Last week, the ruling Social Democrats in Germany held a party conference at which they discussed the question of whether to maintain compulsory military service, or is it time to switch to a professional army. However, to call the military service that exists today in Germany universal language does not even turn. Really sent to serve in the army - according to the law for nine months - only every tenth German youth. And not only because the other nine of the same year of birth turn out to be unfit for combatant service - although there are really many of them, medical boards reject even short ones. But the main reason is that german army you just don't need that many soldiers. There are now only two hundred and eighty thousand military personnel in the Bundeswehr, most of them are over-conscripts and military professionals, so there are only a couple of recruits. And upon completion of the military reform, the German army will become even smaller - two hundred and fifty thousand. But even now the chances of getting into the army are not much higher than winning the lottery, only with the opposite sign. The chairman of the youth organization of the Social Democratic Party, Bjorn Böning, told the following episode from his meeting with a group of eighteen-year-old teenagers at the conference:

And I asked them, how many of you even received summons for military or alternative civilian service? Several people raised their hands, while the rest ridiculed them. How can such a situation be called in keeping with the Social-Democratic ideas about the justice of the general conscription, if this conscription turns into a lottery. Therefore, I believe that it is time to abolish military service.

Less and less people are being drafted into the Bundeswehr, but a highly developed conscription apparatus continues to exist, numbering almost more full-time and well-paid employees than the number they send to the barracks. The Green Party, the second of the ruling ones, has long and persistently advocated the abolition of military service and the transition to a professional army. According to their calculations, such an army of even just two hundred and twenty thousand hired soldiers and officers would be much more economical and efficient than the current Bundeswehr with its conscription appendix. At the request of the "greens", a special clause was written into the coalition agreement with the SPD - to resolve the issue by the end of 2006. But the Social Democrats are still wavering.

Younger and deader-brained party members, like Björn Böning, also lean towards a professional army. But Defense Minister Peter Struck still stubbornly insists on the preservation of universal conscription. He makes the following arguments:

Everyone who advocates the abolition of the general conscription must understand that this would involve additional costs for the fulfillment of our tasks abroad. There is no extra money, however. And besides, in no case should one underestimate the role of universal conscription in the integration of the army into society.

Struck emphasized that the abolition of conscription would lead to a reduction in the Bundeswehr's foreign peacekeeping missions and thus weaken Germany's influence on the world stage. Reinhold Robbe, Chairman of the Bundestag Committee on Defense Affairs, supplements the minister's arguments:

As Peter Struck said, German security is ensured in the mountains of the Hindu Kush. This is a statement of the fact that due to the completely changed scenarios of potential threats, the need for the defense of our country has not only not decreased, it has increased. And this, in turn, explains the constitutional legitimacy of maintaining the universal call.

When such arguments are put forward by such important people and in such rich voices, you involuntarily begin to believe them. But it is precisely the constitutional legitimacy of universal military service that raises the greatest doubts. Ex-president Germany Roman Herzog said a few years ago that conscription is such a radical invasion of the individual freedom of a young citizen that a democratic state can insist on it only if it is impossible to ensure the external security of the country without it. SPD Deputy Chairman Uta Vogt:

If we come to the conclusion that there is another way to ensure the protection of our country, then I see no more reasons that could justify compulsory military service. And this is where we differ from our opponents.

I would like to note that even now recruits are not sent to foreign business trips with peacekeeping missions, which the Minister of Defense and the head of the parliamentary commission are so concerned about, only volunteers and re-enlisted. And they are paid for their military work accordingly. However, it's still a detail. Universal conscription in Germany was justified in the years " cold war', when it's really the only way mass army, it was possible to protect the borders and territory of the country from external threats. All other arguments in favor of maintaining the conscription - the role of the army in society, political interests, economic calculations - are weighty and convincing, but not enough to justify the restriction of personal freedom, which is undoubtedly the summons to the army. final decision on the fate of universal military service will be adopted by the next congress of the SPD next autumn.

Another topic.

Germany panicked. If you listen to other speakers, you might get the impression that Europe is on the verge of new war. As a shot in Sarajevo led, they say, to the First World War, so the murder of the Dutch director Theo van Gogh in Amsterdam can be a signal for the start of a new war - a war of two civilizations - Muslim and Christian. Such global gloomy forecasts are made only by a few, but many here really fear that a series of incidents on religious grounds in neighboring Holland may well continue in Germany. In Holland, however, the proportion of Muslims is twice as high as in Germany, but their absolute number here is impressive. Three million, in Berlin alone - over two hundred thousand, and Islam is the second largest religion in the flock. New mosques are being built all over the country, Islamic lessons are being taught in many schools, and countless Muslim clubs and circles are operating.

For example, the head of the Evangelical Church of Germany, Bishop Wolfgang Huber of Berlin, who, like some leading figures of Christian parties, does not exclude the possibility of religious clashes, following the example of the Dutch, is worried. What to do? How to prevent the coming catastrophe? Vice-Chairman of the CDU, Minister of Culture of Baden-Württemberg, Annette Schavan, who, by the way, was once predicted to be federal president, found the recipe pretty quickly. In her opinion, it is necessary to oblige imams to read sermons in mosques in German. "We cannot continue to allow," she said, "the preaching in mosques in a language that no one outside the Islamic community understands." End of quote.

And it’s true, what if they call for violence there and promote religious intolerance? But who is stopping Annette Shawan herself from learning Arabic? And are there really few Arabists in Germany, including in the ranks of glorious law enforcement agencies? On course Arabic at the Free University of Berlin, for example, there has been a full house for several years, and there is no end to those who want to learn it. But that's not even the point. The proposal itself testifies, on the one hand, to a deep distrust of everything incomprehensible, unusual, and, on the other hand, to a lack of elementary knowledge. If we follow the logic of Shavan and her like-minded people, then it is necessary to limit the freedom of some Christian churches in Germany, in particular, Orthodox ones, where priests conduct services in Russian, Greek, Serbian. If you really want to, then in the end, sermons and prayers can be translated into German. The chairman of the Central Council of Muslims in Germany, Nadem Elias, said that imams in Germany are ready to make a voluntary commitment to ensure that their sermons are translated into a language understood by the natives.

The problem is not this, the problem is ignorance or unwillingness to know the culture, religion and traditions of those with whom, as it happened, you live side by side. Even Theodor Fontane warned that ignoring is not tolerance, but dangerous frivolity. Many in Germany equate Islam and Islamism. Bassam Tibi, a scholar of Islam at the University of Göttingen, has this to say:

We in the Arab world make a strict distinction between the Islam of freedom and the Islam of slavery. So the dividing line is not between Islam and Europe, but between open society and its opponents. This is a split within the Islamic society itself, in which the Islamists have built a nest. Islamists pose a threat not only to Europe, but above all to ourselves, to freedom-loving Muslims.

The second problem is the integration of Muslims settled in Germany into German society. With all the abundance of various integration programs, most of them are reduced to the study German language which is certainly necessary, but not sufficient. Bassam Chibi:

Integration is not only about speaking German and having a German passport. Integration is not assimilation, for example, I don't want to be assimilated. Integration is, first of all, civic consciousness. We need a common denominator of such civic consciousness of native Europeans and us Muslims. Such a denominator is common values, it is necessary in the process of dialogue to develop common values ​​for all of us, at least their minimum, which should include, for example, a ban on killing an opponent.

There is one more problem in multicultural coexistence, characteristic, perhaps, only for Germany. I would call it “positive discrimination” against representatives of religious and cultural minorities. Let me explain with an example. If a German allows himself to make a public anti-Semitic statement, this becomes the subject of violent public protest, condemnation in the press, and often ends in a trial. But German public opinion is much more lenient towards anti-Semitic Muslim immigrants.

