Hi,

This might have been asked before, can any one recommend good uniform books of the Austro-Prussian war of 1866.
Thanks
Bob

Yes.
I started a huge debate on Saxons about two years ago, I condensed the best bits here.
http://www.pendrakenforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,5467.0.html
The Osprey 1870 series for Prussians works well too...

Books:
"A Guide to the Seven Weeks' War" by Nigel J Smith. (Helion)
"The Armies of 1866: A Guide to the Uniforms, Weapons and Organisation of the Armies of the Seven Weeks War", by N.J Smith. (Helion books). 
Both are soft back A 4 size at £9.95 pounds sterling. They cover all the states involved in the war in greater or lesser detail, including Italy, and has their OOBs as well as the detail you are looking for. it was my one stop intro to this period.    The only note of caution, look elsewhere for the information on flags. The book contains material which is conjectural and inaccurate, even on things like Prussian flags.  For the Saxons, the infantry was organised in 2 divisions, each of two brigades. Each brigade contained four battalions of line infantry (each of which had the same colour facings and cap bands. The brigades had red, yellow, white and black distinctions), and one battalion of jagers.   The sixteen line battalions had one flag each, all green, with an elaborate border, and the Saxon arms on one side and a white shield with the royal monogram on the other.  These then re-appeared as the 2nd and 3rd battalion flags used by the eight regiments of 1870-71.

For a beautiful colour illustration of a Saxon infantryman in 1866 have a look at John Mollo's Armies of the World (I think that's the title). It was published by Blandford Press back in the 60s and was an absolute must for me when I started wargaming.

The best (most detailed) 1866 Austro/Saxon OOB seen by Mollinary was published in Strategy and Tactics in 1994 to accompany their Austro-Prussian board wargame.

Prussian Offical Histories:
http://books.google.pl/books?id=g0AIAQAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=related:UOM39015014655776#v=onepage&q&f=false

or this, about operations in the west:
http://books.google.pl/books?id=Xz8AAAAAcAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=related:UOM39015014655776#v=onepage&q&f=false
http://www.directart.co.uk/mall/more.php?ProdID=10162

is this a translation of Grosser Generastab's book, available online (but in German, which I barely understand) ?

http://books.google.pl/books?id=g0AIAQAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=der+feldzug+von+1866&hl=pl&ei=gD2pTZ3lOcGEOtGHucYJ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCgQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false
That is the official Prussian history and although excellent, is not definitive when it comes to Austrian units. The OOB in Strategy and Tactics if from the official Austrian history, Österreichs Kämpfe im Jahre 1866. The compiler was Mike Bennighof, an acknowledged scholar of the period. He includes short regimental details next to many of the units, how they performed in the frontier battles etc.

The information in 'The Campaign of 1866' provides sufficient information for wargame purposes, even if it is 'Prussian'. Another useful work is 'The Organisation of the German State Forces in 1866' by Stuart Sutherland. This work includes the Saxon army and also lists the regimental strengths in May and June 1866.


Websites:
http://www.grosser-generalstab.de/sturm/sturm30.html
strongly recommend Nafziger's collection
http://www.cgsc.edu/carl/nafziger.htm
Simply search for "1866" or "1870", or any battle name.

The Armies of 1866 by N J Smith available from Helion Books at less than £10.

Mollinary

Thanks for reply's, I will be sending for the armies of 1866, I need it more for Saxon uniforms and other minor states involved.

Bob

Bob

The Smith book is excellent value for money.

Grosser-generalsstab also a good source.

Make sure you check which of the minor states actually
took the field before deciding on which to paint.

Chad

Useful info for when I get around to this period, even if I do a lot of it in 2mm!

Chad,

Sent for the Smith book and downloaded the Grosser site will take your advice on the minor states.

Was there a book on the 1866 war published earlier in the year which also had 10mm miniatures in.
Bob

Quote from: bibertybob on 19 December 2013, 07:26:41 PM

Was there a book on the 1866 war published earlier in the year which also had 10mm miniatures in.
Bob

Yes, indeed. Our own Mollinary and John Drewienkiewicz's The Austro-Prussian War of 1866 - The opening Battles published by Ken Trotman Publishing.

The best (most detailed) 1866 Austro/Saxon OOB seen by Mollinary was published in Strategy and Tactics in 1994 to accompany their Austro-Prussian board wargame.


Good undoubtedly but I think this is better.

http://www.austro-hungarian-army.co.uk/saxons.htm

The Nigel Smith booklet is a must, as is the book by John Mollo (frequently found in 2nd hand dealers' wares ). The two Osprey's on the Austrian army of the period are also useful. In 1866 the Prussians only had the pickelhaub with the rear reinforcing bar (sold as 1860 pickelhaub by Pendraken). Most of the Prussian cavalry wore dark grey overalls in 1866.

Quote from: cameronian on 20 December 2013, 01:52:43 PM
The best (most detailed) 1866 Austro/Saxon OOB seen by Mollinary was published in Strategy and Tactics in 1994 to accompany their Austro-Prussian board wargame.

Curiously, I don't recall ever either seeing the S&T OOB, or saying what is attributed to me. In fact, by far the most detailed Saxon OOB's I have ever seen, which include strength and casualty figures, are in  Stuart Sutherland's translation of the Saxon Official History of the part played by the Royal Saxon Army in the 1866 campaign.  Appropriately published by Iser Publications, although I am not sure if it is still available.  Bruce Weigle's 1866 rule booklet has a perfectly good OOB as well as much, much more.

Mollinary

Quote from: mollinary on 20 December 2013, 03:15:40 PM
Curiously, I don't recall ever either seeing the S&T OOB, or saying what is attributed to me. In fact, by far the most detailed Saxon OOB's I have ever seen, which include strength and casualty figures, are in  Stuart Sutherland's translation of the Saxon Official History of the part played by the Royal Saxon Army in the 1866 campaign.  Appropriately published by Iser Publications, although I am not sure if it is still available.  Bruce Weigle's 1866 rule booklet has a perfectly good OOB as well as much, much more.

Mollinary

In that long and ultimately very fruitful chain I probably mentioned the S&T OOB as its in my possession and very good indeed; the link I provided is also very good and has the advantage of being readily available via internet.
Andrew, re Iser publications, do you possess or do you know where I might acquire a copy of the English translation of that part of the official Austrian Staff report on the fighting in the Svib; I'm sure I read somewhere that its available. How is life in the dairy, are the cows congenial?

Quote from: cameronian on 21 December 2013, 01:21:59 PM
In that long and ultimately very fruitful chain I probably mentioned the S&T OOB as its in my possession and very good indeed; the link I provided is also very good and has the advantage of being readily available via internet.
Andrew, re Iser publications, do you possess or do you know where I might acquire a copy of the English translation of that part of the official Austrian Staff report on the fighting in the Svib; I'm sure I read somewhere that its available. How is life in the dairy, are the cows congenial?

"The Battle of Koniggratz 3 July 1866: the Austrian and Saxon General Staff Accounts". By Stuart Sutherland.  Published by Iser Publications, Toronto, 2001.  It includes a translation of the full description of the battles from those two sources. Life in the dairy draws to a close, as I move into my own place in the New Year.  But you'd probably have to look at something like Abe books, or Stuart Sutherland's himself to source it.

Mollinary

On to it, thanks. Have a Happy Christmas mon cher, see you in the New Year.