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From: mbenge@linbeck.com
Remote Name: 216.136.62.130
Fusilier is one of the archaic terms for different types of infantryman that were meaningful in the 18th century and earlier, such as fusilier, grenadier, musketier. The Grenadier title usually is used for an elite regiment, as is found in the Prussian Garde Corp. If you look at the list of regiments in the Imperial army, you'll see that the first regiment, and sometimes an additional regiment- i.e. the third Grolsh. Hessian- are designated as Leib Garde units for members of the royal families. I don't think there is any significance attached to the use of Gardist, Grenadier or Fusilier for the members of a regiment. If there was a more elite group within the regiment, you would expect it to be the first company. You will note that the first numbered regiment for regions in Imperial Germany that do not have Leib Garde regiments (since some didn't have a separate ruling family) carry the designation of being a Fusilier regiment. The term Fusilier derives from an infantryman carrying a rifle.