For two recent years only in Berlin and only registered there were almost fifty anti-Semitic antics committed by the Arabs living here - crippled, for example, two Jewish tourists - one who came from the USA, and the second from Lithuania. There was no violent public outrage about this, Arab anti-Semitism is, they say, not dense racial intolerance, but a consequence of the Middle East conflict. And not later than the Saturday before last, a demonstration of Islamists on the occasion of "Jerusalem Day" was held in Berlin - permitted by the city authorities. The demonstrators carried posters that were politically correct - "For peace for Palestine" and "We condemn all terror and violence." At the final rally, however, anti-Semitic slogans were also heard. And the "Jerusalem Day" itself, by the way, proclaimed by Iran in 1979, promotes hatred towards Israel. And nothing, neither the organizers nor the participants of the rally were held accountable. Such increased tolerance may well be interpreted by radical Islamists in their own way - as connivance. Clashes in Germany on interreligious grounds, as in Holland, are unlikely to begin. But a tragedy like the murder of Theo van Gogh in Amsterdam, alas, cannot be ruled out. This can happen in any country. After all, everywhere there are fanatics and people with a labile psyche. And they increase when, as now, religion is increasingly misused for political purposes.

The Crimean War revealed the flagrant shortcomings of the Nikolaev army and the entire military organization of Russia. The army was replenished with recruitment sets, which fell with all their weight on the lower classes of the population, for the nobility was free from compulsory military service (since 1762), and rich people could pay off recruitment. The soldier's service lasted 25 years and was associated, in addition to military dangers, with such hardships, hardships and hardships that the population, handing over their youth as recruits, said goodbye to them, in most cases, forever. The return to military service was considered as a severe punishment: the landlords sought to recruit the most vicious (or recalcitrant) element from their villages, and in the criminal law, return to the soldiers was directly provided for among the punishments, along with exile to Siberia or imprisonment in prison companies.

The replenishment of the army with officers was also in a very unsatisfactory position. Military schools were far from sufficient to replenish the army with the necessary officer cadres; most of the officers (from the noble "undergrowth" or from the non-commissioned officers who had served themselves) were of a very low level. The mobilization of the army in wartime was difficult due to the lack of trained reserves, both officers and soldiers.

At the very beginning of the reign of Alexander II, the most egregious hardships and injustices of the previous era were eliminated: the cane schools of the "cantonists" - soldiers' children - were closed and the cantonists were dismissed from the military class.

(1805 -1856 - Cantonists ("Canton" - with German) were called underage soldiers' sons, who were registered with the military department from birth, as well as children of schismatics, Polish rebels, gypsies and Jews (children of Jews taken from 1827 - under Nicholas I, before that there was a cash tax). - ldn-knigi)

Military settlements were abolished. In 1859, the period of compulsory military service for newly entering lower ranks was established in the army - 15 years, in the navy - 14.

With the entry into the management of the War Department

D. A. Milyutin, in 1861, energetic and systematic work began in order to radically and comprehensively {244} reforms of the army and the entire military department. In the 60s, Milyutin transformed the central military administration. In 1864, the “Regulations” on the military district administration introduced local bodies of the military administrative administration. All of Russia was divided into several military districts (in 1871 there were 14 of them: 10 in European Russia, three in the Asian and Caucasian districts) with "commanders" at the head, and thus the central military administration in St. Petersburg was unloaded from many small affairs and On the other hand, conditions were created for faster and more organized mobilization in certain parts of the state.

In his concern for the training of army officers, Milyutin completely reorganized the system of military education. The former few cadet corps (consisting of general education and special classes) were transformed into "military gymnasiums" with the general education course of real gymnasiums, and their senior classes were separated for special military training of future officers and formed special "military schools". In view of the insufficient number of existing military schools, “military progymnasiums” (with a 4-year general education course) and “junker schools” (with a 2-year course) were created. In 1880 in Russia there were 9 military schools (including special ones), 16 cadet schools; 23 military gymnasiums, 8 progymnasiums. For higher military education, there were academies: general staff, engineering, artillery and military medical; The Military Law Academy was re-established.

But Milyutin's main reform and his main merit is the introduction of universal military service in Russia. The project developed by Milyutin met with strong opposition in the State Council and in the "special presence on military service." Hard-nosed conservatives and supporters of noble privileges objected to the reform and frightened the tsar of the future "democratization" of the army, but with the support of the sovereign, they led. Prince Konstantin Nikolaevich {245} presiding over the State Council, Milyutin managed to carry out his project.

(On December 3, 1873, the sovereign said to Milyutin: “There is strong opposition to the new law ... and the women cry the most” (Milyutin’s Diary). Of course, these were not village women, but the countesses and princesses who surrounded the tsar, who did not they did not want to come to terms with the idea that their Zhorzhiks would have to become soldiers along with the village Mishkas and Grishkas.In his diary for 1873, Milyutin remarks about the progress of the project: "it is going tight, there are many disputes," or: "a hot meeting," or : "Count D. A. Tolstoy appears again on the stage, and again irritable, bilious, stubborn bickering." Minister of Public Education Count Tolstoy most of all argued against those benefits for education, insisted on war minister Milyutin.) .

On January 1, 1874, the Manifesto was issued on the introduction of universal military service. On the same day, the Charter on military service was published, the first article of which read: “Protection of the throne and fatherland is the sacred duty of every Russian subject. The male population, without distinction of status, is subject to military service. According to the new law, every year (in November) a call for military service is made.

All young people who are 20 years old by January 1st of this year must be called up; then from those that will be found fit for military service, the number of "recruits" is selected by lot, which is required in the current year to replenish the personnel of the army and navy; the rest are enrolled in the "militia" (which is called up for service only in case of war). The term of active service in the army was set at 6 years; those who served this term were credited for 9 years to the army reserve (in the fleet, respectively, the terms were 7 years and 3 years).

Thus, the Milyutin law for the first time created trained reserves for the Russian army in case of mobilization. - When serving military service, a number of benefits were provided for marital status and education. Young people who were the sole breadwinners of their families were exempted from conscription for active service {246} (the only son had a privilege of the 1st category), and for those who received an education, the term of active service was significantly reduced, to varying degrees depending on the level of education. Persons who had a well-known educational qualification could (upon reaching the age of 17) serve military service as "volunteers", and the term of active service for them was even more reduced, and at the end of the service and after passing the established exam, they were made in the first officer rank and formed a cadre of reserve officers.

Under the influence of the "zeitgeist" and thanks to the cares and efforts

YES. Milyutin in the 60s and 70s, the whole structure and character of the life of the Russian army completely changed. Severe drill and cane discipline with cruel corporal punishment was banished from it.

(Corporal punishment was preserved only for those who were fined, that is, those who were seriously delinquent and transferred to the lower ranks in the "disciplinary battalions".). Their place was taken by a reasonable and humane education and training of soldiers; on the one hand, combat training increased: instead of "ceremonial marches", they were trained in target shooting, fencing and gymnastics; the armament of the army was improved; at the same time, the soldiers were taught to read and write, so that the Milyutin army, to some extent, compensated for the lack of school education in the Russian countryside.

To be competent in matters related to service in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation is a requirement of the times. At a lesson on the problems of military service, students should be introduced to the concept of military service, to the history of military service in our country.

Dictionaries give a fairly close definition of the term "conscription", so you can get by with two examples. "Universal conscription is the statutory duty of the population to serve in the armed forces." "Conscription is the statutory obligation of the population to perform military service in the armed forces of their country."

The modern concept of military duty was invented during the French Revolution. In 1798, a law was passed stating: "Every Frenchman is a soldier and has the duty to defend the nation." This made it possible to create great army”, which Napoleon called the “armed nation”. She successfully fought against the professional armies of Europe.

The history of military service in Russia goes back several centuries. AT Ancient Russia until the 17th century conscription was carried out in the form of a feudal and popular militia. Created in the 1st half of the 17th century. the regiments of the "new system" gradually replaced the feudal noble militia. In 1699-1705. recruitment has been established. In 1874, during the military reforms of the 1860s and 70s. Russia introduced compulsory military service. The charter of 1874 determined the draft age at 21 years, the total service life at 15 years, of which 6 active service (7 in the fleet) and 9 years in the reserve.

