Chapter 1905: The Future of the German Army Five

"Bavaria can guarantee an army size of 200,000 in peacetime. If you think there are too many, you can make appropriate adjustments." Ruprecht said.

What the prince said is quite meaningful. You know, before the war, Bavaria's actual army strength exceeded 200,000, but now, Bavaria's territory has expanded several times, but it still maintains an army size of 200,000? Why is this?

The rhetoric in this is quite particular. First of all, Bavaria is one of the Big Three. If Bavaria announces a military strength, then under the current circumstances, it is equivalent to setting the military strength standards of the Kaiser faction and the Parliamentary faction. You Think too much? Not too much! Do you want less? Do you mind?

Then, based on the current scale of the Bavarian Legion of 200,000, assuming that the Kaiser and the Parliamentary faction each have 200,000 troops, then if the two kingdoms of Saxony and Württemberg are added, the total number of troops will be around 730,000. . The total number of armies under the control of the Imperial War Department left about 570,000 shares. Then it depends on whether the other two parties are willing to accept letting the Imperial War Department control about 40% of the troops!

If you accept it, then it's settled like this, and if you don't accept it, then the prince can only consider increasing the total number of troops. Yes, you read that right, it is to increase the total number of troops! Because the prince believes that the control of 570,000 troops by the Imperial War Department is the bottom line for undertaking combat missions in a strategic direction, and there can be no less!

Imagine if each state maintained an army of 250,000 (actually there is no difficulty). So with a staff of 1.3 million, the strength of the Imperial War Department is only 420,000. What is the concept of 420,000? That is, the strength of a larger group army now. The imperial army is actually used as the mobile force of the empire, which can be quickly mobilized in case of emergencies, and deployed in a certain strategic direction. Regardless of whether it is facing France or the weakened red giant, the mobile force of 420,000 is somewhat stretched. The western front is okay, but if it is the eastern front, look at the long front. The prince is really not optimistic. Therefore, from a military point of view, Ruprecht must ensure the strength of the German Mobile Corps!

As for whether 200,000 troops in each state is enough? If it is only to maintain domestic law and order, that is enough. Basically, the domestic police and gendarmerie will suffice. Newly added areas may require troops, but they certainly do not need much heavy equipment.

And don't forget that in addition to owning the Bavarian Army, Ruprecht still has the command of the Bohemian Army. Up to the current position, the Austrian Emperor has not withdrawn the command authorization of the Bohemian Army, and it is estimated that he will not in the future. Accepted, and various factions within Germany have ignored this for various reasons. Therefore, in case of an emergency, the prince has another legion that can be mobilized, so he is not worried about the lack of Bavarian troops at all.

"200,000 troops? This is acceptable." Albert first expressed his support for this standard. Because as a politician, he is inherently sensitive to the size of the army. He is unwilling to let the military power and size become too large, especially when there are few excellent military systems on his side.

"Is 200,000 too little? Our land area has increased too much, and there are many unstable factors in the newly added areas. This number is not even 40% of the previous Prussian Legion." The Grand Duke of Baden said.

"So how many troops do you think the Grand Duke should keep?" Ruprecht asked.

"We must maintain at least 400,000 troops." The Grand Duke of Baden thought for a while and said, this is not only a military need, but also a political need. The basic foundation of the Kaiser is the Junker nobles, especially the military nobles.

If there are too many abolitions of the army, how will those aristocratic officers who have participated in the war and are loyal to the Kaiser be arranged? All stuffed into the Imperial Army? How can it be? Ask Ruprecht what the Minister of Reserve War and the Social Democrats think? Since it cannot be arranged in the imperial army, we can only find a way to arrange it....

"400,000 troops are too many. And the imperial army can also be responsible for security issues in some areas. The state army only needs to be used as an auxiliary force." Albert said.

"However, 200,000 troops are too small, and each state and overseas colony need to take care of it. Can you imagine the embarrassment of the empire not even having a regiment on a land of hundreds of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of square kilometers?" Xiao Maoqi said: " In addition, the army belonging to the Ministry of War is the long sword of the empire, and their primary combat target is a powerful and regular enemy army, not various internal disturbances, and I strongly oppose using the imperial army to perform some missions that do not match their status!"

"We can actually reduce the imperial army to increase the number of state troops." Barthes proposed a compromise.

"Even if it is reduced, it cannot be reduced too much. We must ensure the quantity and quality of the Imperial Field Army. 530,000 people are used to deal with the opponents on the second line is the bottom line." Ruprecht made some symbolic concessions .

"What's your opinion?" Barter turned to Buhler next to him and asked.

"His Royal Highness's decision is military correct." Buhler said after thinking for a while.

"Is 260,000 troops okay? This is our bottom line." Albert said.

"Too little." The Grand Duke of Baden's answer was unusually simple.

"Your Highness, what's your opinion?" Barthes turned around and seemed to ask Ruprecht for help.

"Can I say it doesn't matter?" Ruprecht said helplessly. Bavaria really doesn't matter! More, the prince can afford it, less, it doesn't matter....

"How about this? In addition to the regular army, countries can also set up some paramilitary organizations." Ruprecht put forward a compromise opinion.

"So how to arrange the quantity and equipment level? Your opinion is a bit vague." The Grand Duke of Baden said.

"You can discuss this kind of paramilitary organization yourself. Theoretically, the number of people should not exceed 30% of the state's army. The Kaiser can have 280,000 troops. I think it is enough. The number of troops in the Imperial War Department is kept at 550,000. Left and right. That's my opinion," Ruprecht said.

"That's it." The Grand Duke of Baden felt that this amount was not bad. So agree.

"Then Bavaria and our national army tentatively set 200,000?" Barth asked.

"Theoretically, it is 200,000, but the strength of two divisions can be increased in due course," said the prince. After some adjustments, immediately after the war in the German Empire, the number of soldiers in the army was about 10,000. If we simply say that the national strength bears the burden, it is not a big problem. It is enough to guarantee the advantage on the two fronts in a non-war state.

And with the finalization of this issue, the meeting finally came to an end!

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