How the conscription into the army of Imperial Russia was carried out in the early 20th century. Who was subject to him. Who had conscription benefits, monetary rewards for military personnel. Collection of statistics.
Call once a year - from September 15 or October 1 to November 1 or 15 - depending on the timing of the harvest.
Service life in the ground forces: 3 years in infantry and artillery (except cavalry); 4 years in other branches of the military.
After that, there was an enrollment in the reserve, which was called up only in case of war. The term of the stock is 13-15 years.
In the fleet, military service is 5 years and 5 years in reserve.
Not subject to conscription for military service:
Residents of remote places: Kamchatka, Sakhalin, some areas of the Yakutsk region, Yenisei province, Tomsk, Tobolsk provinces, as well as Finland. Aliens of Siberia (except Koreans and Bukhtarma), Astrakhan, Arkhangelsk provinces, the Steppe region, the Transcaspian region and the population of Turkestan. They pay a monetary tax instead of military service: some foreigners of the Caucasian region and the Stavropol province (Kurds, Abkhazians, Kalmyks, Nogais, etc.); Finland deducts from the treasury 12 million marks annually. Persons of Jewish nationality are not allowed in the fleet.
Benefits based on marital status:
Not subject to call:
1. The only son in the family.
2. The only son able to work with an incapacitated father or a widowed mother.
3. The only brother with round orphans up to 16 years old.
4. The only grandson with an incapacitated grandmother and grandfather without adult sons.
5. An illegitimate son with his mother (in his care).
6. Lonely widower with children.
Subject to conscription in case of shortage of fit conscripts:
1. The only son capable of work, from an elderly father (50 years old).
2. Following a brother who died or went missing in the service.
3. Following the brother, still serving in the army.
Deferments and benefits for education:
Receive a deferment from the call:
up to 30 years of age, state scholarship holders who are preparing to occupy scientists and educational positions, after which they are completely released;
up to 28 years old students of higher educational institutions with a 5-year course;
up to 27 years in higher education institutions with a 4-year course;
up to 24 years old students of secondary educational institutions;
students of all schools, upon the request and agreement of the ministers;
for 5 years - candidates for Evangelical Lutheran preaching.
(In wartime, persons with the above benefits are taken into service until the end of the course by the Highest permission).
Reduction of active service life:
serve 3 years in the troops of persons with higher, secondary (1 category) and lower (II category) education;
serve 2 years of persons who have passed the exam for an ensign of the reserve in the service;
doctors and pharmacists serve in the ranks for 4 months, and then serve in their specialty for 1 year 8 months
in the fleet, persons with an education of the 11th category (lower educational institutions) serve 2 years and are in the reserve for 7 years.
Benefits based on professional affiliation
Exempt from military service:
Privileges:
Those who passed the service exam for the rank of reserve officer serve 1.5 years.
Volunteered in the fleet - only with higher education - service life is 2 years.
Persons who do not have the above education can enter the service voluntarily without drawing lots, the so-called. hunters. They serve on a common basis.
Military service of the Cossacks
(The Don army was taken as a model, other Cossack troops are serving their service in relation to their traditions).
All men are required to serve without ransom and replacement on their horses with their equipment.
The whole army gives servicemen and militias. Servicemen are divided into 3 categories: 1 preparatory (20-21 years old) undergoes military training. II combatant (21-33 years old) directly serves. III reserve (33-38 years old) deploys an army for the war and replenishes the losses. During the war, everyone serves without regard to ranks.
Militia - all capable of service, but not included in the service, form special units.
Cossacks have benefits: by marital status (1 worker in the family, 2 or more family members are already serving); on property (fire victims who became impoverished for no reason); by education (depending on education, they serve from 1 to 3 years in the ranks).
All ground forces are divided into regular, Cossack, militia and militia. - The militia is formed from volunteers (mainly foreigners) as needed in peacetime and wartime.
By branch, the troops consist of:
The infantry is subdivided into guards, grenadiers and army. The division consists of 2 brigades, 2 regiments in the brigade. An infantry regiment consists of 4 battalions (some of 2). The battalion consists of 4 companies.
In addition, the regiments have machine gun teams, communications teams, mounted orderlies and scouts.
The total strength of the regiment in peacetime is about 1900 people.
Guards regular regiments - 10
In addition, 3 Guards Cossack regiments.
An army cavalry division consists of; from 1 dragoon, 1 uhlan, 1 hussar, 1 cossack regiment.
Guards cuirassier regiments consist of 4 squadrons, the rest of the army and guards regiments - from 6 squadrons, each of which has 4 platoons. The composition of the cavalry regiment: 1000 lower ranks with 900 horses, not counting officers. In addition to the Cossack regiments included in the regular divisions, special Cossack divisions and brigades are also formed.
3. Fleet Composition
All ships are divided into 15 classes:
1. Battleships.
2. Armored cruisers.
3. Cruisers.
4. Destroyers.
5. Destroyers.
6. Minoski.
7. Minelayers.
8. Submarines.
9. Gunboats.
10. River gunboats.
11. Transports.
12. Messenger ships.
14. Training ships.
15. Port ships.
Source: Suvorin's Russian calendar for 1914. SPb., 1914. P. 331.
Source:Military Statistical Yearbook of the Army for 1912. St. Petersburg, 1914. S. 26, 27, 54, 55.
Source: Military Statistical Yearbook of the Army for 1912. SPb., 1914. S.228-230.
Source:Military Statistical Yearbook for 1912. SPb., 1914. S.372-375.
(1) - Reinforced salaries were appointed in remote districts, in academies, officer schools, in aeronautical troops.
(2)- No deductions were made from the extra money.
(3) - Additional money was issued to headquarters officers in such a way that the total amount of salaries, canteens and additional money did not exceed 2520 rubles for colonels, 2400 rubles for lieutenant colonels. in year.
(4) - In the guard, captains, staff captains, lieutenants received a salary 1 step higher.
(5) - The military clergy received an increase in salary of 1/4 of the salary for 10 and 20 years of service.
Officers were issued upon transfer to a new duty station and on business trips, the so-called. running money for hiring horses.
