Recruitment of the Russian army

XVIII - early XX centuries

The Russian army began to be created from the “amusing” regiments of the young Tsar Peter I in 1683. It was not yet an army, it was the forerunner of the army. The amusements were recruited both on a voluntary basis (people without specific occupations, runaway serfs, free peasants) and on a forced basis (young people from the palace servants). However, by 1689, two full-blooded infantry regiments were formed (Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky). Their officers were mostly foreigners invited to Russian service. The length of service was not determined for either soldiers or officers.

In parallel, there was an old Russian army, recruited on a voluntary basis for money (streltsy, foreign soldier regiments), which gradually dissolved and disappeared during the campaigns against Azov, streltsy riots, etc.

By decree of Peter I of November 17, 1699. The creation of the regular Russian Army began. The army was recruited with soldiers on a mixed basis. “Volnitsa” is the admission into the army of free people personally. “Datochnye” is the forced assignment of serfs belonging to landowners and monasteries to the army. It was established - 2 recruits for every 500 "dacha" people. It was possible to replace one recruit with a cash contribution of 11 rubles. Soldiers were accepted between the ages of 15 and 35. However, the first recruitment showed that the “freemen” were clearly not enough, and the landowners preferred to pay money instead of supplying recruits.

XVIII century

Since 1703, a single principle of recruiting soldiers for the army was introduced recruitment, which will exist in the Russian Army until 1874. Recruitment was announced irregularly by decrees of the tsar, depending on the needs of the army.

The initial training of recruits was carried out directly in the regiments, but from 1706 training was introduced at recruiting stations. The length of military service was not determined (for life). Those subject to conscription could nominate a replacement for themselves. Only those completely unfit for service were fired. Quite a significant number of soldiers were recruited into the army from among soldiers’ children, all of whom were sent to “cantonist” schools from an early age. From among them, the units received barbers, doctors, musicians, clerks, shoemakers, saddlers, tailors, blacksmiths, forges and other specialists.

The army was staffed with non-commissioned officers by promoting the most capable and efficient soldiers to non-commissioned officer ranks. Later, many non-commissioned officers attended cantonist schools.

The army was initially filled with officers for money (voluntary principle) from among foreign mercenaries, but after the defeat at Narva on November 19, 1700, Peter I introduced the forced recruitment of all young nobles into the guard as soldiers, who, after completing training, were released into the army as officers. The Guards regiments thus also played the role of officer training centers. The length of service of officers was also not determined. Refusal to serve as an officer entailed deprivation of the nobility. 90% of the officers were literate.

Since 1736, the service life of officers was limited to 25 years. In 1731, the first educational institution for training officers was opened - the Cadet Corps (however, for the training of artillery and engineering officers, the “School of the Pushkar Order” was opened back in 1701). Since 1737, it has been prohibited to produce illiterate officers as officers.

In 1761, Peter III issued the Decree “On the Liberty of the Nobility.” Nobles are exempt from compulsory military service. They can choose military or civilian service at their discretion. From this moment on, staffing the army with officers becomes purely voluntary.

In 1766, a document was published that streamlined the army recruitment system. It was “The General Institution on the collection of recruits in the state and on the procedures that should be followed during recruitment.” Recruitment, in addition to serfs and state peasants, was extended to merchants, courtyard people, yasak, black sowing, clergy, foreigners, and persons assigned to state-owned factories. Only artisans and merchants were allowed to make a cash contribution instead of a recruit. The age of the recruits was set from 17 to 35 years old, height not lower than 159 cm.

The nobles entered the regiments as privates and after 1-3 years received the ranks of non-commissioned officers, and then when vacancies opened (vacant officer positions) they received the ranks of officers. Under Catherine II, abuses in this area flourished. The nobles immediately enrolled their sons in the regiments as privates upon birth, received leave for them “for education,” and by the age of 14-16 the minors received officer ranks. The quality of the officer corps has sharply declined. For example, for 3.5 thousand privates in the Preobrazhensky Regiment there were 6 thousand non-commissioned officers, of whom no more than 100 were actually in service. Since 1770, cadet classes were created under the Guards regiments to train officers from among the young nobles who actually served.

After ascending the throne, Paul I decisively and cruelly broke the vicious practice of fake service for noble children.

Since 1797, only graduates of cadet classes and schools, and non-commissioned officers from the nobility who had served for at least three years, could be promoted to officer. Non-commissioned officers from non-nobles could receive officer rank after 12 years of service.

19th century

In the first half of the 19th century, the army recruitment system did not undergo significant changes. In 1802, the 73rd recruitment was carried out at the rate of two recruits from 500 people. Depending on the needs of the army, there may be no recruitment at all per year, or maybe two recruitments per year. For example, in 1804 the recruitment was one person per 500, and in 1806, five people per 500.

In the face of the danger of a large-scale war with Napoleon, the government resorted to a previously unused method of forced recruitment (now called mobilization). On November 30, 1806, the manifesto “On the Formation of the Militia” was published. With this manifesto, the landowners exposed the maximum possible number of their serfs capable of bearing arms. But these people remained in the possession of the landowners, and after the dissolution of the police in 1807, the warriors returned to the landowners. More than 612 thousand people were recruited into the police. This was the first successful experience of mobilization in Russia.

Since 1806, reserve recruiting depots have been created in which recruits were trained. They were sent to the regiments as the regiments needed replenishment. Thus, it was possible to ensure the constant combat effectiveness of the regiments. Previously, after battles and losses suffered, the regiment dropped out of the active army for a long time (until it received and trained new recruits).

Planned recruitments were carried out in November of each year.

1812 required three recruitments, with the total number of recruits being 20 from 500.

