The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary^[1] citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military force but which are not regarded as having the same status Legal and historical meanings of militia include:

• Defense activity or service, to protect a community, its territory, property, and laws.
• The entire able-bodied male (and perhaps female) population of a community, town, county, or state, available to be called to arms. A state is a political association with effective Sovereignty over a geographic Area and representing a Population.

• A subset of these who may be legally penalized for failing to respond to a call-up.
• A subset of these who actually respond to a call-up, regardless of legal obligation.

• A private, non-government force, not necessarily directly supported or sanctioned by its government. For the government of parliamentary systems see Executive (government.
• An official reserve army, composed of citizen soldiers. A soldier is a general English term that refers to a member of a land component of National Armed forces. Called by various names in different countries such as; the Army Reserve, National Guard, or State Defense Forces. A military reserve force is a military organization State Defense Forces ( SDF) (also known as State Guards, State Military Reserves, or State Militias) in the United States are military
• The national police forces in several former communist states such as the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact countries, but also in the non-aligned SFR Yugoslavia. Police are agents or agencies usually of the executive, empowered to enforce the law and to effect public and social order through the legitimatized use of force Communist state is a term used by many Political scientists to describe a Form of government in which the State operates under a one-party system The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 The Warsaw Pact (see Nomenclature) was an organization of Communist states in Central and Eastern Europe. The Non-Aligned Movement ( NAM) is an International organization of states considering themselves not formally aligned with or against any major power bloc The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia ( Serbo-Croatian, Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian, Slovene, Macedonian: The term was inherited in Russia, and other former CIS countries. Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending See: Militia (Police). Militia (мили́ция mʲi'lʲitsɨja мiлiцiя мiлíцыя милиция milicja miliţia milica milicija/милиција милиција was used as a short
• In France the term "Milice" has become tainted due to its use by notorious collaborators with Nazi Germany. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. The Milice Française ( French Militia) generally called simply Milice (" Militia " was a Paramilitary force Nazi Germany and the Third Reich are the common English names for Germany under the regime of Adolf Hitler and the National Socialist German Workers

Etymology

The term "militia" is derived from Latin roots:

• miles /miːles/ : soldier^[2]
• -itia /iːtia/ : a state, activity, quality or condition of being^[3][4]
• militia /mil:iːtia/: Military service^[5]

In English, the word "militia" dates to 1590 when it was recorded in a book by Sir John Smythe, Certain Discourses Military with the meanings: a military force; a body of soldiers and military affairs; a body of military discipline^[6]

Australia

Main article: Australian Army Reserve

Militia was an alternative name for the Citizens' Military Forces (CMF), the reserve units of the Australian Army between 1901 and 1980. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Army Reserve is a collective name for the reserve units of the Australian Army. The Australian Army is Australia's military land force It is part of the Australian Defence Force (ADF along with the Royal Australian Navy and the After Australian federation, the six former colonial militias were merged to form the CMF. The federation of Australia was the process by which the six separate British self-governing colonies of New South Wales, Queensland, South This article is about a type of political territory For other uses see Colony (disambiguation. Initially the CMF infantry forces formed the vast bulk of the Australian Army, along with standing artillery and engineer units. The Australian Army is Australia's military land force It is part of the Australian Defence Force (ADF along with the Royal Australian Navy and the

The Defence Act of 1903 granted the Australian federal government the powers to conscript men of military age for home defense. This article describes the federal government of Australia See Australian governments for other jurisdictions Conscription (also known as the draft, the call-up or national service) is a general term for involuntary labor demanded by some established authority However, these powers were unpopular and were used only for short periods at a time. The government was also forbidden by law from deploying the CMF outside Australian territories, or using it in strikes and other industrial disputes. Strike action, often simply called a strike, is a work stoppage caused by the mass refusal by Employees to perform work.

As a result of the ban on foreign service, during World War I and World War II, all-volunteer Australian Imperial Forces were formed for overseas deployment. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including The Australian Imperial Force (AIF was the name given to two all- Volunteer Australian Army forces dispatched to fight overseas during World War I and CMF units were sometimes scorned by AIF soldiers as "chocolate soldiers" or "chockos", because "they would melt under the pressure" of military operations; or in an alternative version of the story of the origin of this term, as a result of the 1930s' uniforms of Militia soldiers, these soldiers were considered by AIF volunteers and some civilians as soldiers only for show like the soldiers in garish 19th century dress uniforms shown on tins of chocolates that were commonly sold in Australia in the 1930s, hence the name "chocolate-tin soldiers" for Militia members.

Nevertheless, some Militia units distinguished themselves in action against the Empire of Japan during the Pacific War, and suffered extremely high casualties. The Empire of Japan ( {{unicode|Kyūjitai}}: ja 大日本帝國 Shinjitai: ja 大日本帝国 pronounced Dai Nippon Teikoku The Pacific War was the part of World War II —and preceding conflicts—that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands and in East Asia, between In mid-1942 Militia units fought in two significant battles, both in New Guinea, which was then an Australian territory. New Guinea, located just north of Australia, is the world's second largest island, having become separated from the Australian mainland when the area now known The exploits of the young and poorly trained soldiers of the 39th (Militia) Battalion during the rearguard action on the Kokoda Track remain celebrated to this day, as is the contribution of the 7th Brigade at the Battle of Milne Bay. This article concerns the World War II military campaign For more general information see the Kokoda Track article 7th Brigade is a Brigade of the Australian Army. The Brigade was first raised in 1915 and saw action in World War I and World War II The Battle of Milne Bay ( Operation RE) was a battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II.

Later in the war, the law was changed to allow the transfer of Militia units to the 2nd AIF; of these Militia units, 65% of their personnel had volunteered for overseas service. Another change allowed Militia units to serve anywhere south of the Equator in South-East Asia. The equator (sometimes referred to colloquially as "the Line") is the intersection of the Earth 's surface with the plane perpendicular to the Consequently they also saw action against Japanese forces in the Dutch East Indies. See http//enwikipediaorg/wiki/WikipediaFootnotes for an explanation of how to generate footnotes using the tags and the template below

In addition to the CMF, the Volunteer Defence Corps, a volunteer force modeled on the British Home Guard, was formed in 1940 and had a strength of almost 100,000 men across Australia at its peak. The Volunteer Defence Corps was an Australian Militia force of World War II modelled on the British Home Guard. The British Home Guard (initially "Local Defence Volunteers" or LDV, or in slang Look-Duck-Vanish, hence the name change was a defence

After the war, CMF units continued to form the bulk of the peacetime army, although the creation of standing infantry units — such as the Royal Australian Regiment — from 1947, meant that the regular army grew in importance. The' Royal Australian Regiment' ( RAR) is the parent Regiment for regular Infantry Battalions of the Australian Army, making up the By 1980, when the name of the CMF was changed to the Army Reserve, the regular army was the more significant force. Australian Reservists have a comparatively high level of commitment, with an expected obligation of up to 4 nights and 2 full days per month, alongside a two week annual course. Since September of 2006, Reservist Salaries have been streamlined with those of regular forces as a reflection of overall higher standard of training. This initiative shows that since 1975, there are now many positions for which there is little training gap at all between Reservists and Permanent Force members [1]

