One of the best line units was the 9th ‘Life’ Infantry Regiment (Leib-Infanterie-Regiment).

In July 1813 the 8th Infantry Regiment was taken out of the line and became the 1st Foot Guard Regiment (1. Garde-Regiment zu Fuß) so the 9th ‘Life’ Infantry Regiment became the 8th ‘Life’.

Its unusual name ( meaning personal regiment ) was given to it by the Prussian King William III as parts of its soldiers had contributed to the successful denfense of the fortress Kolberg which – in contrast to the majority of the rest – did not surrender in 1807.

Therefore it was permitted to bear the inscription ‘ Colberg 1807’ on its colour. In 1812 its soldiers saw active service in Lithuania against the Russian army as part of Napoleon’s Russian campaign.

After the French defeat it became part of Marshal Blücher’s Silesian Army and fought in all the major battles of the Wars of the Liberation from 1813, among them Leipzig, the battle of the nations to Napoleon’s last campaign in Belgium 1815.

The Life Infantry Regiment was the first unit assigned to the Brandenburg Province but never bore number 1.