After the experience of the
Bavarian Army
The Bavarian Army was the army of the Electorate (1682–1806) and then Kingdom (1806–1919) of Bavaria. It existed from 1682 as the standing army of Bavaria until the merger of the military sovereignty (''Wehrhoheit'') of Bavaria into that of t ...
in the
war against Prussia, in 1868 the Bavarian
War Minister
A defence minister or minister of defence is a cabinet official position in charge of a ministry of defense, which regulates the armed forces in sovereign states. The role of a defence minister varies considerably from country to country; in som ...
Siegmund Freiherr von Pranckh fundamentally reformed the army. His main measures were:
* Reforms of the military reinforcement system:
#Abolition of the practice of avoiding conscription by hiring a paid substitute, called a ''Einsteher'' ("Proxy") or ''Einstandsmann'' ("Stand-In"),
[''Einstandsmann'' was originally a legal term. If a person who was in prison - for owing a debt or fine, was being tried for an offense, or was convicted of a crime - needed to leave to attend to an important matter, they could be granted temporary parole. In exchange a family member or friend (the "Stand-in") would attest to their character and volunteer to stand in their place in jail. When the conditions of the parole were met (if the person returned or the money was paid), the stand-in would be released.] to volunteer to take their place.
#Creation of
''Dienstzeit'' (compulsory military service-time requirement) of three years for all able-bodied men.
#Introduction of the
''Einjährig-Freiwilliger'' (“One-year volunteer”) system after the Prussian model.
* Abolition of Bavaria's
Landwehr
''Landwehr'', or ''Landeswehr'', is a German language term used in referring to certain national army, armies, or militias found in nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Europe. In different context it refers to large-scale, low-strength fortif ...
. The term ''Landsturm'' was henceforth used for the older members of the Reserve.
* Foundation of the
I Royal Bavarian Corps
The I Royal Bavarian Army Corps / I Bavarian AK (german: I. Königlich Bayerisches Armee-Korps) was a corps level command of the Royal Bavarian Army, part of the German Army, before and during World War I.
As part of the 1868 army reform, the I ...
in
Munich
Munich ( ; german: München ; bar, Minga ) is the capital and most populous city of the States of Germany, German state of Bavaria. With a population of 1,558,395 inhabitants as of 31 July 2020, it is the List of cities in Germany by popu ...
and
II Royal Bavarian Corps
The II Royal Bavarian Army Corps / II Bavarian AK (german: II. Königlich Bayerisches Armee-Korps) was a corps level command of the Royal Bavarian Army, part of the German Army, before and during World War I.
As part of the 1868 army reform, the ...
in
Würzburg
Würzburg (; Main-Franconian: ) is a city in the region of Franconia in the north of the German state of Bavaria. Würzburg is the administrative seat of the ''Regierungsbezirk'' Lower Franconia. It spans the banks of the Main River.
Würzburg is ...
* The Bavarian Cadet Corps was put on an equal footing with a
Realgymnasium
''Gymnasium'' (; German plural: ''Gymnasien''), in the German education system, is the most advanced and highest of the three types of German secondary schools, the others being ''Hauptschule'' (lowest) and ''Realschule'' (middle). ''Gymnas ...
.
Through these reforms, the Bavarian Army was able to participate significantly in the
Franco-Prussian War.
References
{{Reflist
Military of Bavaria
1868 in military history
1868 in Bavaria