Austria

After World War I, multiple militias formed as soldiers returned home to their villages, only to find many of them occupied by Slovene and Yugoslav forces, especially in the southern province of Carinthia. Austria (Österreich ( officially the Republic of Austria (Republik Österreich World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All A soldier is a general English term that refers to a member of a land component of National Armed forces. A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet, but smaller than a Town or City. The State of Slovenes Croats and Serbs was a short-lived state formed from the southernmost parts of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy after its dissolution at the end of The Kingdom of Yugoslavia (Serbo-Croato-Slovene ie Serbo-Croatian, Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian, Slovene: Kraljevina Jugoslavija During the First Republic, increasing radicalization of politics led to certain militias associating with certain political parties. In Austrian history the First Republic encompasses the period following the breakup of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy at the end of World War I, up Political radicalism or simply radicalism is adherence to radical views and principles in Politics. A political party is a Political organization that seeks to attain and maintain political power within Government, usually by participating in electoral The Heimwehr (German: Home Defense) became affiliated with the Christian Social Party and the Republikanischer Schutzbund (German: Republican Defense League) became affiliated with the Social Democratic Workers' Party of Austria. The Heimwehr (Home Guard or sometimes Heimatschutz (Home Defensewere a Nationalist, initially Paramilitary group operating within Austria For other parties of the same name see Christian Social Party The Christian Social Party (CS (Christlichsoziale Partei was an Austrian political party The Republikanischer Schutzbund (Republican Defense League was a Paramilitary organization established in 1923 by the ''Sozialdemokratische Arbeiterpartei Österreichs'' The Social Democratic Party of Austria ( German: Sozialdemokratische Partei Österreichs, or SPÖ) is one of the oldest parties in Austria. Violence increasingly escalated, breaking out during the July Revolt of 1927 and finally the Austrian Civil War, when the Schutzbund was defeated by the Heimwehr, police, and federal army. During the Austrian July Revolt of 1927 (also known as Black Friday) 84 protesters were killed by Austrian Police forces while four policemen Origins of the conflict After the disintegration of the Austro-Hungarian Empire (following World War I) the state of Austria - comprising by

See also: Republikanischer Schutzbund, Heimwehr

Canada

Main article: Canadian Militia

In Canada the title "Militia" historically referred to the land component of the armed forces, both regular (full time) and reserve. The Republikanischer Schutzbund (Republican Defense League was a Paramilitary organization established in 1923 by the ''Sozialdemokratische Arbeiterpartei Österreichs'' The Heimwehr (Home Guard or sometimes Heimatschutz (Home Defensewere a Nationalist, initially Paramilitary group operating within Austria Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page The Military history of Canada comprises hundreds of years of armed actions in the territory encompassing In 1940 the Permanent Active Militia and Non-Permanent Active Militia were renamed to become the Canadian Army. Land Force Command ( LFC) is responsible for army operations within the Canadian Forces. The term Militia continued from then to the present day to refer to the part-time army reserve component of the Canadian Forces. The Canadian Forces (CF ( French: Forces canadiennes) are the unified Armed forces of Canada, governed by the National Defence Currently, Militia troops usually train one night a week and every other weekend of the month, except in the summer. Summertime training may consist of courses, individual call-outs, or concentrations (unit and formation training of one to two weeks' duration). In addition, Primary Reserve members are increasingly used for voluntary service as augmentation to the regular force overseas—usually NATO or United Nations missions. The Primary Reserve is a reserve force of the Canadian Forces. The North Atlantic Treaty The United Nations ( UN) is an International organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in International law, International security Most Canadian cities have one or more militia units.

China

Main article: Chinese Paramilitary Forces

China's Militia, a mass force engaged in daily production under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CCP), forms part of the Chinese armed forces. Talk People's Republic of China) PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES The Chinese Paramilitary Forces are composed of three main forces the People's Armed Police (PAP the Militia, and the Reserve force, and they act as The Communist Party of China ( CPC) ( also known as the Chinese Communist Party ( CCP) is the founding and ruling political party of the Under the command of the military organs, it undertakes such jobs as war preparation services, security and defense operation tasks and assistance in maintaining social order and public security. Social order is a concept used in sociology history and other social sciences ^[7]

Cuba

Main article: Military of Cuba

Cuba has three militia organizations: The Territorial Militia Troops Milicias de Tropas Territoriales of about one million people (half women)[2], the Youth Labor Army Ejército Juvenil del Trabajo devoted to agricultural production, and a naval militia. The Republic of Cuba (ˈkjuːbə or) consists of the island of Cuba (the largest and second-most populous island of the Greater Antilles) Isla de la Military of Cuba Military manpower [3].

Denmark

See Danish Home Guard

France

The first notable militia in French history was the resistance of the Gauls to invasion by the Romans until they were defeated by Julius Caesar. The Kingdom of Denmark ( ˈd̥ænmɑɡ̊ (archaic ˈd̥anmɑːɡ̊ commonly known as Denmark, is a country in the Scandinavian region of northern Europe The Danish Home Guard (Hjemmeværnet HJV is the fourth service of the Danish military, concerned exclusively with the defence of Danish territory This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Gaul (Gallia was the Roman name for the region of Western Europe comprising present day northern Italy, France, Belgium, western Ancient Rome was a Civilization that grew out of a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 10th century BC ^[8]

The next notable militia was organized and led by Joan of Arc until her capture and execution in 1431. Joan of Arc (c 1412 Joan asserted that she had visions from God that told her to recover her homeland from English domination late in the Hundred Years' It settled the succession to the French crown and laid the basis for the formation of the modern nation of France. ^[9]

During the Franco-Prussian War the Parisian National Guard, which was founded during the time of the American Revolution, engaged the Prussian Army and later rebelled against the Versailles Army under Marshal McMahon.

During World War II under German occupation, militia usually called the French Resistance emerged to conduct a guerrilla war of attrition against German forces and prepare the way for the D-Day Allied Invasion of France. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including The French Resistance is the collective name used for the French Resistance movements which fought against the Nazi German D-Day may also refer to Decimal Day in the United Kingdom. D-Day is a term often used in Military parlance to denote ^[10] The French Resistance militia were opposed by the Vichy French Milice Francaise - the paramilitary police force of the German puppet state of Vichy. .

Germany

The earliest reports of Germanic militia was the system of hundreds which was described in 98 A. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. D. by Tacitus as the centeni. Publius (or Gaius) Cornelius Tacitus (ca 56 &ndash ca 117 was a senator and a Historian of the Roman Empire. It was similar to the Anglo-Saxon fyrd. For their language see Anglo-Saxon language. Anglo-Saxon is the term usually used to describe the invading Tribes in the south The institution known as leiðangr ( Old Norse) leidang ( Norwegian) leding, ( Danish) ledung

The name Freikorps (German for "Free Corps") was originally applied to voluntary armies. The designation of Freikorps ( German for "Free Corps " was originally applied to voluntary armies formed in German lands from the middle of 18th century The German language (de ''Deutsch'') is a West Germanic language and one of the world's major languages. The first freikorps were recruited by Frederick II of Prussia during the Seven Years' War. Frederick II (Friedrich II January 24 1712 August 17 1786) was a King of Prussia (1740&ndash1786 from the The Seven Years' War (1756&ndash1763 involved all of the major European powers of the period causing 900000 to 1400000 deaths The freikorps were regarded as unreliable by regular armies, so that they were mainly used as sentries and for minor duties.

However, after 1918, the term was used for nationalist paramilitary organizations that sprang up around Germany as soldiers returned in defeat from World War I. The term nationalism can refer to an Ideology, a sentiment, a form of Culture, or a Social movement that focuses on the Nation A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military force but which are not regarded as having the same status Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All They were one of the many Weimar paramilitary groups active during that time. Paramilitary groups were formed throughout the Weimar Republic in the wake of Germany 's defeat in World War I and the ensuing German Revolution They received considerable support from Gustav Noske, the German Defence Minister who used them to crush the Spartakist League with enormous violence, including the murders of Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg on January 15, 1919. Gustav Noske ( July 9, 1868 - November 30, 1946) was a German administrator. The Spartacist League ( Spartakusbund in German) was a left-wing Marxist revolutionary movement organized in Germany ( August 13, 1871 - January 15, 1919) was a German Socialist and a co-founder of the Spartacist League and the Communist Rosa Luxemburg (Róża Luksemburg 5 March 1870 or 1871 15 January 1919 was a Polish-born Jewish German Marxist theorist, socialist Events 588 BC - Nebuchadrezzar II of Babylon lays siege to Jerusalem under Zedekiah 's reign Year 1919 ( MCMXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common They were also used to put down the Bavarian Soviet Republic in 1919. The Bavarian Soviet Republic, also known as the Munich Soviet Republic ( German: Bayerische Räterepublik or Münchner Räterepublik) was They were officially "disbanded" in 1920, resulting in the ill-fated Kapp Putsch in March 1920. The Kapp Putsch — or more accurately the Kapp-Lüttwitz Putsch — was a 1920 coup attempt during the German revolution aimed at overthrowing the

