Prussian Conscription and Discipline (1701 – 1919 AD)
Anyone devoting serious amounts of time to studying military history is familiar with the evolution and influence of the Royal Prussian Army, which served the predecessor kingdom and state of modern-day Germany for approximately 200 years. Tracing its origins back to 17th century Europe, the monarchical Prussian army was founded during a time when roving bands of hired mercenaries dominated the tactical landscape. These motley groups of killers held shifting interests, sold their services to the highest bidder, and had no qualms about abusing or murdering noncombatants while waging wars on behalf of their affluent patrons.
Enter the Great Elector, Frederick William of Brandenburg, who sought to expand and standardize his royal army during the closing years of one of the bloodiest conflicts in European history, the Thirty Years’ War. In conjunction with the Peace of Westphalia (1648) Frederick raised a standing army of over 30,000 men through the first use of mass conscription in the modern era. William recognized the fact that his decision would not be welcomed by all the peasantry and aimed to control his new levies with an iron fist.
Prussian military officials made use of several punitive policies in dealing with unruly troops, such as hanging deserters and looters, public lashings, and the running of the gauntlet—a particularly savage form of corporal punishment where the offending soldier was forced to run between two columns of men who would lash out and strike the condemned man with blunt objects, such as rods or stones. Prussian tacticians and strategists introduced several innovations in maneuver warfare, which required incessant drilling and practice. Conformity was so stifling that soldiers unable to grow beards were forced to paint their faces!