Perrenland's Military

The Landwehr

Thanks to Chris Gammage and Andrew Moore

The Landwehr are called up by Canton as required, and which members of the Landwehr are mustered is determined by the local community. Landwehr and are expected to provide their own equipment, though any equipment damaged while in service is repaired at the cost of the community, not the individual. They must also provide their own uniforms in the colours of their Canton. The uniforms vary widely from person to person in quality, design and colour tints, creating a mismatched look to the units that hides the military cohesion and training they have.

Landwehr canton colours are as follows (primary and secondary colour respectively):

Clatspurgen - White and Blue
Hugelrote - Yellow and Black
Kershane - Purple and Silver
Krestible - Black and Red
Nederboden - Red and Yellow
Quagfludt - Green and White
Schwartzenbruin - Purple and White
Traft - Brown and Green
Verbergen - Brown and Blue
Yattenhied - Grey and White

All Landwehr members received one week of training each year by an Auszug (regular army) unit as part of that unit's patrols and duties. In addition, the fifth day (first Waterday) of every month is also a dedicated training day, where the local Hetman will do a roll-call, inspect equipment and instruct the troops in drill. The roll call is collected by a dispatcher every second month and used to update the Canton's ledger. This way, the Canton can ensure it has correct troop number in the event of that Canton's Landwehr being required to muster.

When mustered, each Canton provides a Banner (the group of soldiers required for their levy). The Banner is comprised of one or more groups of 50-150 troops. Each Banner has an officer called the Oberhoofdmann, with a staff comprising a scribe, surgeon, armourer, cook, executioner, Weibel (provost marshall, for discipline), and Venner (standard-bearer).

In battle, the Landwehr's archers and skirmishers are usually sent out in front of the blocks of infantry, harassing the enemy with fire. If they are charged, they run back to the blocks of infantry, and lie down at their feet. The pikes and halberds of the infantry then form a formidable defence against the charge. Cavalry is used as a scouting force or to finish an enemy off once in rout: they are usually too few in number, and too vulnerable to massed infantry, to be used in suicidal charges.

For further information, review the information on membership of Perrenland's fighting forces as a metaorganisation.