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.

At the death of King Frederick William III (07.06.1840 in Berlin) the Prussian army included the 1st and 2nd Guard Regiments of Foot, the Emperor Alexander Guard Grenadier Regiment No. 1 and the Emperor Franz Guard Grenadier Regiment No. 2, the Guard Reserve Regiment (later Guard Fusilier Regiment) and 40 infantry regiments, as well as the Guard Jäger Battalion, the Guard Schützen Battalion and 4 jäger and 4 schutzen detachments⁶. Under his successor — King Frederick William IV (1795–1861) — army development stagnated; only with the transfer of the regency (1858) to his brother — the later King William I — did one respond to the deficiencies that became evident during the mobilizations of 1830/31, 1848/49, 1850 and 1859 (e.g. in military justice) and reorganize the army despite massive political resistance from the parliament⁷. The Landwehr was removed from the 1st levy of the field army and the number of active troops was massively increased⁸. The reform also had a lasting impact on the composition of the infantry. In 1860 this branch numbered 9 Guard infantry regiments, 12 grenadier regiments, 52 infantry regiments (Nos. 13–32, 41–72), 8 fusilier regiments (Nos. 33–40), 1 Guard Jäger Battalion, 1 Guard Schützen Battalion, and 8 jäger battalions⁹. With the military conventions concluded from 1861 the contingents of the smaller states of the North German Confederation began to be integrated into the Prussian army, e.g. from Anhalt, Saxe-Altenburg, Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt, Reuss, Waldeck, etc. The thus strengthened and modernized Prussian army in terms of armament and other equipment proved itself in the Wars of Unification in 1864, 1866 and 1870/71 and was subsequently merged and reorganized together with the other contingents — in particular the South German ones — into the Reich Army.

On 27.01.1888 Emperor William II bestowed the names of historical personalities on 67 units¹⁰, thereby particularly emphasizing the idea of military-historical lines of tradition as a consolidating element. The expansion of the German army in peacetime was established by a series of Imperial laws, with the increases regularly distributed over a number of years¹¹. The infantry including the jägers was to grow over time to the following number of battalions: 15.07.1890: 538, 03.08.1893: 538 and 173 half-battalions, 28.06.1896: 624, 25.03.1899: 625, 15.04.1905: 633, 27.03.1911: 634, 14.06.1912: 651 and 03.07.1913: 669¹². In fact, the infantry of the Reich Army in 1914 ultimately comprised as follows:

At this point the peacetime strength of the infantry (including officer and NCO corps) amounted to 414,508 men, including 4,290 auxiliary oboists/-hornists, and 3,674 service horses. In addition there were the jäger battalions.

Each infantry regiment consisted of 3 battalions, each with 3 companies and 1 machine-gun company. The machine-gun companies and detachments had in peacetime 6 guns and 3 ammunition wagons each. Two infantry regiments formed a brigade. Two brigades formed a division. Good regimental commanders recommended themselves for promotion to brigade or division commander. Of Hermann Heinrich von Chappuis (1838–1910, regimental commander of IR 115) it says in an assessment of 01.01.1889 by the commanding general of the XI Army Corps: "Colonel von Chappuis is in every respect and in the fullest sense of the word a good soldier. He has proven this in war and in peace. Clear perception of circumstances, energy and decisiveness distinguish him advantageously. He entitles one to very high expectations for the future also in higher positions, to which he appears completely suited"¹². The position of regimental chief was merely honorary. The respective commander regulated and supervised the uniformity of training¹³. He held disciplinary authority and lower jurisdiction. Furthermore the regimental commander was responsible for the allocation of replacements of men and horses, the promotion and discharge of the ranks as well as the supplementation, maintenance and storage of clothing and equipment. The officer corps was subordinated to him; he prepared the assessments of officers and presided over their honorary-court disputes. Of Colonel Theodor Erich Wilhelm Friedrich Gottfried von Netzer (1827–1892), regimental commander of IR 66, it says on 01.01.1878: "Colonel von Netzer is a cultivated officer with pleasant manners, full of the liveliest zeal to promote the service and the training of the officers. A very good regimental commander; will also develop into higher positions"¹³. Or of Colonel Maximilian Emil Heinrich Hermann Fritsch (1829–1894), commander of IR 64, on 01.01.1883: "Colonel Fritsch is a very capable and vigorous commander, who leads the regiment in every respect with a firm and sure hand. In presenting it on the drill ground and in brigade formation he proved skilful. He is particularly adept with the pen and a good model for his officer corps, which is in good order"¹⁴. Some surviving assessments occasionally sound curious: "He hears poorly, but sees as if for three and is brave as if for six," it says in 1876 about Hugo Ludwig von Below (1824–1905), regimental commander of IR 88¹⁵.

