In 1921, the Signals, Engineers, Railway troops and Automobile Corps were merged into a single technical branch of arms, the technical troops, following the example of France. Unio Sarlin, a road construction engineer and engineer trained in Germany, was appointed commander and later the inspector of the techincal troops. 8.1% of the total conscripts and staff was to be trained as technical troops. Of the technical troops, 35% were signalmen and 65% engineers. The railway and automobile troops were counted as engineers in these figures.
In the early 1920s, the technical troops staff was made up mainly of signals and engineer-trained jaegers and civilian professionals. After the creation of the technical troops, officers were cross-trained in both signals and engineer duties. The aim set by the Commander of the Technical troops was that all officers should receive the same training.