The Einwohnerwehr, active in Germany from 1919 to 1921 as a paramilitary citizens' militia consisting of hundreds of thousands of mostly former servicemen. ^[11] Formed by the Prussian Ministry of the Interior on April 15, 1919, for the purpose to allow citizens to protect themselves from looters, armed gangs, and revolutionaries. The Einwohnerwehr was under the command of the local Reichswehr regiments and which supplied its guns. In 1921, the Berlin government dissolved the Einwohnerwehr. Many of its members went on to join the Nazi Party. [4]

In 1944-45, as World War II was coming to a close in Europe the German high command deployed increasing numbers of Volkssturm units to combat duties. The Volkssturm (lit "Folkstorm" "People's" or "National Militia" Sturm lit These regiments were composed of men and women to old or otherwise unfit for service in the wehrmacht (German Regular Army). Their primary role was assisting the army with fortification duties and digging anti-tank ditches, but would as the shortage of manpower became severe be used as front line infantry, most often in urban settings. Due to the physical state of members, almost non-existent training and shortage of weapons most there was not much the Volkssturm could do except act like shields for regular army units. However armed with Panzerfausts and deeply entrenched a unit of Volkssturm could cause serious trouble for Soviet armor. The Panzerfaust (plural Panzerfäuste, "armored fist" or "tank fist" was an inexpensive recoilless German Anti-tank

Iran

The Basij militia, founded by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in November of 1979 is composed of 90,000 regular soldiers, and 300,000 reservists and ultimately draws from about 11 million members, and is subordinate to their Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution in Iran. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. The Basij (also Bassij or Baseej, or Baseej-e Mostaz'afin or "The Mobilized Oppressed"" or بسيج is a volunteer based Iranian Seyyed Ruhollah Musavi Khomeini ( Persian:, pronounced muːsæviː-je xomejniː}}( September 24, 1902 – June 3 1989 The Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution ( Sepáh e Pásdárán e Enqeláb e Eslámi) is an ideologically motivated branch of the Islamic Republic of Iran's For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics.

Iraq

Peshmurga Kurdish Militia, cleaning weapons. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iraq topics.

Main article: Private militias in Iraq

Several armed militia groups are presently active in Iraq. Private militias in Iraq include those known from modern history such as the Mahdi Army and Badr Organization as well as some that have emerged in the post-Saddam The Mehdi Army is a sectarian armed force created by the Iraqi Shi'a cleric Muqtada al-Sadr in June 2003. This page describes the Shia Mahdi Army of contemporary Iraq for the Sunni Mahdi Army of Nineteenth Century Sudan see Muhammad Ahmad. Hojatoleslam Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr or Moktada al Sadr ( ar سيد مقتدى الصدر Muqtadā aṣ-Ṣadr) (born August 12, The Badr armed force based in and around Karbala. Badr is a Male Arabic Given name that means " Full moon " Karbala ( BGN: Al-Karbalā’; also spelled Karbala al-Muqaddasah) is a city in Iraq, located about southwest of Baghdad at The Anbar Salvation Council is a Sunni armed group in Iraq formed by members of baathist and nationalist elements to fight Al-Qaeda in Iraq. The Kurdish militia, the peshmerga, is estimated to number upwards of 50,000. Peshmerga, Peshmerga or Peshmerge ( Kurdish: pêşmerge) is the term used by Kurds to refer to armed Kurdish fighters

The Awakening Councils or "concerned citizens" are emerging to defend their neighborhoods against insurgents of every kind, functioning as a form of vigilante "militia" similar to the model of militia in the U.S.. The role of Militia, also known as civilian military service and duty in the United States is complex and has transformed over time ^[12]

Israel

The earliest historical record of militia is found in the Old Testament and particularly the Book of Judges, when the Israelites fought as militia against threatening neighboring tribes. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Israel topics. In Western Christianity, the Old Testament refers to the books that form the first of the two-part Christian Biblical canon. Book of Judges ( Hebrew: Sefer Shoftim ספר שופטים is a book of the Bible originally written in Hebrew. A prominent instance of that was the militia led by Deborah against the Caananites. See also Biblical judges Book of Judges List of women warriors in folklore literature and popular culture Canaanites redirects here For the 1940s social and political movement in Israel, see Canaanites (movement. ^[13][14]

In modern times there is a universal military service requirement for male Israeli citizens that leaves most of them in the reserves of the Israeli Defense Forces, authorized to keep certain military weapons in their homes and workplaces. The Israel Defense Forces ( IDF) (צְבָא הַהֲגָנָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, lit ^[15]

Korea

In the end of 19th century and the early 20th century, the Righteous army of Korea resisted Japan's invasion and occupation of the peninsula. Korea is a geographic area composed of two sovereign countries a civilization and a former state situated on the Korean Peninsula in East Asia. Righteous armies, sometimes called irregular armies or militias, have emerged repeatedly in Korean history, when the national armies have been unable For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics.

Mexico

The Free-Colored Militia, interracial militias of New Spain, Colonial Mexico. The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. The Viceroyalty of New Spain (Virreinato de Nueva España was a name given to the Viceroy -ruled territories of the Spanish Empire in North America, ^[16]

The Rurales

The Zapatista Army of National Liberation

New Zealand

Many localized Militia saw service, together with British Imperial troops, during the New Zealand land wars. Rurales ( Spanish for "Rurals" was the name commonly used to designate the Mexican Guardia Rural ( Rural Guard) a The Zapatista Army of National Liberation ( Ejército Zapatista de Liberación Nacional, EZLN) is an armed Revolutionary group based in Chiapas New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island The New Zealand Wars, sometimes called the Land Wars and also once called the Māori Wars, were a series of conflicts that took place in New Zealand The Militia were disbanded and reformed as the Territorial Army in 1911.

Norway

See Norwegian Home Guard

Russia and Soviet Union

Neither the Russian Empire, nor the Soviet Union ever had an organised force that could be equated to a militia. Norway ( Norwegian: Norge ( Bokmål) or Noreg ( Nynorsk) officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Constitutional The Norwegian Home Guard (Heimevernet is a rapid mobilization force in the Norwegian military The Russian Empire ( Pre-reform Russian: Pоссійская Имперія Modern Russian: Российская Империя translit: Rossiyskaya The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 Instead a form of organisation that pre-dated the Russian state was used during national emergencies called Narodnoe Opolcheniye. Narodnoe Opolcheniye or Opolchenie (Народное ополчение lit More comparable to the English Fyrd, it was a popular voluntary joining of the local polk, or a regiment, though it had no regular established strength or officers, these usually elected from prominent local citizens. The institution known as leiðangr ( Old Norse) leidang ( Norwegian) leding, ( Danish) ledung A regiment is a Military unit, composed of a variable number of Battalions – commanded by a Colonel. Although these spontaneously created popular forces had participated in several major wars of the Russian Empire, including in combat, they were not obligated to serve for more then one year, and notably departed for home during the 1813 campaign in Germany. In the War of the Sixth Coalition (1812–1814 a coalition of Austria, Prussia, Russia, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and a number On only one occasion, during the military history of the Soviet Union, the Narodnoe Opolcheniye was incorporated into the regular forces of the Red Army, notably in Leningrad and Moscow. The Military history of the Soviet Union began in the days following the 1917 October Revolution that brought the Bolsheviks to power The Red Army ( Russian: Рабоче-Крестьянская Красная Армия R aboche- K rest'yanskaya K rasnaya A rmiya See also List of Soviet Union divisions 1917-1945 The Soviet Union 's Red Army raised over four hundred and fifty numbered rifle divisions