When you are on various types of business trips outside the limit of the part, daily and portion money is issued.
Table money, unlike salaries and additional money, was assigned to officers not by rank, but depending on the position:
Deductions were made from salaries and table money:
into pension capital
When awarding orders, an amount is paid in the amount of:
For other orders, no deductions are made.
The money went into the order capital of each order and was used to help the knights of this order.
The officers were given housing money, money for the maintenance of stables, as well as money for heating and lighting apartments, depending on the location of the military unit.
The settlements of European Russia and Siberia (1) are divided into 9 categories depending on the cost of housing and fuel in them. The difference in payment for apartments and fuel prices between settlements of the 1st category (Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kyiv, Odessa, etc.) and 9th category (small settlements) was 200% (4 times).
Soldiers taken prisoner and who were not in the service of the enemy, upon returning from captivity, receive a salary for all the time spent in captivity, except for table money. The family of a prisoner has the right to receive half of his salary, and is also supplied with apartment money, and if anyone was supposed to, an allowance for hiring servants.
Officers serving in remote areas are entitled to an increase in salary depending on the length of service in these areas for every 5 years 20-25% (depending on the place), and for every 10 years a lump sum.
It is known that the recruiting system for recruiting the army appeared in Russia under Peter I in 1699. Since 1722, by royal decree, it was extended to the Tatars, although in fact they began to replenish the new Russian army with Tatars much earlier.
In 1737, a nominal imperial decree was issued on the recruitment of the navy half by Gentiles, half by Russians living by the sea - residents of the Arkhangelsk province. According to the same decree, infantry regiments located in the Ostzee region (modern Baltic states) were completed with foreigners.
In 1738, 2761 recruits were sent to the fleet from Kazan, Simbirsk, Astrakhan, Siberian provinces and Ufa province.
"The general institution on the collection of recruits in the state ..." of 1766 once again confirmed this principle of recruitment.
Service in the army and navy at that time, even among Russian peasants, was considered unusually difficult. It was a completely different world, about which the peasant son knew nothing. Even the clothes were radically different from those worn by the peasants.
Here is how he described the soldiers' clothes of the 18th century. Field Marshal Prince Potemkin: “In a word, the clothes of our troops and ammunition are such that it is almost impossible to come up with a better way to oppress the soldiers, all the more so since he, being taken from the peasants at almost 30 years of age, recognizes narrow boots, many garters, tight underwear dress and the abyss of things that shorten the age ... ".
To this should be added the ill-treatment of officers (primarily foreigners, of whom there were many in the Russian army) with the "lower ranks".
“Here are three men for you, make one soldier out of them”, “Forget two, but learn one” - such “pedagogical” instructions were often guided by officers when training soldiers and sailors. And if you consider that the foreigners called up for service practically did not know the Russian language ...
“... The young soldier Mukhamedzhinov, a Tatar who barely understood and spoke Russian, was completely bewildered by the tricks of his superiors - both real and imaginary. He suddenly became furious, took the gun in his hand and responded to all persuasion and orders with one decisive word: - Z-zakolu! - Yes, wait ... yes, you are a fool ... - non-commissioned officer Bobylev persuaded him. After all, who am I? I'm your guard chief, so... - Zakolu! the Tartar shouted frightened and angrily, and with his eyes filled with blood, he nervously thrust his bayonet at anyone who approached him. A handful of soldiers gathered around him, delighted with a funny adventure and a moment of rest in a boring study ... ”(A. Kuprin.“ Duel ”).
Service in the Navy was perhaps the most difficult.
The ships of that time, from the point of view of modern man, were completely unsuitable for life.
To begin with, there was simply not enough space on the ships: on average, one sailor had about one meter of living space. The monotonous diet and lack of vitamins contributed to the emergence of scurvy, which literally mowed down crews on long voyages. The work with sails was carried out exclusively by hand. On large ships there could be up to 250 hand hoists - cables that raised the yards and sails. They could not be confused in order to avoid breakdowns and accidents.
The statutes initially did not provide for the possibility of performing religious rites by non-Christians. In the "Code of Military Ordinances" of 1839 (Collection of all laws that have regulated the life of the armed forces since 1716), non-believers who "swear according to their rites" are only casually mentioned. By the Charter of the Internal Service, the regimental priest was only prescribed: “... with soldiers of foreign faiths, by no means enter into any debate about faith,” however, since 1838, by the Emperor’s Personal Decrees, to “fulfill spiritual requirements between the lower ranks of the Mohammedan law” were appointed to different cities of the Russian Empire official mullahs. Such mullahs were in Simbirsk, Kazan, Ufa, Anapa, the Separate Orenburg Corps, Finland, the Separate Caucasian Corps, in the districts of the military settlement, "at the headquarters of the troops in the Kingdom of Poland" in Warsaw (since 1865).
Later, an article appeared in the "Code ..." that "gentiles ... perform religious duties in the churches of their religion", and in 1869 - a special form of oath for "Mohammedans". Nevertheless, at the end of the 18th century, during the reign of Paul I, the Muslim soldiers of the St. Petersburg garrison, on the initiative of Mulla Yusupov, were allowed to gather for worship in the Tauride Palace. In addition, the commanders of the units where the Muslims served did not interfere with the selection of freelance mullahs from among the military.
In 1845, by the Personal Decree of the emperor, the posts of imams were established in the military ports “for the correction of spiritual requirements according to the rite of the Mohammedan faith”, and the posts of the imam and his assistant were established in the Kronstadt and Sevastopol ports.
In 1846, the positions of imams, elected from among the lower ranks in the Guards Corps, were legalized. The service life of such imams was to be equal to "the service life of these ranks."
In 1849, the Personal Decree allowed the lower ranks, applying for the position of freelance mullahs in military units, “to be examined in the knowledge of the faith at any time when Mohammedan Mullahs are located at the locations of the troops.”
Since 1857, such lower ranks began to be sent to pass exams at the Orenburg Mohammedan Spiritual Assembly.
Since 1860, mullahs appeared at military hospitals.
The lower ranks elected to the mullahs wore a soldier's uniform, they were not allowed to have beards. At the end of their service life, they could, like other military personnel, retire.