In July 1812, the government carried out the second mobilization in this century - the manifesto “On the collection of the zemstvo militia.” The number of militia warriors was about 300 thousand people. The warriors were commanded either by the landowners themselves or by retired officers. A number of large aristocrats formed several regiments from their serfs at their own expense and transferred them to the army. Some of these regiments were later assigned to the army. The most famous are the cavalry squadron of V.P. Skarzhinsky, the Cossack regiment of Count M.A. Dmitriev-Mamonov, the hussar regiment of Count P.I. Saltykov (later the Irkutsk Hussar Regiment), and the battalion of Grand Duchess Ekaterina Pavlovna.

In addition, there were special units that in the first half of the 19th century were not included in the army, but participated in all the wars waged by Russia. These were Cossacks - Cossack units. The Cossacks were a special way of the compulsory principle of recruiting the armed forces. The Cossacks were not serfs or state peasants. They were free people, but in exchange for their freedom they supplied the country with a certain number of ready-made, armed cavalry units. The Cossack lands themselves determined the order and methods of recruiting soldiers and officers. They armed and trained these units at their own expense. The Cossack units were highly trained and combat efficient. In peacetime, Cossacks carried out border service in their places of residence. They closed the border very efficiently. The Cossack system would continue until 1917.

Recruitment of officers. By 1801, for the training of officers there were three cadet corps, the Corps of Pages, the Imperial Military Orphanage, and the Gapanem Topographical Corps. (The navy, artillery, and engineering troops had their own educational institutions since the beginning of the 18th century).

Since 1807, noblemen 16 years of age and older were allowed to enter regiments as non-commissioned officers to train as officers (called cadets), or to complete the senior classes of cadet corps. In 1810, a training regiment of the Nobles was created to train young nobles as officers.

After the end of the war and the foreign campaign, recruitment was carried out only in 1818. There was no recruitment in 1821-23. During this period, up to several thousand people were recruited into the army by capturing vagabonds, runaway serfs, and criminals.

In 1817, the network of military educational institutions for training officers expanded. The Tula Alexander Noble School began to train officers, and the Smolensk Cadet Corps opened. In 1823, the School of Guards Ensigns was opened at the Guards Corps. Then similar schools were opened at army headquarters.

Since 1827, Jews began to be recruited into the army as soldiers. At the same time, a new charter of conscription was issued.

Since 1831, conscription was extended to the children of priests who did not follow the spiritual line (that is, who did not study in theological seminaries).

The new Recruitment Charter significantly streamlined the recruiting system. According to this charter, all taxable estates (categories of the population obliged to pay taxes) were rewritten and divided into thousandth plots (the territory where a thousand people of the taxable estate live). Recruits were now taken in an orderly manner from the sites. Some wealthy classes were exempt from fielding a recruit, but paid a thousand rubles instead of a recruit. A number of regions of the country were exempted from conscription duties. For example, the region of the Cossack troops, the Arkhangelsk province, a strip of one hundred miles along the borders with Austria and Prussia. The recruitment deadlines were determined from November 1 to December 31. The requirements for height (2 arshins 3 inches), age (from 20 to 35 years), and health status were specifically specified.

In 1833, instead of general recruitment, private ones began to be practiced, i.e. recruitment of recruits is not uniformly from the entire territory, but from individual provinces. In 1834, a system of indefinite leave for soldiers was introduced. After 20 years of service, a soldier could be discharged on indefinite leave, but if necessary (usually in the event of war) could be recruited into the army again. In 1851, the period of compulsory service for soldiers was set at 15 years. Officers were also allowed indefinite leave after 8 years of service in the chief officer ranks or 3 years in the staff officer ranks. In 1854, the recruitment was divided into three types: ordinary (age 22-35, height not less than 2 arshins 4 inches), reinforced (age not determined, height not less than 2 arshins 3.5 inches), extraordinary (height not less than 2 arshins 3 top). A fairly significant influx of quality soldiers into the army was provided by the so-called “cantonists”, i.e. children of soldiers who were sent to study in cantonist schools from an early age. In 1827, the cantonist schools were transformed into half-companies, companies and battalions of cantonists. In them, cantonists studied literacy and military affairs, and upon reaching conscription age they were sent to the army as musicians, shoemakers, paramedics, tailors, clerks, gunsmiths, barbers, and treasurers. A significant part of the cantonists were sent to training carabinieri regiments and, after graduation, became excellent non-commissioned officers. The authority of the schools of military cantonists became so high that the children of poor nobles and chief officers often enrolled in them.

After 1827, the bulk of non-commissioned officers were recruited from training carabinieri regiments, i.e. The quality of non-commissioned officers steadily increased. Things got to the point that the best of the non-commissioned officers were sent to officer schools, the Noble Regiment, and cadet corps as teachers of combat and physical training, and shooting. In 1830, 6 more cadet corps were opened to train officers. In 1832, the Military Academy was opened for officers to receive higher education (artillery and engineering officers received higher military education in their two academies, opened much earlier). In 1854, it was allowed to admit young nobles into regiments as volunteers (with the rights of cadets), who, after training directly in the regiment, received officer ranks. This order was established only for wartime.

In 1859, it was allowed to release soldiers on indefinite leave (what is now called “discharge”) after 12 years of service.

In 1856, the military cantonist system was abolished. Children of soldiers were freed from a previously obligatory military future. Since 1863, the age of recruits was limited to 30 years. Since 1871, a system of long-term servicemen was introduced. Those. A non-commissioned officer, after completing a mandatory service period of 15 years, could remain to serve beyond this period, for which he received a number of benefits and increased pay.

In 1874, the conscription obligation, which had existed for almost two centuries, was abolished. A new method of recruiting an army is being introduced - universal conscription.