Military duty in the USSR is the honorable duty of Soviet citizens to defend the socialist Fatherland with weapons in their hands and to carry out military service in the ranks of the Armed Forces of the USSR. According to the law, male citizens of the USSR from the age of 18 are called up for active military service. The number of citizens subject to conscription is established by the Council of Ministers of the USSR. The call is preceded by a mandatory registration to the recruiting stations at the place of residence of citizens who turn 17 years old in the year of registration. Evasion of the next call for active military service, as well as from the call for mobilization, was recognized as an infringement on the interests of the defense of the USSR and entailed criminal liability.

The law establishes the following periods of active military service: a) for soldiers and sergeants Soviet army, coastal units and aviation of the Navy, border and internal troops - 2 years; b) for sailors and foremen of ships, ships and coastal combat support units of the Navy and naval units of the border troops - 3 years; c) for soldiers, sailors, sergeants and foremen who have higher education, - 1 year.

The history of the creation of the modern Russian Armed Forces begins with the signing of the decree "On the Creation of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation" on May 7, 1992 by the first President of the Russian Federation Yeltsin. In accordance with the decree, the staffing of the army was carried out "on the basis of a combination of military service by conscription with military service under the contract." On September 24, 1992, the Law of the Russian Federation "On Defense" was adopted, which enshrined a mixed principle of recruiting the army.

In the new Constitution of the Russian Federation of 1993, the wording “A citizen of the Russian Federation performs military service in accordance with federal law” remained, but the term “conscription”, which was in the previous Constitution, is not in it. On May 16, 1996, Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 722 "On the transition to recruiting the positions of privates and sergeants of the Armed Forces and other troops of the Russian Federation on a professional basis" was promulgated. In accordance with Decree No. 722, it was supposed to transfer from the spring of 2000 the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation to staffing positions for privates and sergeants on the basis of voluntary admission of citizens to military service under a contract with the abolition of conscription for military service. However, the full transition of the army to a contract basis was postponed indefinitely.

Under Putin, attempts were made to transfer the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation to a contract basis. The result of the reform of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation can be considered the abolition of deferrals from military service. On the other hand, it is expected to reduce the term of service in the army to 1 year.

After getting acquainted with the concept of "military service" and its history, you can ask students how they feel about military service, how legitimate it is to use this practice in our country, and invite them to highlight the arguments "for" and "against" military conscription.

In the process of a broad public discussion that has been going on in our country and the world for more than one year, the following main arguments "for" and "against" military conscription were formulated.

Students can first come up with their own arguments, compare with existing ones, and evaluate them. You can immediately acquaint them with the main arguments and organize a debate, at the end of which determine the most convincing position and its arguments.

Call: arguments "for"

sacred duty

The position that military service in peacetime is an opportunity for a citizen to show loyalty to his country, a kind of active patriotism, has become widespread. A citizen is not just a person who pays taxes, he must be ready to sacrifice his life for the defense of the Fatherland. Military service, tearing young people away from home for the hardships of barracks life, should be a reminder of their highest military duty.

social justice

This argument is based on the belief that rich and educated people will never agree to devote themselves to the military profession voluntarily. Universal conscription acts as a universal social equalizer, making the same demands on the heir of a rich man and the son of a poor man.

"Melting Pot"

The conscription system leads to the fact that people get into the army not only with different financial status, but also with different professional experience, with different views. Thus, some believe, it is the conscription that provides the army with a variety of talents, while a professional army always consists of people of approximately the same kind. Theoretically, it is the combination of people with different abilities that provides the most effective solution to any tasks, including combat ones. In practice, lack of experience and lack of enthusiasm usually make the draft army less effective in specific combat situations, especially in foreign territory. This was shown, in particular, by the Vietnam War of the United States and afghan war led by the USSR.

Educational role of military service

Some believe that peacetime conscription is the ideal tool for teaching the population basic life values and skills such as emergency survival, first aid, etc.

The draft army is the guarantor of democracy

There is an opinion that the conscription system of staffing the army contributes to the preservation and strengthening of democracy in the country. It is impossible to use a draft army for a long time in aggressive wars, since this leads to moral degradation both at the front and in the subsequent civil life participants in conflicts, as the experience of Afghanistan and Vietnam has shown. Thus, the conscription army restrains the activity of the government in carrying out aggressive campaigns, which contributes to the preservation of peace between peoples.

There is a danger of turning a professional army into a kind of "state within a state." Such military virtues as obedience to orders and respect for superiors can be used to build dictatorial regimes. The military can attract - consciously or subconsciously - people who prefer authoritarianism to democracy.

The draft army as a cheap way to attract specialists

Often, especially in developing countries with corrupt bureaucracy, the prevailing notion is that conscription ends up with the most worthless young people, because those who are smarter and smarter shy away from service. However, in principle, the draft system can be designed in such a way as to weed out unbalanced and low-skilled people, and recruit the best representatives of the youth, including those who have professional skills useful for the army. If primarily talented and capable young people are drafted into the army, who are easy to train in anything, then this approach makes it possible to reduce the size of the army and the cost of maintaining it. In addition, if semi-criminal elements are eliminated, the problem of hazing will be solved.

The moral justification for military service

Jean Jacques Rousseau, a famous French educator, vehemently objected to the idea of ​​a professional army, believing that participation in the defense of society and the state is the right and privilege of every citizen, and the transfer of this task into the hands of professionals indicates the moral decline of society. As evidence, he cited the example of the Roman Republic, the collapse of which coincided with the transition from an army based on conscription to a professional army of mercenaries.

The right of a state to call its citizens into military service can be based on rational arguments, if the following two messages are true.

First, the army should never be used for offensive purposes, it serves to protect the borders. Secondly, any foreign occupation is an absolute evil and threatens the lives of most citizens.

If these two premises are accepted, then in order to achieve the greatest good for the majority, a certain number of people should be sacrificed. These people, the reservists serving in the armed forces, must make a sacrifice of altruism - in the name of saving the lives of others. If we agree that the state can require a person to sacrifice his life, then we can recognize that at a certain level of victims (usually the numbers are from 1% to 10% of the army personnel), the death in battle of a part of the citizens is preferable, than foreign occupation.

Military service in peacetime, conscription supporters believe, can instill in citizens persistent patriotic convictions and a willingness to die for the good of society.

In the presence of military service in the country, each person understands that any war means death for himself or his loved ones, or at least the threat of death. As a result, this reduces the desire of society to participate in armed conflicts. However, it should be recognized that public opinion matters only in democratic countries.

Militia army - the solution to the problem of lack of soldiers

Some countries, such as small ones or those undergoing a demographic crisis, are faced with the inability to complete the army. There are two ways to solve this problem. The first is to put all healthy men under arms, but not to tear them away from home and family. Switzerland chose this path, which allowed it to maintain sovereignty, despite the attacks that have not stopped throughout the history of the country's independence. The Swiss militia system was such a successful invention that many of its fighting techniques and weapons were soon adopted by other countries.

For small countries, an attractive way to ensure national security is to join a military alliance like NATO.

The second option is to maintain a professional mercenary army. This approach, however, requires funding and volunteers willing to serve for remuneration. In addition, it is necessary to constantly monitor foreign mercenaries in case they break out of obedience.

Showing a variety of points of view on a particular problematic issue, the teacher teaches teenagers, young people to think responsibly and balancedly, keeping them from hasty conclusions, teaches them the ability to resist manipulation by unscrupulous sources of information.

Call: Arguments Against

Conscription and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Many of the arguments against conscription are based on the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1948.

Article 1. All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights (...)

Article 2. Everyone shall have all the rights and all the freedoms proclaimed in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind as to race, colour, sex, language, religion, etc. (...)

Article 3 Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

Article 4 No one shall be held in slavery or servitude (...)

Article 13. (1). Every person has the right to move freely and choose his place of residence within the borders of each state. (2). Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and return to his country.

