.jpg)
Amilitary camp orbivouac is a semi-permanentmilitary base, for the lodging of anarmy. Camps are erected when a military force travels away from a major installation or fort duringtraining oroperations, and often have the form of largecampsites.[1]
In theBritish Army,Commonwealth armies, theUnited States Marine Corps, and other military forces, permanent military bases are also called camps, includingTidworth Camp,[2]Blandford Camp,Bulford Camp, andDevil's Tower Camp of theBritish Army; andCamp Lejeune andCamp Geiger of theUnited States Marine Corps.
Historically, army camps referred to large field camps of military troops that could include several thousand people. In theMiddle Ages,camp followers (i.e.wives,prostitutes,sutlers,laundresses,craftsmen,blacksmiths,squires, etc.) were also integrated into the camps. The composition varied, depending on whether it was a mercenary army with a few leaders, or large armies with many nobles and knights, such as those of theCrusades.
Leaguer andharbour are British terms for military camps; 'harbour' for temporary camps. The name, coming from 16th CenturyDutchleger,[3] was used for a military camp, particularly one layingsiege.
During World War IIleaguer was used in theWestern Desert campaign particularly for camps of armoured formations.[4] The arrangement of the leaguer depended on purpose and whether day or night. By day dispersed for protection against air attack with elements of the formation able to cover each other, at night ("close leaguer") the tankregiment forming a square or triangle, the tanks facing out with the support vehicles drawn up in the middle (but moving out of the leaguer and to the rear just before dawn).[5]
The term "bivouac" also has non-military uses. In theRhineland carnival tradition [de], "bivouac" refers to an open-air carnival, usually organized by acarnival society. A well-known example is the "Funkenbiwak" organized by theRote Funken [de] carnival society, which takes place on theNeumarkt square [de] in Cologne.[6]
