Administration of the Prussian Army

1872

Subsistence Department

In time of peace, when there is no commissary officer on duty with troops of the standing army, or the subsistence of troops by the proper department is attended with unusual difficulty, supplies may be furnished by the commune in which the troops are quartered. While on a peace footing, officers may, and usually do, draw money commutation for their rations; but when the army is mobilized, every person in it, without regard to rank or grade, is entitled to one ration in kind daily, and no more, and commutations are not then allowed.

The ration consists of twelve ounces of fresh or salt beef, or smoked beef, or mutton, or two-thirds of a pound of salt pork; one pound and a half of bread, which may be increased to two pounds, without meat; four ounces of rice, and four ounces of barley or grits, or eight ounces of peas or beans; one half-pound of flour, or three pounds of potatoes; four ounces of salt, and four ounces of green, or three ounces of roasted, coffee.

The commanding general directs which of the component parts of the ration shall be issued.

The cost of the ration is about twenty-one cents.

In an enemy's country, supplies are obtained, as far as practicable, by requisitions upon the inhabitants through their own civil officers, if possible; but no more than the home price for the articles so obtained is paid under any circumstances. Requisitions, when made by the order of the commanding general, must be facilitated by all commanding officers.

In addition to the ration, the Subsistence Department furnishes dried fruit, sauerkraut, and such vegetables as can be obtained or transported.

Extra issues of whisky or brandy may be made in the field, on the order of the commanding officer, in cases of unusual fatigue or exposure. The ration is one gallon to forty-eight men.

Under similar circumstances the ration may be increased to one pound of beef, one third of a pound of rice or barley and grits, or two-thirds of a pound of peas or beans, and four pounds of potatoes.

In cases of lack of sufficient transportation, the commanding general may reduce the ration, specifying what parts and quantities thereof shall be issued.

Beer, wine, tobacco, and butter are not usually kept by the Subsistence Department, but the commanding general may authorize the issue of these articles, when they can be obtained. A ration will then consist of one quart of beer, one pint of wine, and three ounces each of butter and tobacco.

When troops are transported by railway or steamboat, an extra allowance in money is paid to the commanding officers of regiments or detachments for procuring refreshments for the troops on the line of travel. This allowance is as follows per man: For a trip of from 8 to 15 hours, 8 cents; from 15 to 31 hours, 15 cents; from 31 to 39 hours, 23 cents; from 39 to 47 hours, 30 cents; for every eight hours' travel beyond forty-seven, eight cents is paid.

Commanding officers are required to see that each man carries with him, when traveling by rail or boat, at least one pound of bread, and a suitable quantity of salt pork and whisky, as a reserve ration.

In case there should be no proper accommodations for men on the line of travel, subsistence stores, with butchers and bakers, are sent forward, under charge of a commissioned officer, and warm meals are prepared in advance of the arrival of the troops.

The issues of subsistence stores must in every case be witnessed by a company officer or a pay-master, and commanding officers of posts or pay-masters are required to thoroughly inspect all articles received.

The hides of beeves slaughtered for the use of troops are returned to the Subsistence Department, and, when sold, the proceeds of the sale are turned over to the troops to whom the beef is issued.

When issues of salt meats are made, there is a suitable deduction for salt and brine.

Commutation is allowed for the bread ration when it is not drawn in kind.

The refreshment addition for troops while traveling is always paid in advance - sometimes daily, and sometimes for the whole tour.

An increase of the ration is usually authorized by the War Department upon the issuing of the order placing the army upon a war footing.

Pay Department

There is no Pay Department proper in the Prussian Army. The troops are paid tri-monthly by a pay-master, who is a regimental officer, and belongs to the battalion staff, and who, besides paying the troops, disburses and keeps the accounts of all the other funds of the regiment, under the direction and supervision of the Regimental Board, as is explained under "Internal Economy of Regiments." The money for the payment of troops is received by the regimental commander, together with allowances for the other funds, from the War Department, and the pay-master's duties are those of a treasurer and cashier, under the direction of the commanding officer and Regimental Board.

Internal Economy of Regiments
Administration of Funds and Duties of Regimental Boards

The commanding officer is president of the Regimental Board, and super-intends the whole cash business; and should the funds of the regiment become exhausted, is authorized to draw within certain limits upon the general War Fund.