To fulfill his duties the regimental commander was assigned a staff. The staff of an infantry regiment included the following officers: 1 commander, 1 lieutenant colonel, 3 (most junior) majors and 1 adjutant. The battalion comprised 4 companies (infantry and jägers). The battalion commander was responsible for the discipline and training of his unit and he was responsible for the good condition of clothing and equipment. He also prepared assessments of his officers, etc. Where it concerned an independent battalion, e.g. among the jägers, he had additional powers similar to a regimental commander. The company was commanded by a captain. He was responsible for the training of the unit in all branches of service and in his sphere for discipline, the supplementation and education of the non-commissioned officers and the condition of clothing and equipment. He was supported in his work by the subaltern officers. Of Ernst Eduard Allwiel von Sommerfeld und Falkenhayn (1824–1905), captain in IR 58, his regimental commander judged: "With more than ordinary ability, serious and decisive, correct judgment, keen perception, quick sense of orientation, adept with the pen, useful everywhere, zealous and good hunter and shooter, fills his position completely"¹⁶.

The peacetime and wartime strengths of the infantry units differed in peace and in war — rounded — as follows¹⁷:

Unit

Hinweis: Die Gefechtsbagage eines Bataillons bestand aus 4 Patronenwagen, 4 Feldküchen, 1 Sanitätswagen und als große Bagage: 1 Stabspackwagen, 4 Kompaniepackwagen, 5 Lebensmittelwagen einschließlich Markedenterwagen, 1 Packwagen für den Regimentsstab und ein Schanzzeugwagen. Die MG-Kompanie hatte als Gefechtsbagage 1 Vorratsswagen, 1 Feldküche und als große Bagage 1 Packwagen und 1 Futterwagen¹⁹.

In Prussian Guard infantry in 1914 there were 5 Guard Regiments of Foot, 5 Guard Grenadier Regiments and the Guard Fusilier Regiment (Berlin). Since 1888 only the 3rd battalions were called fusilier battalions; the tactical peculiarities of the fusiliers had long since disappeared. Considered founding years of the Guard infantry were: 1st Guard Regiment of Foot: 1688, 2nd Guard Regiment: 1813, Emperor Alexander Guard Grenadier Regiment No. 1: 1814, Emperor Franz Guard Grenadier Regiment No. 2: 1814, Guard Fusilier Regiment: 1826, 3rd Guard Regiment of Foot: 1860, 4th Guard Regiment of Foot: 1860, Queen Elisabeth Guard Grenadier Regiment No. 3: 1860, Queen Augusta Guard Grenadier Regiment No. 4: 1860, 5th Guard Grenadier Regiment of Foot: 1897, Guard Grenadier Regiment No. 5: 1897, Instruction Infantry Battalion: 1819.

The Baden troop contingent was regarded as a non-independent component of the Prussian army. It had been absorbed into the Prussian army by convention of 25.11.1870. The Grand Duchy of Baden provided infantry regiments No. 109, 110–114, 142, 160–170 (XIV Army Corps). Nos. 109 and 110 were grenadier regiments.

