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Organisation

The development and organization of the individual branches of the Reich Army before the (First) World War

Since the second half of the 17th century the infantry was regarded as the main arm. In 1688 the Prussian army comprised a total of 16 regiments of foot, in 1713 there were 20, in 1740 there were 32 and by 1786 already 55 field regiments of infantry1. In the fateful year 1806 the old Prussian army included 60 infantry regiments and 24 fusilier battalions as well as the field-jäger regiment of foot2. In the confrontation with the troops of the young French Empire most of these units perished; only the regiments No. 2, 8, 11, 14, 16, 42, 52 and 58 survived the catastrophe as intact formations. The essentially complete defeat of the old Prussian army was the occasion for a comprehensive army reform — embedded in fundamental political upheavals — 3. From the aforementioned mainly East Prussian infantry regiments and remnants of other units there initially emerged 4 East Prussian, 2 West Prussian and 2 Pomeranian regiments; later 2 Brandenburg infantry regiments and 1 Silesian infantry battalion followed. According to the French diktat of 01.01.1809 the Prussian army was permitted to consist of only 10 infantry regiments with a combined maximum of 22,000 men, exclusively of the Guard. Notwithstanding the partial French occupation of Prussian territory and high reparations payments, the rebuilding of the army was pushed forward despite the most meagre means and ultimately made possible the successful War of Liberation in 1813/15 against imperial France under Napoleon I. The militia law of 03.09.1814, further developing the Draft for the Implementation of Conscription in the Prussian States of 05.02.1810, established general conscription of all citizens from their 20th year and structured the armed force into the standing army, the Landwehr of the 1st and 2nd levies and the Landsturm4. From 25.03.1815 the former reserve regiments No. 1 to 12 bore the designation Infantry Regiments No. 13 to 24, and by the end of 1815 the line infantry — also through absorption of formerly Swedish-Pomeranian, Nassau, etc. troops — numbered a total of 36 regiments. In 1818 (30.03.) regiments No. 33 to 36 were formed and in 1820 (12.02. and 12.03.) partly by conversion regiments No. 33 to 40 were established with two battalions each5. This status remained unchanged for a considerable time.

Organisation

Structure and Organization of the Old Army - Artillery - Prussia - Field Artillery Regiments

The German artillery was divided into (light) maneuver (=field) and (heavy) positional (=foot) artillery. It was not until 1872 that the complete separation of the two branches took place. In 1914 the field artillery numbered: 4 guard and 96 line regiments, including 12 Bavarian (separate numbering), 1 Hessian (No. 25), 1 Mecklenburg (No. 60), 8 Saxon (No. 12, 28, 32, 48, 64, 68, 77, 78) and 4 Württemberg (No. 13, 29, 49, 65) regiments. Mecklenburg-Strelitz provided the 3rd battery of Field Artillery Regiment No. 24 (Neustrelitz). The guard formations also included the training regiment of the Field Artillery Shooting School (Jüterbog).

Organisation

A Short History of the Imperial Navy - Part 3

The origin of the marine infantry dates back to 18491. From 1852 the Marinierkorps was called the Seebataillon. In 1889 it was split into the 1st and 2nd Seebataillon. The later 3rd Seebataillon was formed in 1897. The 1st and 2nd See-Bataillon (Kiel and Wilhelmshaven respectively) each comprised 4 companies, 1 fortress telegraph platoon and 1 machine gun detachment. Of the 3rd Seebataillon only 2 companies and the home battery were stationed in Cuxhaven; the remainder were with the East Asian naval detachment (in the Kiautschou protectorate).

Organisation

A Short History of the Imperial Navy - Part 1

The German fleet has a relatively young history; before 1848 it was essentially non‑existent1. There was a lack of a central authority, as existed in Great Britain and France. In Prussia the hesitant construction of a fleet began in the 1840s. The actual first chapter of the German Imperial Fleet, however, began in 18482. Prompted by the Hanseatics and against the background of independence movements in Schleswig‑Holstein, the Frankfurt National Assembly decided to found the German Imperial War Fleet and provided the necessary funds. But, analogous to the political fate of the National Assembly, the small fleet (just equipped and armed) was dissolved again in 1852 (decision of the German Confederation on 01.04.1852) and the ships were sold. At that time the fleet comprised 11 ships and 27 small craft. Some ships were taken over by Prussia. Prussia then intensified its maritime efforts and bought the Jade area in 1853. The naval base Wilhelmshaven was to be established here. At the same time the Admiralty was created as a central and independent command‑administrative authority (AKO of 14.11.1853). A naval department had already been formed within the Prussian War Ministry. As the first Prussian officer, Prince Adalbert received the rank of Admiral of the Prussian coasts. Already in 1852 the Prussian navy had sent a squadron to South America. In 1859 a squadron embarked on an economically motivated voyage to Japan, China and Siam. In 1860 the SMS Frauenlob sank with her entire crew in a typhoon off the Japanese coast. The loss of the SMS Amazone on 21.06.1861 in the southern North Sea was also a terrible blow. With the ship and crew all embarked naval cadets also perished. In 1864 there were minor engagements with the Danish fleet in the German‑Danish War.