The Austrian Jäger-Bataillons were the elite part of the light infantry arm of the Austrian army during the Napoleonic Wars. Jäger, which means “hunter” in German, were skilled light infantrymen, often recruited from foresters and hunters in provinces like Bohemia, Moravia, and Tyrol. They were trained for skirmishing, sharpshooting, and operating in difficult terrain, providing a valuable contrast to the slow-moving line infantry.

The nine Jäger-Bataillons are now completed

1809 Austrian Jäger-Bataillon Nr. 1

1809 Austrian Jäger-Bataillon Nr. 2

1809 Austrian Jäger-Bataillon Nr. 3

1809 Austrian Jäger-Bataillon Nr. 4

1809 Austrian Jäger-Bataillon Nr. 5

1809 Austrian Jäger-Bataillon Nr. 6

1809 Austrian Jäger-Bataillon Nr. 7

1809 Austrian Jäger-Bataillon Nr. 8

1809 Austrian Jäger-Bataillon Nr. 9

The Jäger-Bataillons are now completed after only about fifty years time!

The first Jäger-Bataillon I painted and the first “real” metal unit I ever painted was the 1809 Austrian Jäger-Bataillon Nr. 2 shown above. I am really pleased that it is still in my collection!