The Hessian troop contingent was regarded as an independent component of the Prussian army. It had been incorporated into the Prussian army by convention of 13.06.1871. The Grand Duchy of Hesse provided infantry regiments No. 115–118 and 168 (XVIII Army Corps).

The Württemberg infantry belonged to the XIII Army Corps; only the 8th Württemberg Infantry Regiment No. 126 Grand Duchy of Baden (Strasbourg i. E.) was attached to the XV Army Corps. The Württemberg troop contingent belonged to the Prussian army but displayed distinctive uniform features. The infantry included regiments No. 119–127 and 180. Regiments No. 119 and 120 had already been established in 1623. From 1895 Prussian officers could be transferred to Württemberg units without difficulty; previously only secondments were possible.

The Saxon contingent displayed a certain degree of autonomy. It provided 2 army corps (XII, XIX). The Saxon infantry numbered 16 regiments: Nos. 100–108, 133–134, 139, 177–179, 181–182. The oldest Saxon infantry regiments traced their tradition back to the year 1670. The Saxon infantry regiment No. 108 was called Schützen (Fusilier) Regiment Prince Georg (Dresden) and was uniformed like the Saxon jägers, albeit with yellow braid, buttons and tchakko trim. The belt buckle bore the name-signature of Prince Georg with crown.

Bavaria provided a self-contained contingent in the Reich Army with its 3 army corps (I–III) and numerous peculiarities. In 1914 there were 24 Bavarian infantry regiments, including the Infantry Life Regiment in Munich. This one had Guard status.

Very early foresters and hunters were used as guides and sharpshooters in military service and over time they were grouped into battalions, although they always received special replacement. In 1744 (15.06.) Frederick the Great established in Charlottenburg from voluntary forestry employees a field-jäger corps, which was expanded into a field-jäger regiment of foot and a mounted field-jäger corps. The former was dissolved in 1807, its remnants being incorporated into the Guard Jäger Battalion and the East Prussian Jäger Battalion.

Before the mobilization of 1914 there were 18 jäger or schutzen battalions in the German army, including the Guard Jäger Battalion, the Guard Schützen Battalion and 2 Saxon ones (Nos. 12 and 13), 1 Mecklenburg-Schwerin (No. 14) as well as 2 Bavarian ones with their own numbering (Nos. 1 and 2)¹⁸.

The Guard Jäger Battalion was garrisoned in Potsdam and linked its history to the already mentioned Corps of Fieldjägers of Foot. After the destruction of the old Prussian army in 1806/07 it was reformed with ranzionierte (re-enlisted) personnel. Since 1811 it bore the designation Guard Jäger Battalion. The Guard Machine-Gun Detachment No. 1 was assigned to this battalion. The Guard Schützen Battalion was formed on 19.05.1814 in Neufchâtel from the battalion established by Marshal Berthier and from recruited men. Since 1815 the battalion was stationed in Berlin.

The battalions were each divided into 4 jäger or schutzen companies, 1 machine-gun and 1 cyclist company. In war the jäger battalions were generally assigned to cavalry divisions and were intended to increase the striking power of the cavalry regiments. Some jäger battalions — especially reserve units — however remained with the infantry divisions and even formed jäger regiments.

Since 1880 experiments with multi-barrel machine guns were carried out, but these were temporarily discontinued. However, experiences in the wars at the beginning of the 20th century changed the initially cautious assessment of the role of the machine gun for infantry combat. In October 1901 machine-gun detachments were initially improvised in several jäger battalions. By 1914 there already existed 2 Guard, 7 Prussian, 1 Saxon and 1 Bavarian line machine-gun detachments. Furthermore there were 15 machine-gun fortress detachments (only in Prussia). In addition there were the machine-gun companies existing in the individual infantry regiments/jäger battalions. The various machine-gun detachments were assigned to different army corps and there to individual regiments or companies.

