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Law on the Introduction of Universal Military Service in Prussia, signed by King Frederick William III, Hardenberg, and Minister of War von Boyen, among Others (September 3, 1814)

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10. The reserves of second call, in case of war, will either strengthen the garrisons or garrison battalions or, according to momentary need, be employed to man and strengthen the army. They will be selected from among all men who completed service in the standing army and reserves of first call, and men capable of bearing arms to the end of their thirty-ninth year.

11. Since the reserves of second call will consist mainly of former servicemen, they will in peacetime be assembled in their home districts only on particular days in small units. If youths from the seventeenth to twentieth year wish to take part in the exercises of the reserves of second call, this shall be permitted, without this entailing their entry into the reserves before their twentieth year.

12. Those men who serve in the reserves may, should their civilian circumstances require it, after previous application to their superiors, be allowed without hindrance to change their place of residence, entering then into the reserves of their new locality.

13. The inactive reserve [Landsturm] assembles only on My command when enemy attack befalls the provinces. In peacetime it is subject to a special ordinance, whereby the government may use it in individual cases for the maintenance of public order. It consists of all men

a) to their fiftieth year who are not assigned to the standing army and reserves;
b) all men discharged from the reserves;
c) all sturdy youths from the seventeenth year onward.

14. The inactive reserve consists of

a) burgher companies in the large cities;
b) in provincial companies formed, according to county-structure, in the middle- and small towns and in the countryside.

15. In peacetime, the years stipulated for entry into and discharge from the various army divisions in the aforementioned laws are binding. But in war, they are governed by necessity, and all branches of services called to duty will enlist according to circumstance those men previously unconscripted or those newly reaching conscription age.

16. Those who volunteer for the standing army enjoy the advantage of choosing their weapon and regiment of preference. Those who are summoned to war service by the authorized officials will be assigned their duty by the War Ministry.

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