Youngest Soldiers?

[Chris Boonzaier]

Hi,

at what age could a guy join the army in 1914?

I dont think they had bugle boys?

Was 17 the youngest possible age to go into combat?

Thanks

Chris

[Odulf]

In 1908 boys from the age of 14 1/2 could join a Military NCO Preparation School.

[Paul R]

Were the cadets considered to be military then? Did they graduate as NCOs or did they still have to work their way up the military advancement system from the bottom?

[Odulf]

You are right Paul,

Page 84, Art.5: Training in the NCO Preparation School generaly lasts 2 years.

Page 84, Art.6: Cadets of the NCO Preparation School do not belong to the military personnel of the Imperial Army.... From the NCO Preparation School the Cadet must transfer to the NCO School...

Page 84, Art.7: At transfer into the NCO School the Volunteer will swear a oath to the banner and he is from that moment forward subject to military martial discipline.

Page 84, Art.8: After training in NCO School, which will generally last 2 years, the apprentice NCOs are transferred to first line infantry units, or to the MG-units, the Field- or Garrison Artillery, the Regional Staff units or the Naval-Infantry.

[Dave Danner]

Joining the Army and going into combat aren't the same thing.

From his Wehrmacht file, Helmuth v. Bülow, born on 25.6.1899, entered active duty as a Fahnenjunker in DR 16 on 28.9.15, so just three months after his 16th birthday. Gefreiter on 9.11.15, Unteroffizier on 27.1.16, and simultaneously Fähnrich and Leutnant on 5.9.17 with effect from 5.11.17. But his campaign participation list only shows actions in 1917 and 1918, so it seems the regiment did not send him to the front until he was almost or at least 18.

Richard Abé, born 17.6.1898, was a Kriegsfreiwilliger on 17.2.15, four months shy of 17. But he did not enter combat until 7.10.15, so 17 years and 4 months.

Kurt Krappe, born 15.7.1899, was a Kriegsfreiwilliger in the 1.Ers.-MGK VIII.Armeekorps on 30.11.15. He went to the front on 6.5.16 with LIR 73. So he was still 16, albeit just two months shy of 17.

[KIR]

Jens