Bicycles were already used in the old army before 1914 in many ways, for example for the transmission of orders and messages, for use in relay service, to connect to the infantry vanguard with the advance guard, as a replacement for cavalry when infantry marched alone, to connect the individual elements of the outposts and as quartering agents. There were so-called war bicycles and training bikes. Each regiment had 6 bicycles. However, because cyclists were dependent on fixed roads and paths, they could not completely replace mounted dispatch riders.

As early as in peacetime (from 1913) the Jäger and Schützen battalions included, in addition to the 4 Jäger or Schützen companies, 1 machine-gun company and 1 cyclist company. The latter bore the number 6 on the shoulder buttons of the tunic.

In 1914 there were a total of 35 pioneer battalions, each with 4 companies. Some pioneer battalions were equipped with searchlight platoons, others were fortress pioneer battalions. Two battalions (No. 12, 22) belonged to the Saxon contingent, one to the Württemberg contingent (No. 13), one to the Baden contingent (No. 14) and four to the Bavarian contingent (No. 1–4). At the mobilization in 1914 the German army had a total of 364 pioneer companies.

Before the confrontation of the old Prussian army with the young French Empire in 1806, the old Prussian cavalry comprised 13 cuirassier, 14 dragoon and 9 hussar regiments (including 1 Towarczys regiment = lancer riders) as well as an independent Towarczys battalion. Only a few of these traditional regiments survived the campaign with its catastrophic outcome. After the peace of 1807, from their remnants 4 cuirassier, 6 dragoon and 6 hussar regiments, as well as one uhlan regiment, were formed²⁰. Each cavalry regiment was to be 4 squadrons strong.

Subsequently the cavalry was gradually expanded, initially cautiously, but with the outbreak of the Wars of Liberation numerous new formations were raised. In 1815, by AKO of 07.03 and 25.03, 14 new formations were added to the 18 existing line cavalry regiments. In August 1815 the cavalry numbered 117 squadrons in the standing army (17,622 men), 36 reserve squadrons in the standing army (4,536 men), 126 squadrons of Landwehr cavalry (12,614 men) and 16½ squadrons of the Landwehr reserve (2,475), a total of 37,245 men²¹. In 1819 four line dragoon regiments were converted into cuirassiers. In 1821 the Guard Uhlan Regiment was transformed into the Guard Cuirassier Regiment. There were now 6 guard regiments, 8 line cuirassier regiments, 4 dragoon regiments, 12 hussar regiments and 8 uhlan regiments. In addition to the line formations there was also the Landwehr cavalry. According to the AKO of 14.06.1827 almost the entire cavalry was to form two cavalry corps in wartime. The wartime strength of a regiment was to be 700 men and horses. Added to this were 23 officers. The peacetime establishment comprised 602 men, but in practice (initially) this was not reached. The establishment of the guard cavalry regiments was equalized with that of the line in 1849. Until the major army reform of 1860 there were no substantial changes to this number of regiments. The mobilization following the dispute between Austria and Italy revealed numerous deficiencies, which the Prince Regent wished to remedy by a comprehensive army reform. In 1860 (15.01 and 26.01) the formation of a fifth squadron in each cavalry regiment was ordered. Furthermore a number of new regiments were created (by transfers). After the victorious confrontation with the Austrian rival, additional formations were formed from the replacement squadrons. By the incorporation of various North German contingents the Oldenburg Dragoon Regiment (No. 19) and the Brunswick Hussar Regiment (No. 17) came into being. After the founding of the Reich and the victorious end of the Franco-German War, various non-Prussian — in particular Baden, Hessian, Württemberg — units were integrated into the sequential numbering of the different cavalry types. From 1888 (24.07.) the division of the Garde du Corps regiment into companies was abolished. In 1895 the Jäger zu Pferde emerged from the signal rider detachments as a new variant of the cavalry²².