Article 20. (...) No one may be forced to join any association.

Article 23 Everyone has the right (...) to freely choose a job.

The above rights are enshrined in the constitutions of many countries, including those where conscription existed after the Second World War, or those in which conscription is provided for in cases of war.

Appeal as slavery

“Conscription subjects the individual to militarism. This is a form of slavery.

General conscription in Russia in 1913.

General military duty, or as it was then called "conscription" as a method of recruiting the country's Armed Forces, was introduced in the Russian Empire by the Manifesto of Emperor Alexander II of January 1, 1874, to replace the recruiting method that had existed since the time of Emperor Peter I.

At the same time, the Charter on military service was introduced, which was repeatedly improved, changed and supplemented. The last major changes were made to it by the Law of June 23, 1912, and further clarifications in December 1912 and April 1, 1913.

Thus, during the period under review, the Charter on Conscription was in force as part of the Code of Laws of the Russian Empire (Volume IV, Book I, edition of 1897), with additions as of April 1, 1913.

The author has no information about whether there were further changes in the Charter, but given that there was a little more than a year left before the start of the First World War, it can be assumed with a certain degree of certainty that by the beginning of the war the country was guided by this Charter.

The charter is a very voluminous document, in which only the main articles 504 and 1504 are additional. In addition, seven Annexes are attached to the Charter. It can be said that, in addition to the provisions that are common to all, the Charter deals with literally every specific case in detail. In order to more or less accurately and in detail set forth all the provisions of the Charter, it would be necessary to write a whole voluminous book. Therefore, I considered it appropriate to consider the Charter as a whole, without delving into all the subtleties. If the reader finds something in the article that does not coincide with the fate of his ancestors, then let him not be surprised or indignant. This means that your ancestor was subject to additional articles or even clarifications to additional articles. If it is important for one or another reader to understand the issue in detail, then we can try to do it together or I can send a copy of this Charter.

First of all, military duty was universal, i.e. in general, all male subjects of the Russian Empire of all classes were obliged to serve in the army. Citizens of other states could not serve in the army.

But there were usually more young people of military age in the country than the army required. Therefore, completely certain categories of citizens were exempted from service (below in the text, as a more familiar word to us, we will use the word "citizens" instead of the more correct "subjects of the Russian Empire"). A number of categories were granted deferrals from conscription or complete release from military service. And from among the citizens who did not have the right to deferment or exemption from military service, only those who were drawn by lots (or "lots" as it is written in the Charter) went to serve. Those. Not all.

In order to make all the following provisions more clear, let us clarify some points.

Armed Forces of the Russian Empire consist of:
* Permanent troops.
*State militia.

Actually, the Permanent Troops are the Armed Forces of the country, since the State Militia is convened only in time of war and plays a purely auxiliary role.

The standing troops are divided into:
*Ground troops.
* Naval Forces.

Ground forces, in turn, are divided into
1.Army.
2. Reserve of the Army (divided into two categories).
3. Cossack troops.
4. Foreign troops.

Note. The charter does not provide for a division into the Guard and the Army itself, since the issues of conscription, terms of service, etc. the same for the army and for the guards.

Naval forces are divided into:
1. Operating commands,
2. Fleet stock.

Below in the text we will use the more familiar terms "Army" and "Navy", but those who study the documents of that time should know the terms used at that time.

We will immediately make a reservation that below in the text we will talk about the order of recruitment of the Army and Navy, about citizens of all classes, with the exception of the Cossack class, which served in the Cossack troops. These troops were recruited according to other rules, which are not considered in this article. Cossacks will be discussed in a separate article.

Also, foreign troops are not considered here, which were recruited and completed in general according to special rules.

The state militia is divided into two categories.

Military service in the Russian Empire was divided into:

*Active military service,
*Military service in reserve
- stock of the first category,
- reserve of the second category.

Terms of military service

In peacetime:

1. The total service life in the infantry and artillery (except horse artillery) is 18 years, of which 3 years are active military service and 15 years are service in the reserve (of which 7 years are in the reserve of the first category, the rest of the time in the reserve of the second category).

2. The total service life in all other branches of the military is 17 years, of which 4 years are active service and 13 years are service in the reserve (of which 7 years are in the reserve of the first category, the rest of the time in the reserve of the second category).

3. In the fleet 10 years, of which 5 years in active service and 5 years in the reserve.

4. Persons who have completed educational establishments The first and second ranks in all branches of the military serve 18 years, of which 3 years are in active service and 15 years in the reserve (of which 7 years are in the reserve of the first rank, the rest of the time in the reserve of the second rank).

5. Persons who have the degree of doctor of medicine, doctor, master of veterinary sciences, pharmacist, pharmacist and thus have the right to occupy class positions in the military or naval departments (i.e. military officials) - 18 years. Of these, in active military service as a lower rank 4 months, in active military service as a class rank (military official) 1 year 8 months. Then there are 16 years in reserve (of which 7 years in the reserve of the first category, the rest of the time in the reserve of the second category).

6. Graduates of paramedical schools of the military or naval department -18 years old. Of these, in active military service as military paramedics for 1.5 years for each year of training, the remaining time in reserve until the end of the total period of 18 years.

7. Graduates of a pyrotechnic or technical school of the artillery department - 4 years of active service by specialists of the artillery and technical service. In the reserve until the age of 38 years (of which 7 years in the reserve of the first category, the rest of the time in the reserve of the second category).

8. Persons who graduated from the junior school in Kronstadt - 10 years, of which 4 years of active service as a lower rank in the fleet and 4 years in the fleet reserve.

But in all cases, the age limit of the state in the reserve is 38 years. After that, the reserve is transferred to the State militia.

Note. First class schools include:
* All institutions.
* Art schools.
*Pyrotechnic and technical school of the artillery department.
* Surveying schools.

The second category educational institutions include:
*Higher elementary schools.
*Vocational schools with two-year elementary school programs.

5. Persons who have graduated from educational institutions of the first category and are thus entitled to an officer rank, subject to passing the exam for ensign or second lieutenant, serve 18 years, of which 2 years are active service, and 16 years are service in the reserve (of which 7 years are in reserve the first category, the rest of the time in the reserve of the second category).

In wartime, the period of active service is not regulated. In the general case, in relation to the rules of peacetime, but not earlier than the end of the war. However, if military conditions make it possible to reduce the size of the army, then from active service they are transferred to the reserve in turn by age, starting with the oldest.

In peacetime, with an excess number of the Armed Forces, the Military and Naval Ministries have the right to dismiss part of the lower ranks (soldiers and non-commissioned officers) to the reserve from active service and before the expiration of active service, respectively increasing their service life in the reserve. Or provide the lower ranks with long holidays for up to 1 year.
And vice versa, if the number of troops is insufficient, the Military and Naval Ministries have the right to detain lower ranks in active service beyond the established period, but not more than 6 months.

The date of commencement of active military service is considered:
1. For those who arrived at the collection point on October 1 to December 31 from February 15 of the next year.
2. For those who arrived at the collection point from January 1 to February 15 from August 15 of the current year.

Those in the reserve may be re-conscripted to active service in the event of an insufficient number of troops. At the same time, the period of such repeated service is not regulated, but according to the general meaning of the Charter, it follows that the repeated service continues until the situation with the number of troops is corrected. In addition, reserve personnel may be called up twice during their service life in the reserve for training camps of up to 6 weeks each.

Since the days of socialism, when it was customary to paint the entire history of Russia until 1917 only with black paints, it is generally accepted that a soldier in tsarist Russia stood at the lowest rung of the social ladder, was a creature with absolutely no rights, over which everyone could mock and humiliate anyone who was not lazy. However, Article 28 of the Charter (and this is a state law (!), And not a departmental regulatory document) states that the lower rank in active service enjoys all the personal and property rights of his estate with some restrictions.