Among Russian officers, the attitude towards the Muslim Tatars was ambiguous.
Thus, the profession of Islam was considered by many of them as a disadvantage.
“This contingent, subordinating its life, activity and direction to its ignorantly fanatical convictions, upon entering the ranks of the Christian army, will find itself in a very strange position: either it will have to renounce its rituals for the entire time of its service and become in appearance an indifferent Muhammadan, or it will have to to the detriment of the service to enjoy special benefits ... ”, - wrote Colonel of the General Staff, Full Member of the Imperial Russian Geographical Society A.F. Rittikh in his book "The tribal composition of the contingents of the Russian army". Further, in the text dedicated to the Tatars, Mr. Colonel generally shows himself as a primitive chauvinist: “The peculiarities of the Tatars include the smell of sweat and fumes assigned to them, which is believed to come from the use of horse meat. By this alone, it is possible to determine which section is presented for the [recruitment] recruitment, Russian or Tatar.”
Refuting such an unfair assessment by some high-ranking officers of Tatar soldiers and sailors, one can cite several examples of their exceptional military prowess.
For example, in the lists of 91 Knights of St. George of the Guards Naval Crew "for the French campaign of 1812-1814" there is a Tatar sailor Murtaza Murdaleev. It is worth noting that at that time there was one degree of awarding the lower ranks with the St. George Cross, and this award was the only one for them at that time. Considering that the regular crew strength was 518 people, and it was updated at least twice during the campaign, it becomes clear that Murdaleev was one of the best crew sailors.
In addition, like all Russian guards - participants in the Battle of Kulm, he received the Iron Cross from the Prussian king.
Tatar sailors acted bravely in repulsing the Anglo-French landing during the defense of the city of Petropavlovsk-on-Kamchatka during the Crimean War in 1854. Here is an excerpt from the report on the results of the battle, compiled by the head of the city's defense, Admiral Zavoyko: “1st degree sailor Khalit Saitov, fighting off a crowd of English soldiers that had run into him, put three of them on the spot. Sailor Bikney Dindubaev, being wounded by a bullet, continued to fight ... Non-commissioned officer Abubakirov, having four wounds, although light, but also from which blood flowed in streams; I bandaged him myself, and he went back to business ... ". Abubakirov was awarded the St. George Cross for his feat, among other 16 lower ranks.
Finally, when it was formed in 1827, Rakhmet Karimov, an honored veteran of the Semyonovsky Guards Regiment, was awarded the St. George Cross for participation in the wars with Napoleon and the insignia of the Order of St. Anna for 20 years of impeccable service. It is worth noting that there were only 120 lower ranks in the company, and the company itself was recruited from the most honored soldiers of the guards regiments at the personal choice of their commanders.
... Having served the required 25 years, the Tatar veterans of the Russian army returned to their native villages. They returned much less than they left - only a third of all called up recruits lived to the end of their service life. These were already elderly people, whose youth was spent in the service of the Fatherland ...
I am a retired soldier, nothing more
Not a non-commissioned officer, but just a retired soldier I am!
All youth remained in the soldiery,
Only old age has reached home with me.
All his life he served exactly to failure,
Correct - I have never been punished.
Reward? As a reward, the hand of the general
I, an old man, was patted on the shoulder.
Ildar Mukhamedzhanov
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In the Russian state, starting from the 30s of the 17th century. attempts were made to create a more advanced military system. Streltsy and the local cavalry were no longer reliable means of strengthening the borders.
The regular Russian army arose under Emperor Peter I (1682-1725). His Decree "On the admission to the service of soldiers from all free people" (1699) laid the foundation for recruiting into a new army. In the Decree of February 20, 1705, the term "recruit" was first mentioned, the term of service of which was established by Peter I - "as long as strength and health allow." The recruiting system firmly established the class principle of organizing the army: the soldiers were recruited from peasants and other tax-paying strata of the population, and the officers from the nobility. Each rural or petty-bourgeois community was obliged to provide a man between the ages of 20 and 35 from a certain number (usually 20) of households to the army.
In 1732, the favorite of Empress Anna Ioannovna (1730-1740) - B.Kh. Minich (President of the Military Collegium) approved the recruitment of recruits aged 15 to 30 by lot. The life term of service was replaced by 10 years; moreover, peasant soldiers could be promoted to officers, i.e. get out in the nobles. In addition, in 1736, an order was issued allowing the only sons in the family not to serve in the army, and one of the brothers to avoid recruitment.
In 1762, Emperor Peter III (1761-1762) set the term of service in the army at 25 years.
In 1808-1815. under Emperor Alexander I (1801-1825), military settlements were organized - special volosts inhabited by state peasants, who were transferred to the category of military settlers. Soldiers' regiments settled here, their families were assigned to the soldiers, soldiers were married (often not by their choice). Military settlers served lifelong military service and did agricultural work to provide for themselves. All boys from the age of 7 became cantonists, dressed in uniform and carried both soldier and peasant service for life. The State Archive of the Chuvash Republic stores books on the registration of cantonists. In the 50s of the 19th century. settlers, cantonists, dismissed from the military department, were included in the rural societies of state and appanage peasants, as evidenced by the revision tales and other documents.
Since 1834, under Emperor Nicholas I (1825-1855), a soldier was dismissed on indefinite leave (“reserve”) after 20 years of service. From 1839 to 1859, the term of service was reduced from 19 to 12 years, the age limit for a recruit was from 35 to 30.
From the official (draft) list of the Cheboksary district presence for 1854:
620. Mikhailo Vasilyev (Note: this recruit came hunting for his brother Kozma Vasilyev), age - 20 years old, height - 2 arshins 3 inches, signs: dark brown hair and eyebrows, blue eyes, ordinary nose and mouth, chin - round, in general the face is pockmarked. Special signs: on the right side of the back there is a spot from the disease. From what estate he was adopted, according to what set: Kazan province, Cheboksary district, Sundyr volost, village Bolshaya Akkozina, from state peasants, 11 private sets, Orthodox, single. Read, write, does not know any skill.
