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Archiver > SWITZERLAND > 2002-03 > 1016653052


From: "guy grenny" <>
Subject: [SWITZ] Kadettenkorps
Date: Wed, 20 Mar 2002 11:37:32 -0800
References: <OE65BZxmNSo5tHtU4590001777a@hotmail.com> <004001c1ce9d$7f681740$032ef8c1@default> <OE55jcMzfoV1qdiixjn00002f70@hotmail.com> <03fa01c1cef8$f13e7ca0$0af9a218@dan> <OE45pPx9E26V8wnjMhp0000fe76@hotmail.com>


Dear Jan and Dan,
from my " History of Aargau" by Chr. Seiler & A. Steigmeier I quote:
"Aarau had a Kadettenkorps made up of highschool age youth since 1789,
the first in Kanton Aargau.
When in 1803 Aargau became an official Swiss Kanton, this
Kadettenkorps was the first to carry the beautiful new Aargauer Flag
at the "Jugendfest" Parade (Youth Festival still held yearly in May)
where all other Aargauer towns were invited to celebrate New
Kanton-hood. Those Kadetten must have looked so great that before long
other Korps were organized across the Kanton and in other regions of
Switzerland.

The benefits of encouraging young men to exercise and get involved in
sports seemed desireable in the 19th century.
Short of hard labor there wasn't much offered to the youth. In Kanton
Aargau, the participation in the Kadettenkorps became compulsory and
took the place of physical education, expanded into camping and other
adventurous maneouvres. Their colorful uniforms, the opportunity to
play a band instrument and march in parades encouraged discipline and
self-esteem.
This organization was not compulsory in other Kantons, however. No
wonder the Aargauer Kadetten excelled in numbers and influence. In the
20th century more military discipline training was added and during
festivities there would be great contests, races and maneouvres
against other Korps.
In 1972 the Swiss Confederation discontinued this pre militia training
and replaced it with "Jugend and Sport" (Youth & Sports).
Subsequently all former Kadettenkorps were dissolved. An end of an
era.
Hanneli
----- Original Message -----
From: Jan Blotz <>
To: <>
Sent: Monday, March 18, 2002 8:54 PM
Subject: Re: [SWITZ] Swiss Kadetten.
................. Was military service compulsory for someone born in
1855 and
> > would the age of 11-15 be typically when this service would be
performed?
> I have been unable to find any records of his service and was told
service
> > records for a non officer were rare. Would anyone know of how to
verify
> > service records in Switzerland during the 1870-1880 period?
> >
> > Dan Hess
> >
> > > I do have many documents for my grandfather Ernst ARNOLD who was
born in
> > Brugg, Switzerland on 3/13/1892. He took the compulsory military
training
> > for young Swiss boys (age 11-15) in Basel, where he found his love
for
> music with the military band.
> >>

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