Prussian Landwehr
The size, nature and conditions of recruitment of the Landwehr inevitably resulted in a force that was poorly equipped and clothed. The Prussian economy was fully extended trying to cope with the requirements of the regular and reserve formations even before the foundations of the Landwehr and it is , therefore, not surprising to find that in the first few months of existence, its state was truly lamentable. Initially, the men of the Landwehr wore clothing that was made of shoddy, their caps protected them against neither sword cuts nor rain, and even these poor garments were in short supply. By the autumn of 1813, the worst deficiencies had been overcome and by the time of Waterloo, the Landwehr can be said to have been adequately armed and clothed.
Regulations covering the dress and equipment of the Landwehr were drawn up in March 17, 1813. The Uniform was to consist of a 'Litewka' , made of blue or black cloth. The collar was in provincial colour; in the skirts were vertical pockets, each being closed by a single button and down the front of the garment ran either one or two rows of metal buttons. The length of the Litewka varied considerably and terminated at any point from mid-thigh, to well below the knee. There was a tendency to indicate battalions within a regiment with shoulder straps similar in colouring to those used by the regular army to indicate seniority. By 1815 it was normal for a regimental number to be embroidered onto the shoulder strap.
English shakos were used to a limited extent by at least some Silesian units. The Schirmutze cap was coloured dark blue or black and it had a band in the provincial colour. By an order dated May 31st, 1814, similarly coloured piping was to be used around the top of the crown and Stegen on the sides; Stegen were the chevron-like decorations sometimes found on this form of head-dress. Some caps were peakless but normally a leather peak was sewn into the front of this cap and to the front of the crown was attached a white metal, or cloth, Landwehrcreuz which bore the inscription, 'mit Gott fur Konig und Vaterland 1813'. A black and white Prussian cockade was worn on the cap band; usually this was placed at the front directly below the 'Landwehrcreuz', but it was sometimes worn affixed to the side above the left ear.
Breeches or pantaloons were made of dark blue or white cloth and were worn together with black gaiters and boots, although shoes and clogs were also used. In 1813, however, few gaiters were actually in use and it was not uncommon for Landwehr men to go barefoot.
Landwehr officers were authorized to wear the "Interimsrock" of the regular army, together with an officer's normal clothing, but with the proviso that the head-dress was to be the standard Landwehr Schirmutze. On the Kollet the collar and cuffs were in Provincial colours. The Litewka was much favoured fro campaign dress. Some officers wore the dress of the regular regiment from which they were seconded, or the dress of the Stammregiment. Landwehr formations had a similar status in relation to the regular army, as was heldby the Reserve. Owing to the way in which the Landwehr had been raised there was little rgard for the authorized dress regulations and the haphazard way in which units were kitted out meant that there was often very little uniformity, even within the same regiment. Litewkas made from a variety of grey or brown cloth were used, many variations of the official patterns of Schirmutze and Litewka existed; trousers whilst being generally made in white were also coloured, grey or blue, and large quantities of captured French equipment were pressed into service.
The unusual extremes that were obtained was well illustrated by the train personnel attached to a Silesian formation who wore: 'red English hussar uniforms with a conical English shako.'
Landwehr rank was indicated in the normal way for officers, but NCOs had white lines of thin tape around their collars and cuffs. Most NCOs carried sabres.
Musicians wore red and white swallow's nests and were armed with a sabre.