719. Vasily Fedorov, age 21/2 years, height - 2 arshins 5 inches, signs: hair on the head and eyebrows - black, eyes brown, nose - wide-sharp, mouth - ordinary, chin - round, generally clean face. Distinguishing Features: Birthmark on lower back. From what class he was adopted, according to what set: Kazan province, Cheboksary district, Lipovskaya volost, Bagildina village, from state peasants, according to 11 private sets, Orthodox, married to Elena Vasilyeva, no children. Read, write, does not know any skill.
In the family recruiting list of the Cheboksary district of the Alymkasinsky volost of the Alymkasinsky rural society for 1859, there is information about the receipt of peasants in recruits since 1828, there is no data on the return of recruits.
The next changes in terms of service are associated with the head of the Military Ministry D.A. Milyutin (1861-1881), who carried out the reform in 1873. As a result, from January 1, 1874, the recruiting system was replaced by universal military service. The entire male population who has reached the age of 20, without distinction of class, served directly in the ranks for 6 years and was in the reserve for 9 years (for the fleet - 7 years of active service and 3 years in reserve). Those who served the terms of active service and in the reserve were enrolled in the militia, in which they stayed up to 40 years. Exempted from active service: the only son, the only breadwinner in the family with young brothers and sisters, conscripts whose older brother is serving or has served his term of active service. The rest fit for service, who did not have benefits, drew lots. All fit for service, incl. and beneficiaries, were enlisted in the reserve, and after 15 years - in the militia. Deferrals were given for 2 years on property status. The terms of active military service were reduced depending on the educational qualification: up to 4 years for those who graduated from elementary school, up to 3 years for a city school, up to one and a half years for those who had higher education. If an educated person entered active service voluntarily (“volunteer”), the terms of service were halved. In the service, soldiers were taught to read and write. The clergy were exempted from military service.
From the recruiting list Yandashevo, Alymkasinsky volost, Cheboksary district for 1881:
… d. Chodina
No. 2. Nikita Yakimov, b. May 24, 1860, marital status: sister Ekaterina, 12 years old, wife Oksinya Yakovleva, 20 years old.
Decision of the Presence on military service: “Has first-class benefits as the only worker in the family. Enroll in the militia ";
v. Oldeevo - Izeevo
No. 1. Ivan Petrov, b. January 4, 1860, marital status: mother - widow, 55 years old, sisters: Varvara, 23 years old, Praskovya, 12 years old, wife Ogafya Isaeva, 25 years old.
Decision of the Presence on military service: “The privilege of the first category was given as the only worker in the family with a mother - a widow. enlisted in the militia."
From the report of the assistant foreman of the Alymkasinsky volost board to the Cheboksary district police officer dated August 17, 1881: “... in the village. Yurakovo is now retired soldier Porfiry Fedorov - a musician of the choir of the 66th Infantry Regiment of Butyrka, who entered military service on December 16, 1876, due to weakness was enlisted in the Arzamas reserve battalion, in which he took part in the Turkish war ... ".
Under the Minister of War P.S. Vannovsky (1882-1898), according to the new military regulations of 1888, there were new reductions in the service life: 4 years in foot troops, 5 years in cavalry and engineering troops. Service life in the reserve increased from 9 to 18 years. A person fit for service was registered in the militia until the age of 43, the draft age for active service increased from 20 to 21, the terms of service for persons who graduated from secondary and higher educational institutions, as well as for volunteers, increased by 2-4 times.
From the draft list of the Ishley-Sharbashevsky society of the Syundyr volost of the Kozmodemyansky district for 1892:
2. Markov Lavrenty Markovich, b. August 4, 1871 Marital status: brother Nikolai, 11 years old, sister Daria, 16 years old.
Decision of the Presence on military service: “He has the right to a first-class benefit under Article 45. as the only capable brother with his brother and sister - complete orphans ... Enroll as a warrior of the 2nd category in the militia.
3. Nikolaev Philip Nikolaevich, b. November 2, 1871 Marital status: father Nikolai Fedorov, 45 years old, mother Agrafena Stepanov, 40 years old, brothers: Peter, 17 years old, Ivan, 13 years old, Kuzma, 10 ½ years old, Nikifor, 6 years old.
Decision of the Presence: “He has the right to a privilege of the second category under 45 Art. as the only son able to work with a capable father and brothers under 18 years old. Enlist as a 1st class warrior in the militia.
From the draft list of the Syundyr volost for 1895:
40. Elakov Roman Evdokimovich, b. November 12, 1873 Marital status: father Evdokim Ivanov, 50 years old, mother Nastasya Petrova, 45 years old, brothers: Grigory, 23 years old, entered the draft in 1892 and is in the service, Philip, 18 years old, sisters: Nadezhda, 15 years old, Tatyana, 12 years old; Orthodox, single, by education belongs to the fourth category (certificate of the Kozmodemyansk district school council dated August 17, 1888), drawing lot number No. 230, height 1.7 1 , is entitled to third-class benefit as the next oldest brother in active service. Solution: enroll in the militia, warrior of the 1st category.
The last change in the term of service in the tsarist army took place in 1906: they began to serve in the infantry for 3 years, in the rest of the troops - 4 years.
IN AND. Elakhova,
Head of Department
safeguarding
and accounting documents
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 Military Service 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 exemption 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 make a reservation right away that below in the text we will talk about the procedure for recruiting 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 reserve service (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 graduated from educational institutions of the first and second category in all branches of the military serve 18 years, of which 3 years are active service and 15 years 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).
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 vacations 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 the 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 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.
From the time 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 an absolutely powerless creature, who could be mocked and humiliated by 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 peasant household of a soldier 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 storekeeper, who is in 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 of outstanding 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 of 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. Kalmyks, Trukhmens, Nogais living in the Stavropol Territory.
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 of sea vessels of the 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 enrolled 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 all your affairs aside and for some time stand guard over your state and your property with weapons in your hands. Who else 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 will only note that in large cities there existed on the rights of Uyezd Presences and City Presences on 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 entering a person in the registration list is the records in the birth registers of 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 The Provincial Presences submit to the Ministry of War information on the number of available conscripts.
