Bavarian Army facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Bavarian Army
Flag of a Royal Bavarian Army Infantry Regiment bearing King Ludwig's royal monogram
Active	1682–1919
Country	Electorate of Bavaria Kingdom of Bavaria
Allegiance	King of Bavaria
Branch	Army
Garrison/HQ	Munich
Engagements	Great Turkish War War of the Spanish Succession War of the Austrian Succession Seven Years' War War of the Bavarian Succession Napoleonic Wars Austro-Prussian War Franco-Prussian War World War I
Commanders
Notable commanders	Maximilian II Karl von Wrede Jakob von Hartmann Ludwig von der Tann Oskar von Xylander

The Bavarian Army was the official army of Bavaria. It served the Electorate from 1682 to 1806. Then, it became the army of the Kingdom from 1806 to 1918. This army existed as a permanent force from 1682. It continued until 1919, when Bavaria's military control joined that of the German State. The Bavarian Army was not as big as the armies of the major European powers. However, it helped the Wittelsbach royal family. They used smart alliances to grow Bavaria. It changed from a small, scattered state into the second-largest state in the German Empire, after Prussia.

History of the Bavarian Army
How the Army Was Organized
Museum
See also

History of the Bavarian Army

Early Days: 1682 to 1790

In 1681, a rule called the Reichskriegsverfassung (Imperial Military Constitution) made Bavaria provide soldiers for the Imperial army. Also, having a permanent army showed that a state was strong and independent. It was a key tool for rulers who wanted absolute power. On October 12, 1682, new soldiers officially joined the Bavarian army. This happened at a military camp in Schwabing.

The army was made up of:

Seven regiments of infantry (foot soldiers)
Two regiments of dragoons (mounted soldiers)
Two regiments of cuirassiers (heavy cavalry)
An artillery corps (soldiers who operate cannons)

Bavarian infantry soldiers usually wore a mid-blue color. This color became standard from 1684. The cuirassiers and artillery wore light grey uniforms. Dragoons wore red or blue. The army became famous under Maximilian II Emanuel, Elector of Bavaria. They fought well in the Great Turkish War, especially during the Siege of Belgrade.

During the War of the Spanish Succession, Bavaria fought alongside France. After losing the Battle of Blenheim, the Bavarian Army was no longer a strong fighting force. Small groups continued to fight until the war ended. Austrian forces took over Bavaria during this war. This led to a rebellion by the people. It was put down with force in an event known as the "Murderous Christmas of Sendling." By 1701, the army was similar to how it was during the Turkish wars. It now had three regiments each of cuirassiers and dragoons.

The Elector Charles Albert tried to become the Holy Roman Emperor. This led to the War of the Austrian Succession. He was successful at first, but Austria again took over Bavaria.

At the start of the Seven Years' War, the army had eight infantry, two dragoon, and three cuirassier regiments. It also had an artillery brigade. In 1757, one cuirassier regiment was broken up. Its soldiers joined other regiments. Only one company of dragoons in each regiment rode horses. Infantry regiments had two battalions. Each battalion had four rifle companies (130 men each) and one infantry company (100 men). They also had two small cannons. The goal was to have about 1,800 men per regiment, but this was rarely achieved in battle. Ten infantry battalions helped the Habsburgs as part of Bavaria's military duties. They fought in several battles, but often without success.

In 1777, the Wittelsbach family joined forces with the Palatinate. This added eight more infantry regiments. The Palatine soldiers wore a lighter blue uniform. The War of the Bavarian Succession is sometimes called the "Potato War." This is because both sides spent a lot of time trying to get food and stop the enemy from getting it. The war was fairly quiet for the Bavarian army.

In 1785, the infantry uniform changed to white. The cuirassiers stopped wearing their traditional armor.

From Napoleon to the German Empire: 1790 to 1871

A Schütze (a type of soldier) from the 2nd Light Infantry Battalion Dietfurth in 1806.

