"tell me your name?"
"Louis!"
"age?"
"25 years old!"
"Profession?"
"The tannery mechanic!"
"Where did you serve in the military? Give me the certificate!"
"Reporting to the commander, Dachau Barracks! Artillery Surveyor, this is my certificate of service!"
In an ordinary military station in Bavaria, an imperial officer was sitting behind a desk, meticulously checking the identity of the conscripts. Next to him, there was a doctor who was examining the soldiers' bodies based on experience.
The necessary questions are all formalities. The key is the proof of these citizens' service, which gives these soldiers very rigorous comments and detailed occupations.
Upon hearing that the leatherworker named Louis was actually an artillery surveyor, the people around him expressed envy, and the long queue behind him suddenly began to whisper.
In this era, under the influence of Prussian compulsory education, the literacy rate in Germany had greatly improved, but not many citizens were proficient in mathematics.
Being able to work as a surveyor in the artillery means that this person's mathematical skills have surpassed that of most soldiers. The salary of such a soldier in the army is about 40% higher than that of ordinary army soldiers, and the probability of promotion is even higher. Bigger!
The captain behind the desk looked at the certificate of service with relief, then turned to look at the military doctor with a consulting look, and got a positive reply.
Since he is in good health, such a person must be let go. He picked up the stamp and stamped it, "Welcome Sergeant Louis, go get your uniform and rifle, and then go out and sign up with the 3rd Artillery Regiment of the Guards!"
"Yes! Sir!" The leather worker stood at attention and saluted. At this time, the soldiers on the side had prepared military uniforms of the right size and put the rifle in his arms.
Holding the military uniform, Louis was very excited. After putting on the straight military uniform, the other people at the registration office of the military station all looked at him with envy.
The German nation has always respected soldiers, and military uniforms have always been a symbol of honor. Moreover, because this is a national war that concerns the life and death of the nation, every German is proud to participate in it!
"Next!" As the captain shouted, another citizen in the team came up.
"Name?"
"George!"
"Age...Oh, my God! I'm afraid you can't participate in this war! I'm sorry..."
The captain smiled apologetically. When people took a closer look, they discovered that the conscript's hair was mottled white and he looked to be at least fifty years old.
"Why! Are you discriminating against me? I have served in the most glorious mountain division in the kingdom, and my highest military rank is second lieutenant! Why don't you want me?"
"Sorry, senior! Your age... your age is inappropriate..."
"No! I can still fight. I am neither deaf nor mute. I am strong enough to run a ten-kilometer march. I am willing to join this war and teach those arrogant French people a lesson!"
"I'm sorry, your age has exceeded the limit. I can only regretfully ask you to leave...Next one, next one!"
The veteran still wanted to sign up reluctantly, but a soldier on guard had already politely asked him out. "Sir, we understand your mood, sir, but the law is the law, and everyone must implement the regulations!"
After pulling and pulling, coaxing and persuading, it took a long time to get the emotional veteran to leave the registration office. Immediately afterwards, the soldiers at the door shouted loudly, "Anyone over forty-five years old is not allowed to register. Please advance in advance." Leave the registration office!”
"The patriotic enthusiasm of gentlemen can be used in the logistics department, but the law cannot be violated!"
After a while of whispering curses, hundreds of dejected veterans walked out of the long queue!
This is not the only registration office. There are three other registration offices that are accepting registrations from the public. Citizens who saw the recruitment orders in newspapers and bulletin boards rushed to the nearest military station to register!
At this time, we can see the advantages of the universal compulsory military system. At that time, all men in society, as long as they were not physically disabled, had received military training and had served in the military.
This time the empire called, Germany had millions or even tens of millions more troops almost overnight, blocking all the military depots.
Just as those overage veterans were being sent out with gifts, a burst of cheers suddenly came from the No. 3 registration office!
"Long live! Congratulations to your brave young man! You are the youngest warrior in Bavaria! You are even the youngest warrior in Germany!"
A young soldier wearing the smallest military uniform came out from the crowd. Everyone present whispered to each other. No one could believe that this soldier was only fifteen years old.
This is a child who lied about his age and entered military training in a military camp. When he was fourteen, he pretended to be sixteen and participated in military training and received a certificate of service.
As a result, less than half a year after leaving the army, he encountered the Franco-Prussian War, a once-in-a-century war. The young soldier signed up to join the army again without saying a word, but this time his attempt to conceal his age was discovered.
According to the military regulations of the German states, the minimum age for serving as a soldier is sixteen years old, and this child is still half a year away from being qualified, so the reviewing officer asked him to go home.
But he never expected that this young soldier would actually pull out the dagger he carried and demanded to join the battle at the risk of death!
"Germany is my motherland, and I am willing to devote myself to it! And the aunt I love most lives in Lorraine, France, where countless Germans are being oppressed by the French!"
"I want to rescue my aunt and those oppressed compatriots! If you don't let me join the army, then please take my body away!"
"Even if I die, my soul will be attached to the battle flag and fly with you in the sky of Lorraine!"
The child's generous petition moved everyone present. The officers collectively discussed and decided to report to their superiors. The highest commander of the military station was a major. When he heard about it, he immediately made the decision.
"Let this young warrior join the army! Tell him that I will not only let him join the army, but also send him to defeat the Prussian Guards! Let the Prussians also see the courage of our Bavarian people!"
The youngest soldier in the Franco-Prussian War joined the army in this way. Amid the cheers of countless Bavarian people, soldiers in military uniforms carried rifles on their backs and boarded carriages with flushed faces, heading to the front line area where the Prussian Legion was stationed.
How could the Prussian media give up such a publicity opportunity? When all the newspapers began to publicize the deeds of the fifteen-year-old young soldier at length, the entire German state was boiling.
Those reservist soldiers who were still hesitant at first were all blushing as if they had been slapped in the face!
"Oh God! A fifteen-year-old child can risk his own life for the motherland. As an adult, am I not as good as a child?"
"Damn stupid bitch, don't stop me! I'm going to join the war, and I don't want to be the laughing stock of others!"
The German chariot has finally started, and it is starting at full speed. There is no distinction between north and south, people are old and young, everyone is fighting for this war!
Note: The fifteen-year-old soldier is a true historical record. Indeed, there were fifteen-year-old children in Bavaria who signed up to fight in the war! Not fabricated!