Sri Lanka

The first militias formed in Sri Lanka were by Lankan Kings, who raised militia armies for their military campaigns both within and out side the island. Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka ( Sinhalese:, இலங்கை known as Ceylon before 1972 is an Island Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka ( Sinhalese:, இலங்கை known as Ceylon before 1972 is an Island This was due to the reason that the Kings never maintained a standing army instead had a Royal Guard during peace time and formed a militia in wartime. A Royal Guard describes any group of military Bodyguard, soldiers or retainers responsible for the protection of a royal person such as a King or Queen When the Portuguese who were the first colonial power to dominate the island raised local militias under the command of local leaders known as Mudaliyars. Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa is a country on the Iberian Peninsula. Mudaliar also Mudaliyār, Mudali and Moodley in Tamil language literally means a person of first rank These militias took part in the many Portuguese campaigns against the Lankan Kings. Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa is a country on the Iberian Peninsula. The Dutch continued to employ these militias but due to their unreliability tended to favor employing Swiss and Malay mercenaries in their campaigns in the island. Switzerland (English pronunciation; Schweiz Swiss German: Schwyz or Schwiiz Suisse Svizzera Svizra officially the Swiss Confederation The concept of a Malay race ( Bangsa Melayu) was proposed by the German scientist Johann Friedrich Blumenbach (1752-1840 A mercenary is a person who takes part in an armed conflict who is not a national or a party to the conflict and is "motivated to take part in the hostilities essentially by The British Empire then ousted the Dutch from the coastal areas of the country, and sought to conquer the independent Kandyan Kingdom. The British Empire was the largest empire in history and for over a century was the foremost global power. The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands Kingdom of Kandy ( Sinhalese: මහනුවර රාජධානිය Tamil:கண்டி இராச்சியம் mahanuvara rājadhāniya is the In 1802, the British became the first foreign power to raise a regular unit of Sinhalese with British officers, which was named the 2nd Ceylon Regiment, also known as the Sepoy Corps. The Sinhalese are the main ethnic group of Sri Lanka. They speak Sinhala, an Indo-Aryan language and number approximately 15 million people with the A sepoy (ˈsipɔɪ (from Persian سپاهی Sipâhi meaning "soldier" was a native of India, a soldier allied to a European power usually the It fought alongside British troops in the Kandyan wars. term Kandian Wars (or the Kandyan Wars) refers generally to the period of warfare between British colonial forces and the kingdom of Kandy in Ceylon, modern After the Matale Rebellion lead by Puran Appu in 1848, in which a number of Sinhalese recruits defected to the side of the rebels, the recruitment of Sinhalese to the British forces was temporarily halted and the Ceylon Regiments disbanded. The Matale Rebellion, also known as the ' Rebellion of 1848' took place in Ceylon against the British colonial government under Governor Lord Torrington Weerahennadige Francisco Fernando alias Puran Appu (In Sinhalese:පුරන් අප්පු is one of the notable personalities in Sri Lanka's history

In 1861 the Ceylon Light Infantry Volunteers were raised as a militia, but soon became a military reserve force. Ceylon Defence Force (CDF was established in 1910 by reforming the Ceylon Volunteer Force (CVF that existed that the time as the ( military reserve) in the British A military reserve force is a military organization This became the Ceylon Defence Force in 1910 and consisted of militia units. Ceylon Defence Force (CDF was established in 1910 by reforming the Ceylon Volunteer Force (CVF that existed that the time as the ( military reserve) in the British These were the Colombo Town Guard and the Town Guard Artillery formed during the two world wars. Colombo Town Guard was regiment attached to the Ceylon Defence Force which was the predecessor to the Sri Lanka Army prior to 1949 when the Ceylon Army was formed The Sri Lanka Artillery (SLA a corps of the Sri Lanka Army. It is made up of 7 regular regiments and 2 volunteer ( reserve) regiments

With the escalation of the Sri Lankan Civil War, local villagers under threat of attack were formed into localized militia to protect their families and homes^[17]. The Sri Lankan Civil War is an Ongoing conflict on the Island -nation of Sri Lanka. According to the Sri Lankan Military these militias were formed after "massacres done by the LTTE" and in the early 1990s they were reformed as the Sri Lankan Home Guard. "LTTE" redirects here For the Led Zeppelin bootleg see Listen to This Eddie. Department of Civil Defence or the Sri Lanka Civil Defence Force is the former Home Guard Service is a Sri Lankan Paramilitary force which is tasked as an Auxiliary In 2007 the Home Guard became the Sri Lanka Civil Defence Force^[18]. Department of Civil Defence or the Sri Lanka Civil Defence Force is the former Home Guard Service is a Sri Lankan Paramilitary force which is tasked as an Auxiliary In 2008, the government called for the formation of nearly 15,000 civil defence committees at the village level for additional protection. ^[19]

In 2004, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam established a voluntary "Tamil Eelam auxiliary force". "LTTE" redirects here For the Led Zeppelin bootleg see Listen to This Eddie. According to the LTTE's head of police, the force would be assigned to tasks such as rehabilitation, construction, forest conservation and agriculture, but would also be used to battle the Sri Lankan military if the need arose. ^[20][21][22]

Sudan

Janjaweed "militiaman"

The Janjaweed militia consists of armed Arab Muslims fighting for the government in Khartoum against non-Arab Muslim "rebels". Sudan (officially the Republic of Sudan) ( السودان al-Sūdān is a country in northeastern Africa. The Janjaweed ( Arabic: جنجويد; variously transliterated Janjawid, Janjawed or Jingaweit etc Khartoum ( الخرطوم al-Kharṭūm) is the Capital of Sudan and of Khartoum State. They are active in the Darfur region of western Sudan and also in eastern Chad. Darfur (دار فور daar foor, lit "realm of the Fur " is a region in Sudan. Chad (Tchad تشاد Tshād) officially known as the Republic of Chad, is a Landlocked country in Central Africa. According to Human Rights Watch these partisans are responsible for abuses including war crimes, crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing. Human Rights Watch is a United States -based international Non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on Human rights. [5]

Sweden

See Swedish Home Guard

Switzerland

One of the most famous and ancient militias is the Swiss Armed Forces. "Sverige" redirects here For other uses see Sweden (disambiguation and Sverige (disambiguation. The Swedish Home Guard (Hemvärnet is a part of the Swedish Armed Forces. Switzerland (English pronunciation; Schweiz Swiss German: Schwyz or Schwiiz Suisse Svizzera Svizra officially the Swiss Confederation The military of Switzerland, officially known as the Swiss Armed Forces, is a unique institution somewhere between a Militia and a regular army. Switzerland long maintained, proportionally, the second largest military force in the world, with about half the proportional amount of reserve forces of the Israeli Defence Force, a militia of some 33% of the total population. Switzerland (English pronunciation; Schweiz Swiss German: Schwyz or Schwiiz Suisse Svizzera Svizra officially the Swiss Confederation The Israel Defense Forces ( IDF) (צְבָא הַהֲגָנָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, lit Article 58. 1 of the 1999 Swiss constitution provides that the armed forces (armee) is "in principle" organized as a militia, implicitly allowing a small number of professional soldiers. In 1995, the number of soldiers was reduced to 400,000 (including reservists, amounting to some 5. 6% of the population) and again in 2004, to 200,000 (including 80,000 reservists, or 2. 7% of the population). However, the Swiss Militia continues to consist of most of the adult male population (with voluntary participation by women) required to keep an automatic rifle at home and to periodically engage in combat and marksmanship training. ^[23]

United Kingdom

Main article: Militia (English)

