The "Landstorm"

"The "Landstorm" is an organization of armed citizens that was established to support the regular army . During the Napoleonic Wars ( late 18th , early 19th century , MT ) a.o. the Netherlands ordered the male civilian population to organize and arm . Out of the notables of a community officers were elected . In some cases, weapons and uniforms were issued , but mostly the citizens organized and supplied them by themselves., Quite often rank insignia were prescribed . The country storm battalions participated often during the liberation war of 1813-1814 in the siege of the French garrison . After the defeat of Napoleon Landstorm was disbanded. During the Belgian Revolution in 1830 the Landstorm was made active again.. They , however, did not come into action and was disbanded after 1832 . Because of the threat of war that preceded the First World War , the Dutch War Minister H. Colijn on March 7, 1913 issued a new military bill , and he erected again the "Landstorm". But unlike their 19th -century predecessors , these units were fully uniformed and armed like the regular army . These reserve units also did not get involved in real war activities because the Netherlands remained neutral in this war . This "Landstorm" has continued to exist until the Second World War and some special branches even until 1942 .."

[Source 2014: http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landstorm] [translation]