The second member, the lieutenant-colonel, superintends the business of the pay-master, and is required to know that the books and accounts are properly kept and balanced. The lieutenant-colonel has special functions relating to all accounts of his regiment, is responsible for their accuracy, and excused from all field exercises. All organizations manage their own funds, supplies of clothing, and entire equipment.

The pay-master, who is an officer of the regiment, receives and counts the different regimental funds, keeps each in its proper safe, and disburses them. He directs the correspondence, calculations, and book-keeping, and makes all payments. He does not attend drills or field manoeuvres.

The troops are paid by the pay-master on the 1st, 11th, and 21st of each month....

Each battery and company of artillery receives a fund ranging from $7.20 to $8.60 monthly for repairs of harness, gun-carriages, and for making targets, etc....

Besides the funds named, there are others of minor importance. Among them are those for education of soldiers, for medical attendance and medicines for wives and children of soldiers, for horse medicines, for regimental bands, for libraries and military charities, for swimming schools, and for the decoration of cemeteries.

Clothing

The commanding officer of a regiment, or other distinct organization, is responsible for the clothing and entire equipment of his command, and general officers are held to a like responsibility in respect to their commands....

No arrangement exists for furnishing troops in the field with clothing, as it is assumed that the supply furnished each soldier on taking the field will last until his return.

All material for the manufacture of clothing is furnished to the tailors, who are enlisted men, and is by them made up for the different regiments. The refuse material is sold, and the proceeds transferred to the fund for equipment.

All articles of clothing, except gloves and ear-coverings, are twice inspected before issue.

Non-commissioned officers and privates, except one-year volunteers, are furnished with all articles of clothing and equipment required during their term of service.

Only invalided soldiers are allowed to retain their worn-out clothing; all others turn it in, and it is replaced by new articles....

Troops changing station receive extra under-clothing in order to keep themselves clean en route, but must turn it in upon arrival at their destination.

Soldiers discharged for disability during the winter months, if of feeble constitution, are furnished an overcoat, which must, however, be turned in to the proper authority upon their arrival at home....

All enlisted men are entitled to an outfit of clothing gratis. This for each man in the infantry: One cap with cockade, one dress-coat, one linen jacket, one pair cloth trowsers, one pair linen trowsers, one pair drawers, one pair stockings, one stock, one great-coat, one pair mittens (leather for non-commissioned officers, cloth for privates), one pair ear-coverings, one shirt, one pair boots, one pair shoes, and two pairs half-soles.

In the mounted service each man receives: One cap with cockade, one linen jacket, one stock, one pair kersey trowsers, one pair cloth trowsers re-enforced with leather, one pair stable trowsers, one pair drawers, one shirt, one pair stockings, one great-coat, one pair long boots, one pair shoes, one pair gloves, and one pair ear-coverings.

In garrison, each soldier receives: Two double blankets in winter and one in summer, one coverlet, one mattress, one pillow, and two sheets. The garrison administration pays for the washing of the bed furniture, but each man pays for the washing of his own clothes.

Other Provisions of the Prussian Army

Persons on furlough do not receive commutation of their allowances, but officers and officials on court-martial service, or like duty, interfering with the discharge of their customary functions, receive all of their allowances in full.

The forage ration is of two kinds - light and heavy. The heavy ration consists of eleven and one-fourth pounds of oats, three pounds of hay, and three and a half pounds of straw. The light ration is the same, except that the amount of grain is ten pounds. Heavy rations are issued to horses of the cavalry and artillery, and to horses belonging to general officers and officers of their staffs, officers of the war ministry, of the engineers, intendance, administration high officials (civil officers transferred for special military service in war), officers in charge of transportation and pack-trains, postilions, and sutlers. All horses not belonging to any of the above branches draw light rations of forage.

When oats can not be obtained, the equivalent per pound is: Of barley, one pound; of rye, one pound; of middlings, one and one-fifth pounds; of hay, two and one-eighth pounds, and of straw, five pounds....

Commanding generals of armies and army-corps furnissh their own office- furniture.

Expenses for apprehension, subsistence, and delivery of deserters are paid from the recruiting fund....

Every civil official called into service at the mobilization receives two or three months' salary in advance. Should his salary as a military be higher than a civil official, he receives only the pay of the civil position. Civil officials on the retired or pensioned lists, called upon for military duty as officers or officials of the administration, receive the pay of the positions to which they are assigned....

