Militia

A militia is a military or paramilitary force made of civilian members. This differs from a professional standing army. Regular armies consist of full-time, professional military personnel. Militias often act as a pool of manpower for these regular forces. They may be raised during times of need to support active troops.

When acting alone, militias usually cannot hold ground against professional armies. Instead, they support regular troops through skirmishing or holding fortifications. They may also conduct irregular warfare. Some militias focus on protecting a specific community, its property, or its laws.

The way a militia functions depends on its official status. Some are sanctioned by a government to act as professional forces. For example, the United States National Guard is a part-time militia. However, its members are trained to the same standards as full-time soldiers. In other cases, militias may operate outside of a state's legal jurisdiction. These are often called private military forces, irregular militaries, or guerrilla forces. In countries using conscription, the term might refer to the entire able-bodied population. These citizens are legally obliged to respond when called to arms.

The word militia comes from Latin roots. It stems from "miles," meaning soldier, and "-itia," meaning a state or condition. In ancient Rome, it specifically referred to defense service. This was distinct from a body of armed defenders called "volgus militum." The term has been recorded in English since at least 1590. In France, the history of militias is quite long. The Gauls used resistance against Roman invaders. Later, Joan of Arc organized and led a militia until 1431. This helped settle the succession to the French crown.

During the French Revolution, the National Guard served as a political home defense militia. Later, the French Resistance emerged during World War II. They conducted a guerrilla war of attrition against German forces.

Germany also has a complex history of militia groups. In AD 98, the Roman historian Tacitus described the "centeni," which were Germanic militias. During the Napoleonic Wars, the Lützow Free Corps acted as volunteer forces. These troops were often seen as unreliable by regular armies. They were mainly used for minor duties or as sentries. After 1918, many nationalist paramilitary groups formed in Germany. The Einwohnerwehr was a citizen militia active from 1919 to 1921. It was formed to help citizens protect themselves from looters and revolutionaries.

The Nazi Party also created paramilitary wings. The Sturmabteilung, or SA, served as a Nazi militia. From the SA, the Schutzstaffel (SS) grew into a powerful group. At the end of World War II, the Volkssturm was formed. This national militia included men, women, and children. They assisted the army with fortification duties like digging anti-tank ditches.

In Great Britain, militia service is a very old tradition. It traces back to Anglo-Saxon times. There were two main groups: the posse comitatus and the fyrd. The posse comitatus was an assembly called to catch lawbreakers. The fyrd was a military body meant to defend the locality. In the 16th and 17th centuries, the militia became a major institution. It was organized by shire counties under a Lord Lieutenant. Every parish provided a quota of men for muster rolls. Households were even assessed to provide weapons, armor, or horses.

While training was required, it was rarely done. This meant many regiments were ill-prepared for emergencies.

Militias were also essential in the English Empire. When settlers arrived in North America in 1607, they needed militias for safety. The Jamestown militia saw constant action against the Powhatan Federation. In Bermuda, fortifications began in 1612 to protect against Spanish attacks. In the 17th century, Bermuda's defense relied entirely on its militia. This included a standing body of trained artillerymen. They guarded the fortifications around New London, also known as St. George's.

Militias relate to many different social and political systems. They can be tools for national defense or instruments of political control. In some eras, they have been used to protect citizens from crime. In others, they have been used by political parties to fight rivals. The transition from civilian militia to professional standing army is a major theme in military history. Today, the distinction between part-time militias and professional soldiers continues to evolve.