In 1790, the Bavarian Army underwent a major change. All field soldiers received a new uniform. It included a leather helmet with a horsehair plume. This helmet was called the "Rumford Casket." It was named after the War Minister, Count Rumford. However, when Maximilian IV became ruler in 1799, the army was in poor shape. Many units were not at full strength. The Rumford uniforms were unpopular and not practical. The soldiers were also not well-trained. The young Prince-Elector had served as a colonel in France. He made rebuilding the army a top priority.

The number of line infantry regiments was cut to ten. These regiments were then brought up to full strength. The two Jäger (hunter) regiments were split into four light infantry battalions. The cavalry had three regiments of light cavalry and two each of dragoons and cuirassiers. The infantry went back to their traditional light blue uniforms. In 1801, all parts of the army started using the Raupenhelm. This helmet had a horsehair plume running from front to back. It became a symbol of the Bavarian army.

Skilled generals like Deroy, Wrede, and Triva reformed the army. They used French military ideas. Soon, it became one of the most modern armies in Germany. It was also the first in Germany to stop harsh physical punishment for soldiers. The army relied mostly on compulsory military service. A national guard was also created. It had three levels:

1st class: Reserve battalions of the Line regiments.
2nd class: Territorial army.
3rd class: Citizen levy (local citizens who could be called to fight).

In 1800, Bavaria reluctantly fought with Austria against France. But in 1805, Austria attacked Bavaria again. This was the third time in 100 years. This time, Bavaria had a strong army. The Bavarians first pulled back. They did this to join up with Napoleon's advancing army. Then, they prepared a quick and strong counter-attack. About 30,000 Bavarian soldiers helped in the successful Siege of Ulm. This battle led to Bavaria's freedom. At the Battle of Austerlitz, Bavarian soldiers protected Napoleon's army's sides and supply routes. In 1806-1807, they forced several Prussian forts to surrender.

Bavaria received the Austrian province of Tyrol as a reward. But in 1809, unrest grew into a full rebellion led by Andreas Hofer. This rebellion was only put down with help from France. When Austria attacked Bavaria again that same year, Napoleon's army was fighting in Spain. So, soldiers from the Confederation of the Rhine, mostly Bavarians, led the early fighting against Austria. At the Battle of Wagram, Bavarian forces played a key role in the outcome.

In the Russian Campaign of 1812, the Bavarian army suffered many losses. Out of about 33,000 soldiers who marched, only 4,000 returned. Crown Prince Ludwig and General Wrede convinced King Maximilan I Josef. He sadly turned away from the French. He joined the Allied side just before the Battle of Leipzig. Wrede tried to stop Napoleon's army in 1813 at the Battle of Hanau. His Austro-Bavarian forces were narrowly defeated. The 1814 campaign started poorly for the Allies. But Wrede made up for his earlier defeat. He won important victories against his former allies at Arcis-sur-Aube and Bar-sur-Aube.

By 1814, the Bavarian Army included:

A Grenadier Guard regiment
16 regiments of Line Infantry
Two battalions of Jäger
Seven regiments of light cavalry
One regiment of Uhlans (lancers)
Two Hussar regiments (light cavalry)
One regiment of Garde du Corps (royal bodyguards)
Two regiments of foot artillery
One regiment of horse-artillery

In 1815, the 7th Light Cavalry regiment became two Cuirassier regiments. The Hussars and Uhlans were disbanded in 1822. In 1826, one infantry regiment became two Jäger battalions. The Grenadier Guard regiment became an Infantry lifeguard regiment. The Garde du Corps became the 1st Cuirassier Regiment. The old 1st Cuirassier Regiment joined the 2nd Regiment.

