LANDSTURM, originally a general levy in time of war. The name was later given to certain militia forces of Germany, Aus tria-Hungary and Switzerland, consisting of all those men of mili tary age not serving in the navy, the first-line army or the Landwehr. The German Landsturm before the World War com prised men of two categories. The i st Ban was formed of men from 17 to 20 years of age, and of all those men not called up for service in the active army or the Landwehr; most of these men were unfit for active service and received no training. The 2nd Ban consisted of men over 3o years of age who remained fit for service after completion of their period in the landwehr or the 1st Ban of the Landsturm ; they continued liable for service up to 45 years of age, but received no further training. During the World War a large number of units of all arms were formed from the Landsturm and some saw service on quiet sectors of the western and eastern fronts ; the bulk of them were employed on fortress, garrison or line of communication duties or on labour work.
The Landsturm of Austria-Hungary before the World War was organized on similar lines to the German, men being liable for service between 19 and 20 years of age, and after io years' service. Men up to 38 years old formed the 1st Ban, and those from 38 to 42 the 2nd Ban; except for the Tirolese units, no peace-time train ing took place. During the World War some 72 Landsturm units were raised, several of which took part in operations on the eastern front against the Russians ; in 1918 there were nine so-called Landsturm divisions in existence.
The Swiss Landsturm at present comprises all men liable for military service between the ages of 41 and 48, and numbers some 70,000 of all arms and ranks. No training is carried out in peace time. It is intended to use the force in war as frontier guards and for line of communication duties.