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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.
Heeressoziologie
Everyday service life and the material living conditions in the Imperial Army
The Imperial Army and the navy were composed mainly of conscripts. Conscription means the legally based obligation of every male—fit for military service—citizen to perform military service. General conscription was introduced in Prussia as part of the military reforms in 1814 (Law on the Obligation to Military Service of 03.09.1814), in the North German Confederation in 1867 (Law concerning the Obligation to Military Service ... of 09.11.1867). After the foundation of the Reich in 1871, general conscription also applied in the German Empire; the Imperial Military Law of 1874 adopted the previous provisions of the 1867 Military Service Act. Conscription began at the age of 20.
Organisation
On the Strength and Organization of the Imperial Army before the (First) World War
After the victory of the North German Confederation and the southern German states allied with it in the Franco-Prussian War, the German Empire was founded. The founding of the Empire took place on 18 January 1871 in the Hall of Mirrors of the Palace of Versailles.
Uniformierung & Ausrüstung
Uniforms and Equipment of the Old Army - Artillery - Field Artillery - Prussia - The Greatcoat
The greatcoat of the Prussian field artillery was made of gray cloth and had shoulder straps like those on the tunic.
Uniformierung & Ausrüstung
Uniforms and Equipment of the Old Army - Artillery - Field Artillery - Hesse
Field artillery units with Hessian tradition in the Imperial Army were
Uniformierung & Ausrüstung
Uniforms and Equipment of the Old Army - Cavalry - Bavaria - Chevaulegers
The Chevaulegers originated in the 18th century as light cavalry.
Uniformierung & Ausrüstung
Uniforms and Equipment of the Old Army - Artillery - Field Artillery - Prussia - Officer's Uniform
The officers' tunic differed from that of the enlisted men – irrespective of quality – by black-velvet collars/collar patches and sleeve cuffs.
Uniformierung & Ausrüstung
Uniforms and Equipment of the Old Army - Artillery - Field Artillery - Prussia - The Helmet
When the tunic was introduced, the artillery also received the Pickelhaube, although initially the infantry model.
Uniformierung & Ausrüstung
Uniforms and Equipment of the Old Army - Artillery - Field Artillery - Württemberg
The Württemberg field artillery consisted of 4 field artillery regiments (see the list above).
Uniformierung & Ausrüstung
Uniforms and Equipment of the Old Army - Artillery - Field Artillery - Bavaria
Bavaria provided 12 field artillery regiments.
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).
Uniformierung & Ausrüstung
Uniforms and Equipment of the Old Army - Artillery - Foot Artillery - Prussia
The foot artillery was the heavy artillery.