During the war, Germany used a system of Military Districts (Wehrkreis) to separate regions into command by local authorities. This assisted in streamlining training, the issuance of orders, and recruiting. Additional districts were added to the initial 15 after the Anschluss and Invasion of Poland. Part of the military ID number assigned to a soldat in the Soldbuch consists of the Wehrkreis from which he was recruited.