The lower rank during active service was restricted to:
1. Marriage is not allowed.
2. It is not allowed to personally manage industrial and commercial enterprises belonging to the lower rank (this restriction also applied to officers). The owner was obliged before the start of active service to appoint a manager responsible to him.
3. It is not allowed to engage in the sale of alcoholic beverages. Even through responsible managers.

At the same time, the lower ranks also had a certain advantage. They could not be arrested for debt before the end of active service. Note that if a soldier or non-commissioned officer remained on long-term service, then creditors just had to wait until the debtor got tired of military service and retired. And then the statute of limitations expired.

The charter also indicates that peasants, philistines, artisans who are in active service, and at the end of it another year in reserve, continue to be members of their rural, guild and other communities and societies with all the ensuing rights and benefits. At the same time, they are completely exempt from all per capita state, local (zemstvo) taxes and fees, and from natural duties.

Well, for example, the yard belonging to the lower rank is freed from lodging (that is, the hostess is not obliged to provide a hut to accommodate officials who arrived in the village on a business trip and feed them). The soldier's peasant household is not obliged to participate in public works for the improvement of the village, local roads, etc.

The lower rank of the reserve, entering the state civil service, enters it with the rank that he received in the army, and the period of active military service is counted in the length of service of the state civil service.
For example, a person in the army received the rank of senior non-commissioned officer. Decided to join the police. There he will immediately have a rank equal to that of the army. And immediately he will be counted in the length of service in the police years spent in active military service.
But on the contrary, no civilian ranks and civilian length of service are taken into account if the reserve decides, for example, to re-enter military service. Although in the civil service he rose to at least the rank of IV class (a rank equal to major general), but for the army he remains a senior non-commissioned officer.

And again, the reserve, consisting of the state civil service, in the event of a second call to active service, retains his civil rank, position and place in the civil service. He retains office housing, payments for heating, lighting, and transport. All the time of repeated active service goes to the length of civil service, giving the right to annual rewards, pensions, benefits, awarding the Order of St. Vladimir 4 degrees.

From the author. Hmmm, I would not say that a soldier in the tsarist army was a disenfranchised gray cattle, cannon fodder. Obviously, in those days, the frail Russian intelligentsia, incapable of real masculine deeds, covered up their moral and physical squalor with stories about the "horrors of military service." And with ostentatious contempt for the "stupid and brainless army" she tried to hide from others (and from herself) her inferiority, including mental.

And even then, the army gave the country a lot prominent writers, composers, artists, poets, architects, scientists, engineers, inventors. But on the contrary, as it is not very. I don’t remember that at least one composer or writer could become at least a decent regiment commander.
Well, or let's put it this way - an intelligent officer did not turn out from a person, but he became a good writer, poet (Tolstoy, Kuprin, Lermontov). But can anyone name me a mediocre writer who gave up his pen and became an outstanding commander?

Reservists who become unfit for military service due to illness or injury are retired and excluded from the list of reservists with the issuance of a certificate.

The lower ranks, who became unfit for further service during active service and became disabled at the same time, if they have no means of subsistence, receive a pension of 3 rubles. per month, and those in need of outside care are placed in almshouses or charitable institutions. Or the disabled are entrusted to the care of trustworthy persons with the payment of 6 rubles. per month.

Above, I wrote that certain categories of citizens were not called up for military service or enjoyed deferrals from conscription or benefits (exemption from conscription under certain circumstances).

Persons not subject to conscription for military service in the Army or Navy

1. Persons of the Cossack estate (since they are subject to service in the Cossack troops).

2. Residents of localities:
* Turkestan region.
*Kamchatka region.
*Sakhalin region.
*Srednekolyma district.
*Verkhoyansk region.
*Vilyui region.
* Turukhansk and Boguchansk branches of the Yenisei province.
*Togur branch of the Tomsk province.
*Berezovsky and Surgut districts of the Tobolsk province.

3. Foreign population of all provinces and regions of Siberia, with the exception of residents of the Bukhtarma volost of the Zmeinogorsk district of the Tomsk Province, as well as Koreans of the Primorsky and Amur regions.

4. Foreign population of the Astrakhan province.

5. Samoyeds of the Mezen and Pechora districts of the Arkhangelsk province.

6. Non-native population of Akmola, Semipalatinsk, Semirechensk, Ural and Turgai regions.

7. Foreign population of the Transcaspian region.

8. Persons unfit for service for health reasons:
* Height lower than 2 arshins and 2.5 inches (154 cm.),
*Having diseases listed in the Schedule of Bodily Impairments and Diseases.

9. Persons using benefits for family reasons of the 1st category.

10. Priests of all Christian denominations.

11. Orthodox psalmists.

12. Rectors and mentors of Old Believer and sectarian Christian communities.

13. Persons of the higher Mohammedan clergy (hatyps, imams, mullahs).

14. Academicians, adjuncts, professors, dissectors and their assistants, associate professors, lecturers Oriental languages, assistant professors of scientists and higher educational institutions.

15. Boarders of the Imperial Academy of Arts and persons who have completed a course of study at art and industrial schools, sent abroad to improve their education.

16. Graduates of the Urga and Kuldzha schools of translators and interpreters who have served as translators and interpreters for more than 6 years.

17. Pilots and pilot apprentices. At the same time, they are not enrolled in the militia, but in the reserve of the fleet for 10 years.

Persons to whom military service is replaced by a monetary tax.

1.Muslim population of Transcaucasia.

2.Muslim population of the Terek region.

3.Muslim population of the Kuban region.

4. Living in the Transcaucasus Yezidis, Igolians-Christians

5. Christian Abkhazians living in the Sukhum district.

6.Residing in Stavropol Territory Kalmyks, Trukhmens, Nogais.

7. Citizens of Finland (non-citizens pay, but 1 million Finnish marks are annually transferred from the Finnish treasury to the state treasury).

Persons who are granted deferrals from military service.

1. Persons who are recognized as weak - for one year.

2. Persons who have not recovered from their illnesses and who are temporarily unfit for service - for one year.

Note. If, after a year, persons of these two categories are again unfit for service, they are completely exempted from service and transferred to the State militia as warriors.

3. Persons studying in secondary educational institutions - up to the age of 24 years.

4. Persons studying in higher educational institutions with a 4-year term of study - up to the age of 27 years.

5. Persons studying in higher educational institutions with a 5-year term of study - up to the age of 28 years.

6. Persons studying in the Theological Orthodox and Catholic Academies - up to the age of 28 years.

7. Persons studying at the Etchmiadzin Armenian-Gregorian Theological Academy - up to the age of 28 years.

8. Persons studying at the Higher Art School at the Imperial Art Academy - up to the age of 28 years.

9. Government scholarship holders sent abroad at public expense to prepare for the occupation of scientists or educational positions in scientific institutions or higher educational institutions - up to the age of 30 years.

10. Persons left in higher educational institutions to prepare for the occupation of scientists or educational positions in scientific institutions or higher educational institutions - up to the age of 30 years.

11. Persons studying in railway traffic service schools - up to the age of 24 years.

12. Persons enrolled in missionary courses at the Kazan Theological Academy - up to the age of 27 years.

13. Persons who have successfully graduated from the Novozybkov Agricultural Technical School - up to the age of 24 years.

14. Persons who have completed the course of foremen's schools in road and construction business - up to the age of 24 years.

15..Persons who are trainees in winemaking at the Nikitsky School of Horticulture and Winemaking.

16. Candidates of the Evangelical Lutheran clergy to be ordained preachers - for a period of five years.

17. Persons who have successfully completed a course of study in Orthodox and Armenian-Gregorian theological academies and seminaries - for a period of 1 year.

18. Graduates of the Urga and Kuldzha schools of translators and interpreters for the period of service as translators and interpreters.

19. Persons who manage their personal real estate, trade, factory, industrial enterprise - until he selects a property manager for the duration of his service, but not more than 2 years.

20. Persons moving to new and undeveloped lands of the Russian Empire - for 3 years.

21. Sailors, machinists, stokers sea ​​vessels Russian merchant fleet - until the expiration of their contract, but not more than 1 year.

