Das Füsilier-Regiment von Steinmetz (Westfälisches Nr. 37) is a regimental history focused on the Westphalian Fusilier Regiment named after Field Marshal Karl Friedrich von Steinmetz, a prominent Prussian general associated with the wars of German unification.
The work documents the history, organization, and traditions of the regiment within the structure of the Kingdom of Prussia, to which Westphalia had been incorporated earlier in the 19th century. By 1893, the regiment functioned as part of the Imperial German Army, and the book reflects this institutional continuity from earlier Prussian and Westphalian military formations.
A central theme is the regimental lineage and identity, tracing how earlier Westphalian units were reorganized into the Prussian system after the Napoleonic period. The history typically emphasizes continuity of tradition, personnel development, and the preservation of regimental honor through successive reorganizations.
The book also covers the regiment’s operational service in 19th-century German wars, likely including participation in the Austro-Prussian War of 1866 and the Franco-Prussian War of 1870–1871. These campaigns were crucial in shaping the regiment’s reputation and integrating it into the broader narrative of German unification.
In addition to campaign history, the work includes detailed sections on garrison life, training, uniform changes, and officer corps composition, reflecting the highly structured nature of late 19th-century Prussian military organization. Such regimental histories often functioned as both archival records and commemorative works for veterans and serving officers.