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 benefits for marital status of the first category and persons included in the additional lists A, B, C, are not involved in the draw. 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 and marital status have 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 soldiers in universities, or did not want to enter 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 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.
Officer and non-commissioned officer positions 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 the Civil War completely broke it both on the side of the White Movement and among the Bolsheviks. The beginning of the destruction of both the Russian Army and the system of its recruitment, and after that the entire Russian state was put by no means by the Bolsheviks, but by 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 conceit, 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, the Russian Army and its recruitment system have been destroyed again. 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?
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
In our special issue "Professional" ("Red Star" No. 228), we talked about the fact that the regular Russian army not only began its formation in the time of Peter the Great on a contract basis, but also later, in all subsequent reigns - from Catherine I to Nicholas II - partly consisted of "lower ranks" who voluntarily entered the service, that is, soldiers and non-commissioned officers. The system of manning the armed forces was changing: there was a recruitment, there was an all-class military service, but the “contract soldiers”, in modern terms, remained in the army anyway ... Today we will continue the story on the same topic and try to comprehend what benefit these same armies brought “contract servicemen” of non-noble rank and why they themselves voluntarily served in its ranks.
About fighters that officers were good for grandfathers
So-called“recruit service” existed from 1699 (by the way, the word “recruit” itself was introduced into use only in 1705) and before, in accordance with the manifesto of Alexander II, Russia switched to “all-class military service” in 1874.
It is known that recruits were taken from the age of 20, and not from 18, as they called us in the 20th century, which, you see, is a certain difference. Then the same age - 20 years - remained during the transition to conscription service ... It would also not be superfluous to say that people under the age of 35 were recruited, which means that with a twenty-five-year service life, a soldier could, as it was then said , "pull the strap" to a very respectable age - up to the seventh dozen. However, in the "epoch of the Napoleonic Wars" they began to take even 40-year-olds ... As a result, the army, or rather, its soldiers, aged inexorably and inevitably.
On the other hand, the officer corps was not only young, but rather, simply young. Let's take the book by Dmitry Tselorungo "Officers of the Russian Army - Participants in the Battle of Borodino" and open the table showing the age level of these officers. It analyzed data for 2,074 people, and from this figure calculations were made that are quite consistent with the “arithmetic mean” for the entire Russian army in 1812.
The main age of the officers who fought at Borodino ranged from 21 to 25 years old - 782 people, or 37.7 percent. 421 people, or 20.3 percent of all officers, were between the ages of 26 and 30. In general, officers aged 21 to 30 accounted for almost 60 percent of the total. In addition, it should be added that 276 people - 13.3 percent - were aged 19-20; 88 people - this is 4.2 percent - 17-18 years old; 18 people - 0.9 percent - 15-16 years old, and another 0.05 percent was the only young officer 14 years old. By the way, there was also only one officer over the age of 55 under Borodino ... In general, commanders aged 14 to 30 years old in the army turned out to be almost 80 percent, and those who were over 30 - just over twenty. They were led by - let's remember the famous poetic lines - "young generals of bygone years": Count Miloradovich, who commanded the troops of the right flank under Borodino, was 40, brigade commander Tuchkov 4th - 35, head of artillery of the 1st army Count Kutaisov - 28 ...
So imagine a completely ordinary picture: a 17-year-old ensign, a young man at the age of our modern senior student of Suvorov, goes out in front of his platoon. In front of him are men of 40-50 years old. The officer greets them with an exclamation of “Great, guys!”, And the gray-whiskered “guys” yell in unison in response, “We wish you good health, your honor!” "Come on, come here! - calls the ensign from the ranks of some 60-year-old grandfather. “Tell me, brother…”
All this was so laid out: both the form of greeting - “guys”, and the liberal-condescending appeal to the soldier “brother”, and the conversation with the lower rank, the representative of the “vile estate”, exclusively “on you”. The latter, however, has come down to our times - some bosses see any of their subordinates as a "lower rank" ...
By the way, the memory of those morals was preserved both in the old soldiers' songs - "Soldiers, brave kids!", And in literature - "Guys, isn't Moscow behind us?"
Of course, much can be explained by the peculiarities of serfdom, that distant time when a soldier saw in an officer, first of all, a representative of the upper class, to whom he was always obliged to obey unquestioningly. But still, was it so easy for yesterday's graduates of the cadet corps, recent cadets, who learned the basics of practical military science here in the regiment under the guidance of "uncles" - experienced soldiers, to command elderly soldiers who sometimes "broke" more than one campaign?
Here, by the way, although the time is somewhat different - already the very end of the 19th century - but a very accurate description of such a situation, taken from the book of Count Alexei Alekseevich Ignatiev "Fifty years in the ranks":
"I'm going to class...
“Command,” I say to the non-commissioned officer.
He clearly pronounces the command, according to which my students quickly scatter around the hall in a checkerboard pattern.
- Protect the right cheek, to the left if, down to the right cut!
The whistle of checkers in the air, and again - complete silence.
What can I teach here? God would give me to remember all this for the review, where I have to command.
- It doesn't look very clean, - the sergeant-major tells me intelligibly, - they do very bad things in your third platoon.
I am silent, because the soldiers do everything better than myself.
Meanwhile, Count Ignatiev was not from the "regimental junkers", but was educated in the Corps of Pages, one of the best military educational institutions in Russia ...
It is clear that between the two categories of military personnel - officers and soldiers - there should have been some, let's say, a link. You can also guess that these should be sergeants - non-commissioned officers at that time.
Yes, theoretically it is. But after all, we have the sad experience of the Soviet Army, where sergeants were often called "private soldiers with little stripes" and all the time complained that officers had to replace them ... In addition, if representatives of a socially unified society served in the Soviet Army, then in the Russian Army , as already mentioned, the officers represented one class, the soldiers another. And although today the "class approach" is not in vogue, however, the right word, in vain we forget about "class contradictions" and, by the way, about "class hatred". It is clear that in the depths of his soul the peasant did not like the landowner-nobleman too much - and, I think, even at a time when one of them wore shoulder straps, and the other - epaulettes. The exception, of course, is 1812, when the fate of the Fatherland was being decided. It is known that this time became an era of unprecedented unity of all strata of Russian society, and those who ended up in the theater of military operations - soldiers, officers and generals - then equally divided march loads, stale crackers and enemy bullets ... But, fortunately, or Unfortunately, this has not happened very often in our history.
