Burgers

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The Burgers
De Burgers
LeaderSibren van Aalzum

Sijbrand Kortum
Jan-Willem Martini
Lindert Roltvoort

Jean de Flandre
Dates of operation24 May 1873 – 15 February 1875
CountryThe Furbish Islands
HeadquartersXXX, Nieuw Maasland
Active regionsMainly Nieuw Maasland
IdeologyAgrarianism
Nieuw Maasland self-determination
Notable attacksList of Burger attacks
SizeX
Means of revenueBank robbery
AlliesEastern Alliance
Northern League
OpponentsThe Furbish Islands
  • Army
  • Gendarmerie
Battles and warsBurger rebellion
Succeeded by
De Burgers

The Burgers were a militant organization active during the Time of Troubles. Founded by 19 deserting Gendarmes in 1873, the group would fight the Furbish government for nearly two years in the Burger rebelliion before the third republic was established. The group reorganized into De Burgers, a northern agrarian party active in the present day.

Name

The first address published on newspapers by the Burgers said:

We are brothers, fathers, husbands, sons, farmers, factory workers, soldiers, villagers, townsfolk, citizens. We are Furbishmen.

The Dutch word for townsfolk, "Burgers", became adopted by English newspapers as the name of the rebels.

History

Origins

Early campaigns

Jean de Flandre and attack on Boston

Harrisbarig massacre

Northern league

Jozef van Biddinghuizen

Organization

Early organization

The original 19 members included 4 Gendarmerie commissioned officers, 5 non-commissioned officers, and 10 enlisted gendarmes, and some villagers joined them. This was the origins of the original four-tiered organization. The four commissioned officers became commanders, who would plan and authorize attacks, and sometimes lead. The five NCOs became officers, who would assist in planning and leading attacks, or do so on their own. The rest were simply fighters, with the 10 gendarmes becoming distinguished fighters, who can lead smaller teams.

In the battles of XXX, the Burgers were split into 5 teams, each with an officer, two distinguished fighters, and 4-6 fighters. Each team was under command of one of the commanders. The teams and structure were ad hoc, never permanently assigned, instead shifted around as needed. Some officers were placed in command of others in some battles, though these assignments were never permanent. De Flandre's attack on Boston was led by him, then an officer, and XX, another officer. Dorman attacked Harrisbarig with over 200 fighters and 12 officers, which had their own hierarchy.

As a result of the successful attack on Boston, a new unit was formed within the Burgers, known as the Jagers. Lead by Jean de Flandre, who was promoted to commander, they executed urban guerilla operations, such as assassinations, bank robberies, attacks on armories, and gathering intelligence.

October 1873 reforms

As more joined the Burgers and more were promoted, the limitations of the structure were seen. In the October reforms, the commanders were assigned to oversee local operations

Strategy and tactics

Early strategy and tactics

Membership

Women in the Burgers

Women served in combat roles since XX 1873, over a century before they were allowed to serve in the Furbish Army. This policy was heavily debated among the commanders.

When the Jagers were founded, women were also allowed to join. Though this was heavily debated too, officers argued that women could more easily blend into an urban population and would not be as suspected as men.

Financing

The majority of Burger weapons and money were stolen from the Gendarmerie.

Public view

Dutch speakers

Other minorities

English speakers

After Time of Troubles

After the third republic was established, many joined the Gendarmerie, provincial national guards, or left for their old jobs. The Burgers reorganized into an agrarian political party.