According to the law of 15.07.1890 the number of squadrons was to rise to 465; according to the law of 03.07.1913 it was to be 550²³. In 1914 the Prussian army comprised 430 squadrons in 86 regiments of 5 squadrons each. The Imperial Army as a whole numbered 547 squadrons in 110 regiments of 5 squadrons; 3 Bavarian regiments counted only 4 squadrons each²⁴.

At this time the Prussian Guard Cavalry comprised, in addition to the Regiment der Garde du Corps and the Guard Cuirassier Regiment, the 1st Guard Dragoon Regiment Queen Victoria of Great Britain and Ireland (Berlin), the 2nd Guard Dragoon Regiment Empress Alexandra of Russia (also Berlin), the Life Guard Hussar Regiment (Potsdam) as well as the 1st–3rd Guard Uhlan Regiments (Potsdam and Berlin). Cavalry regiments of other contingents also held guard status.

In 1914, in addition to the Regiment der Gardes du Corps (Potsdam) and the Guard Cuirassier Regiment (Berlin), there were 8 line cuirassier regiments of 5 squadrons each. The Guard Cuirassier Regiment was formed on 21.02.1815 and was created from the Guard Uhlan and Guard Cossack squadrons of the Light Guard Cavalry Regiment and supplemented by 2 squadrons from the best ranks of the Silesian National Hussar Regiment. From its establishment the regiment was stationed in Berlin, initially designated as the Guard Uhlan Regiment; from 1821 it bore the designation Guard Cuirassier Regiment. The cuirass not only gave the cuirassiers their name but also distinguished them as members of the heavy cavalry and was a last gleam of chivalry.

In 1914 the Bavarian cavalry included two heavy rider regiments, namely the 1st Heavy Rider Regiment Prince Karl of Bavaria (Munich) and the 2nd Heavy Rider Regiment Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Este (Landshut). Both regiments were originally cuirassiers; in 1879 they were converted into heavy riders.

The Saxon cavalry included two heavy regiments, the Guard Rider Regiment (founded on 31.10.1680) and the Carabinier Regiment (founded 01.11.1849).

Dragoons originally developed as mounted infantry. In 1914 there were a total of 26 dragoon regiments, including 2 Mecklenburg regiments (No. 17, 18), 2 Hessian (No. 23, 24) and 2 Württemberg (No. 25, 26).

Hussars were the classic light cavalry and were introduced in Prussia in 1721. In 1914, in addition to the Life Guard Hussar Regiment (Potsdam), there were 20 line regiments, of which three were Saxon units (No. 18, 19, 20).

Before the outbreak of the First World War there were 23 uhlan regiments, including 2 Bavarian (with their own numbering), 3 Saxon (No. 17, 18 and 21) and 2 Württemberg (No. 19, 20) formations. Characteristic for the uhlans was their armament with the lance. From 1888, however, the entire German cavalry was equipped with steel-tube lances. Bavaria supplied two uhlan regiments in the Old Army, garrisoned in Bamberg (No. 1) and Ansbach (No. 2). The three Saxon uhlan regiments were garrisoned in Oschatz (No. 17), Leipzig-Gohlis (No. 18) and Chemnitz (No. 21).

The Jäger zu Pferde regiments were formed from 1905 from the existing signal rider detachments or squadrons Jäger zu Pferde. By 1913 thirteen regiments had been formed, with Nos. 7–13 created in 1913 alone. Regiment No. 1 was called King's Jäger zu Pferde and was garrisoned in Posen. The Chevaulegers had originated in the 18th century as light cavalry. They existed in the Old Army only in the Bavarian contingent, a total of 8 regiments. The oldest regiments (No. 1 and 2) had been founded in 1682, but only became Chevaulegers in 1790. The last regiments were formed in 1905 (No. 7) and 1909 (No. 8).

Prussia

12 Regiments

Regiments

104

The German artillery was divided into the (light) maneuver (=field) and the (heavy) position (=foot) artillery. The complete separation of the two branches was only achieved in 1872. In 1914 the field artillery numbered: 4 guard and 96 line regiments, including 12 Bavarian (with own 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).

