page_title: Hamburg Citizen Militia
section_title: Organization
hierarchical_section_title: Hamburg Citizen Militia / Organization
caption_attribution_description: Deutsch: Generalstab des Hamburger Bürgermilitärs 1868, hierː Adjudant und Oberst. English: General staff of the Hamburg Citizen Militia in 1868.
context_page_description: The Hamburg Citizen Militia or Hanseatic Citizen Guard was a citizen militia of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, formed from conscripted citizens and inhabitants of the city. It was formed in 1814 and dissolved in 1868.
  The Hamburg citizen militia should not be confused with the Hanseatic Legion. During their time of coexistence, the militia restricted itself to ejecting the French garrisons of Hamburg and the other Hanseatic League cities, whereas the Legion also participated in the rest of the campaign under Russian overall command.
context_section_description: A commission—consisting of the oldest mayor of Hamburg, 2 senators, the city commander, the head of the militia, and 6 citizens—was the oversight authority and link between the government and the militia. Without an order of the commission, the militia could not be alarmed or commanded for any duty. The commission decided in case of suspensions for conscripted citizens, on the budget of the militia, and elected the majors and captains for the militia. Lieutenants and first lieutenants were selected by another commission. The commission had not the authority for general amendments of the regulations, this was a task of the Senate of Hamburg.
  4 majors and their 4 adjutants supported the head of the militia (an Oberstleutnant and since 1840 an Oberst) as the general staff. The battalions were headed by a major, and a captain was commander of a company.
  In 1814, 10 infantry battalions were planned, a battalion of 4 companies of riflemen, a corps of 2 artillery companies, and a cavalry corps with 2 squadrons. Of the 10 infantry battalions, 6 should be established in the city of Hamburg, the 7th battalion was of St. Georg, Barmbek, Hamm, and Horn. The 8th battalions should be established in Billwerder, Ochsenwerder, and Finkenwerder, the 9th in St. Pauli, and the 10th in Ritzebüttel (now Cuxhaven). The 6 city battalions, the 7th and the 10th battalion, and cavalry, artillery, and riflemen were established first. The 8th battalion was never fully established.
caption: Uniforms of the general staff in 1886, published by Adolph Schieck in Das Hamburgische Bürgermilitär im Jahre 1868
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