All young men who turned 20 by January 1 were subject to conscription into the army. The conscription began in November of each year. Priests and doctors were exempted from military service, and a deferment of up to 28 years was given to persons undergoing training in educational institutions. The number of those subject to conscription in those years far exceeded the needs of the army, and therefore everyone who was not exempt from service drew lots. Those who were drawn by lot (about one in five) went to serve. The rest were enlisted in the militia and were subject to conscription in wartime or when necessary. They were in the militia until they were 40 years old.

The period of military service was set at 6 years plus 9 years in reserve (they could be called up if necessary or in wartime). In Turkestan, Transbaikalia and the Far East, the service life was 7 years, plus three years in reserve. By 1881, the period of active military service was reduced to 5 years. Volunteers could join the regiment from the age of 17.

Since 1868, a network of cadet schools has been deployed. Cadet corps are being transformed into military gymnasiums and pro-gymnasiums. They lose the right to produce their graduates as officers and become preparatory educational institutions, preparing young people for entry into cadet schools. Later they were renamed again into cadet corps, but their status did not change. By 1881, all newly recruited officers had a military education.

20th century (before 1918)

In 1906, the period of active military service was reduced to 3 years. Social composition of the soldiers: 62% peasants, 15% artisans, 11% laborers, 4% factory workers. This system of recruiting the Russian Army survived until the First World War. In August-December 1914, general mobilization took place. 5,115,000 people were drafted into the army. In 1915, six sets of recruits and senior militia were made. The same thing happened in 1916. In 1917, they managed to conduct two sets of recruits. The country's human resources were depleted by mid-1917.

By the beginning of the war, there were 80 thousand officers in the army. The reserve of officers and military schools were unable to provide officers for the instantly growing army, and from October 1, 1914, the schools switched to accelerated training of warrant officers (3-4 months). Until this time, cadets were released into the army as second lieutenants. A number of schools for warrant officers were opened (by 1917 there were 41). During 1914-1917, 220 thousand officers entered the army in this way.

Huge losses of officers during the war led to the fact that by 1917 there were only 4% of officers in the army who received a normal military education before 1914. Of the officers by 1917, 80% were peasants, half of the officers did not have secondary education.

It is not surprising that the army reacted positively to the fall of the autocracy in February 1917; it is not surprising that the army, which was more than three-quarters composed of peasants, so easily succumbed to agitation by the Socialist Revolutionaries and Bolsheviks and did not defend the democratic Provisional Government, did not oppose the Bolsheviks’ dispersal of the Constituent Assembly .

However, the army was a product of the former state and with the death of the state, it itself died.

During the civil war, a new army was born in the country, new army recruitment systems were created, but it was already a different state and a different army.

More on this in the following articles.

Literature

1. L.E.Shepelev. Titles, uniforms, orders

2. M.M. Khrenov. Military clothing of the Russian army

3. O. Leonov and I. Ulyanov. Regular infantry 1698-1801, 1801-1855, 1855-1918

4. V.M.Glinka. Russian military costume of the 8th-early 20th centuries.

5. S. Okhlyabinin. Esprit de corps.

6. A.I. Begunova. From chain mail to uniform

7. L.V. Belovinsky. With a Russian warrior through the centuries.

8. Order of the USSR Ministry of Defense No. 250 dated March 4, 1988.

9. O.V. Kharitonov. Illustrated description of uniforms and insignia of the Red and Soviet Army (1918-1945)

10. S.Drobyako and A.Krashchuk. Russian liberation army.

11. S.Drobyako and A.Krashchuk. Civil war in Russia 1917-1922. Red Army.

12. S.Drobyako and A.Krashchuk. Civil war in Russia 1917-1922. White armies.

13. S.Drobyako and A.Krashchuk. Civil war in Russia 1917-1922. Intervention armies.

14. S.Drobyako and A.Krashchuk. Civil war in Russia 1917-1922. National armies.

15. Collection of orders of the USSR Military Commissariat “Handbook for military registration and enlistment office employees” - M. 1955

16. Directory of an officer of the Soviet Army and Navy. -M: Military Publishing House, 1964.

Perevezentsev S.V., Volkov V.A.

At the end of the XVIII - beginning of the XVIII centuries. The Russian army has undergone dramatic changes. The old structure of the army no longer met the requirements of state defense and foreign policy objectives. Military reform was started by Peter I in the 90s. XVII century, and completed by 1709.

In 1690–1699 From the “amusing” detachments, the Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky regiments were formed, and from the most combat-ready archers - two “elected” Moscow regiments under the command of P. Gordon and F. Lefort. At the same time, the government of the young Tsar Peter I began to create a large Azov fleet.

In 1699, 29 infantry regiments and 2 dragoon regiments were formed. However, garrison rifle regiments and noble cavalry still remained. It was liquidated after an unsuccessful battle between the Russian and Swedish armies near Narva on November 19, 1700. The place of the noble cavalry militia was taken by dragoon-type cavalry. Construction of the first ships for the Baltic Fleet began. In 1704, the Admiralty Shipyard was founded in St. Petersburg. It became the center of shipbuilding in Russia.

In 1705, a new unified system for recruiting the army and navy was introduced in Russia - conscription. In all provinces of the country, special “stations” were set up - recruiting points that were in charge of recruiting soldiers and sailors. As a rule, 1 recruit was recruited from 500, less often from 300 and in exceptional cases from 100 male souls. During these years, the Baltic Fleet strengthened significantly. By the end of the Northern War, Russia had 120 sailing ships (including 32 battleships) and about 400 rowing ships in the Baltic Sea.

