conscription (GWU)

• What changes did the Prussians make to conscription?

  Following the defeat of Napoleon in 1815 the Prussians maintained a model of having a regular army and a reserve force (Landwehr). In 1862 an army bill meant that Prussian conscription became fixed at 1% of the population. This meant that they had a standing army of 400 000 with around the same number of soldiers in reserve
• Impact on nature?


  The size of armies began to increase yet again. Konnigratz 1866 = 250,000 Prussians vs. 215,000 Austrians (similar sizes to the big battles of the Napoleonic era (eg Leipzig 1813 = 600,000 combatants). These figures were much greater than those of the Crimean War (eg Balaclava = 50,000 men)
• Impact on outcome?


  The Prussian model of having a large reserve force that had been trained by the regulars certainly ensured that all Prussian soldiers could perfect Moltke’s mission tactics and speedy mobilisation plans which were central to their victories vs. Austria in 1866 and France in 1871