And in peacetime, as well as during some local military campaigns, there was no such closeness in the army. So is it worth clarifying that not every non-commissioned officer sought to curry favor with the officers, in one sense or another, "extrade" his comrades. In the name of what? There was, of course, a material interest: if during the reign of Emperor Paul I in the Life Guards Hussar Regiment, a combatant hussar received 22 rubles a year, then a non-commissioned officer - 60, almost three times more. But after all, in our life, human relationships are far from always determined by money. Therefore, a normal, let’s say, non-commissioned officer more often found himself on the side of a soldier, trying in every possible way to cover up his sins and protect him from command ... It was, of course, in a different way, as Count Ignatiev again testifies: “Latvians, the most serviceable soldiers , - bad riders, but people with a strong will, turned into fierce enemies of the soldiers as soon as they received non-commissioned officer galloons.
However, the role of that very link, and maybe even some kind of "layer" was performed, of course, not by them, but, again, by "contract workers" - that is, the lower ranks who served under the contract ...
"Where should the soldier go now?"
Before 1793 Russian soldier served for life. Then - twenty-five years. It is known that at the end of his turbulent and controversial quarter-century reign, Emperor Alexander Pavlovich wearily complained to those close to him: “The soldier, even after twenty-five years of service, is released to rest ...” This period remained in the memory of descendants, in which he seemed to “stretch out” for everything XIX century.
And here is what Colonel Pavel Ivanovich Pestel, the head of the secret Southern Society, wrote: “The term for service, determined at 25 years, is so long through every measure that few soldiers go through and endure it, and therefore from infancy they get used to looking at military service as a cruel misfortune and almost like a decisive sentence to death. ".
As for the "sentence to death" said quite rightly. Without even touching on participation in hostilities, let us clarify that, firstly, life expectancy in Russia in the century before last was still shorter than now, and, as we said, they could be recruited even at a fair age. Secondly, the then army service had its own specifics. “Kill nine, learn the tenth!” - used to say the Grand Duke and Tsarevich Konstantin Pavlovich, a veteran of the Italian and Swiss campaigns. He, who on April 19, 1799, personally led a company to attack near Basignano, distinguished himself at Tidon, Trebbia and Novi, showed considerable courage in the Alps, for which he was awarded by his father, Emperor Paul I, the diamond badges of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, "became famous" later for such "pearls" as "war spoils the army" and "these people can't do anything but fight!"
« Recruit
- a rookie, a novice of military service, who entered the soldier, into the rank and file, by service or for hire.
(Explanatory dictionary of the living Great Russian language.)
Although this is not surprising: after all, in the army, especially in the regiments of the guard, the imperial family first of all saw the support and protection of the throne from all sorts of enemies, and Russian history quite convincingly proved that the external danger for our sovereigns was much less dangerous than internal. Say what you like, but not a single one of them was killed by the invaders... That's why the soldiers were drilled for years, so that they would then, without hesitation, be ready to fulfill the highest will at any moment.
It is clear that in a quarter of a century it was possible to make a good soldier out of almost any peasant. Moreover, the army, and even more so - the guards, they took not just anyone, but in accordance with certain rules.
A recruit who came to the service was taught not only the basics of martial art, but also the rules of conduct, one might even say, “noble manners”. So, in the "Instructions for the colonel's cavalry regiment" of 1766 it is said, "so that the peasant's vile habit, evasion, antics, scratching during conversation were completely exterminated from him". The aforementioned Tsarevich Konstantin demanded “so that people would disdain to be like peasants, ... so that every person could speak decently, sensibly and without shouting, would answer his boss without being shy or impudent in front of him, would always have the appearance of a soldier with a proper posture, for knowing his job, He has nothing to fear...
Pretty soon - under the influence of persuasion and everyday drill, as well as, if necessary, a fist and a rod - the recruit turned into a completely different person. And not only outwardly: in essence, he was already becoming different, because the soldier came out of serfdom, and long years of service completely separated him from his family, his native places, and his usual way of life. That is why, having served, the veteran faced the problem of where to go, how to live on? By releasing him "outright", the state obliged the retired soldier "to shave his beard" and not to engage in begging, and somehow nobody else cared about anything else ...
Retired soldiers had to settle in life on their own. Some went to the almshouse due to old age, some were determined to be janitors or porters, some to the city service - depending on age, strength and health ... 
By the way, it is worth noting that during the 19th century, the number of years of military service for recruiting gradually decreased - which means that younger, healthier people retired. So, in the second half of the reign of Alexander I, the term of service in the guard was reduced by three years - up to 22 years. On the other hand, the Blessed One, as Tsar Alexander Pavlovich was officially called, who always looked abroad and was very kind to the Poles and the Balts, already in 1816 reduced the term of soldier's service in the Kingdom of Poland, which was part of the Russian Empire, to 16 years ...
In Russia itself, this was achieved only at the end of the reign of his brother, Nicholas I. And then only in a few steps - after reductions in 1827, 1829, 1831 and other years - by 1851 the service life gradually reached 15 years.
By the way, there were also “targeted” reductions. AT “History of the Life Guards of the Izmailovsky Regiment”, for example, states that after the suppression of the rebellion of 1831, “an order was issued that again showed the love, care and gratitude of the monarch to the suppressors of Poland. By this order, two years of service were reduced for the troops who were on the campaign ... Those who wished to remain in the service were ordered to issue an additional one and a half salary and, after serving a five-year period from the date of refusal to resign, turn all this salary into a pension, regardless of a certain state pension.
« Recruitment set- the old way of manning our army; began in 1699 and continued until 1874... Recruits were supplied by taxable estates. At first, the sets were random, as needed. They have become annual since 1831, with the publication of the recruiting charter.
(Small Encyclopedic Dictionary. Brockhaus - Efron.)