The new regular army and navy were created according to Western European models. The army was divided into divisions and brigades, which, however, did not have a permanent composition. The only permanent unit in the infantry and cavalry was the regiment. Until 1704, the infantry regiment consisted of 12 companies, consolidated into two battalions, after 1704 - of 9 companies: 8 fusiliers and 1 grenadier. Each company consisted of 4 chief officers, 10 non-commissioned officers, 140 privates and was divided into 4 platoons (platoons). Each of the plutongs had 2 corporals. In 1708, grenadier regiments were created in the Russian army, which had great firepower.

The cavalry (dragoon) regiment consisted of 10 companies, including one horse grenadier. Every two companies made up a squadron. Each company had 3 chief officers, 8 non-commissioned officers and 92 dragoons.

In 1701, the first artillery regiment was formed in the Russian army. According to the staff of 1712, it consisted of 6 companies (1 bombardment company, 4 gunner companies, 1 miner company) and engineering and pontoon teams.

The total number of Russian armed forces by 1725 (the end of the reign of Peter I) reached 220 thousand people.

In the 1730s. Some reforms were carried out in the Russian army, initiated by Field Marshal B.K. Minikh. Cuirassier regiments (heavy cavalry) and hussar light horse companies were formed from Georgians, Hungarians, Vlachs and Serbs who had left for Russia. The Sloboda Cossack Army was organized on the southern border.

By the middle of the 18th century. The Russian army numbered 331 thousand people (including 172 thousand people in the field troops). Divisions and brigades became regular formations, but had different compositions. Corps and armies were created during the war. The infantry consisted of 46 army, 3 guards and 4 grenadier regiments, the cavalry - of 20 dragoons, 6 horse-grenadier and 6 cuirassier regiments. Light Jaeger infantry appeared, which by the end of the 18th century. consisted of more than 40 battalions.

In the cavalry, in addition to dragoons and cuirassiers, hussar (light horse) regiments were formed. In 1751–1761 they were formed from Serbs, Moldovans and Vlachs and were of an irregular nature. After the liquidation of the Ukrainian Slobodsky Cossack army, the so-called "settled" hussar regiments from former Sloboda Cossacks. Since 1783, hussar regiments became regular.

The Russian navy has changed qualitatively and quantitatively. The naval forces consisted of a sailing fleet operating on the high seas and a rowing fleet for landing operations in the coastal zone. The basis of the sailing fleet were battleships armed with 50 to 100 guns. The guns were installed along the sides and their barrels were exposed through special holes. In the battle, the ships lined up against the same enemy battle line and rained fire on them from their onboard guns, sometimes boarding them. Then they pulled the side of the enemy ship with hooks, landed on it and captured or destroyed the crew. Frigates with 25–50 guns were smaller but more maneuverable and operated independently. Bombardier ships fought with coastal batteries. Pakebots were used for reconnaissance and communications, later replaced by brigs.

The sailing and rowing fleet consisted of galleys, shniavs, prem, brigantines, dubel-boats. At the beginning of the 18th century. Scampaways (semi-galleys) with 18 pairs of oars and 3–5 cannons for firing at coastal fortifications were more common. But at the end of the 18th century. they were replaced by rowing gunboats with more powerful weapons, borrowed from the Swedes.

An important factor in the successful development of the Russian navy was the significantly improved training of sailors and officers and the coherence of the crews. In addition, it was the Russian naval commanders who initiated the creation of new naval combat tactics.

Victorious wars of the second half of the 18th century. with Turkey allowed Russia to reach the shores of the Black Sea. In 1783, the ships that formed the backbone of the Black Sea Fleet, which soon became famous thanks to the victories of F.F., were transferred to Akhtiar Bay (Sevastopol) from the Sea of ​​Azov. Ushakova. By 1792, the Black Sea ship and galley fleet was armed with 756 copper and 1900 cast iron guns.

18th century weapons

At the beginning of the 18th century, infantry units of the Russian army were armed with smooth-bore guns with baguettes. The infantry smoothbore gun (fusee) had a caliber of 19.8 mm, weighed 5.69 kg with a bayonet, and reached 1560 mm in length. The mass of each bullet was 23.1 grams. A baginet is a bladed weapon in the form of a long blade, the handle of which was inserted into the barrel of a gun during hand-to-hand combat, forcing the soldiers to stop firing. Smoothbore guns in 1706–1708 were replaced by guns with triangular bayonets. In addition to guns (fusels and muskets), infantrymen of Peter the Great's time were armed with swords, officers were armed with protazans, and non-commissioned officers were armed with halberds.

The dragoons were armed with lightweight guns (fusees), broadswords and pistols in olstras (saddle holsters). The Dragoon fusee had a caliber of 17.3 mm, weighed 4.6 kg with the bayonet, and reached 1210 mm in length. The mass of each bullet was 21.3 grams.

In addition to rifles, the grenadiers were also armed with grenades, and some of them were hand mortars. Each grenadier regiment had 12 cannons, while the infantry regiments had only 2 light cannons and 4 mortars.

Russian artillery underwent significant changes. The variety of calibers and types of artillery pieces was eliminated. In field artillery, the division into cannons, howitzers and mortars has been preserved. Limbs, charging boxes and caps appeared - canvas bags with gunpowder, the use of which made it easier to load guns. Permanent teams were established to transport guns - Furstadt.

In the middle of the 18th century. A lightweight flintlock rifle of the 1753 model was adopted for infantry service.

Noticeable changes occurred in Russian artillery. In the middle of the 18th century. during the military reform P.I. Shuvalov, extended howitzer guns (“unicorns”), designed by M.V., were adopted for service. Danilov and M.G. Martynov. Unicorns were mounted on lightweight carriages with a lifting screw to facilitate aiming the gun at the target. These howitzers had more advanced sights and could fire all types of projectiles (cannonballs, bombs, buckshot). Several types of unicorns were adopted by the navy.