The difference between beneficiaries from other categories who were granted deferrals from service or exempted from conscription was that they were subject to conscription if there was not enough of the main conscript contingent, i.e. more young men were required to be drafted into service than were available who were not entitled to the benefit.
Basically it was a privilege in marital status. Beneficiaries were divided into 4 categories. And, if necessary, to replenish the ranks of conscripts to the required number, at first they called up beneficiaries of the 4th category, then 3 and 2. The beneficiaries of the 1st category were not subject to conscription at all.

Persons eligible for marital status benefits

1 rank. *The only son in the family. *The only able-bodied son in the family if the father is disabled or died, and the other brothers are in active military service. *The only able-bodied grandchild living with grandparents if they no longer have able-bodied sons or grandchildren or are in active service. *A person in charge of a single mother or unmarried sister if there are no more able-bodied men in the household or they are on active duty. * A widower with one or more of his children in care.

Note. An able-bodied family member is a male person who has reached the age of 16, but not older than 55 years.

2 rank. *The only able-bodied son in the family if the father is able-bodied, but has an age of 50 to 55 years, and other brothers are in active military service.

3rd rank. *The only able-bodied son in the family if the father is able-bodied and is under 50 years old, and the other brothers are in active military service. *The next oldest brother of a war dead or missing.

4th grade. *Next oldest active-duty sibling. * A person who has not received benefits of 1, 2 or 3 categories due to the fact that the family has younger brothers of working age 168

The call-up campaign is held annually from October 1 to November 1. All males who have turned 20 by January 1 of this year are called to draw lots. Persons who have been deprived of all the rights of a state by a court, i.e. are not allowed to draw lots. civil rights.

Note. Let us highlight point 10 of the Charter, which states that persons who did not receive active military service by lot are enlisted in the State Militia with the assignment of the name warrior. The lot is drawn once and for life. Warriors are not subject to transfer to active service or enrollment in the reserve. But on the other hand, the warriors retain the right to enter active service as a volunteer or a hunter.

From the author. For comparison. In Germany, the soldier's service was seen as a school for educating a German as a citizen of his country, and a soldier was considered a person standing on the social ladder above all civilians. The basic principle of attitude to military service was this: "If you consider this country your country, then you must one day put aside all your affairs and for some time stand guard over your state and your property with weapons in your hands. Who, if not you must protect his own property."
The issue of exemption from service was resolved simply - whoever did not serve in the soldier's service (regardless of the reasons) did not have the right to enter the state civil service (even as a postman), could not elect and be elected to municipal, public positions (even at least the head of a public choral society in the village). He could not practice law. Moreover, he could not own a house, a land allotment, a commercial enterprise. In short, he was a second-class citizen.
Curious moment. In Germany, there were also more young men of military age than the army required. And they were also enrolled in the service by lot. And it was also possible to go to serve voluntarily (voluntarily determined). But what is interesting - the volunteer served at his own expense. He paid for everything from his own pocket - from food, housing and to the cartridges for his rifle (which he also received for a fee). In a word, the volunteer did not cost the treasury a pfenning. So after all, there were also restrictions on the number of volunteers that the regiment commander could recruit. Outside the gates of each barracks, there was a line of people who wanted to become a soldier for their own money. The young man who fell to the lot to go to the service could consider himself lucky.
Is it necessary to talk here about the attitude of young Germans to the service? And about the attitude of the German intelligentsia to the army?

The structure of the bodies of conscription for military service.

The structure of the bodies dealing with issues of conscription for military service was as follows.

The highest body in the Russian Empire -
Office of military service under the Ministry of the Interior.

In each province (region) -
Provincial (Regional) Presence by military service.

In each county of the province, and accordingly in each district of the region -
Uyezd (Okruzhnoye) Presence by military service.

The members of the Presences are:
* in the Provincial Presence:
- chairman - governor,
-members - the provincial marshal of the nobility,
- Lieutenant Governor
- the chairman of the provincial zemstvo council or a member of the council,
- District Attorney or his deputy,
-general from the nearest division,
-three staff officers (at the time of the draft campaign).

* in the County Presence - the chairman - the county marshal of the nobility,
- members - county military commander,
- county police officer
- member of the county zemstvo council,
- one of the inhabitants of the county,
- an officer from the nearest regiment (during the draft campaign)

The Charter describes many clarifying, changing provisions relating to a number of localities. But to describe all the subtleties within the framework of the article is simply impossible. We only note that in major cities existed on the rights of County Presences and City Presences by military service.

Two doctors are seconded to the County Presence for the duration of the draft campaign, who are entrusted with the duty of medical examination of recruits. One doctor must be civilian, the second military.

The recruiting stations are subordinate to the Uyezd Presence.

Calling places.
They are created depending on the size and population of the county. In small counties, one recruiting station is created, in large counties there are several. In rural areas, one plot for every 8-20 thousand inhabitants. In cities, recruiting stations are created for every 5-10 thousand inhabitants.

Call points.
One or more recruiting stations are created in the recruiting station at the rate of not more than 50 versts from the point to the most remote settlement.

Organization of conscription for military service.

All male subjects of the Russian Empire who have reached the age of 16 are assigned to the corresponding conscription stations at their place of residence. The basis for adding a person to the registration list is the entries in parish books church parishes, family lists maintained by local authorities or the police, lists of members of workshops, societies. However, persons who have reached the age of 16 are obliged to make sure that they are included in the registration list by submitting an appropriate application. Those who do not do so will be prosecuted by law.
Persons assigned to the recruiting station receive a certificate of registration to the recruiting station. All changes in the family, property, class status of the scribes are required to report to the recruiting station.

From December 1 of each year County Presences begin to draw up private draft lists. Private main lists A and private additional lists B are compiled.

By March 1 the compilation of private lists ends and they are hung out for two weeks in the County Presences for general familiarization. During this time, everyone who is to be called up for service this year is obliged to check the list and declare all inaccuracies, errors, omissions made in relation to him.
Also during this period, persons who wish to enter the military service as volunteers or hunters (aged 17 to 20 years) apply for inclusion in the lists.
Also, during this period, persons entitled to a deferral submit to the County Presence an application for a deferment with supporting documents attached.
Also, during this period, persons entitled to benefits submit to the County Presence an application for inclusion in additional lists (for benefits) with supporting documents attached.
Also, during this period, persons entitled to exemption from service submit applications to the County Presence with supporting documents attached.

After checking the private draft lists, the County Presence by March 15 is
General precinct lists of recruits for each recruiting station separately.

Three additional draft lists are attached to the general precinct conscription list:
Supplementary draft list A, which includes persons subject to conscription for service without drawing lots. These are the ones who tried to evade registration and conscription in various ways.
Additional draft list B, which includes persons who previously had a deferment from conscription and now have lost it.
Additional draft list B, which includes persons who have declared their desire to enter the service of volunteers or hunters.

By May 1 County Presences submit to the Provincial Presence general draft lists and additional A and B lists.

By May 15 Provincial Presences represent War Department information about the number of available recruits.

By July 15 County Presences submit to the Provincial Presence updated general draft lists and additional A and B lists.

By August 1 The Provincial Presences submit to the Ministry of Internal Affairs updated information on the number of available conscripts.

Upon receipt of all the information, the Ministry of Internal Affairs distributes the draft orders between the provinces, based on the needs of the army and the availability of the draft contingent.

By September 1 The Ministry of the Interior sends instructions to the District Presences through the provincial Presences:
1. What categories of conscripts are subject to conscription (only non-beneficial or non-beneficial and beneficiaries of certain categories).
2. What percentage is subject to conscription from among those categories that are not fully subject to conscription.
3. What categories of conscripts should be included in the reserve of lots.

