II. The military organization of the armies of France and Germany

Strong restrictions after the defeat in 1807, in the amount of standing army, Prussia, on the idea Sharngorsta take special rekrutskuyu system and, in 1813, with the opening of the war for the independence of Germany, was formed Landver - Zemskov army. This system, with the introduction of its own, giving excellent results and enabled the Government to put in a short time 250 000 army, delivered the possibility of Prussia - a rapid passage through the frames - to prepare for military service a significant portion of the population.

Without going into great detail describing all the famous Prussian landvernoy system will only say that, on the basis of laws issued in 1814 and 1815 years of military service was made compulsory for all, without exception, the Prussian subjects: buy from the service or provide for a mercenary - is impossible. Later regulations, the Prussian military system were made some changes and now all of the citizens of North-German Alliance, is capable to bear arms and has reached 20 years of age are obliged to serve in the army these things years (20 to 27 years), of whom three Year rely on the service in the existing troops, and four years - which, for the most part, carried out on leave - in reserve. Then the next five years (from 28 to 33 years) are entitled to serve in Landver.

In some cases, for family reasons, young people provides a respite from 1 to 3 years, moreover, in the form of benefits, a shortened lifespan: popular schools for teachers and candidates for those positions, as well as weapons, pledged to serve no less than 9 years in one of the weapons factories - 6 weeks, while the military hospital workers - one year.

Regardless of persons who have reached 20 years of age into the army are also free-defining - or in the normal way, ie for three years (all young people between 17 and 20 years, voluntarily are at the service) or one year (young people, exceeding the established exam or having gimnazicheskie evidence, and in a position to support themselves at their own expense, and in parts of cavalry and artillery horse - feed, moreover, a horse and pay for its use certain amount.

The latter law is particularly important in the sense that, without violating the principle of common compulsory military service gives young people the opportunity to promptly complete their education. Then, all the soldiers who served for some troops in the existing three-year term and approved by superiors, may remain on the secondary service.

Even during the last Austro-Prussian War in 1866, Prussia, referring to expand their territorial holdings, has already made preparations to increase its army so that, at the end of the campaign, it is not difficult to draw in its military system not only joined the province, but also the State of North-German Union.

Prior to the Prague peace, the current Army Prussia was only 9 buildings, including the Guards in the overall composition of which - almost the same in each shell, as follows: nine infantry regiments, trehbatalonnogo composition, one rifle battalion, six cavalry regiments and one artillery Brigade of the two regiments - one field and a fortress, one engineering battalion and one battalion obozny - all of up to 30 000 infantry and cavalry, with 96 field guns.

Since joining the Prussian Hanover, Hesse, Nassau and Schleswig, Prussian Government decided to establish three new army corps. For these three buildings should form a 27 infantry regiments, believing the nine regiments in the shell, in fact, have been formed only 16, while the remaining 11 regiments had to replenish their small contingent of the North German Confederation. Then, 12 army corps troops make up the kingdom Saksonskogo, acceding to the Union.

Thus, the overall composition of the current North-German army, except the Grand Duchy of Hesse-Darmstadt, stretches up to 358 battalions, by the power of 358 000, ie to 1000 people in each battalion, 296 eskadronov5, the power of 44 400 horses and 13 artillery regiments, each of whom - 12 foot and 3 mounted battery shestiorudiynogo composition, all the same - 1,170 shells - 936 foot and 234 mounted, 13 pioneer battalions, four-rotnogo of (a company of mine, two company engineers, a company pontonnaya ), And 13 designation battalions (one in each body).

Exclusive of the Grand Duchy of Hesse-Darmstadt's become one nogoyu in Northern Germany and the other - the South - led to a special treaty on 7 April 1867, in which all Gessenskie military forces arrived in the North German army and attributed to the Army XI Corps. So, considering Gessensky contingent of 10 battalions and 8 squads, or 11 200 infantry and cavalry, with 36 guns (30 foot and 6 konnymi), the entire field force North-German Union is: out of 368 infantry battalions, including 18 rifle, 304 cavalry squad, 1206 guns, 13 battalions and one company of pioneers, and 13 battalions designation.

To bring the action the army on a military position, each forming part of their reserves as well: in each Infantry Regiment formed 4 th reserve battalion, the power in 1000 in the small battalion - a company two-centesimal composition in the cavalry formed the 5 th squadron , Which mainly deals with manege for operating death squads, each artillery regiment formed two footmen and one Mounted batteries on the six pieces of each; pioneer battalions, in the event of war, divided into three equal of the companies, which have joined, according to their designation , A pioneer convoy, an Avant-garde bridge wagon or a pontonnaya column, in addition to pioneer battalions personnel to deliver the necessary cables and railway teams. A pioneer battalion, with the army on a military position, forming a fallback company.

For rekrutskogo recruitment, management and sozvaniya Landver and even to bring the army in the war (the so-called mobilization) - all of the State of North-German Alliance, except for Hesse-Darmstadt, divided into 12 districts, with which each of the districts is one of the 12 army liners and is a common chief, called the commander, General (Gommandirender General), so that the Prussian corps is tactical and territorial importance; Guards Corps is completed by people recruited from all provinces of Prussia. Each of the hull okrugov7 divided, in turn, at 9 stations, of which one - a reserve battalion okolotok Landver, and 8 - regimental landvernyh uchastkov8.