New regiments of the Russian army

Guard

The word "guard" comes from the Italian word "Guardia" - security. Initially, the “guard” was the name given to military detachments that carried out the personal protection of royalty. Subsequently - selected and privileged military units.

In Russia, guard units arose at the end of the 17th century. based on the “amusing” soldiers of Peter I. First, two battalions were created, and then two regiments - Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky. On May 30, 1700 (another named date is 1687), on the birthday of the founding tsar, these regiments were given the status of guards. In accordance with the Table of Ranks, guards officers had an advantage of two ranks over army officers (for example, a guards captain was equal in rank to an army lieutenant colonel). From 1884 this advantage was reduced to one rank. According to another privilege, when transferred to the army, guard officers retained their guard ranks and salary. Until the end of the 18th century. The composition of the guard was predominantly noble, including privates.

In the XVIII–XIX centuries. the number of guard units is constantly growing. In 1722, the Horse Guards Regiment was formed, in 1730 - Izmailovsky, in 1796 - Jaeger, Hussar, Cossack, in 1799 - Cavalry Guard, in 1809–1814. Uhlan, Finnish, Lithuanian, Cuirassier, Grenadier, Pavlovsk and Horse-Jager Guards regiments arise.

The guards selected men who were tall, handsome, strong, and good with weapons. In the 30s. XIX century There was a tradition of selecting recruits for guards regiments based on the color of their eyes, hair and facial features. Blondes were recruited into the Preobrazhensky Regiment, brown-haired into the Semenovsky, brunettes into the Izmailovsky, red-haired into the Moscow, blue-eyed blondes into the Cavalry Guard, snub-nosed blondes into the Pavlovsky, in memory of its creator, Emperor Paul I. All the great princes served in the guard, including crown princes. The chiefs of the guards regiments were members of the imperial family.

Later, the Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky regiments took part in all the main battles and campaigns of Peter the Great’s time. After the Azov campaigns, the company composition of these regiments was determined, which significantly outnumbered other parts of the army. The Preobrazhensky regiment consisted of 16 fuselier (musketeer), 1 grenadier and 1 bombardier companies. The Semenovsky regiment, somewhat inferior in number to the Preobrazhensky regiment, had 12 fuselier (musketeer) companies and 1 grenadier company. In the first half of the 18th century. From the soldiers of the Preobrazhensky and Semenovsky regiments (mostly nobles) officers were trained for army regiments.

Subsequently, the Life Guards Preobrazhensky Regiment participated and distinguished itself at the siege of Ochakov (1737), Khotin (1739), in the Battle of Stavuchany in 1739, in the coalition wars with Napoleonic France, in the battles of Friedland (1807), Borodino (1812), and Kulm (1813). ). During the Russian-Turkish War of 1877–1878. Life Guards Preobrazhensky Regiment fought with the enemy at Etropol, Adrianople, San Stefano and Tashkisen.

In turn, the Semenovsky regiment participated in the Russian-Turkish and Russian-Swedish wars, coalition wars with Napoleonic France. Its personnel distinguished themselves in the Stavuchany (1739) and Borodino (1812) battles, and the Battle of Kulm (1813). During the Russian-Turkish War of 1877–1878. Life Guards Semenovsky Regiment distinguished itself in the battles of Gorny Dubnyak and Pravets.

During the First World War, Preobrazhensky and Semyonovtsy took part in hostilities with German and Austro-Hungarian troops on the North-Western and South-Western fronts, distinguishing themselves in the battle on the river. Stochod (1916).

At the end of 1917, the guard was abolished by the Soviet government. In 1941, the guards' status in the Red Army was revived.

Grenadiers

Initially, selected infantry units were considered grenadiers, whose special combat function, along with rifle shooting and bayonet fighting, was the use of hand grenades (grenades).

In Russia, grenadiers first appeared in the late 70s. XVII century during the Russian-Turkish War of 1677–1681. Special teams of grenadiers in the Semenovsky, Preobrazhensky and some Streltsy regiments operated during the Azov campaigns of 1695 and 1696. By 1704, all infantry and cavalry regiments had one grenadier company. In 1708, grenadier regiments appeared.

Grenadiers have proven themselves in battles more than once, showing miracles of courage and often deciding the outcome of battles. This happened in the famous Battle of Cahul, which took place on July 21, 1770.

This battle involved a 38,000-strong army under the command of General P.A. Rumyantsev and the 150,000-strong Turkish army of the Grand Vizier Khalil Pasha. Seeing the enormous numerical superiority of the enemy, Rumyantsev built his army in five squares and went on the attack. The Turks did not expect such decisiveness from the Russians, but they rushed their cavalry towards them. Two of the five Russian squares (under the command of generals Bruss and Repnin) began to resemble islands in a stormy sea of ​​enemy cavalry. But with rifle and cannon fire, Russian soldiers kept the Turkish cavalrymen at a distance. Two battalions of Russian grenadiers with six guns came to the rescue - with their well-aimed shots they completely drove away the Turks.

At this time, the square under the command of generals Olitz, Bauer and Plemyannikov continued to advance in the direction of enemy fortifications. There was continuous gunfire from both sides, but the Russian artillery fired better, knocking out many of the Turkish cannons. Soon Kare Bauer, having approached the enemy within half a rifle shot, charged with bayonets and the Turkish battery passed into the hands of Russian soldiers. Plemyannikov's square and Olitsa were also preparing for a bayonet attack when a ten-thousand-strong detachment of Janissaries crashed into Plemyannikov's square. The Turkish attack was so swift and unexpected that the square was instantly upset, and the Russian regiments began to flee. The Turks took away two banners and in the heat of battle the victorious cries of the Janissaries were heard.

