 3,000 by then, of duty
and allowed them to return to their homes. With the money saved, he was
able to establish four regiments of men of ordinary height in their place.
intimidating a sight it would seem to an average size foreign army. He gave his
son, the future Friedrich the Great, his own toy regiment, the Crown Prince
Cadets, made up of 131 little boys whom the Prince could command and play
with as he liked. Friedrich was made a major of the giant Potsdam Grenadiers
at age 14, and he commanded the giants on the parade ground daily. When his
father died in 1740, Friedrich relieved the giants, over 3,000 by then, of duty
and allowed them to return to their homes. With the money saved, he was
able to establish four regiments of men of ordinary height in their place.
If a man had the misfortune of being a very tall man in Prussia during the
time of Friedrich Wilhelm I, there was a very good possibility he would end
up being one of the king's tall toys in a special regiment, a unit known as the
Potsdamer Riesengarde ( the "Potsdam giant guard" ), nicknamed the "Lange
Kerls" by the Prussian people. The original required height was 5'11", then
well above average male height. The tallest soldiers were reportedly about 7
feet and some of the Potsdam giants actually towered above eight feet. It was
reported that the recorded height of a Scottish member of the Grenadiers was
at eight feet three inches. It was said that no ordinary man could reach the top
of some of their heads. In 1707, they were provided a new garrison.
time of Friedrich Wilhelm I, there was a very good possibility he would end
up being one of the king's tall toys in a special regiment, a unit known as the
Potsdamer Riesengarde ( the "Potsdam giant guard" ), nicknamed the "Lange
Kerls" by the Prussian people. The original required height was 5'11", then
well above average male height. The tallest soldiers were reportedly about 7
feet and some of the Potsdam giants actually towered above eight feet. It was
reported that the recorded height of a Scottish member of the Grenadiers was
at eight feet three inches. It was said that no ordinary man could reach the top
of some of their heads. In 1707, they were provided a new garrison.
The King, who was said to have only been between only
about 5 foot tall himself, organized three battalions so that all
who stood near seven feet tall and above were assigned to the
first ranks. The Guards regiment consisted of 60 officers, 165
grenadiers, 53 drummers, 15 horses, 15 medics and about
2,160 musketeers, not one of which was less than six feet tall.
about 5 foot tall himself, organized three battalions so that all
who stood near seven feet tall and above were assigned to the
first ranks. The Guards regiment consisted of 60 officers, 165
grenadiers, 53 drummers, 15 horses, 15 medics and about
2,160 musketeers, not one of which was less than six feet tall.
Irish born Grenadier James Kirkland measured 6 foot 11inches. Decked out in
red hats, blue jackets with gold trim, scarlet trousers, white stockings, black
shoes and a brimless hat, their weapons included muskets, daggers and white
bandoleers. The regiment had benefits that the regular soldiers lacked: more
pay and allowances as well as land and houses, and King Friedrich William I.
increased the army by a full one fourth in his first year.
red hats, blue jackets with gold trim, scarlet trousers, white stockings, black
shoes and a brimless hat, their weapons included muskets, daggers and white
bandoleers. The regiment had benefits that the regular soldiers lacked: more
pay and allowances as well as land and houses, and King Friedrich William I.
increased the army by a full one fourth in his first year.
He found big, powerful peasant girls for them in hopes that they would sprout more giants. As an
added benefit, the King never actually sent his giants into battle. Rather, they were an amusement.
Voltaire stated of the King: "armed with a huge sergeant's cane," (he) "marched forth every day to
review his regiment of giants. These giants were his greatest delight, and the things for which he went
to the heaviest expense" (and) "he played with them as a child would with enormous living toys."
When suffering from illness and confined to his bed, the King sometimes ordered two or three
hundred of them to visit and "preceded by tall, turbaned Moors with cymbals and trumpets and the
grenadiers' mascot, an enormous bear, they would march in a long line through the King's chamber
to cheer him up." Being a passable artist, he enjoyed painting the giants as well.
added benefit, the King never actually sent his giants into battle. Rather, they were an amusement.
Voltaire stated of the King: "armed with a huge sergeant's cane," (he) "marched forth every day to
review his regiment of giants. These giants were his greatest delight, and the things for which he went
to the heaviest expense" (and) "he played with them as a child would with enormous living toys."
When suffering from illness and confined to his bed, the King sometimes ordered two or three
hundred of them to visit and "preceded by tall, turbaned Moors with cymbals and trumpets and the
grenadiers' mascot, an enormous bear, they would march in a long line through the King's chamber
to cheer him up." Being a passable artist, he enjoyed painting the giants as well.
However, few new recruits came voluntarily. Some were simply abducted or
tricked into service, and they were recruited from all over the known world.
He offered rewards for tall men who joined the army on their own and gave
substantial rewards to fathers who sired tall sons; he also offered riches to tall
men serving in the armies of other nations, hoping they would desert and join
the Prussian army. Although the king was notoriously frugal, it cost Prussian
taxpayers around 36 million crowns for the establishment and maintenance of
this regiment. One seven-foot-two Irish giant was purchased at a reported cost
of over 6,000 pounds. Occasionally, other European kings gave the Prussian
king tall men as special gifts. Russian Czar Peter I, the Great, who stood six
feet seven inches tall himself, sent an annual supply of "Giants", including
Grenadier Schwerid Rediwanoff of Moskow, left. The Sultan of the Ottoman
Empire sent him some big boys. 12 very tall Africans were also added.
tricked into service, and they were recruited from all over the known world.
He offered rewards for tall men who joined the army on their own and gave
substantial rewards to fathers who sired tall sons; he also offered riches to tall
men serving in the armies of other nations, hoping they would desert and join
the Prussian army. Although the king was notoriously frugal, it cost Prussian
taxpayers around 36 million crowns for the establishment and maintenance of
this regiment. One seven-foot-two Irish giant was purchased at a reported cost
of over 6,000 pounds. Occasionally, other European kings gave the Prussian
king tall men as special gifts. Russian Czar Peter I, the Great, who stood six
feet seven inches tall himself, sent an annual supply of "Giants", including
Grenadier Schwerid Rediwanoff of Moskow, left. The Sultan of the Ottoman
Empire sent him some big boys. 12 very tall Africans were also added.