The army was called to action for the Austro-Prussian War of 1866. But this was only completed by June 22. By then, the Prussian Army was already in Bohemia. The war went very badly for the Bavarians. The Bavarian Commander-in-Chief, Prince Karl, also led the southern forces of the German Confederation. He was rushing to help the Kingdom of Hanover. But he heard that the Hanoverians had surrendered after the Battle of Langensalza. The Prussians advanced quickly. This meant Karl could not join up with other Confederation forces. So, the Bavarian troops pulled back to Bad Kissingen. After tough fighting, the Bavarians retreated to Schweinfurt and Würzburg. They could only hold the fortress and part of Würzburg city. On August 1, a Prussian reserve force took over Nuremberg.

Many blamed the Bavarian parliament (Landtag) and military leaders for the army's problems. Because of constant budget cuts, the Bavarian war ministry could not practice large-scale military movements. Except for Prince Karl and General von Thurn und Taxis, no Bavarian general had ever led a division before. Newspapers also criticized von der Tann.

Because of this criticism, King Ludwig II appointed General Siegmund von Pranckh as the new War Minister on August 1. Von Prankh was an experienced soldier. He had also worked as an adjutant to a previous War Minister. He played a key role in modernizing the Bavarian Army with his reforms.

In 1870, Leopold, Prince of Hohenzollern was considered for the Spanish throne. This made relations between Prussia and France worse. On July 14, von Prankh called up the two Bavarian army corps. The Bavarian Army Corps fought in the Franco-Prussian War. They were part of the III Army under Crown Prince Friedrich Wilhelm. The I Army Corps was led by von der Tann. The II Army Corps was led by Jakob Freiherr von Hartmann.

The Bavarians under Jakob von Hartmann attacked Wissembourg. They also fought in the Battles of Wörth, Beaumont, Sedan. They also took part in the Siege of Paris. More than 5,000 Bavarian soldiers died during the Franco-Prussian War.

The German Empire: 1871 to 1918

When the Constitution of the German Empire was created, Bavaria kept many special rights. This included control over its own military. Like the kingdoms of Saxony and Württemberg, Bavaria kept its own troops, War Ministry, and military justice system. Its army regiments were also not re-numbered with the rest of the Empire's army. Bavaria's army would only come under Imperial control during wartime. Bavaria also kept its light-blue infantry uniforms and the Raupenhelm helmet (until 1886). It also kept its Light Cavalry and other unique features. Bavarian officers and soldiers continued to swear loyalty to the King of Bavaria, not the German Emperor. However, their uniform style, equipment, and training became similar to the Prussian model. When field-grey uniforms were introduced, only the cockade (a badge) and a blue-and-white diamond pattern on the collar showed that a unit was Bavarian.

At the start of World War I, the Bavarian Army had about 87,214 soldiers. This included 4,089 officers and other officials. There were 83,125 non-commissioned officers and other ranks. They also had 16,918 horses. When the army was called to action on August 1, 1914, the Bavarian field army's command went to the German Emperor. Units still in Bavaria remained under the Bavarian War Ministry. The Bavarian Army included three Bavarian Army Corps and the Bavarian Cavalry Division. The XXI Corps (with two divisions, mostly from the Rhineland and Westphalia) joined them. They were sent to the Western Front as the German 6th Army. This army was led by Crown Prince Rupprecht.

The Bavarian Army fought at the Battle of the Frontiers. This was the last time they fought together as one unit. After Autumn 1914, the Bavarian command of Bavarian forces slowly became less independent. Rupprecht remained in command for the whole war. He was promoted to Field Marshal in 1916 because he was very skilled. However, after the Battle of the Frontiers, most of the units under his command were not from Bavaria.

The German Empire fell during the German Revolution of 1918–19. King Ludwig III had to give up his throne. Bavaria still had some military control. However, the rise of the Bavarian Soviet Republic and the confusion of its defeat changed things. The "Red Army" of the Soviet Republic was overthrown. This convinced those writing the Bamberg Constitution of 1919 to give up Bavaria's military control to the Weimar Republic. Most regular Bavarian soldiers had been sent home after the war. So, much of the fighting against the Red Army was done by volunteer groups and other German troops from outside Bavaria.

During World War I, about 200,000 soldiers from the Royal Bavarian Army died.