General Rumyantsev, who was in the Olitsa square, jumped out to meet the fleeing ones, stopped them and rebuilt them. The presence of the beloved commander gave things a completely different turn. The square closed its ranks. At this time, the 1st Grenadier Regiment, under the command of Brigadier Ozerov, left the Olits square and went on the attack with bayonets at the ready. Following the grenadiers, the main units also went on the attack: guns were spraying grapeshot everywhere, cavalry cut into the ranks of the Janissaries, and infantry cleared the way with a bayonet. The Turks could not stand it and ran... The Kagul victory glorified Russian weapons throughout Europe.

According to the decree of Peter I, selected soldiers were sent to the grenadiers. After all, in order to carry grenades on a campaign and throw grenades in battle (spherical, wick-equipped, cast-iron projectiles weighing about 1.5 kg), remarkable strength, endurance, experience and composure were needed.

A distinctive feature of the grenadier uniform was special headdresses - grenadiers, as well as grenadiers - large leather bags for hand grenades. Grenadiers also had "flaming grenades" embossed on their buttons and buckles.

In 1763, hand grenades were phased out and grenadiers became elite heavy infantry units alongside the musketeers. By 1812, there were 14 grenadier regiments in the Russian army, and on their basis two grenadier divisions were formed. In 1827, the Guards Company of Palace Grenadiers was formed to guard the Winter and Kremlin palaces. At this time, the grenadiers are replaced by shakos with sultans, with the exception of the soldiers of the Pavlovsk Grenadier Regiment. By 1917, there were 26 grenadier regiments in Russia, 2 of which were guards.

Jaegers

The word "jaeger" comes from the German "Jager" - hunter. Jaegers were light infantry trained to operate both in close and loose formation, in the training of which a special place was given to marksmanship.

In the Russian army, special huntsman teams in musketeer regiments appeared in 1761 on the initiative of P.A. Rumyantseva. They performed reconnaissance functions and covered the flanks of the advancing columns. During the battle, they destroyed enemy officers with sniper fire, and during the retreat they covered the retreat, setting up ambushes and camouflaging themselves on the ground. In the 80s XVIII century Battalions were formed from the Jaeger teams, which were transformed into regiments in 1797.

By 1801, there were 19 Jaeger regiments in the Russian army. In 1812, there were 50 ranger regiments in the Russian army and they made up 1/3 of the entire infantry. During the Patriotic War of 1812, the ranger soldiers performed numerous feats.

The rangers were recruited from soldiers of small stature, agile, dexterous, hardy, proactive, preferably former hunters. Their uniforms were light, comfortable and had a protective green color. The huntsmen underwent enhanced fire training compared to usual, and were able to shoot from any position. Since 1777, huntsmen were gradually armed with guns - muzzle-loading rifled guns that had a high and precise firing range (about 400 m). Since the rangers often acted in loose formation, without direct contact with commanders, greater importance was attached to the personal initiative of the soldiers.

In 1856, the training of infantry regiments was unified and the Jaeger regiments were transformed into infantry regiments. By 1917, only the Life Guards Jaeger Regiment remained in the Russian troops.

Cavalry Guards

The word "cavalry guard" comes from two Italian words "cavalliere" - "horseman" and "guardia" - guard. The literal meaning is horse guard. Cavalry guards were bodyguards selected based on their appearance and the principle of noble origin. For the first time, cavalry guards appeared in Russia by decree of Peter I for ceremonial purposes in 1724. Peter declared himself captain of the cavalry guard (as this unit was then called), the officers were generals and colonels, corporals were lieutenant colonels, and privates were selected officers from the entire army, “the most tall and prominent." After the coronation of Catherine Alekseevna, the company was disbanded, but in 1726 Catherine I restored it - the cavalry guards performed the functions of ceremonial representation and personal guard of the Empress. In 1731, the company was again disbanded by Empress Anna Ioannovna. But Empress Elizaveta Petrovna again created a cavalry guard of 60 officers of the life campaign. Emperor Paul I abolished the cavalry guard in its previous form and in 1799 created a cavalry guard corps of 189 nobles - the personal guard of the Master of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem. In 1800, the corps was transformed into a heavy cavalry regiment as part of the guard. He covered himself with glory in the battle of Austerlitz on December 2, 1805. In the Patriotic War of 1812, a regiment of cavalry guards distinguished itself in the Battle of Borodino. For their exploits during the Patriotic War, the Cavalry Regiment was awarded St. George's Standards with the inscription "For distinction in the defeat and expulsion of the enemy from Russia in 1812." The cavalry guards also proved themselves in the Foreign Campaign of the Russian Army of 1813–1814, for which the regiment was awarded the St. George Trumpets.

Cavalry guards served as internal guards of the Winter Palace. There was even a concept of “having the entrance behind the cavalry guards,” i.e. during large receptions, have the right to enter the halls adjacent to the personal apartments of the imperial family, which was allowed only for high dignitaries and persons of the first four classes of the Table of Ranks. In 1912, the regiment took part in the parade dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the victory over Napoleon in the Patriotic War of 1812. The last time cavalry guards took part in hostilities was during World War I. In 1918, one of the platoons of the Cavalry Regiment in full force joined the Red Army and went through the entire Civil War in white uniform caps, recalling the connection of times.

Hussars

The task of the hussars, as a type of light cavalry, included pursuit of the retreating enemy, raids behind enemy lines, raids on headquarters and convoys, covering the flanks of troops from detours, patrolling and guard duty.