And since in the conditions of the then Europe, peaceful after the Napoleonic storms, there was no need for extraordinary recruitment sets, then the service was taken mainly by people 20-25 years old. It turned out that by the age of 40 the warrior was already finishing his service - it seemed that it was still possible to start a new life, but not everyone wanted it, not everyone liked it ... Some of them decided to connect their lives to the end with the army, with which they have bonded over many years of service.
I would be happy to serve!
Let's take the book “Life Hussars” published last year by the Military Publishing House - the history of the Life Guards of His Imperial Majesty the Hussar Regiment - and we will select the following information from there:
“Until 1826 ... an ordinary soldier who wanted to continue serving even at the end of the legal term received a salary increased by a six-month salary ...
On August 22, 1826, on the day of the sacred coronation, the sovereign emperor was pleased ... to dismiss the lower ranks who had served in the guard for 20 years (in the army for 23 years) ... As for the lower ranks who wished to remain in the service and after the expiration of the appointed time, then ... the increase in their salary was supposed to be increased not only by half-salary, but by an increase in the full salary, that is, for privates who voluntarily remained in the service, the salary was increased by two and a half times. But even this was not limited to the privileges and advantages bestowed upon them.
Those of them who, after refusing to retire, served for another five years, the salary, increased two and a half times, are supposed to turn into a death pension, and they receive this pension regardless of the funds that are provided to them by the insignia of the Military Order and the Holy Anna."
By the way, in the form of a sign of special distinction, such "contract" warriors received a stripe of gold galloon on their left sleeve, and every five years they added one more stripe.
“On July 1, 1829, the lower ranks were ordered to the lower ranks, who had served in the non-commissioned officer rank for 10 years (in the army for 12 years) and, after passing the established exam, refused to be promoted to officers, to pay two-thirds of the cornet salary in the service and after serving five years after this salary should be turned into a lifelong pension.
About why not all non-commissioned officers wanted to receive chief officer epaulettes and, together with them, noble dignity, we already talked last time ...
On March 26, 1843, the method of producing non-commissioned officers as chief officers was changed: all those who passed the exam were divided into two categories according to its results. “Non-commissioned officers who passed the first-class exam according to the program received the right to be promoted to army regiments, and for refusing it they enjoyed the following advantages: they had a silver lanyard, a stripe on a sleeve made of galloon, were exempted from corporal punishment and demotion to the rank and file without court ... and also to receive two-thirds of the Cornet's salary in a pension of five years of service without blame from the date of the appointment of this salary.
Non-commissioned officers of the second rank, that is, those who passed the weakest exam, were not promoted to officers, but they were assigned, if they wished to remain in the service, one third of the cornet salary, which, after five years of service, turned into a pension, and at the same time all other advantages were presented. non-commissioned officers of the first category, with the exception of only a silver lanyard ... "
Unfortunately, modern military man, wearing our completely impersonal, "non-national" form, is unaware of how much certain details of ancient uniforms meant. For example, a silver lanyard on a saber or sword was an honorary accessory of an officer's rank - it was not without reason that after the battle of Austerlitz on November 20, 1805, when the Novgorod musketeer regiment faltered, its officers were deprived of such a distinction. So the lower rank, awarded the silver lanyard, was close to the officers, who now had to address him as “you”.
All the enumerated benefits and features of the service of the then "contract soldiers" - and for them there were their own rules for accommodation and organization of life - not only radically separated them from ordinary soldiers and non-commissioned officers, but also to a certain extent changed the psychology of both themselves and their colleagues in relation to them. These people really had something to lose, and they categorically did not want to return to the original. And not only because of what they directly received from the service, but also because of their attitude towards it. People who did not like the service did not stay to serve beyond the term and did not refuse the officer rank, which gives the right to resign ... And here there was really selfless love, based on the realization that a military man is superior to a civilian in every respect. So it was, so brought up!
It is clear that no one would have dared to call a “soldier with little stripes” of such a “bourbon”, as they called in those days the most “cool” representatives of the non-commissioned, as well as the officer class. He was no longer a soldier, although not an officer at all, but a representative of precisely that extremely necessary link, which, according to one German military theorist, was the "backbone of the army."
However, it is known that "contract soldiers" in the then army performed the duties of not only junior commanders, but also various non-combat specialists, which was also very valuable. An absolutely amazing episode was described by the former cavalry guard Count Ignatiev - I will cite his story in abbreviation ...
Stoker's death
“The following happened to me on one duty in the regiment: in the evening ... the non-commissioned officer on duty ran in on a non-combat team and reported with excitement in his voice that “Alexander Ivanovich died.”
Everyone, from the private to the regiment commander, called Alexander Ivanovich the old bearded sergeant major who stood for hours next to the orderly at the gate, regularly saluting everyone passing by.
Where did Alexander Ivanovich come to us from? It turned out that even ... at the beginning
In the 1870s, the stoves in the regiment smoked incredibly, and no one could cope with them; once the military district sent a specialist stove-maker from the Jewish cantonists of Oshansky to the regiment. With him, the stoves burned regularly, but without him they smoked. Everyone knew this for sure and, bypassing all the rules and laws, they detained Oshansky in the regiment, giving him a uniform, titles, medals and distinctions for extra-term “immaculate service” ... His sons also served in extra-long service, one as a trumpeter, the other as a clerk , the third - tailor ...
I had no idea what happened in the next few hours. Luxurious sledges and carriages drove up to the regimental gates, from which elegant elegant ladies in furs and respectable gentlemen in top hats got out; they all made their way to the basement, where the body of Alexander Ivanovich lay. It turned out - and this could not have occurred to any of us - that Sergeant Major Oshansky had been at the head of the St. Petersburg Jewish community for many years. The next morning, the removal of the body took place ... In addition to all of Jewish Petersburg, not only all the available officers of the regiment, but also many old cavalry guards, led by all the former commanders of the regiment, gathered here.
The above snippet testifies that, firstly, in the old days even very respected people entered the "contract service" and, secondly, that in the regiments they really appreciated their "contract soldiers" ...
However, we always say “in regiments”, while in the 19th century the Russian army had at least one separate military unit, fully staffed by “contract soldiers”.