The allowance of transportation for officers' baggage depends upon the size and nature of the command with which the officer travels. An officer commanding a column of not more than three hundred men is allowed one saddle-horse and one two-horse wagon. In a command of two companies exceeding four hundred men there is allowed to each officer one saddle-horse, but only one two-horse wagon for officers' baggage. Three companies are allowed three saddle-horses and a four-horse wagon; and in all cases where surgeons accompany commands, each is allowed a saddle-horse. Loads for wagons are as follows: For a two-horse wagon, seven hundred and fifty pounds; for a four-horse wagon, one thousand pounds; and for a six-horse wagon, two thousand pounds....

When soldiers are taken sick on the march, and there is no surgeon on duty with the command, they are taken to the nearest suitable house, and a civil physician summoned to attend them. A physician so called in is entitled to collect for each man thirty cents for each visit....

Pay of the Prussian Army (in Thalers)

Infantry of the Standing Army

The whole infantry force of the standing army of the North German Confederation consists consequently of 9 regiments of Guards, 109 regiments of the line, of three battalions each, and 1 battalion of sharp-shooters of the Guards, 1 battalion of jägers of the Guards, and 16 battalions of jägers or sharp-shooters - making a total of 118 regiments of foot and 18 battalions of jägers, or 372 battalions.

The staff of each of the 118 regiments of infantry consists of 1 officer of the staff, as commander; 1 major, as fifth officer of the staff (that is to say, besides the commander of the regiment and the commanders of each of the three battalions); 1 lieutenant, as adjutant; 1 non-commissioned officer, as clerk; and the regimental band, numbering 48 men in the five old regiments of the Guards and the 4th of the Guards (Queen), and 10 men (32 others are taken from the état of the companies, as assistants) in the old Prussian regiments of the line, Nos. 1-40. In the four new regiments of the Guards, except the Queen Regiment, mentioned before, and the new regiments of the line, the band is formed by 10 men (and 12 from the état of the companies). To the staff of each regiment belong also one chief physician of the staff, two physicians of the staff, and three assistant physicians; the chief physician being at the same time the special physician of the 1st battalion of the regiment, the other two staff physicians the special physicians of the other two battalions, with 1 assistant physician for each battalion. Each battalion of all regiments of the line, on a peace footing, has a strength of 18 officers and 532 men. The battalions of the five old regiments of the Guards number 22 officers and 684 men. The five old regiments of the Guards referred to are the 1st Regiment of Foot Guards; the 2d Regiment of Foot Guards; the Regiment of Grenadiers of the Guards, No. 1 (Emperor Alexander); the Regiment of Grenadiers of the Guards, No. 2 (Emperor Francis); and the Regiment of Fusileers of the Guards. Each battalion of jägers consists of 22 officers and 532 men, in peace.

The whole force of the infantry of the North German Confederation, exclusive of the staffs of divisions, army corps, and higher commands, or, in other words, of the 118 regiments of foot (6714 officers and 190,668 men) and the 18 battalions of jägers, (396 officers and 9612 men), on a peace footing, amounts to 7110 officers and 200,280 men. The 118 regiments of foot and the 18 battalions of jägers, on a war footing, number 8450 officers, 380,596 men, 14, 854 horses, 2124 wagons of baggage, etc.

Each battalion, in war, has 1 wagon with munition, containing from 16,710 to 16,940 cartridges, and 1290 explosive cartridges, 12 axes, 10 spades, etc.; 1 wagon containing the cash-box of the battalion and accounts, articles of uniform in reserve, and the tools and requisites for the shoe-makers and tailors of the battalion; 1 cart containing drugs and medicines; 1 wagon for the officers' equipage; and 4 horses with pack-saddles.

There are some slight changes in the arrangement for the fusileer battalions and the jäger battalions. Each battalion consists of 4 companies; each company is subdivided into smaller commands of about 20 men each, commanded by a non-commissioned officer. On a peace footing there are from 6 to 8 such commands, in war generally 12; two or three of them together are commanded by an officer. Such a body is called an inspection, but does not rank as an intermediate command between the captain of the company and the commands of the non-commissioned officers.

