Kannicht, Joachim Mit der hanseatischen Legion gegen Napoleon

Erfahrungen eines jungen Studenten 1813-1816

Friedrich von Coulon, 21, studying law in Göttingen, volunteered to fight Napoleon after Colonel Tettenborn entered the city with his "Streifpartei" of Cossacks on 18 March 1813 and called for the raising of the Hanseatic Legion, which was to consist of 6,000 men on foot and on horseback. "It was the 7th of April 1813, so memorable for me, when I rushed to the flags of my still oppressed fatherland to contribute my mite to the liberation of the land of my birth from my side as well," he wrote in his diary. His father was serving in the Kings German Legion at the time, his mother and sisters lived in Stade. To his diary he confides his feelings and thoughts that accompany him during the campaign that Lieutenant General von Wallmoden-Gimborn leads with his corps as part of the army of the Crown Prince of Sweden. It gives us an insight into the feelings of this young man who comes from a soldier's family, but whose thoughts, even in battle, dwell on his beloved books - and soon - rapturously on a girl to whom his most intimate feelings apply, but which are not reciprocated by her. Although "Fritz" von Coulon became lieutenant and leader of a company after a short time, one wonders when reading his notes what his leadership qualities and the level of training of his men might have been like, for apart from a few officers and non-commissioned officers who took over the drill and training, the troops were inexperienced. Enthusiasm replaced experience. Wallmoden, in a sober assessment of its combat value, therefore used the Hanseatic legion primarily as a security force and to worry the enemy.