Major General
1755-1813
A Hanoverian army officer, military writer,
and director of the War College, he entered Prussian service in
1801. He fought in the disastrous war of 1806-7 against Napoleon
I, and he headed the commission for reorganizing the army and
controlled the war ministry from 1807. He resigned his posts early
in 1812, when Prussia was forced into an alliance with Napoleon
I against Russia. When the French defeat in Russia enabled Prussia
to break its alliance with France and join the anti-French coalition
(1813), Scharnhorst served as chief of staff to the commander
of the army, Field Marshal Blücher. As a military reformer
Scharnhorst transformed the Prussian army from a mercenary one
into a people's army. Every Prussian was considered liable to
military service. However, since the introduction of general conscription
was impossible under Napoleonic rule, Scharnhorst invented the
Krümpersystem under which a larger number of men than that
allowed to Prussia could be trained in the use of arms; citizens
were called to service for a short training period to be then
replaced by another group. Although the system was highly acclaimed,
in reality only a small number exceeding the 42,000 man limit
were trained in the use of arms. The abolition of physical punishment
and the admission of nonnobles into the officers' corps further
helped to popularize the cause of the army. General conscription,
however, was introduced formally only in 1814 after Scharnhorst's
death.
