Reserve Forces

a category of forces that were maintained during peacetime with smaller compositions than what were called field forces and that were built up to full strength during wartime. They were designated for garrison duty in forts and within the country, the protection of the line of communication, and reinforcement for the active army.

Reserve forces existed in Russia, Austria-Hungary (the Landwehr and Honvéd), and France (territorial forces) in the second half of the 19th century and early 20th. Reserve forces were established in Russia in 1864 and during peacetime consisted of reserve battalions and, after 1888, reserve regiments and brigades of reduced composition. They were abolished in 1910 as a part of the military reforms of 1905–12. In Austria-Hungary and France, reserve forces were maintained until World War I. [21—1729–2]