Imperial German Army

Also known as German Army

1871–1919 land warfare branch of the German military

Key facts

Motto: Gott mit uns
Founded: 16 April 1871 ; 155 years ago ( 1871-04-16 )
Disbanded: 6 March 1919 ; 107 years ago ( 1919-03-06 )
Service branches: Heer (army) Schutztruppe (colonial troops) Luftstreitkräfte (air force) Abteilung III b (counterintelligence)
Commander in chief: German Emperor (1871 - 1918) President of the Reich (1918 - 1919)
Governing body: General Staff Supreme Army Command (1916–1919)
Chief of the general staff: Moltke the Elder (first), Hans von Seeckt (last)
Military age: 17–45
Conscription: 2–3 years; compulsory service
Active personnel: 14,250,000+ ( total served ) See full list: Abushiri Revolt Hehe Rebellion Bafut Wars Battle of Adibo Boxer Rebellion Adamawa Wars Kavango Uprising Herero Wars Maji Maji Rebellion Sokehs Rebellion World War I Finnish Civil War Ukrainian War of Independence Greater Poland Uprising German Revolution

Article

The Imperial German Army (1871–1919), officially referred to as the German Army (German: Deutsches Heer), was the unified ground and air force of the German Empire. It was established in 1871 with the political unification of Germany under the leadership of Prussia, and was dissolved in 1919, after the defeat of the German Empire in World War I (1914–1918). In the Federal Republic of Germany, the term Deutsches Heer refers to the German Army, the land component of the Bundeswehr.

Formation and name