Origins

The obligation to serve in the militia in England derives from a common law tradition, and dates back to Anglo-Saxon times. Origins The obligation to serve in the militia in England derives from a Common law tradition and dates back to Anglo-Saxon times Common law refers to law and the corresponding legal system developed through decisions of courts and similar tribunals rather than through legislative statutes or executive For their language see Anglo-Saxon language. Anglo-Saxon is the term usually used to describe the invading Tribes in the south The tradition was that all able-bodied males were liable to be called out to serve in one of two organisations. These were the posse comitatus, an ad hoc assembly called together by a law officer to apprehend lawbreakers, and the fyrd^[24], a military body intended to preserve internal order or defend the locality against an invader. Posse comitatus refers to the Common law authority wielded by the County Sheriff to conscript any able-bodied male eighteen or older to assist The institution known as leiðangr ( Old Norse) leidang ( Norwegian) leding, ( Danish) ledung The latter developed into the militia, and was usually embodied by a royal warrant. History The earliest recorded British Royal Charter was granted to the Weavers’ Company in 1155 by Henry II of England. ^[25] Obviously, service in each organisation involved different levels of preparedness. ^[26]

Sixteenth and seventeenth centuries

With the decay of the feudal system and the military revolution of the sixteenth century, the militia began to become an important institution in English life. It was organized on the basis of the shire county, and was one of the responsibilities of the Lord Lieutenant, a royal official (usually a trusted nobleman). The historic counties of England are ancient subdivisions of England. The title Lord Lieutenant is given to the British Monarch 's personal representatives in the United Kingdom, usually in a county or similar circumscription with varying Each of the county hundreds was likewise the responsibility of a Deputy Lieutenant, who relayed orders to the justices of the peace or magistrates. In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord-Lieutenant of an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county A Justice of the Peace ( JP) is a Puisne Judicial officer appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace A magistrate is a judicial officer In Common law systems a magistrate usually has limited authority to administer and enforce the Law. Every parish furnished a quota of eligible men, whose names were recorded on muster rolls. In Tudor England, musters were periodic assessments of the availability of local Militia to act as a defence force when needed Likewise, each household was assessed for the purpose of finding weapons, armour, horses, or their financial equivalent, according to their status. The militia was supposed to be mustered for training purposes from time to time, but this was rarely done. In Tudor England, musters were periodic assessments of the availability of local Militia to act as a defence force when needed The militia regiments were consequently ill-prepared for an emergency, and could not be relied upon to serve outside their own counties.

This state of affairs concerned many people. Consequently, an elite force was created, composed of members of the militia who were prepared to meet regularly for military training and exercise. These were formed into trained band regiments, particularly in the City of London, where the Artillery Garden was used as a training ground. For London as a whole see the main article London. The City of London is a geographically The trained bands performed an important role in the English Civil War on the side of parliament, in marching to raise the siege of Gloucester (5 September 1643). Trainbands were companies of Militia in England or The Americas, first organized in the 16th century and dissolved in the 18th The English Civil War (1642-1651 was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists. Gloucester (ˈɡlɒstɚ) is a city, district and County town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England.

Except for the London trained bands, both sides in the Civil War made little use of the militia, preferring to recruit their armies by other means.

Militia in the English Empire

Captain John Smith's 1624 map of the Somers Isles (Bermuda), showing St. George's Town and related fortifications, including the Castle Islands Fortifications with their garrisons of militiamen. Captain Sir John Smith (c January 1580– June 21 1631) Admiral of New England was an English Soldier, Sailor Ba (officially The Bermuda Islands or The Somers Isles) is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. St George's (formally the Town of St George, or St George's Town) located on the island and within the parish of the same names was the first permanent settlement Several of the islands strung across the South entrance of Castle Harbour, Bermuda were fortified in the early days of the territory hence the harbour's name

As successful English settlement of North America began to take place in 1607 in the face of the hostile intentions of the powerful Spanish, and of the native populations, it became immediately necessary to raise militia amongst the settlers. The militia in Jamestown saw constant action against the Powhatan Federation and other native polities. Jamestown, located on Jamestown Island in the Virginia Colony, was founded on May 14 1607 The Powhatan (also spelled Powatan and Powhaten) or Powhatan Renape (literally the "Powhatan Human Beings" is the name of a In the Virginia Company's other outpost, Bermuda, fortification began immediately in 1612. The London Company (also called the Charter of the Virginia Company of London) was an English Joint stock company established by royal charter by Ba (officially The Bermuda Islands or The Somers Isles) is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. A Spanish attack in 1614 was repulsed by two shots fired from the incomplete Castle Islands Fortifications manned by Bermudian Militiamen. Several of the islands strung across the South entrance of Castle Harbour, Bermuda were fortified in the early days of the territory hence the harbour's name Bermuda Militias 1612-1815 Bermuda was settled inadvertently in 1609 by the Virginia Company. In the Nineteenth century, Fortress Bermuda would become Britain's Gibraltar of the West, heavily fortified by a Regular Army garrison to protect the Royal Navy's headquarters and dockyard in the Western Atlantic. In the 17th Century, however, Bermuda's defence was left entirely in the hands of the Militia. In addition to requiring all male civilians to train and serve in the militia of their Parish, the Bermudian Militia included a standing body of trained artillerymen to garrison the numerous fortifications which ringed New London (St. George's). St George's (formally the Town of St George, or St George's Town) located on the island and within the parish of the same names was the first permanent settlement This standing body was created by recruiting volunteers, and by sentencing criminals to serve as punishment. The Bermudian militiamen were called out on numerous occasions of war, and, on one notable occasion, to quell rioting privateers. In 1710, four years after Spanish and French forces seized the Turks Islands from Bermudian salt producers in 1706, they were expelled by Bermudian militia. The Turks and Caicos Islands ( TCI) (ˈtɜːks ænd ˈkeɪkəs are a British Overseas Territory consisting of two groups of tropical islands in the West Indies By this time, the 1707 Acts of Union had made Bermudian and other English militiamen British.

Political issues

Up until the Glorious Revolution in 1688, the Crown and Parliament were in strong disagreement. The Glorious Revolution, also called the Revolution of 1688, was the overthrow of King James II of England (VII of Scotland in 1688 by a union Throughout the Commonwealth realms The Crown is an abstract metonymic concept which represents the legal authority for the existence of any government The English Civil War left a rather unusual military legacy. The English Civil War (1642-1651 was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists. Both Whigs and Tories distrusted the creation of a large standing army not under civilian control. The Whigs (with the Tories) are often described as one of two political parties in England and later the United Kingdom from the late 17th to In the political tradition of some English-speaking countries, the term Tory has referred to a variety of political parties and Creeds since it was A standing army is an Army composed of full time career Soldiers who 'stand over' in other words who do not disband during times of peace The former feared that it would be used as an instrument of royal tyranny. The latter had memories of the New Model Army and the anti-monarchical social and political revolution that it brought about. The New Model Army was formed in 1645 by the Parliamentarians in the English Civil War. Consequently, both preferred a small standing army under civilian control for defensive deterrence and to prosecute foreign wars, a large navy as the first line of national defence, and a militia composed of their neighbours as additional defence and to preserve domestic order.

Consequently, the English Bill of Rights (1689) declared, amongst other things: "that the raising or keeping a standing army within the kingdom in time of peace, unless it be with consent of Parliament, is against law. The Bill of Rights (or Declaration of Rights) is an act of the Parliament of England, with the Long title An Act Declaring the Rights and Liberties . . " and "that the subjects which are Protestants may have arms for their defense suitable to their conditions and as allowed by law. Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. " This implies that they are fitted to serve in the militia, which was intended to serve as a counterweight to the standing army and preserve civil liberties against the use of the army by a tyrannical monarch or government.

The Crown still (in the British constitution) controls the use of the army. This ensures that officers and enlisted men swear an oath to a politically neutral head of state, and not to a politician. While the funding of the standing army subsists on annual financial votes by parliament, the Mutiny Act is also renewed on an annual basis by parliament. Mutiny is a conspiracy among members of a group of similarly-situated individuals (typically members of the Military; or the Crew of any ship even If it lapses, the legal basis for enforcing discipline disappears, and soldiers lose their legal indemnity for acts committed under orders.

