Hamburg Citizen Militia - Social Structure

Social Structure

The Hamburg Citizen Militia was not garrisoned and conscripted—every citizen and inhabitants of the city and theirs sons were bound to serve—nevertheless the conscription could be eluded with financing a substitute. Several occupational groups were excluded from the militia, among others priests, public teachers, physicians, bailiffs, members of the night watch and the police. Members of the Senate were also free of the service in the militia. Because of the election of the officers by commissions close to the militia, the selection of the officer corps was separated from external influences. The duty regulations of 1814 emphasized, that the soldiers were citizens, and at the beginning patriotism and enthusiasm filled the ranks of the militia, although the level of the officers corps sunk in the 1830s. Older officers resigned and new officers were either inexperienced, young or with low education, who often could not write.