Landwehr

Landwehr militia, originally (since the 16^th century) comprised all men fit for military service to defend the country in case of invasions of enemy forces (Militia). Owing to the pressure of the Napoleonic Wars the Austrian government decided in 1808 to establish a Landwehr according to the model of the guerrilla warfare of the Spanish people against the French occupation. Archduke Johann and foreign minister Johann Philipp, Graf von Stadion organised a Landwehr which gave momentum to the War of Liberation against Napoleon. The Landwehr was dissolved in 1852 and re-established in 1869 as national army in both parts of the empire (called Honvéd in Hungary) and as counterpart to the Austro-Hungarian army. This Landwehr consisted mainly of cavalry and infantry regiments and was subject to special "Ministries of Defence".