Eighty years in service
In issue 19 of the magazine"Bulletin of the military clergy" for 1892, I found an absolutely amazing biography of the Russian soldier-contractor Vasily Nikolaevich Kochetkov, who was born in 1785.
In May 1811, respectively, 26 years old, he was taken into military service and assigned to the illustrious Life Grenadier Regiment, soon assigned to the Guards and named the Life Guards Grenadiers. In 1812, participating in rearguard battles, this regiment retreated to Mozhaisk, and Kochetkov fought in its ranks at Borodino, and then at Leipzig, took Paris. Then there was the Turkish War of 1827-1828, where the Life Grenadiers, as it were, justified themselves for their presence among the rebel troops on Senate Square on December 14, 1825 ... In 1831, the Guards grenadiers took part in the capture of Warsaw.
By this time, Kochetkov had just served 20 years, refusing to be an officer - therefore, he was a non-commissioned officer, but he didn’t leave “outright”, but remained on an extended term. Moreover, the old grenadier decided to continue his service not on the St. Petersburg parquets, but in the Caucasian Corps, where he spent five years in battle - and for ten months he was captured by the robbers. Vasily Nikolaevich returned from the Caucasus in 1847, when he was already “sixty-odd”, it was time to think about resigning. And he really ended his service - however, only after he visited Hungary in 1849, where the troops of Tsar Nikolai Pavlovich helped the Austrian allies restore order ...
Probably, the traces of the grenadier Kochetkov would have been lost, but the events of the Crimean War again called the veteran into service. The old man reached Sevastopol, joined the ranks of those fighting for the city, and even participated in the sorties of the besieged garrison. When he returned to St. Petersburg, Tsar Alexander II enrolled an old servant in the Life Guards Dragoon Regiment, where Kochetkov served for six years, and after that he entered the company of the Palace Grenadiers - that very special unit where all the soldiers served voluntarily ... Company served in the Winter Palace, and the court service clearly did not appeal to the veteran, who soon went to Central Asia, where he fought under the banner of the glorious General Skobelev, recapturing Samarkand and Khiva ... He returned to his company only in 1873 - note, 88 years old from birth. True, he again did not stay here for long, because three years later he volunteered for the army across the Danube and, it’s just scary to think, fought on Shipka - these are the steepest mountains, absolutely unthinkable conditions. But the veteran of the Patriotic War of 1812 was able to do everything...
After the end of the war, Kochetkov again returned to the company of the Palace Grenadiers, served in it for another 13 years, and then decided to return to his native land. But it did not come true ... As stated in "Bulletin of the military clergy", "death caught the poor soldier completely unexpectedly, at a time when, having received a retirement, he was returning to his homeland, in a hurry to see his relatives, to live in peace after a long service."
Perhaps, no one else had a greater combat path than this "contract" grenadier.
Palace Grenadiers
Dvortsovy Company grenadier was formed in 1827 and carried an honorary guard duty in the Winter Palace. At first, it included guards soldiers who went through the entire Patriotic War - first from the Neman to Borodino, then from Tarutino to Paris. If the guards, dressed up from the guards regiments, guarded the sovereign, then the main task of the palace grenadiers was to keep order and keep an eye on the cunning court servants - lackeys, stokers and other brethren. If in the 20th century they shouted intensely about “civilian control” over the army, then in the 19th century they understood that it would be safer and calmer when disciplined and honest military men keep an eye on civilian dodgers ...
“Volunteers are persons with an educational qualification who entered voluntarily, without drawing lots, for active military service as lower ranks. The voluntary service of volunteers rests not on contract, but on law; it is the same military service, but only with a modification of the nature of its performance.
(Military encyclopedia. 1912).
First, old-timers were selected into the company, and later they began to recruit those who had fully served their term, that is, “contract soldiers”. The content, at the behest of Emperor Nicholas I, was immediately determined by him to be very good: non-commissioned officers equated in rank with army warrant officers - 700 rubles a year, grenadiers of the first article - 350, grenadiers of the second article - 300. The non-commissioned officer of the palace grenadiers was actually an officer , so he received an officer's salary. Such obscenity that even a "contract" soldier of even the most "elite" part received a salary more than an officer's salary never happened in the Russian army. By the way, in the company guarding the Winter Palace, not only did “contract soldiers” serve, but all of its officers curried their way from ordinary soldiers, they began their service as recruits like their subordinates!
It can be understood that Emperor Nicholas I, who founded this company, had special confidence in it, which the palace grenadiers fully justified. Suffice it to recall the fire in the Winter Palace on December 17, 1837, when they, together with the guards of the Transfiguration, carried out portraits of generals from the Military Gallery of 1812 and the most valuable palace property.
After all, they were guided all the time, which is considered the most expensive here, for which special care is needed ... By the way, it is worth remembering how Tsar Nikolai Pavlovich appeared in the middle of the burning hall and, seeing that the grenadiers, straining, were dragging a huge Venetian mirror, I told them: “Don't guys, leave it! Save yourself!" “Your Majesty! one of the soldiers objected. “You can’t, it costs such huge money!” The king coolly broke the mirror with a candelabra: “Now leave it!”
Two of the grenadiers - non-commissioned officer Alexander Ivanov and Savely Pavlukhin - died then in a burning building ... Real army service is never easy, it always carries some potential danger. In the old days, this “risk factor” was tried to be compensated at least financially...
... That's basically and everything that I would like to tell about the history of "contract service" in Russia. As you can see, it was not something far-fetched, artificial, and it brought considerable benefits - provided that it was organized comprehensively - for the army and for Russia.
However, it would be useful to recall that never - even at the very beginning of its history - our regular army was not purely "contract". "Contract soldiers", no matter how they were called, were an elite part of the "lower ranks", were a reliable link between officers, command staff and privates, non-commissioned officers, the "backbone" of the very Russian army that bravely fought under Poltava and Borodino, defended Sevastopol, crossed the Balkans and, thanks to the mediocrity of the top state leadership, disappeared undefeated on the fields of the First World War.
On the pictures: Unknown artist. Palace grenadier.
V. SHIRKOV. Extraordinary private of the Yamburg Lancers Regiment. 1845.
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