Size of the german armies with 75% conscription

The number quoted by Ludendorff was an extra 300,000 men. In the end the army was increased by 135,000 just before the war as a compromise between increasing the army's size and retaining it's character.
 

Deleted member 1487

The number quoted by Ludendorff was an extra 300,000 men. In the end the army was increased by 135,000 just before the war as a compromise between increasing the army's size and retaining it's character.

That wasn't an increase from 50 to 75% though. That was just a raw number increase to add an extra field army. Didn't end up going through though. Even as it was only one of the three proposed corps under the 135,000 increase was ready in 1914. The others weren't supposed to be ready until 1916.
 
Didnt this discussion occur a few months ago?

Though I suppose that can be said for most things here. ;)
 

Anderman

Donor
I found some threads on the board which mentioned the fact that the Empire only drafted about 50% of the suitable men, but i was searching for some detailed numbers.
 
The UK and Germany where in a cold war since the 1860's and certainly after the Franco Prussian war... even without a battlefleet, it was still in the UK's interest to oppose German continental hedgemoney and an alliance with France was logical component of such a strategy

London Times and Manchester Guardian articles I read from just before the Franco Prussian war and right after it don't reflect that.

It took a big shift, it took actively bad and hostile German diplomacy, Kaiser Bill and the HSF some time to achieve the shift in not just UK's government priorities / policies but also the people. Germany didn't replace France as the boogieman till the 20th century. UK Foreign Policy till late 19th century firmly had France and Russia as the threats, not Germany.

Michael
 
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