With the creation of the British Empire, militias were also raised in the colonies, where little support could be provided by regular forces. The British Empire was the largest empire in history and for over a century was the foremost global power. Overseas militias were first raised in Jamestown, Virginia, and in Bermuda, where the Bermuda Militia followed a similar trajectory over the next two centuries to that in Britain. Jamestown, located on Jamestown Island in the Virginia Colony, was founded on May 14 1607 The Commonwealth of Virginia ( is an American state Ba (officially The Bermuda Islands or The Somers Isles) is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Bermuda Militias 1612-1815 Bermuda was settled inadvertently in 1609 by the Virginia Company.

Eighteenth century and the Acts of Union

In 1707, the Acts of Union united the Kingdom of England with the Kingdom of Scotland. The Kingdom of England was a State (927-1707 located in Western Europe dating from the ninth or tenth century to the early eighteenth century when it was legally The Kingdom of Scotland ( Gaelic: Rìoghachd na h-Alba, Scots: Kinrick o Scotland) was a State in northwest Europe The Scottish navy was incorporated into the Royal Navy. The Scottish military (as oppsed to naval) forces merged with the English, with pre-existing regular Scottish regiments maintaining their identities, though command of the new British Army was from England. How this affected militias either side of the border is unclear.

British Militia

Main article: Militia (United Kingdom)

The Militia Act of 1757 created a more professional force. Eighteenth century and the Acts of Union In 1707 the Acts of Union united the Kingdom of England with the Kingdom of Scotland. Better records were kept, and the men were selected by ballot to serve for longer periods. Proper uniforms and better weapons were provided, and the force was 'embodied' from time to time for training sessions.

The militia was widely embodied at various times during the French and Napoleonic Wars. The Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815 involved Napoleon's French Empire and a shifting set of European allies and opposing coalitions It served at several vulnerable locations, and was particularly stationed on the South Coast and in Ireland. Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world A number of camps were held at Brighton, where the militia regiments were reviewed by the Prince Regent. Brighton ( is a town on the south coast of England and with its neighbour Hove, forms the city of Brighton and Hove. For the station on the Docklands Light Railway, see Prince Regent DLR station. (This is the origin of the song "Brighton Camp". )The militia could not be compelled to serve overseas, but it was seen as a training reserve for the army, as bounties were offered to men who opted to 'exchange' from the militia to the regular army. The Regular Army is a name given to the permanent force of a country's army that is maintained during peacetime

Irish militia

The Parliament of Ireland passed an act in 1715 raising regiments of militia in each county and county corporate. The Parliament of Ireland (Irish Parlaimint na hEireann) was a Legislature that existed from mediæval times until 1800. An Act of Parliament is a Law enacted as Primary legislation by a national or sub-national Parliament. A county corporate or corporate county was a form of Local government in England, Ireland and Wales. Membership was restricted to Protestants between the ages of 16 and 60. Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. In 1793, during the Napoleonic Wars, the Irish militia were reorganized to form thirty-seven county and city regiments. The Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815 involved Napoleon's French Empire and a shifting set of European allies and opposing coalitions While officers of the reorganized force were Protestant, membership of the other ranks was now made available to members of all denominations.

Scottish militia

In the late Seventeenth century came calls for the resurrection of militia in Scotland that had the understated aim of protecting the rights of Scots from English oppression. ^[27]

The 1757 Militia Act did not apply in Scotland. The old traditional system continued, so that militia regiments only existed in some places. This was resented by some and the Militia Club, soon to become the Poker Club, was formed to promote the raising of a Scottish militia. The Poker Club was one of several clubs at the heart of the Scottish Enlightenment where many associated with that movement met and exchanged views in a convivial This and several other Edinburgh clubs became the crucible of the Scottish Enlightenment. The Scottish Enlightenment was the period in 18th century Scotland characterised by an outpouring of intellectual and scientific accomplishments The Militia Act of 1797 empowered Scottish Lord Lieutenants to raise and command militia regiments in each of the "Counties, Stewartries, Cities, and Places" under their jurisdiction.

Nineteenth century

Although muster rolls were prepared as late as 1820, the element of compulsion was abandoned, and the militia was transformed into a volunteer force. It was intended to be seen as an alternative to the army. Men would volunteer and undertake basic training for several months at an army depot. Thereafter, they would return to civilian life, but report for regular periods of military training (usually on the weapons ranges) and an annual two week training camp. In return, they would receive military pay and a financial retainer, a useful addition to their civilian wage. Of course, many saw the annual camp as the equivalent of a paid holiday. The militia thus appealed to agricultural labourers, colliers and the like, men in casual occupations, who could leave their civilian job and pick it up again.

Until 1861 the militia were an entirely infantry force, but in that year a number of county regiments were converted to artillery. The Infantry is the oldest and most numerous of the Combat Arms in the Armed forces, and consists Artillery (from French artillerie) is a military Combat Arm which employs any apparātus machine In 1877 the militia of Anglesey and Monmouthshire were converted to engineers. History There are numerous Megalithic monuments and Menhirs present on Anglesey testifying to the presence of mankind in prehistory Monmouthshire, also known as the County of Monmouth (Sir Fynwy is one of thirteen ancient counties of Wales and a former administrative county

Under the reforms introduced by Secretary of State for War Hugh Childers in 1881, the remaining militia infantry regiments were redesignated as numbered battalions of regiments of the line, ranking after the two regular battalions. The Childers Reforms restructured the Infantry Regiments of the British army. The position of Secretary of State for War, commonly called War Secretary, was a British Cabinet -level position first applied to Henry Dundas Hugh Culling Eardley Childers ( 25 June 1827 &ndash 29 January 1896) was a British and Australian Liberal Typically, an English, Welsh or Scottish regiment would have two militia battalions (the 3rd and 4th) and Irish regiments three (numbered 3rd - 5th).

The militia must not be confused with the volunteer units created in a wave of enthusiasm in the second half of the nineteenth century. In contrast with the Volunteer Force, and the similar Yeomanry Cavalry, they were considered rather plebeian. The Volunteer Force was a citizen army of part-time rifle artillery and engineer corps created as a popular movement in 1859 Yeomanry is a designation used by a number of units or sub-units of the British Territorial Army, descended from volunteer Cavalry regiments

The Special Reserve

The militia was transformed into the Special Reserve by the military reforms of Haldane in the reforming post 1906 Liberal government. The Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907 (7 Edw7 c9 was an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that reformed the reserve forces of the British In 1908 the militia infantry battalions were redesignated as "reserve" and a number were amalgamated or disbanded. Numbered Territorial Force battalions, ranking after the Special Reserve, were formed from the volunteer units at the same time. The Territorial Force ( TF) was the volunteer component of the British Army from 1908 to 1920 when it became the Territorial Army. Altogether, 101 infantry battalions, 33 artillery regiments and two engineer regiments of special reservists were formed. ^[28]

Upon mobilisation, the special reserve units would be formed at the depot and continue training while guarding vulnerable points in Britain. The special reserve units remained in Britain throughout the First World War, but their rank and file did not, since the object of the special reserve was to supply drafts of replacements for the overseas units of the regiment. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All The original militiamen soon disappeared, and the battalions became training units pure and simple.

The Special Reserve reverted to its militia designation in 1921, then to Supplementary Reserve in 1924, though the units were effectively placed in "suspended animation" until disbanded in 1953.

The Militiamen

The name was briefly revived in 1939, in the aftermath of the Munich Crisis. The Munich Agreement (Mnichovská dohoda Mníchovská dohoda Münchner Abkommen Accords de Munich was an agreement regarding the Sudetenland, which were areas along borders Leslie Hore-Belisha, the then Minister of War, wished to introduce a limited form of conscription, an unheard of thing in peacetime. Isaac Leslie Hore-Belisha 1st Baron Hore-Belisha PC ( September 7, 1893 &ndash February 16, 1957) was a British Conscription (also known as the draft, the call-up or national service) is a general term for involuntary labor demanded by some established authority It was thought that calling the conscripts 'militiamen' would make this more acceptable, as it would render them distinct from the rest of the army. Only single men of a certain age group were conscripted (they were given a free suit of civilian clothes as well as a uniform), and after serving for about a year, would be discharged into the reserve. Although the first intake were called up, the war broke out soon after, and the militiamen lost their identity in the rapidly expanding army.