Among the guard formations was also the Instruction Regiment of the Field Artillery Firing School (Jüterbog).

The foot artillery was the heavy artillery. In 1914 there existed the Guard Foot Artillery Regiment (Spandau), the Instruction Regiment of the Foot Artillery (Jüterbog), as well as the experimental battery of the Artillery Testing Commission (Kummersdorf) and 23 line regiments of foot artillery, including 1 Saxon (No. 20 in Dresden) and 3 Bavarian (No. 1–3, own numbering). The regiments were organized into 2 battalions of 4 batteries each and 1 harnessing detachment.

On 21.04.1853 the Train Battalions No. 1–8 were founded. Until that point there were no peacetime cadres. In the depots there were only a few train officers. The peacetime cadres created in 1853 were usually commanded by an artillery officer; the other officers were Landwehr officers. The remaining personnel were detailed cavalrymen and infantrymen (NCOs and corporals). From 1862 it was determined that one-third of the cavalry reserve was to be released to the train annually. From 1914 the enlisted men serving for two years were called train riders, those serving only one year were train drivers. In 1914 there were — in addition to the Guard Train Battalion — a further 24 train battalions, including 2 Saxon (No. 12 and 19), 1 Württemberg (No. 13), 1 Baden (No. 14), 1 Hessian (No. 18) and 3 Bavarian (No. 1–3). The battalions each had 4 companies.

As early as 1866 there had been field railway detachments with the Prussian armies in the field²⁶. Over time, up to 1914, three railway regiments (No. 1–3) were formed, as well as 1 railway battalion (No. 4) and 1 operations detachment of the railway troops and 1 Bavarian railway battalion (Munich). Saxony and Württemberg provided companies in Railway Regiment No. 1 and in Railway Battalion No. 4 respectively.

Already in the 1890s experiments with vehicles had been undertaken within the railway brigade. In 1907 a motor vehicle detachment was formed in Berlin, initially only of company strength. By 1914 a motor vehicle battalion with a total of 4 companies was in existence (Berlin-Schöneberg). Saxony and Württemberg supplied detachments to this battalion. Bavaria had its own air and motor vehicle battalion (Munich). In addition there existed a voluntary automobile corps. Members of the ADAC committed their vehicles to service with the army in the event of mobilization.

From 1910 the first officers were trained in Döberitz; in 1911 they already took part in the imperial maneuvers. The military school in Döberitz was founded on 01.05.1910. At the imperial maneuvers in September 1911 each participating army corps was allocated one airship and four airplanes. The experiences were good.

The Landwehr was originally a larger levy for the army, mostly intended only for domestic deployment and not very war-ready. The Landwehr in the modern sense was created in Prussia with the introduction of universal conscription. It comprised all conscripts after completion of active service (3 years) and reserve time (2 years).

The Landwehr, which had close ties to the bourgeoisie, was politically and militarily controversial in 19th-century Prussia and was reorganized in 1859/60.

The Landwehr was reorganized by a regulation (VO) of 05.09.1867. After its implementation there were — in addition to the Guard Landwehr — in Prussia 189, in Mecklenburg 4, in Hesse 6, in Saxony 17 Landwehr battalions.

The Reich Military Law of 1874 retained the institution of the Landwehr (now for 12 years, i.e. from age 28 to 40).

From 1885 Landwehr inspections were established in each division — initially of the I–II Army Corps. These were supervisory authorities over district commands. In the event of mobilization the Landwehr inspectors were to assume command of reserve divisions.

In 1913 there were 25 Landwehr inspections: 19 Prussian, 2 Saxon, 1 Württemberg, 3 Bavarian²⁶. They were named after their locations.

Older age groups and conscripts of lesser physical fitness formed the Landsturm. Upon the introduction of general conscription it was taken over and was even initially designated as part of the standing army (law of 03.09.1814)²⁷.