Hello,
did the small Hesse Kassel force have any flags in 1866 ?
Ranj.
Good question! Unfortunately, the answer is not clear. They almost certainly did, but I have not seen any representation of them. They had the misfortune of being on the losing side, and so were annexed by Prussia in the aftermath of 1866. In 1870,they carried Prussian flags. For those interested in 19th century German state military flags, Ewald Fiebig's 'Unsterbliche Treue', published in the 1930s, is an excellent source. Sadly, he does not record the flags of those states absorbed by Prussia in 1866 - so he does not detail those of Hanover and Hesse Kassel. There are other sources for Hanover which, for a small state, has an interesting variety of infantry and cavalry flags. I know of no such source for Hesse-Kassel. Perhaps some of our German friends might be able to help?
Mollinary
Just a thought. Many states continued to carry the flags issued towards the end of the Napoleonic Wars. For Hesse Kassel, new Flags were issued in March 1814. There is a description and illustration in the Osprey on Napoelon's German Allies (5) Hesse, pages 33-34.
Mollinary
Thanks for replying Mollinary , my guess would be Napoleonic era flags used. Not seen that Hesse book, another to add to he list.
Ranj.
Worth looking for at shows, most of the military booksellers who turn up have shed loads of old and/or second hand Ospreys at knockdown prices. That said, the Hessians played practically no role in the 1866 campaign at all.
Mollinary
£5.98 on Amazon?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Napoleons-German-Allies-Hessen-Darmstadt-Hessen-Kassel/dp/B00XWXVN94/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1509813752&sr=8-4&keywords=napoleons+german+allies (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Napoleons-German-Allies-Hessen-Darmstadt-Hessen-Kassel/dp/B00XWXVN94/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1509813752&sr=8-4&keywords=napoleons+german+allies)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Napoleons-German-Allies-Hessen-Darmstadt-Hessen-Kassel/dp/B01K15ZW9M/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1509813752&sr=8-6&keywords=napoleons+german+allies (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Napoleons-German-Allies-Hessen-Darmstadt-Hessen-Kassel/dp/B01K15ZW9M/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1509813752&sr=8-6&keywords=napoleons+german+allies)