The typical Landwehr uniform was designed for function and serviceability, not show. The outfit was much plainer than the finery worn by most regular troops but were easily manufactured in the numbers necessary to outfit tens of thousands.

They also wore captured French and purchased British items. “Their uniforms had to be provided by the municipalities, which led to many unfortunates marching off to war in terribly poor quality clothing which quickly fell apart.

They had only one pair of shoes, which often fit badly and were frequently torn off in deep mud, leaving many soldiers barefoot for much of the campaign.” (Digby-Smith, – p 36)

Generally the Landwehr infantry wore either black or dark blue Litevka coat with grey or white trousers. The collar and cuffs were in the provincial colour.

his is a myth that the Landwehr was never used in skirmish order. They were used as skirmishers if only the tactical situation required it. On few occasions even entire battalions were employed in such formation.

In 1813 at Hagelberg the full IV Battalion of 3rd Kurmark Landwehr deployed into skirmish formation and advanced forward together with two other battalion formed in columns screened by their own skirmishers.

In the end of battle approx. 300 Prussian skirmishers pursued 2 battalions of French infantry (total 1.000 men). These skirmishers were joined by Cossacks and Russian guns and the French halted and surrendered, but generally the Landwehr was poorly trained and armed and the generals prefered other troops in skirmish role.