There is hardly more than a nominal distinction between the different regiments of foot, those regiments called the regiments of fusileers and the battalions of jägers forming the light infantry. The fusileers have no bayonets on their guns, but use their short swords instead. The jägers are armed with rifles admitting of greater precision in taking aim. The jägers, as well as the fusileers, are used in the offense as well as the defense. The jägers are, as far as possible, recruited from those persons who wish to become game-keepers and foresters, and have been assistants to such before entering the army. It will be seen from this that these troops are therefore specially adapted to act in mountainous and wooded districts with advantage.

The gun of the North German infantry is the needle-gun of Dreyse; admits of firing five times in a minute, and carries well to a distance of 800 yards. Some alterations which are to be made will no doubt improve the needle-gun. At present it is heavier, and certainly not as good as the French Chassepot.

Cavalry of the Standing Army

The cavalry of the standing army of North Germany consists of 10 regiments of the Guards - viz.: 2 regiments of cuirassiers, 2 regiments of dragoons, 3 regiments of lancers (Uhlans), 1 regiment of hussars, 1 regiment of Saxon, and 1 regiment of Grand Ducal Hessian chevaux-legers; and of 66 regiments of the line - viz.: 8 regiments of cuirassiers, 19 regiments of dragoons, 17 regiments of hussars, 18 regiments of lancers, and 4 regiments of horse. The sum total of the cavalry is, consequently, 76 regiments, of 5 squadrons each. In case of mobilization, one squadron remains in the garrison, forming the nucleus of supplements to be sent to the field as re-enforcements. A regiment of horse on a peace-footing numbers 25 officers, from 713 to 716 men, and 672 horses; in war, 23 officers, 653 men, 705 horses, and 7 wagons. The 76 regiments of horse represent a force of 1896 officers, 54,122 men, and 50,938 horses, in peace; and 1748 officers, 49,428 men, 53,380 horses, and 532 vehivles, in war.

The cavalry is divided into heavy and light cavalry, and men and horses are selected with regard to this. The heavy cavalry serves for a regular fight against opposing cavalry in masses. The light cavalry serves more as eclaireurs. They are armed with rifled breech-loading carbines, and, in case of necessity, dismount and fight as infantry against infantry, an instance of which occurred during the last war, where a village occupied by a superior force of French infantry was stormed by a squadron of hussars who had dismounted and fought as infantry. The cuirassiers are heavy cavalry, armed with sword and pistol.

The Uhlans, or lancers, are also counted heavy cavalry, but in reality occupy an intermediate position between light and heavy cavalry; their arms are sword, pistol, and lance. The dragoons, hussars, and the Saxon and Hessian regiment of horse form the light cavalry.

The influence of the numerous public and private studs which have existed for centuries in Germany, especially in East Prussia, Mecklenburg, and Hanover, has been very beneficially exercised, and the breed of horses in the army is very enduring and strong.

The Artillery of the North German Army

The artillery of the North German Confederation consists of 1 regiment of field artillery of the Guards, 12 regiments of field artillery and 1 Hessian detachment of field artillery, 1 regiment of siege artillery of the Guards, 8 regiments of siege artillery, 4 detachments of siege artillery, and 1 detachment of artificers.

The field artillery is especially used for attacking in the open field the advancing lines of the enemy, while the siege artillery is designed for siege operations, and in the field to attack the fortifications of the enemy. Every field artillery regiment consists of 3 detachments of foot, of 2 batteries of six-pounders and 2 batteries of four-pounders each, and 1 detachment of horse, of 3 batteries of four-pounders.

On a peace footing each battery numbers 4 guns; in war, 6. The whole force of the field artillery in war is, consequently--taking into consideration that the 12th Regiment (Royal Saxon Corps) numbers 1 battery more than the Prussian regiments, 164 batteries of foot and 39 batteries of horse, making a total of 203 batteries, and 1218 guns - 482 six-pounders and 736 four-pounders. Every siege artillery regiment consists of 2 detachments, of 4 companies each, making a total of 88 companies.

It is to be noted that while the privates in the different services of the artillery are trained only for their special service, every artillery officer receives an instruction which makes him completely conversant with all the different branches of the artillery, and enables him to take a command in any of them.

The field artillery of North Germany is armed with rifled four and six-pounders of cast-steel. They fire grenades, grape-shot, and shrapnel shells. Grape-shot is only used at a distance of 600 yards and less, especially when the guns are in danger of being taken, and in fortresses when a breach in the wall has been effected by the enemy. They are fired from guns which are not rifled.