Modern survivals

Three units still maintain their militia designation in the British Army, two in the Territorial Army and one in the Army Cadet Force. The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. The Territorial Army ( TA) is the principal and Volunteer reserve force of the British Army, the land armed forces branch of the United Kingdom History During the late 1850’s local Militia units (Predecessors of the Territorial Army (TA were organised into a nationwide Volunteer Reserve Force These are the Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers (formed in 1539), the Jersey Field Squadron (The Royal Militia Island of Jersey) (formed in 1337), and the Royal Alderney Militia (created in the 13th century and reformed in 1984). The Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers (Militia (R MON RE(M is the most senior Regiment in the British Territorial Army, having given continuous loyal service Additionally, the Atholl Highlanders are a (ceremonial) private army maintained by the Duke of Atholl — they are the only legal private "army" in the United Kingdom. The Atholl Highlanders are a military Regiment. Based in Blair Atholl, Scotland, they are not part of the British Army. The title Duke of Atholl, named after Atholl in Scotland, was created only one time in British history by Queen Anne in 1703 as a promotion of the very ancient title

The Troubles and Irish War of Independence

The various non-state paramilitary groups involved in the 20th century conflicts in Northern Ireland and the island of Ireland, such as the various Irish Republican Army groups and loyalist paramilitaries, could also be described as militias and are occasionally referred to as such. The Irish War of Independence (or Tan War, or Anglo-Irish War, Irish: Cogadh na Saoirse) from January 1919 to July 1921 was a guerrilla Northern Ireland (Tuaisceart Éireann Ulster Scots: Norlin Airlann) is a Country within the United Kingdom, lying in the northeast of Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world The Irish Republican Army ( IRA) (Óglaigh na hÉireann was a military organisation descended from the Irish Volunteers, established 25 November 1913 and who Ulster loyalism is a militant unionist ideology held mostly by Protestants in Northern Ireland.

United States

Lexington Minuteman representing militia minuteman John Parker

Main article: Militia (United States)

The history of militia in the United States dates from the colonial era. Minutemen were members of teams of select men from the American colonial militia during the American Revolutionary War. John Parker ( July 13, 1729 &ndash September 17, 1775) was an American farmer mechanic and soldier who commanded the Lexington The role of Militia, also known as civilian military service and duty in the United States is complex and has transformed over time The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Based on the British system, colonial militias were drawn from the body of adult male citizens of a community, town, or local region. Because there were usually few British regulars garrisoned in North America, colonial militia served a vital role in local conflicts, particularly in the French and Indian Wars. The French and Indian Wars is a name used in the United States for a series of conflicts in North America that represented the actions there that accompanied Before shooting began in the American War of Independence, American revolutionaries took control of the militia system, reinvigorating training and excluding men with Loyalist inclinations. In this article the inhabitants of the thirteen colonies that supported the American Revolution are primarily referred to as "Americans" with occasional references to "Patriots" This article concerns Loyalists in the American Revolution. For information on the role of those Loyalists in Canadian history after their emigration see United Empire ^[29] Regulation of the militia was codified by the Second Continental Congress with the Articles of Confederation. The Second Continental Congress was a convention of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies that met beginning in May 10 1775 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania The Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, also the Articles of Confederation was the governing Constitution of the alliance of thirteen independent and The revolutionaries also created a full-time regular army—the Continental Army—but because of manpower shortages the militia provided short-term support to the regulars in the field throughout the war. The American Continental Army was an Army formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America

In colonial era Anglo-American usage, militia service was distinguished from military service in that the latter was normally a commitment for a fixed period of time, probably at least a year, for a salary, whereas militia was only to meet a threat, or prepare to meet a threat, for periods of time expected to be short. A salary is a form of periodic payment from an Employer to an Employee, which may be specified in an Employment contract. Militia persons were normally expected to provide their own weapons, equipment, or supplies, although they may later be compensated for losses or expenditures. ^[30]

A related concept is the jury, which can be regarded as a specialized form of militia convened to render a verdict in a court proceeding (known as a petit jury or trial jury) or to investigate a public matter and render a presentment or indictment (grand jury). A jury a sworn body of persons convened to render a rational, impartial Verdict (a finding of fact on a question officially submitted to them A jury a sworn body of persons convened to render a rational, impartial Verdict (a finding of fact on a question officially submitted to them In the Common law, a grand jury is a type of Jury which determines whether there is enough evidence for a trial. ^[31]

With the Constitutional Convention of 1787 and Article 1 Section 8 of the United States Constitution, control of the army and the power to direct the militia of the states was concurrently delegated to the federal Congress. The Philadelphia Convention (now also known as the Constitutional Convention, the Federal Convention, or the " Grand Convention at Philadelphia The Constitution of the United States of America is the supreme Law of the United States. The United States Congress is the bicameral Legislature of the federal government of the United States of America, consisting of two houses ^[32] The Militia Clauses gave Congress authority for "organizing, arming, and disciplining" the militia, and "governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States", with the States retaining authority to appoint officers and to impose the training specified by Congress. The term Militia Clause refers to two clauses of the US Constitution Article I, Section 8, Clauses 15 and 16 which delegate to Congress the power to

Proponents describe a key element in the concept of "militia" was that to be "genuine" it not be a "select militia", composed of an unrepresentative subset of the population. This was an argument presented in the ratification debates. The United States Constitution was written in 1787 and it was then ratified and took effect all in 1788 which then replaced the Articles of Confederation. ^[33]

The first legislation on the subject was The Militia Act of 1792 which provided, in part:

That each and every free able-bodied white male citizen of the respective States, resident therein, who is or shall be of age of eighteen years, and under the age of forty-five years (except as is herein after excepted) shall severally and respectively be enrolled in the militia, . The Militia Act of 1792 was a series of Statutes enacted by the second United States Congress in 1792. . . every citizen, so enrolled and notified, shall, within six months thereafter, provide himself with a good musket or firelock. . . .

During the nineteenth century, each of the states maintained its militia differently, some more than others. Prior to the Civil War, militia units were sometimes used by southern states for slave control. In free states, Republican militias - called "Wide Awakes" - sided with abolitionists in sometimes violent confrontations with Federal authorities. The Wide Awakes was a para-military campaign organization affiliated with the Republican Party during the 1860 election ^[34]

During Reconstruction after the Civil War, Republican state governments had militias composed almost entirely of freed slaves because conservative whites did not participate. Their deployment to maintain order in the former Confederate states, caused increased resentment among Southern whites. ^[35] The war did not end with Lee's surrender at Appomattox and continued to be fought by insurgent groups through Reconstruction.