The name is most likely of Hungarian origin. In Russia, the first five companies of hussars appeared as part of the “foreign army” in the middle of the 17th century. Then, apparently, the hussars were disbanded. In 1707, on the instructions of Peter I, the light-horse Voloshsky regiment ("Voloshskaya Khorongva") arose - the first large unit of Russian hussars. In 1711 there were already 6 regiments and 2 horongvas. In the 20s–50s. XVIII century 8 hussar regiments are formed. In the second half of the 18th century. The first regular hussar regiments were Izyumsky, Akhtyrsky, Elizavetgradsky, Sumsky, Mariupolsky, and Life Guards. By 1812 there were 11 hussar regiments. In 1882, all army hussar regiments were reorganized into dragoons. Two guards hussar regiments remained - the Hussar Life Guards and the Grodno Life Guards. In 1907, 18 army hussar regiments were restored.

The main weapons of a hussar are a saber and two pistols. Some of the rank and file had smooth-bore carbines; in each squadron, 16 people had short-barreled blunderbusses, which had a barrel with a bell and were designed for firing grapeshot at close range. At the beginning of 1812, 8 hussar regiments received pikes for the privates of the first rank.

The hussars' uniform was borrowed from Austria and retained the main features of the Hungarian national costume. Its main details are colored long-brimmed dolmans (jackets of bright colors embroidered with cords with a stand-up collar), mentiks (short jackets of a similar style, trimmed with fur, thrown over the dolmans on the left shoulder), chachkirs (leggings embroidered with cord), low boots and fur hats with a plume ( later shakos also appear).

Lancers

A type of light cavalry, intended for the pursuit of a retreating enemy, raids behind enemy lines, patrol and reconnaissance services.

The name goes back to the Tatar “oglan” - a noble young man from the khan’s family. At the turn of the XV-XVI centuries. "oglans", or lancers, were the names given to detachments of Tatar cavalry that served the Grand Dukes of Lithuania. Gradually, the Uhlan regiments acquired the uniform appearance of regular cavalry, in which not only Tatars, but also Lithuanians and Poles served. In Russia, the first semi-regular Uhlan regiment was formed at the end of the 18th century. in the Novorossiysk province mainly from Hungarian and Serbian settlers. In 1803, three light horse regiments were renamed Uhlan regiments, and they were given a new uniform. By 1812 there were already six Uhlan regiments (one of them was a Guards regiment). At this time, Russian lancers wore dark blue uniforms that had lapels, cuffs and piping at the back seams; Garus (woolen) epaulets; dark blue leggings with double-row stripes; hats with a square top and a white plume. The weapons consisted of sabers and pistols. The fighters of the first ranks were armed with pikes, and the rear ranks (the best shooters) were armed with cavalry rifles (rifled carbines), 16 pieces per squadron. At the beginning of the Patriotic War of 1812, lancers often performed reconnaissance functions and formed part of the rearguards of the retreating Russian armies. Uhlan regiments took part in the Battle of Borodino, and after it Uhlan squadrons became part of many army partisan detachments.

In the 30s. XIX century The lancers made up about a third of the entire Russian cavalry, their regiments were united into divisions. However, the increasing role of firearms and the emergence of new tactical forms of cavalry action led to the gradual unification of cavalry weapons, equipment and uniforms. In 1881, all army uhlan regiments were converted into dragoons. Only two guards regiments have survived: Her Majesty's Ulan Regiment (formerly the Ulan Life Guards; formed in 1809) and His Majesty's Ulan Regiment (formed in 1817). In 1907, 18 Uhlan regiments were restored, which differed from the rest only in their dress uniform and dress sabers (in combat conditions they were armed with sabers).

Cuirassiers

A type of heavy cavalry that existed in the Russian army in the 18th - first half of the 19th centuries. Back in the 17th century. In almost all European countries, although the times of knights had already passed, there was heavy cavalry, whose warriors were clad in armor, similar to knightly armor, although the horse was no longer protected by special armor. The development of firearms led to a further lightening of heavy cavalry armor and a decline in its importance.

Having completed the creation of a regular army, Peter I and having abolished the noble cavalry militia, whose warriors dressed in metal and felt (tyagilyai) armor, made up the entire new Russian cavalry from dragoons. However, it gradually became clear that the absence of heavy cavalry made it difficult to effectively solve a number of tactical combat tasks, such as stopping the attacking enemy cavalry with a frontal counterattack and breaking through the formations of infantry in combat formation from the front.

In 1731, the President of the Military Collegium, Feldzeichmeister General B.K. Minich proposed creating several regiments of heavy cavalry to fight frontal counterattacks with Turkish light cavalry. At the end of 1731, the Vyborg Dragoon Regiment was transformed into a cuirassier regiment and named Minikhovsky (then - the 3rd cuirassier regiment under His Majesty Emperor Peter III; Catherine II renamed the Cuirassier Military Order). Following him, the Nevsky, Yaroslavl and Kazan dragoon regiments were transformed into cuirassier regiments.

The transformation entailed not only a change in uniform, but also the rearmament of the soldiers of these regiments. The form will change somewhat over time, but its constant distinctive feature will be a white tunic - a short uniform fastened with hooks along the longitudinal section. Unlike the soldiers of other regiments, the cuirassiers had protective weapons - metal armor, called in the French manner cuirasses (cuirasse), which gave the name to this type of cavalry (literally translated, cuirassiers are men-at-arms). They protected the chest from blows from bladed weapons, and, at some distance, from firearms. Cuirasses were made of blued steel or copper soldered onto a steel base (gradually they began to be painted black), and weighed about 7–9 kilograms. The convex shape of such armor made it possible to convert many blows of bladed weapons into sliding ones, and the round bullets used at that time into a ricochet (if they did not fly exactly perpendicular to the surface of the cuirass). Cuirasses were not always an attribute of cuirassier weapons. They were abolished in 1785, restored in 1796, abolished again in 1801 and restored again by 1812, under the influence of the experience of wars with the French army of Napoleon Bonaparte, whose cuirassiers were protected by armor. Russian cuirassiers in the 18th century wore triangular hats, and in the 19th century. - tall metal helmets with black bristles on the crest.

