History and wargaming

Took a brief break from the great northern war and finished up a squad of german Fallschirmjäger that have been sitting on my workbench for the whole spring. I just need to finish another squad and the paltoon hq to have completed my "set" of paratroopers, already having finished the British and US.

I've more or less finished the command structure of both the danish and the swedish army. I'm still one commander figure short to represent major general Valentin von Eickstedt leading the danish centre. Anyway, without further ado, the commanders of the battle of Helsingborg: Swedish commanders: Army commander and centre: general Magnus Stenbock                 Left wing: lieutenant general Jakob Burenskiöld     Right wing: lieutenant general Johan August Meijerfeldt       Danish commanders: Army commander: lieutenant general Jørgen Rantzau Left wing: major general Frantz Joachim von Dewitz   Right wing: major general Christian Rodsteen                            

  Originating from fänikor (roughly company size units) set up in Östergötland 1551, it was made into an indelt infantry regiment in 1685. In Swedish Pommerania at the start of the great northern war, it was transferred to Poland in 1702, and served in the royal army, taking part in the field battles of Holowczyn 1708 and Poltava 1709 where it was lost. It was reraised in Sweden and took part in teh battles of Helsingborg 1710 and Gadebsuch 1712, and capitulated after the siege of Tönningen. It was led by the interim regimental commander lieutenant colonel Magnus Gripensköld. Differing sources put him as either 47 or 45 at the time of the battle. His grandfather Magnus Jespersson began as a common cavalryman in the Östgöta cavalry regiment in 1626, rising in the ranks and ennobled in 1665. Magnus became a career soldier at around 13-15 years of age as a volontär, and served abroad as a cadet in the Prince of Orange's guard 1681-1684. Returned to serve in the Östgöta regiment for t...

 Here's another danish unit fresh from the work bench, reasonably happy with the result, especially the basing.

  I have the first danish unit finished, and it is an army commander stand made from the Pendraken Leauge of Augsburg range. For the battle of Helsingborg it will be representing the Danish army commander Jørgen Rantzau with his staff, including the adjutant Hartvig Huitfeldt (1677–1748) . Christian Ditlev Reventlow (1671-1738) The Danish invasion of Skåne 1709-1710 was originally led by Christian Ditlev Reventlow (1671-1738), a distinguished general with experience from the Spanish war of succession, who fell seriously ill on the 27th of march. Command was then given to the Lieutenant general Jørgen Ranztau (ca 1652 –1713) merely 14 days before the battle which would prove to be decisive for the entire danish invasion effort. Rantzau himself was a experienced army officer to say the least, who began his military service before Reventlow was even born, serving abroad as well as in the Scanian wars. After Denmark's disastrous entry and swift exit from the great northern war (March...

  Östgöta kavalleriregemente Was a cavalry regiment originally set up in 1636, becoming indelt in 1689 drawing croft soldiers from the province of Östergötland. As part of the royal army it took part in the battles of Kliszow 1702, Warsawa 1705, Holowczyn 1708 and lost to the last man at Poltava. It was reraised and positioned under Lieutenant general Burenskiöld on the swedish left flank in the battle of Helsingborg 1710.  It was led in the battle by the acting regimental colonel Bertil Roxendorff (1657-1711), 53 year old at the time and formally retired from a life of military service in the regiment. Born as Roxman in Östergötland, he took service as a simple cavalryman in 1674, and fought with merit in the scanian war. He was made quartermaster in 1677, and promoted to Rittmeister at the start of the Great Northern War. Served for 35 years in the regiment until his formal discharge in 1706, when he also was ennobled, taking the name of Roxendorff. The battle of Helsi...