How the Army Was Organized

Before and Early World War I

Structure of the Royal Bavarian Army in 1914

Bavaria provided two, and later three, army corps to the German Empire's army:

I Army Corps in Munich
- 1st Division in Munich
- 2nd Division in Augsburg
II Army Corps in Würzburg
- 3rd Division in Landau
- 4th Division in Würzburg
III Army Corps in Nuremberg
- 5th Division in Nuremberg
- 6th Division in Regensburg

Units Formed During World War I

Corps

I Royal Bavarian Reserve Corps
II Royal Bavarian Reserve Corps
XV Royal Bavarian Reserve Corps

Divisions

Bavarian cavalry:

Bavarian Cavalry Division

Bavarian infantry:

10th Bavarian Infantry Division
11th Bavarian Infantry Division
12th Bavarian Infantry Division
14th Bavarian Infantry Division
15th Bavarian Infantry Division
16th Bavarian Infantry Division

Bavarian reserve:

1st Bavarian Reserve Division
5th Bavarian Reserve Division
6th Bavarian Reserve Division
8th Bavarian Reserve Division
9th Bavarian Reserve Division
30th Bavarian Reserve Division
39th Bavarian Reserve Division

Bavarian Landwehr:

1st Bavarian Landwehr Division
2nd Bavarian Landwehr Division
6th Bavarian Landwehr Division

Bavarian Ersatz:

Bavarian Ersatz Division

Mountain Troops:

Alpenkorps

Army Officers

The Bavarian Army had fewer officers from noble families compared to the Prussian Army. In 1832, there were almost two commoner officers for every noble officer. By 1862, this number increased to over two commoners for each noble. By the start of World War I, there were almost six commoner officers for every noble officer. After 1826, there was no special Guard regiment. Only a few units had a much higher number of noble officers than average:

1st Royal Bavarian Heavy Cavalry Regiment "Prince Karl of Bavaria"
1st Royal Bavarian Uhlan Regiment "Emperor Wilhelm II, King of Prussia"
Royal Bavarian Infantry Lifeguards Regiment

Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs)

The Bavarian NCO Corps was made up of soldiers who served for a long time. They usually came from those who had finished their required military service. There was a clear separation between the careers of officers and NCOs. This caused problems during World War I. Qualified NCOs could not easily become officers.

How Soldiers Were Recruited

According to the 1808 Constitution, soldiers were recruited through a system called conscription. This meant that men had to join the military. However, men could pay someone else to serve in their place. This person was called an Einsteher ("Proxy") or Einstandsmann ("Stand-In"). The substitute had to serve for a longer time.

The reforms of 1868 changed this. They stopped the use of substitutes. They made military service compulsory for three years for everyone. They also started the Einjährig-Freiwilliger ("One Year Volunteer") system. This allowed some people to serve for only one year if they met certain conditions.

The Landwehr (Reserve Force)

In 1809, following the French example, local forces became a national guard. From 1814 to 1868, this force was known as the Landwehr of the Kingdom of Bavaria. During the 1868 reforms, older groups of reserves became known as the Landsturm. The Landwehr also helped manage groups for military veterans.

Army Bases (Garrisons)

Most of the Bavarian Army was housed in fortresses, old monasteries, and former castles. The first organized plan to build barracks happened in 1806. An example is the New Isar Barracks. After a typhoid outbreak in 1881, modern buildings with housing for married soldiers were built. The Prince Leopold Barracks is an example. In 1838, Bavaria had seven fortresses, with one more being built:

Forchheim
Ingolstadt
Veste Oberhaus
Rosenberg ob Kronach
Rothenberg bei Schnaittach
Wülzburg
Marienberg Fortress in Würzburg
Germersheim (under construction)

Bavaria also had troops in the German Confederation fortresses of Landau and Ulm. The fortress of Germersheim was later dismantled due to the Treaty of Versailles.

Museum

The museum for the Bavarian Army moved from the Hofgarten in Munich to the New Castle in Ingolstadt.