Figure 1.--Here we see what looks like a school class (figure 1). Not all the boys wear military uniforms, but most do. We have the idea that this is some sort of training exerise. It must not have been too rigorous as some of the boys are wearing suits. The striped epaulets meant that they were musicians.

We note student groups that seem to be involved in some sort of cadet groups. We do not know if Germany had a system of school cadets. Cadets werev not necasrily from military schools, but rather regular schools where the students did some military training, like Reserve Officer Training Cirps (ROTC) in America. Their teachers seem to be involved in leadership roles. We do not know just what the groups represent and to what extent they actually involved the students with military training. We notice uniforms on some school groups. Here we see what looks like a school class (figure 1). Not all the boys wear military uniforms, but most do. We have the idea that this is some sort of training exerise. It must not have been too rigorous as some of the boys are wearing suits. Hopefully some of our readers can give us some insights into these student groups. Germany had military schools, but a relatively small number of boys attended them. We do not have much information on German World War I conscription or if there were student defereements.

Cadets

We note student groups that seem to be involved in some sort of cadet groups. These would be secondary-level schools. At the time, most German children did not advance beyond primary school. Thus the cadet program was to prepare officers in case of war when the peace-yime army had to be rapidly expanded. We do not know if Germany had a system of school cadets. Given the number of images we have found, we believe they did, although we have been unable to find details about the program. Some of the boys seem to be in uniforms while others seem to wear their school clothes, normally a suit and tie. Cadets were not necesarily from military schools, but rather regular schools where the students did some military training, like Reserve Officer Training Cirps (ROTC) in America. Their teachers seem to be involved in leadership roles. We do not know just what the groups represent and to what extent they actually involved the students with military training. We notice uniforms on some school groups. Here we see what looks like a school class (figure 1). Not all the boys wear military uniforms, but most do. We have the idea that this is some sort of training exerise. It must not have been too rigorous as some of the boys are wearing suits. Hopefully some of our readers can give us some insights into these student groups.

Military Schools

Germany had military schools, but a relatively small number of boys attended them. Unlike American military schools which were boarding schools for a wide range of boys who had not intention of persuing military careers, many of the German boys attending military schools did plan for careers in the military. Many notable German military figures attended military schools as young boys. Rittmeister Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen (1892- ), the famous Red Baron, was the son of Major Albrecht von Richthofen, a Prussian nobleman. He was the eldest of three sons. He began studying at a military school in Germany at age 11. He then attended the War College at Danzig. Ehen he graduated at age20, he was commissioned a lieutenant with an uhlan (light cavalry) unit.

Conscription

We do not have much information on German World War I conscription or if there were student defereements. Students just attemding primary school would have been subject to concription. I believe the age was 16 years. Students in secondary school or university I think were given deferments. I do not, however, have details on the German concription service. Thus this needs to be confirmed.

Volunteer Officer Training

We are not entirely sure just how the German army trained its officers. One source of officers was certainly military schools. This appears toi have been the primary training for youths planning a military career. And the military schools were secondary schools, training teenagers. Many boys would have begun training at aboit 11-12 years of afge. I'm not sure what proportion of officers came from the military schools. Germany needed officers not only for the regular standing army, but for the reserves to be mobilized in time of war. The military schools could not possibly produced enough officers for the reserves. We note volunteers for what looks like officer training. These volunteers come from regular scecondary schools. We are not sure if these volunteers were associated with a school cadet program.

Sources

Moncure. John. Forging the King's Sword: Military education between Tradition and Modernization; The Case of the Royal Prussian Cadet Corps, 1871-1918. We have not yet been able to review this book, but it will undoubtedly include some useful information.

Created: 5:05 AM 12/3/2005
Last updated: 6:03 AM 12/20/2007