ABSTRACT
The course of the German Peasant War is characterised by the armed struggle of the popular masses for demands formulated in grievances, articles and program. Since the Landsknechte were recruited for limited periods from towns and villages, some of the men capable of bearing arms in this manner gained military experience which benefited the popular armies in the German Peasant War. If one observes the activity of the bands during the course of the Peasant War, it seems at first as though the peasants and plebeians who were first organised militarily remained under arms until the defeat of their units. For the first time, masses of the people attempted to create their own military organisation by adapting the contemporary model of the mercenary army. In the areas of arms, muster, supply and the drafting of field regulations among others, the peasant bands accomplished much that was of significance.