The foot batteries, so called because the men serving the guns are not on horseback, as those of the batteries of horse are, are principally employed in assisting the infantry, and the batteries of horse in supporting the attacks of the cavalry. Of course, according to the exigencies of the case, exceptions to this general rule frequently occur.

The siege artillery is armed with rifled 6, 12, and 24 pounders, smooth-bore 6 and 12 pounders, and smooth-bore 7 to 50 pound mortars. The siege artilery is also armed with rifled mortars, which throw bombs of the heavier kind to a height of 3000 feet. The detachment of artificers is commissioned with the preparation of fire-works, rockets, fuses, etc., which require particular attention and skill. The German guns are all breech-loaders.

A detachment of field artillery of foot consists of 1 officer of the staff, 6 captains, 13 lieutenants, 73 non-commissioned officers, 368 men, 160 horses, and 16 guns, in peace. A detachment of field artillery of horse, in peace, consists of one staff officer, 3 captains, 10 other officers, 43 non-commissioned officers, 231 men, 216 horses, and 12 guns. A detachment of siege artillery, in peace, consists of 1 staff officer, 5 captains, 13 other officers, 61 non-commissioned officers, and 340 men. The whoe force of the field artillery, in peace, is 1137 officers, 22,391 men, 9328 horses, and 808 guns; that of the siege artillery, 501 officers and 9798 men. A detachment of field artillery, in war, numbers 18 officers, 610 men, 516 horses, 24 guns, and 41 vehicles. The whole force of the field artillery, on a war footing, consists of 1262 officers, 54,177 men, 53,195 horses, 1284 guns, and 5288 vehicles. The strength of the siege artillery in war is variable, according to the requirements of the campaign.

The Engineers

There are 13 battalions of engineers, and 1 company of Hessian engineers. Every battalion--except the 12th (Saxon) battalion, which consists of but 3 companies--consists of the 1st company, who are pontonniers; the 2d and 3d companies, who are sappers; and the 4th company, who are miners. There are in all 52 companies of engineers. Every battalion of engineers, excepting the Saxon battalion, numbers 18 officers, 495 men, and 6 other persons.

The whole force of the engineers, in peace, is 162 officers, 3078 men, 1633 horses, and 324 vehicles. In war they number 228 officers, 9378 men, 2288 horses, and 380 vehicles, besides 13 pontoon trains (which are, however, hardly ever all mobilized), of 65 officers, 2899 men, 3601 horses, and 533 vehicles.

The engineers are more of a technical than a tactical body, but are as regularly drilled in military matters as any other troops, and carry, along with their special tools, guns of the same description as the infantry. The pontonniers are charged with the building of bridges in war, the sappers with the attack of fortresses and fortifications from above ground, the miners with attacks of the same description under ground.

The Train

The train consists of the military organized troops for the transport of munitions, provisions, pontoons, field telegraph utensils, and the appliances for field railways, field hospitals, etc., and furnishes drivers for the baggage and munition carts of the moblized troops. There are 13 battalions of train, and a Hessian detachment. Every battalion consists of two companies and 1 depot, and numbers 12 officers, 225 men, 4 other persons, 121 horses, and 24 vehicles. In peace the train numbers 162 officers, 3078 men, 1633 horses, and 324 vehicles; in war, 404 officers, 19,465 men, 16,841 horses, and 2615 vehicles.

The sum total of the forces of the North German Confederation, in peace, including staffs, non-attached officers, and administrations, is 12,976 officers, 306,194 men, 63,718 horses, 810 guns, and 324 vehicles. The sum total of the troops available for the field, in war, including the higher staffs, commands, administrations, head-quarters, 4 field railway detachments, 4 field telegraph detachments, munition depots, etc., is 13,037 officers, 537,990 men, 158,007 horses, 1284 guns, and 13,180 vehicles. There are, besides, the supplements, numbering 3295 officers, 184,647 men, 22,724 horses, and 252 guns; also troops which remain at home as occupation forces, numbering 7100 officers, 214,124 men, 23,323 horses, 234 guns, and 390 vehicles; so that the sum total of the military forces of North Germany, in war, amounts to 23,432 officers, 936,761 men, 204,054 horses, 1770 guns, and 13,570 vehicles.

W.B. Hazen. The School and the Army in Germany and France, With a Diary of Siege Life at Versailles. (New York: 1872), pp. 383-389, 404-408.