The recruiting campaign starts on October 1st and runs through November 1st. By this time, the Uyezd Presences assign days for the appearance of conscripts to the recruiting stations for each precinct. Everyone should appear there, except for those who are exempt from military service, who have received deferrals, who have benefits for marital status of the 1st category, who enter the service as hunters and volunteers.

The recruiting activities themselves at the recruiting stations are managed by the County Presences, for which they arrive at the stations on the appointed days.

At the appointed time, the Chairman of the Presence reads out all the lists (main, additional A, B and C.) and conducts a roll call.

Persons who are not subject to conscription for military service, who have a privilege for marital status of the first category and persons included in additional lists A, B, C. Persons included in lists A, B and C are enlisted as recruits without drawing lots.

From the author. An explanation is required here. For example, at this recruiting station there is an order to call 100 people for active service. There are 10 people on lists A, B and C. All these 10 people automatically fall into the number of recruits. And for the remaining 90 places, those who are on the main list will draw lots.
Let's say there are 200 of them. The recruits will be those who draw lots from number 1 to number 90. The remaining 110 people fall into the category of "stock of lots".
From among those who got into recruits (10 people from lists A, B and C, plus 90 people by lot), doctors rejected, for example, 15 people. Then 110 people from the category "stock of lots" again draw lots. And who will fall out numbers from 1 to 15 fall into the number of recruits.

And all this is done in front of everyone who is present at the recruiting station. And there can be present except for those who are directly affected by all this, everyone. It seems that under such conditions it is hardly possible to cheat, to save one's little man from the soldiery. The possibilities of fraud, although not completely excluded, are extremely difficult.

At the end of the draw, all who are among the recruits undergo a medical examination. After the examination, the recruits are entered into receptionist painting.

The reception list is announced to all those present at the recruiting station.

Here are the lists:
1. List of enrolled warriors in the State Militia of the second category (beneficiaries for marital status of the first category, and persons declared unfit for military service),
2. List of persons enrolled in the pool of lots.

From the author. They will be listed in the list of stock of drawers until the draft campaign is completed and the call-up order is completed in this recruiting station. The fact is that the decision of doctors on fitness or unfitness for service, benefits based on marital status, etc. may be challenged in the Provincial Presence and, if the complaint is upheld, an additional drawing of lots may be required. At the end of the draft campaign, they will be transferred from the stock of lots to the warriors of the State Militia of the first category.

3. List of persons enrolled as warriors in the State militia of the first category. These are beneficiaries by marital status of 2, 3, and 4 categories (if the Ministry of the Interior in this call decided to release either all these categories or part of the categories from service).

At the end of all events, recruits are announced the date of appearance and the address of the assembly point where they must appear.

The day of the beginning of the state in active military service is the day of appearance at the assembly point.

Recruits arriving at the assembly point are sworn in and undergo a medical examination. then they go to the troops.

To all others, the County Presence issues Certificate of appearance for military service. This document further consolidates the status of a citizen about his attitude to military service.

The certificate is issued for the period:
1. Recognized as completely unfit for military service - indefinitely.
2. Enrolled in the State militia - indefinitely.
3. Persons who have received deferrals from service - for the period of deferment.

From the author. It should be noted that those enrolled in the State Militia can no longer be called up for military service, even if their state of health, marital status has changed. Even those who turned out to be perfectly fit for service, did not have any deferrals and did not get into the service only because they drew the appropriate lot, can no longer be called up for military service. Even during the war. They retain the right to enter the service of volunteers or hunters.

Volunteers.

Usually from literary works the reader gets the impression that the volunteers were sons of the nobility, offspring of aristocrats, or at least from wealthy families who, due to their sloppiness, were not able to hide from the soldiery at the universities, or did not want to enter the cadet schools. So they were enrolled as volunteers, and for a very short time they hung around idle in the regiment in shoulder straps of privates on a short leg with officers, waiting for the order to confer an officer rank to come. Well, or during the years of the First World War, incorrigible romantics who longed for exploits and awards were credited as "freelancers". And also, they say, very quickly put on officer epaulettes.

In reality, things were somewhat different.

Those wishing to enter the Ground Forces as volunteers had to meet the following requirements:
1. Age 17 or older.

3. Have a certificate of graduation from an educational institution of the first category (i.e. institute), or 6 classes of a gymnasium (i.e. have a complete secondary education).
4. Do not be on trial or investigation.

As you can see, among these conditions there is no condition to belong to the nobility or to have some kind of high social position.

The term of service of volunteers is 18 years, of which 2 years of active service as a lower rank and 16 years of service in the reserve.

In itself, the service of volunteers did not give the right to confer an officer's rank. To do this, it was necessary to pass an exam for production to the rank of ensign or second lieutenant (cornet). The knowledge requirements are the same as for cadets of military schools.

From the author. Those. "freelancer" in the regiment is in worse conditions than a cadet in a military school. He must actually train himself, while carrying out the usual soldier's service. And he will take the exam at a military school. I do not think that the teachers of the school will treat the "freelancer" more condescendingly than their junkers.

If a volunteer passed the ensign examination before the expiration of the first year of service, then his term of active service is reduced to 1 year and 6 months, and for the remaining six months he serves in the rank of ensign.

If a volunteer passed the exam for a second lieutenant before the expiration of the first year of service, then the term of his active service is reduced to 1 year and 6 months, and he can be left in the officer's service. But if there is no need for officers in the regiment, the one who passed the exam served the remaining six months with the rank of second lieutenant and was transferred to the reserve.

The advantage of serving as volunteers consisted primarily in the fact that he served 1 or 2 years less than those called up. Secondly, if he passed the exam for an officer, then he won for another six months. Thirdly, the main purpose of recruiting as volunteers was still the goal of preparing young people as officers, which means that the attitude of the officers of the regiment towards him should have been more attentive. And fourthly, depending on the success in the service, he was quickly promoted to non-commissioned officer ranks, which greatly facilitated life in the barracks.

Persons with a degree of doctor of medicine, doctor, master of veterinary sciences, pharmacist, pharmacist, which gives them the right to occupy class positions in the military or naval departments (i.e. military officials), who entered the military service as volunteers, serve in the ranks for 4 months lower ranks and then 1 year 8 months class ranks (i.e. military officials), after which they are transferred to the reserve.

Students of the Corps of Pages and military schools are considered volunteers in relation to military service. For graduates of these military schools, the training time is included in the total service life. Moreover, if they are released or expelled from military educational institutions by the lower ranks, then each year of training is counted to them as a year and a half of soldier's service.

Persons who have graduated from educational institutions of state civil departments, and are therefore obliged to serve a certain number of years in the civil state service, have the right to enter the military service as volunteers, but after the end of military service they are still obliged to serve the prescribed number of years in the civil service. If they wished to remain in military service, they remain in it with the permission of their civilian department, but not less than the number of years that they were obliged to serve in a civilian department.

Hunters.

Hunters are persons who wish to serve in the army voluntarily, but do not have a higher or secondary education.

Those wishing to enter the Ground Forces as hunters had to meet the following requirements:
1.Age from 18 to 30 years old.
2. Fitness for military service for health reasons.
3. Do not be on trial or investigation.
5. Not be deprived of the right to enter the public service.
6. Not have a criminal record for theft or fraud.

The terms of service of hunters are the same as for those called by lot.

The service of the lower ranks in the reserve.

At the end of active military service, the lower ranks (soldiers and non-commissioned officers) are dismissed for active service and sent to the places of their chosen residence. Upon arrival at the place of residence, the lower rank becomes registered with County Military Commander, who is in charge of all issues of accounting for those liable for military service, reserves, conscription from the reserve for active service or training camps, transfer from the reserve of the first category to the reserve of the second category, exclusion from military registration for various reasons.

Upon departure from the military unit, the dismissed receive leave ticket, which is the basis for admission to military registration by the Uyezd Military Chief. He also makes a note in the passport that the owner is in the reserve.

