For fantasy units use the other thread, thanks


1. Tyrolean Sharpshooters or Marksman ("Scharffschitzn" or "Scheibnschitzn")

Renowned for their loyality to the crown and their Kaiser these men are organized in guilds in every larger village of Tyrol and are eager marksmen. Regular training sessions are a requirement and a man which does not find the time to train must pay a heavy fine to his fellow shooters. Great competitions sponsored by the Kaiser attract thousends of shooters. Equipped with rifles of the famous Southgerman and Austrian gunsmiths there are able to hit targets from a surprisingly long range, but at the cost of firespeed. Usually they would use every cover on the field, ambush from a safe position and try to snipe from afar. Their reputiation was umatched in Europe.

History: As a matter of fact the inflictated their french and bavarian heavy defeats starting around 1700. They had a natural tendency to ambush enemy columns from high points with good cover and to surround them slowly. They often barricated the exit of narrow canyons and initiated prepared landslides of rocks and treetrunks. Only required to defend their homeland they fought hard and bravely but were averse to cavalry. They won practically every battle against the french and bavarians, only loosing once when few picked up their rifles after feeling traited by Austria once more. After 1809 they formed the mold for the famous german jaeger units which played an important role in freeing the german states. Some Tyroleans even fought in their ranks after Tyrol became a part of Bavaria.

Trivia: The traditional lament of the German forces was propably written under impression of the 1809 rising in Tyrol, from a bavarian viewpoint.

A Part of it goes:

"A bullet flew towards us
is it meant for me or meant for you?
It took him away,
he lies beneath my feet
like a piece of myself."



Number 2 is to come soon