Superian Territorial Army
Superian Territorial Army | |
---|---|
Landwehr (German) | |
Founded | December 1931 |
Country | Superior |
Branch | Superian Army |
Role | Volunteer auxiliary |
Size | 65,020 reservists |
Part of | Superian Department of Defense |
Headquarters | Saint Anthony |
March | Königgrätzer Marsch |
Commanders | |
Commander-in-Chief | His Royal Majesty King William II of Superior |
Chief of the Territorial Army | Lieutenant General TBD |
The Territorial Army (German: Landwehr), also sometimes called Territorial Force, is the volunteer reserve and gendarmerie of the Kingdom of Superior, functioning as a part time volunteer reserve for the Superian Army. Established in December 1931, the presidential decree stated that the role of the Landwehr is to support the Army in defending the homeland in times of war, and in peacetime to maintain law in order in the homeland.
The term Landwehr was first used for local militias formed by German immigrants in Minnesota and Michigan during the War of Contingency in 1866 to defend from the U.S. invasion, which itself was based on the Prussian and Austrian Landwehr. It can be translated in English as territorial army or home guard. They were however not an independent branch of the Superian Armed Forces at the time but considered to be part of the Heer (regular Army). During Superior's war for independence in 1866, able-bodied men were conscripted to defend their country. The Territorial Army was not formally created until December 1931, due to rising tensions in North America with the United Commonwealth. Superior had maintained a relatively small Regular Army and it was decided that the Territorial Force would be created to enable a rapid mobilization and basic military training for a large portion of the male population, so that the Army can be supplemented in times of war.
The Superian military had conscription during the two Great Wars, with every Superian male between the ages of 20 and 32 being required to serve in the regular Army for 18 months. Following that, a former conscript or volunteer soldier would spend ten years in the main Territorial Army as part time reservists. After the age of 32, soldiers were then considered to be part of the Landsturm (Militia) of the Territorial Army, until the age of 55, which represented oldest segment of Superian men that could be conscripted if war broke out. Since the end of hostilities and the formal end of the Cold War around 2000 both the Regular Army and Territorial Army were downsized, while the Landsturm component of the latter was dissolved completely.
In the 21st century, the Territorial Army is part of the Department of Defense, as with the rest of the Armed Forces, and in times of war it will be integrated into the Royal Army command structure. Regiments of the Territorial Army are organized on a state basis. The Chief of the Territorial Army is its most senior officer, usually held by a lieutenant general.