If my grandpa was 19 years old in August 1914...

[Uncle Fritz]

Was he liable for military conscription when Germany announced general mobilization (mobilmachung) and to what kind of regiment he could be drawn? He was born in Provinz Posen and lived there when war broke out.

[joerookery]

There are a lot of factors that have to be considered before you can answer that with any certainty. In general, no. He was part of Landsturm I which really was no more than a paper accounting of his existence. Depending upon his background he might have volunteered in which case he could be taken depending upon his health. 'The kind of unit is unable to be determined by his age and the province was a very big place. Do you have a picture or anything else to work on?

[Uncle Fritz]

He was a tall man (180) in good physical health in his 20s - at least judging from photo (I haven't scanned it yet). I thought landsturm was for middle-aged men! What were the criteria during general mobilization then?

He was born in a farm village in 1895, but in 1914 he could live in a provincial capital of Posen or in Bromberg. That is cloudy.

Great-gramps wasn't much into patriotism and in the end of the war he actually deserted (autumn-winter 1918).

[joerookery]

I thought landsturm was for middle-aged men!

As do many.

Landsturm.

The Landsturm also had two bans. The first ban included all untrained folks that were not on active service from the ages of 17 through 39. I should point out here that those between the ages of 17 and 20 who have not yet entered service and have had no training are enrolled in the first ban of the Landsturm. The second ban included all former soldiers and untrained individuals between the ages of 39 and 45. Second Ban Landwehr soldiers joined the second band of the Landsturm at age 39. This was a really rough militia. There was no training requirement. A home guard at best.

This article may be of some use. http://www.pickelhauben.net/articles/Mi ... ce_08.html

[Uncle Fritz]

Interesting. So those soldiers that participated in the Schlieffen Plan were actually first ban Landsturm?

[joerookery]

No, military service started at age 20. There were some in the volunteer ranks who could start as early as 17. So your grandfather was just out of the 1st call up.

[Uncle Fritz]

Hey thanks man that is all very useful. Could you recommend some reading on how ordinary citizen's adventure with military looked like? What were the regulations, law etc.