Of late I have been trying to determine the composition of the prewar Landwehr in Imperial Germany. What is clear is the situation is not clear at all! Up to the Landwehr reorganisation in 1888 even in peacetime there were formed regiments of reservists - the Landwehr. Following this reorganisation the regimental organisation was done away with and the Landwehr was consequently administered by the Landwehr-Bezirkskommando or district headquarters. Each Bezirkskommando was subordinated to a peacetime brigade headquarters and also saw to the enlistment of conscripts and administration of reservists/Landwehrmänner.
Normally an infantry soldier who having served two years active service with a regiment followed by five (usually five and a half) in the reserve would then pass into the Landwehr I. Aufgebot (1st levy). Whilst in the reserve he would be obligated to perform two exercise each not exceeding eight weeks. These he would perform with his original active unit. That is clear. However as a member of the Landwehr 1st levy he was obligated during his time there (about five years for an infantryman) to participate twice in exercises of between 8 - 14 days duration with and I quote special companies and battalions (in besonderen Kompagnien oder Bataillonen). Nowhere can I find any order of battle for peace time Landwehr formations (besides the permanent staff headquarters of the Landwehr-Bezirkskommando) so what were these special companies and battalions? Were they formed on an ad-hoc basis for the limited period of the exercises? Who conducted the exercises? One assumes that they were officered by infantry officers of the Landwehr 1st levy as part of their obligation to train. And finally what were the chaps wearing during these exercises? We have all seen the plethora of diverse clothing worn by Landwehr troops during the war.
Any thoughts or comments would be appreciated.
Regards
Glenn
Normally an infantry soldier who having served two years active service with a regiment followed by five (usually five and a half) in the reserve would then pass into the Landwehr I. Aufgebot (1st levy). Whilst in the reserve he would be obligated to perform two exercise each not exceeding eight weeks. These he would perform with his original active unit. That is clear. However as a member of the Landwehr 1st levy he was obligated during his time there (about five years for an infantryman) to participate twice in exercises of between 8 - 14 days duration with and I quote special companies and battalions (in besonderen Kompagnien oder Bataillonen). Nowhere can I find any order of battle for peace time Landwehr formations (besides the permanent staff headquarters of the Landwehr-Bezirkskommando) so what were these special companies and battalions? Were they formed on an ad-hoc basis for the limited period of the exercises? Who conducted the exercises? One assumes that they were officered by infantry officers of the Landwehr 1st levy as part of their obligation to train. And finally what were the chaps wearing during these exercises? We have all seen the plethora of diverse clothing worn by Landwehr troops during the war.
Any thoughts or comments would be appreciated.
Regards
Glenn
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