Each regimental landvernom station recruited an appropriate line infantry regiment; fuzelerny same rifle regiment and battalion and the cavalry regiments, artillery brigade, pioneer and obozny battalions drawn from the entire corps district.

Two regimental landvernye section is a brigadier District. Each regimental plot is divided into two battalions landvernye okolotka, which in the case of mobilization, can be formed, except for the exposed parts landvernyh already have one battalion each from Garrison kazhdogo9.

Each battalion okolotok Landver divided, in turn, at 3, 6, and sometimes for 12 yards company, but should not think that, when raising, Landver battalions were formed not from the same number of companies: all mobilized landvernye battalions are divided Exactly the same as linear battalions - to 4 companies.

Reserve Battalion okolotki Landver, but agree with his enumerates fuzelernymi shelves, but serve mainly to complement the newly-formed battalions of the fortress, such an appointment was necessary because the associated recent provinces and the smaller states of North-German Union could not be immediately implemented Prussian landvernaya system.

Garrison troops, replenishment of which human beings is also landvernyh sites may be, if necessary, to pull off the shelf, brigade, division, for education, with a defensive war, the army strategic reserve force, as well as to garrison fortresses, or the siege of the castle Remaining in the rear of the army.

From the above it follows that the number of armies of the North German Confederation, along with Hesse-Darmstadt, stretches 644 to 600 people. Infantry; 71 300 people. cavalry; 1656 shells, 15 700 people. engineering troops and 13 battalions and 13 offices baggage; total 731 600 people. and 1656 pieces.

Brilliant achievements Prussian arms in the war in 1866 had the effect of the introduction of Prussian landvernoy system and in the South German states, so that in this campaign the number of armies of these states extends up to 122 150 PERSON. Infantry, 12 650 people. cavalry and 366 guns. In addition the number of South German federal states are in garrison troops to 33 600.

Reducing all the above figures, we get very interesting data on the effectiveness of the existing reserve and garrison troops allied German states. Thus, the current German army had 531 800 PERSON. infantry and cavalry and artillery shells 1506; spare troops 166 600 PERSON. infantry and cavalry, with 300 guns, garrison 201 600 PERSON. and 216 guns, and all 900 000 people with guns 2022.

Now we proceed to consideration of the armed forces of France, which could be displayed, with the beginning of the campaign against the masses of German troops.

Prussian victory under Kenigsgretsom seriously comments to all sectors of French society, just national pride military nation has been marked grave insult. The Government, however predchuvstvuya that, after the Austrians, the French also have felt the heavy hand of emerging Germany, recognized the need to proceed with the reorganization of its military forces, in order to give them more development, as well as change the reserves and National Guard, which until that time, there were almost only on paper.

The project, whose origin is to the former military Minister of France, Marshal Nielyu, all military ground forces were to be held: from the Army Reserve two appeals and mobile National Guard. The army is for active duty, reserve replenished from the ranks of the army and formed new parts if it is needed; mobile same National Guard serves to protect the city and for the maintenance of garrisons within the state. The size of the annual contingent is defined in 160 000 people, half of which is for the Army and the other for the reserve; lifetime determined 9 years old, from koego 5 years in the active forces and 4 years in reserve. Military service shall be all the French who have attained 21 years of age and enjoy political rights. The mercy of the service and the Endowment office, consists of otkupnyh money at the expense of a war which the Ministry had hired hunters, under the new law, repealed, but those who got in the current contingent of the army are allowed to represent himself for vice, and then they enroll in the National Guard; a person is trapped in the reserve, may exchange tickets to individuals enrolled in the National Guard. A distinctive feature in the French army of Regiments divisions, battalions, companies and squads into two parts, on a permanent frame and the moving parts. In a constant frame are all the staff ranks, officers, NCOs and Corporal, and workmen all kinds in the mobile parts - simple combatant ranks, whose numbers may be increased or reduced, depending on need.

Aforesaid draft transforming the Army, met in the legislative body of strong opposition, started, however, be enforced, but with the death of Marshal Nielya, this project has slowed, and some, albeit very important reason it was changed, so for example., Mobile Guard , Who was designated the project to 400 000 PERSON. - Retained only in some departments.

The new military Minister Marshal Lebef, treated with complete mistrust of the agency. All calculations on the collection of troops destined for the offensive war with Germany, mobile guards did not have been prinimaemy into consideration.

Under the new situation, the size of the French army in peacetime, extends up to 400 000 PERSON. Taking on a military position, it increased to 776 000.

If the total number of active Army 776 000 PERSON. Delete gendarmes, people living in various depots, arsenals, powder factories and so forth. military institutions, as well as the Roman occupation corpus, the entire field force will number no more than 550 000 - 600 000 people of all deliveries of weapons.

Thus while declaring war Germany, France had a whole army of 550 000 to 600 000.

But the fact is that, at the opening of hostilities, the French government to concentrate on its German border just before the 260 000 troops assigned to the 7 buildings, while Prussia pridvinula to the Rhine 12 shells and 4 cavalry division, in 3 armies, with 330 to 000 PERSON. and, moreover, in Germany were already quite ready for presentation, on demand, even 170 000 PERSON., consisting of four army corps, five landvernyh and two cavalry divisions.

Once the Prussian Government is satisfied that there is no fear that Austria had intervened in the war, and that of the north coast can not be expected introduction in significant power - those troops were immediately move to the theater, so that at the outset of the campaign was Prussia a very significant advantage in power.