Lifeguard (military)

Leibgarde (also life-guard, or household troops[1]) has been, since the 15th century, the designation for the military security guards who protected Fürsten (royals and nobles) — usually members of the highest nobility who ruled over states of the Holy Roman Empire and later its former territory — from danger. The Leibgarde should not be mixed up with bodyguard (Leibwächter), which may refer also to a single private individual.[2]

Not to be confused with lifeguard, in the meaning of an emergency service worker.

Changing of the guard in Whitehall, London

In the Kingdom of France, the Garde du Corps was established (with reference to the sargeants d'arms) in 1440. It was abolished after the French Revolution, re-established in 1815, and finally dissolved in 1830. In addition, Napoleon III set up the Cent-gardes for his own protection.

Lifeguard elite units

• Denmark: Royal Life Guards – part of the Danish Army
• Germany: Royal Bavarian Infantry Lifeguards Regiment – part of the Bavarian Army
• Nazi Germany: 1st SS Panzer Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler"
• Russia: Imperial Guard (Leibgarde) – regiments of lifeguards that evolved into many elite combat units in the Imperial Army
• Sweden: Life Guards – part of the Swedish Army
• UK: Life Guards – part of the British Army

See also

• Imperial German Bodyguard
• Military elite
• Imperial Guard
• Royal Guard
• Household Division

References

1. Langenscheidt's Encyclopaedic Dictionary of the English and German language: "Der Große Muret-Sander", Part I German-English, First Volume A–K, 9th edition 2002, p. 1006 – «de: Leibgarde / en: mil. especially – lifeguard, Br. life-guard»
2. Dictionary to the German Military History, 1st edition (Liz.5, P189/84, LSV:0547, B-Nr. 746 635 0), military publishing house of the GDR (VEB) – Berlin, 1985, Volume 1, page 223, definition: Garde, Leibgarde.