Wanderjar
17-06-2006, 00:03
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The German people had been disunified for centuries, since the fall of the Holy Roman Empire, which split into the Kingdom of Hanover, The Kingdom of Saxony, Imperial Prussia, Bavaria, Württemberg, Austro-Hungarian Empire and several other states. These states remained independant until Napoleon Bonaparte launched his invasion of that region, through Saxony and Hanover. Soon after, he fought an extremely bloody war with Prussia, but even though better trained, the Prussian's military could not defeat the far larger French Force. This led to a view of Germanic superiority, which could be attained through unification of German people. Otto von Bismarck, Prime Minister of Prussia, dreamed of a United Germany under Prussian rule, and believed heavily in this ideal. In 1871, Wilhelm I of Prussia was crowned Emperor of Germany. They did this through defeating Austria at the Battle of Königgrätz, the defeat of Denmark in the Schleswig war, and defeating the French. This led to the German Empire.
Military
The German Military was in name only. It was divided into 4 sections based on Prior Imperial location, such as men from Prussian territories were in the Preussisches Heer, etc. The Preussisches Heer was the largest body of the military, fielding 50 Divisions in 1914, and 250 in 1918. The Landwher were conscript soldiers, similar in nature to the American National Guard, in which soldiers from a community served with other men from their township. The problem of this was that entire towns men were killed in single battles. But they were quite effective nonetheless in assitance to the Volunteer standing army.
The German people had been disunified for centuries, since the fall of the Holy Roman Empire, which split into the Kingdom of Hanover, The Kingdom of Saxony, Imperial Prussia, Bavaria, Württemberg, Austro-Hungarian Empire and several other states. These states remained independant until Napoleon Bonaparte launched his invasion of that region, through Saxony and Hanover. Soon after, he fought an extremely bloody war with Prussia, but even though better trained, the Prussian's military could not defeat the far larger French Force. This led to a view of Germanic superiority, which could be attained through unification of German people. Otto von Bismarck, Prime Minister of Prussia, dreamed of a United Germany under Prussian rule, and believed heavily in this ideal. In 1871, Wilhelm I of Prussia was crowned Emperor of Germany. They did this through defeating Austria at the Battle of Königgrätz, the defeat of Denmark in the Schleswig war, and defeating the French. This led to the German Empire.
Military
The German Military was in name only. It was divided into 4 sections based on Prior Imperial location, such as men from Prussian territories were in the Preussisches Heer, etc. The Preussisches Heer was the largest body of the military, fielding 50 Divisions in 1914, and 250 in 1918. The Landwher were conscript soldiers, similar in nature to the American National Guard, in which soldiers from a community served with other men from their township. The problem of this was that entire towns men were killed in single battles. But they were quite effective nonetheless in assitance to the Volunteer standing army.