Reconstruction paramilitary groups

Secret white vigilante groups like the Ku Klux Klan and Knights of the White Camellia arose quickly in states across the South, reaching a peak in the late 1860s. A vigilante is a person who ignores Due process of law and enacts their own form of Justice in response to a perception of insufficient response by the Ku Klux Klan ( KKK) is the name of several past and present secret domestic terrorist organizations in the United States, generally in the southern states that are The Knights of the White Camellia was a secret white-supremacist group in the U Even more significant in terms of effect were private militias, paramilitary organizations that formed starting in 1874, including the White League in Louisiana, which quickly formed chapters in other states; the Red Shirts in Mississippi in 1875, and with force in South Carolina and North Carolina; as well as other "White Line" militias and rifle clubs. A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military force but which are not regarded as having the same status The White League was a white Paramilitary group which was established in 1874 in Louisiana and operated during Reconstruction. The State of Louisiana ( or, État de Louisiane, pronounced) is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America Mississippi ( is a state located in the Deep South of the United States South Carolina ( is a state in the southern region ( Deep South) of the United States of America. North Carolina ( is a state located on the Atlantic Seaboard in the southeastern United States In contrast to the KKK, they were open, members were often well-known in the communities, and they directed their efforts at political aims: using force, intimidation and violence, including murder, to push out Republican officeholders, break up organizing, and suppress freedmen's voting and civil rights. ^[36] The paramilitary groups were described as "the military arm of the Democratic Party" and were instrumental in helping secure Democratic victories in the South in the elections of 1876. ^[37]

19th and 20th c. state militias

Also, during this century, when the militia was called up to fight the War of 1812, the Civil War, and the Spanish-American War, militia units were sometimes found to be unprepared, ill supplied, and at first unwilling. ^{[38] [39] [40]}

The Militia Act of 1903 divided what had been the militia into what it termed the "organized" militia, created from portions of the former state guards to become state National Guard units, and the "unorganized" militia consisting of all males from ages 17 to 45, with the exception of certain officials and others, which is codified in 10 USC 311. For the National Guard of a State and other countries' National Guard see National Guard. Some states, such as Texas and California, created separate State Defense Forces for assistance in local emergencies. State Defense Forces ( SDF) (also known as State Guards, State Military Reserves, or State Militias) in the United States are military Congress later established ^[41] a system of "dual enlistment" for the National Guard, so that anyone who enlisted in the National Guard also enlisted in the U.S. Army. The United States Army is a military organization whose primary mission is to "provide necessary forces and capabilities. ^[42]

Privately organized citizen militia-related groups blossomed in the mid 1990s, which collectively became known as the constitutional militia movement. The modern constitutional militia movement, the constitutionalist wing of the " militia movement " in the United States, became active in the mid 1990s in The supporters have not been affiliated with any government organization, although most of them have been military and law enforcement veterans. A veteran (from Latin vetus, meaning "old" is a person who has or is working in the armed forces They support a restoration of the militia system as envisioned by the Founding Fathers, and enforcement of a strict construction of the U.S. Constitution, especially the Second Amendment, according to their understanding of it. Founding Fathers are persons instrumental in the establishment of an Institution, usually a political institution especially those connected to the origination of its Ideals The Constitution of the United States of America is the supreme Law of the United States. The Second Amendment (Amendment II to the United States Constitution is a part of the United States Bill of Rights that protects the pre-existing They assert that the right to keep and bear arms is not just a right, but that the people have a duty to be armed as a deterrence against crime and governmental tyranny. The right to keep and bear arms, RKBA, or right to bear arms is the concept that people individually or collectively have a right to Weapons Today this Duty (from "due" that which is owing O Fr deu did past participle of devoir Lat These militia units train in the proper and safe use of firearms, so that they may be effective if called upon by the sheriff of their county, governor of their state, or the president of the United States, to uphold liberty, protect the people in times of crisis (i. Liberty, the freedom to act or believe without being stopped by unnecessary force e. disasters such as Hurricane Katrina), or to defend against invasion and terrorism. Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was the costliest hurricane, as well as one of the five deadliest in the history of the United States U.S. Constitution, Art. I Sec. 8 Cl. 15 & 16. The Constitution of the United States of America is the supreme Law of the United States. The term Militia Clause refers to two clauses of the US Constitution Article I, Section 8, Clauses 15 and 16 which delegate to Congress the power to ^[43]

In its original sense, militia meant "the state, quality, condition, or activity of being a fighter or warrior. " It can be thought of as "combatant activity", "the fighter frame of mind", "the militant mode", "the soldierly status", or "the warrior way". ^[44]

In this latter usage, a militia is a body of private persons who respond to an emergency threat to public safety, usually one that requires an armed response, but which can also include ordinary law enforcement or disaster responses. The act of bringing to bear arms contextually changes the status of the person, from peaceful citizen, to warrior citizen. The militia is the sum total of persons undergoing this change of state. ^[45]

Persons have been said to engage in militia in response to a "call up" by any person aware of the threat requiring the response, and thence to be in "called up" status until the emergency is past. ^[46] There is no minimum size to militia, and a solitary act of defense, including self-defense, can be thought of as one person calling up himself to defend the community, represented by himself or others, and to enforce the law. ^[47] See citizen's arrest and hue and cry. A citizen's arrest is an Arrest made by a Person who is not a sworn law enforcement official. In Common law, a hue and cry ( Latin, hutesium et clamor, "a horn and shouting" was a process by which bystanders were summoned to assist

SFR Yugoslavia

Main article: Territorial Defense Forces (Yugoslavia)

Beside the federal Yugoslav People's Army, each constituent republic of the former SFR Yugoslavia had its own Territorial Defense Forces. The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia ( Serbo-Croatian, Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian, Slovene, Macedonian: Territorial Defense Forces ( Serbian and Macedonian: Територијална одбрана Teritorijalna odbrana, Croatian: Teritorijalna The Yugoslav People's Army (JNA YPA ( Serbo-Croatian, Croatian, Serbian, Macedonian: Jugoslavenska Narodna Armija or Jugoslovenska Constituent country is a phrase used often by official institutions in contexts in which a country makes up a part of a larger entity or grouping The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia ( Serbo-Croatian, Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian, Slovene, Macedonian: Territorial Defense Forces ( Serbian and Macedonian: Територијална одбрана Teritorijalna odbrana, Croatian: Teritorijalna The Non-Aligned Yugoslavia was concerned about an eventual aggression from any of the superpowers, especially by the Warsaw Pact after the Prague Spring, so the Territorial Defense Forces were formed as an integral part of the total war military doctrine called Total National Defense. The Non-Aligned Movement ( NAM) is an International organization of states considering themselves not formally aligned with or against any major power bloc A superpower is a State with a leading position in the international system and the ability to Influence events and project power on a worldwide scale The Warsaw Pact (see Nomenclature) was an organization of Communist states in Central and Eastern Europe. The Prague Spring ( Czech: Pražské jaro, Slovak: Pražská jar) was a period of political liberalization in Czechoslovakia during Total war is a conflict of unlimited scope in which a Belligerent engages in a total mobilization of all available resources at his disposal Military doctrine is the concise expression of how military forces contribute to campaigns major operations Battles and engagements It is a guide Those forces corresponded to military reserve forces, paramilitary or militia, the latter, in the military meaning of the term (like military formation). A military reserve force is a military organization A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military force but which are not regarded as having the same status A military organization is a way of structuring the armed forces of a State as a need to offer Military capability required by the National defence policy It should not be confused with the Yugoslav Militia- Milicija which was a term for a police. Militia (мили́ция mʲi'lʲitsɨja мiлiцiя мiлíцыя милиция milicja miliţia milica milicija/милиција милиција was used as a short Police are agents or agencies usually of the executive, empowered to enforce the law and to effect public and social order through the legitimatized use of force

List of militias

Governmental militias

• Milice (Vichy France)
• 39th (Militia) Battalion
• United States National Guard
• Rogers' Rangers The forerunner of Modern "ranger" units
• Virginia Militia
• Swiss Army
• State Defense Forces
• Blackshirts
• Texas State Guard
• New Hampshire Militia
• Ohio Military Reserve
• Ohio Naval Militia
• Volksturm

See also:

Militia Movement

• Michigan Militia
• Ranch Rescue
• Minuteman Project

See also

• Militia (video game)
• Militia (United States)
• Guerrilla
• Paramilitary
• Armed Forces
• Irregular military
• Militsiya (Eastern European police)
• Scouting
• Historical reenactment
• Industrial percussion
• Militia ( Industrial music band )

References

Further reading

• The Rise and Decline of the American Militia System, by James B. Whisker, Susquehanna University Press (1999) ISBN 094563692X
• Cooper, Jerry M. 1998. The rise of the National Guard: the evolution of the American militia, 1865-1920. Studies in war, society, and the military, v. 1. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press. ISBN 0803214863