Direct accounting of the lower ranks of the reserve in the field is carried out by:
* Volost Board- for peasants, philistines, townspeople, artisans, workshops living in rural areas within the volost.
*County Police Department - on all storekeepers living in cities, provincial cities, towns, towns of this county.
*City Police Department - on all reserve workers living in cities with their own police department.
*Bailiff - on all storekeepers living in the camps.

When changing the place of residence, the storekeeper is obliged to deregister at the old place of residence and register at the new place of residence.

The call-up of the reserve for repeated active service is carried out on the basis of the Highest Decree, if necessary, to increase the size of the army. Usually when there is a threat of war.

The call may be made:

1.General, if necessary, increase the number of all troops.
2.Private, if necessary, increase the number of troops in certain areas.

The term “mobilization” is also widely used in documents and in the Charter instead of the term “conscription” in order to distinguish between ordinary conscription in the usual manner, existing both in peacetime and wartime, from emergency measures related to the return to service of the reserve.

The call for mobilization is handled by the Uyezd Military Commander with the help of the Uyezd Police Department.

When mobilization is announced, all storekeepers are given one day to arrange all personal files, after which they are required to appear at collection points at their place of residence. Here they undergo a medical examination. Of them are formed marching teams, which are sent to military units in various ways.

State militia.

The state militia is convened only in time of war to solve auxiliary tasks of a military nature in order to release for combat units those officials in military service who performed these duties in peacetime. For example, the protection of military facilities (warehouses, arsenals, ports, stations, tunnels), the protection of the coastline, the protection of the rear of the Army in the field, the convoy service, service in hospitals, etc.
At the end of the war or the passing of need, the militia units are immediately disbanded.

The state militia is recruited from males under the age of 43 who are not listed in military service (active and in reserve), but able to carry weapons. Persons of older ages are enrolled in the militia at will. All militias bear the same name "warrior" except for officers.

Collection in the militia is made by age, starting from younger ages, as needed.

The militia is divided into two categories.
First rank these are militia units and militia units to reinforce standing troops. The first category includes:
1. Persons who were subject to conscription for active service during the usual annual conscription, but did not fall into it by lot.
2. Persons enrolled in the militia upon dismissal from military service in the reserve.

Second rank these are only militia units. The second category includes all persons recognized as unfit for military service, but capable of carrying weapons.

From the warriors of the state militia are formed:
* militia foot squads,
* militia cavalry hundreds,
* militia artillery batteries,
* militia fortress artillery companies,
* militia sapper companies,
* militia marine crews, semi-crews and companies.

Foot squads can be reduced to brigades and divisions, mounted hundreds and artillery batteries into regiments, fortress artillery companies and sapper companies into squads.

Warriors enjoy all the rights, privileges and are subject to the same rules and laws as the lower ranks of the standing troops. However, in case of committing crimes, warriors are subject to civil, not military court.

Officers and non-commissioned officers in militia units are occupied by persons with the appropriate military ranks obtained in military service. It is allowed to appoint to a position one step above or below the rank. For example, a staff captain may be assigned as a battalion commander, a company commander, or a junior company officer.
In case of a shortage of officers, persons who do not have officer ranks, or who have an officer rank two or more steps lower than the position, can be appointed to officer positions. In this case, they are assigned a temporary rank corresponding to the position, which they wear only while they are in this position. To distinguish from real ranks, the word "zauryad-" is added to the name of the rank. For example, a retired army lieutenant was appointed commander of a militia regiment. He receives the rank of "common colonel".

From the author. During the First World War, the most common among militia officers was the rank of ensign. This was due to the fact that just for the occupation of lower officer positions there were the fewest retired officers. Therefore, these positions were filled by retired non-commissioned officers, who were assigned the rank of ensign.

Zauryad-officers, when they were awarded the Order of St. George, lost the prefix "zauryad-" and their officer rank from a temporary one became a real one.

Afterword.

Such was the system of universal conscription of the Russian Empire on the eve of the First World War. Of course, after its beginning and the further course of the war, it underwent certain changes. Something was canceled, something was introduced. But in general, this system was preserved until the revolution of 1917. Further events of the revolution and civil war completely broke her as on the side White Movement so did the Bolsheviks. The beginning of the destruction of both the Russian Army and the system of its recruitment, and then everything Russian state it was by no means the Bolsheviks who put it down, but the parties of the liberal and democratic persuasion, which at that time bred in incredible numbers. At the head of these parties were Russian intellectuals (all these sworn attorneys, lawyers, writers, economists, journalists, etc., etc.), who were extremely far from understanding the place and significance of the army in the state, completely incapable of either building a new state or manage the existing, but possessed of monstrous aplomb and self-importance, spouting stormy fountains of eloquence and delusional utopian ideas.
Well, something happened that could not happen. The army collapsed and collapsed, this backbone of any state. And the whole Russian state collapsed instantly.

The attempts of not the most stupid and not the most mediocre generals of the old army to collect and glue the fragments of the shattered army turned out to be just as unsuccessful as the attempts to glue the broken jug together.

The Bolsheviks at first tried to build a new army on the basis of Marx's completely utopian and unimaginably stupid idea of ​​replacing the forced army with the general arming of the people. But two or three months in 1918 turned out to be quite enough to understand that even in the most democratic state it was absolutely impossible to build an army on democratic principles. And a long journey began to restore the army and the recruitment system based on the old tsarist principles, which could not be fully completed even by 1941.

Destruction is easy, fun and enjoyable. It took only a couple of years (1917-1918). Even twenty years was not enough to restore.

Today Russian army and the system of its acquisition is again destroyed. And again by democratic intellectuals. And it was destroyed much more thoroughly than in 1917.

What's next? The intellectuals of the beginning of the 20th century paid heavily and cruelly for their stupidity and wandering in the clouds of mental lunacy. Executions, expulsions, camps, repressions. And rightly so!
But history has never taught today's Democrats anything. Do you think this cup will blow you away? Oh-whether?

Source and literature

1. S. M. Goryainov. Regulations on military service. Commissioner of military educational institutions. St. Petersburg 1913
2. Directory of necessary knowledge. All Perm, Algos-Press. Permian. 1995
3. Life of the Russian Army of the XVIII-beginning of the XX century. Military publishing house. Moscow. 1999

Textbook of Russian history Platonov Sergey Fedorovich

§ 162. General military service

In connection with the general renewal of Russian public life, there was a reform of military service. In 1874, a charter was given on universal military service, which completely changed the order of replenishment of troops. Under Peter the Great, as we know (§ 110), all estates were involved in military service: the nobility without exception, taxable estates - by supplying recruits. When the laws of the XVIII century. the nobility was gradually freed from compulsory service, recruitment turned out to be the lot of the lower classes of society, and, moreover, the poorest, since the rich could pay off the soldiery by hiring a recruit for themselves. In this form, recruitment duty has become a heavy and hated burden for the population. She ruined poor families, depriving them of their breadwinners, who, one might say, left their households forever. The service life (25 years) was such that a person, once he became a soldier, was separated from his environment for the rest of his life.

According to the new law, all young people who have reached the age of 21 in a given year are called up for military service every year. The government determines every year what is needed for the troops total number recruits and by lot takes from all draftees only this number. The rest are enrolled in the militia. Those taken into service are listed in it for 15 years: 6 years in the ranks and 9 in the reserve. Having left the regiment for the reserve, the soldier is only occasionally called up for training camps, so short that they do not interfere with his private studies or peasant work. Educated people are in the ranks for less than 6 years, volunteers - as well. New system the recruitment of troops, by its very idea, was supposed to lead to profound changes in military orders. Instead of a harsh soldier's drill based on penalties and punishments, a reasonable and humane education of a soldier was introduced, bearing not a simple class duty, as it was before, but the sacred civic duty of defending the fatherland. In addition to military training, the soldiers were taught to read and write and tried to develop in them a conscious attitude towards their duty and an understanding of their soldier's work. The long-term management of the military ministry of Count Dmitry Alekseevich Milyutin was marked by a number of educational events aimed at planting military education in Russia, raise the spirit of the army, improve the military economy.

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