The bladed weapon of the soldiers of the cuirassier regiments was a broadsword with a long, heavy and wide blade. As for firearms, they had a pair of long pistols in saddle holsters and a carbine. The cuirassiers recruited men of tall stature and great strength; the tallest and strongest horses were selected for them (4 inches, i.e. 18 cm, taller than the hussars, and 2 inches taller than the dragoons). In battle, at full gallop, the rider and horse, with the impulse from their combined mass, knocked over the enemy.

By the beginning of the 19th century. in Russia there were 8 cuirassier regiments: the cavalry guard, the Life Guards Horse Regiment, two life cuirassiers (under His Majesties Paul and Her Majesties), the Military Order (under Paul I it was renamed the Order), the Ekaterinoslav, Glukhov and Little Russian regiments. By 1801, during the Pavlovian military reform, the number of army cuirassier regiments increased to 13 (plus two guards regiments remained), and in 1810 there remained 8 army and two guards cuirassier regiments. They were consolidated into 2 cuirassier divisions. At this time, each cuirassier was armed with a broadsword, two pistols of the 1809 model, a cavalry rifle of the 1809 model without a bayonet (caliber 17.7 mm, firing range 250 steps); 16 people in the squadron had cavalry rifles (rifled rifles) of the 1803 model, 16.5 mm caliber.

At the beginning of the Patriotic War of 1812, the 1st Cuirassier Division of Major General N.I. Depreradovicha was part of the 1st Western Army of M.I. Barclay de Tolly, and the 2nd Cuirassier Division of Major General I.M. Duki - to the 2nd Western Army of P.I. Bagration. The combined cuirassier regiment, composed of reserve squadrons of a number of regiments, fought in the corps of Lieutenant General P.Kh. Wittgenstein in the St. Petersburg direction. Cuirassiers distinguished themselves in many battles of the Patriotic War, as well as in the foreign campaigns of the Russian army in 1813–1814. These feats were noted with various awards. Several regiments were awarded St. George's Standards with the inscription "For distinction in the defeat and expulsion of the enemy from the borders of Russia in 1812." His Majesty's Cuirassier Regiment was assigned to the Guard, and the Pskov Regiment received the right to wear gilded cuirasses captured from the French in 1812.

Heavy cuirassier cavalry retained its importance until the middle of the 19th century. In the second quarter of the century, the armament of the front ranks of the attack was reinforced with long, heavy pikes. But the increasingly widespread introduction of rifled weapons and the increase in their rate of fire negated all the tactical benefits of using heavy armor, so in 1860 all army cuirassier regiments were transformed into dragoon regiments, preserving in memory of their glorious cuirassier past the white collars on their uniforms left over from white tunics. Until 1917, 4 guards cuirassier regiments survived: Cavalry Guards, Life Guards Cavalry and Cuirassiers of His and Her Majesty. They retained cuirasses and metal helmets with double-headed eagles as an attribute of ceremonial clothing, but in a combat situation they acted as dragoons and were armed with swords and rifles.

Military awards

At the turn of the XVII–XVIII centuries. The order system of Russia was born. The first and highest Russian order was the Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called with the motto “For Faith and Fidelity,” established by Peter I on the model of European awards in 1699. The Order was given for military and civil merits, it had one degree. This is the only Russian order that was worn on a neck chain. The distinctive emblem is an oblique blue cross, on which, according to legend, St. Andrew, who preached Christianity in the Northern Black Sea region, was crucified. The first gentleman is F.A. Golovin (1699), admiral and field marshal general. In 1703, for a feat near the Nyenschanz fortress, when Russian soldiers on thirty boats under the command of Peter I and A.D. Menshikov was captured by two Swedish ships, both heroes were awarded the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called. There could not be more than 24 holders of this order at the same time, but this rule was not observed. Until 1917, more than 1 thousand people were awarded the order. In the 18th century Knights of the order were such outstanding commanders as P.A. Rumyantsev, A.V. Suvorov, G.A. Potemkin et al.

In 1725, Peter I established the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky. It was intended as a reward for military merit, but it also recognized civilian activities. The order had one degree and was intended for persons with the rank of no lower than lieutenant general (or privy councilor). More than 2 thousand people were awarded. Of the Russian commanders, the order was awarded to M.A. Matyushkin, A.I. Sievers, N.A. Senyavin, M.M. Golitsyn, A.I. Repnin, P.A. Rumyantsev, A.V. Suvorov, M.I. Kutuzov, F.F. Ushakov.

On November 26, 1769, Empress Catherine II established the Order of the Holy Great Martyr George the Victorious with the motto “For Service and Bravery.” The order included four degrees. The first three degrees (1st, 2nd and 3rd) recognized feats accomplished on the battlefields; the order of the 4th degree could also be awarded to persons who served either 25 years in the field troops at a rank not lower than chief officer, or participated in 18–20 naval campaigns. The first time the recipient had to be presented with the order of the 4th degree, for new exploits - insignia of the 3rd, 2nd and 1st degrees.

The gentlemen were awarded the insignia of the Order - a large gold cross on a wide St. George ribbon worn over the right shoulder, a quadrangular gold star on the right side of the chest (1st degree gentlemen), a large gold cross on the neck, a quadrangular gold star on the left side of the chest (2nd degree gentlemen). 1st degree), small gold cross on the neck (3rd degree gentlemen), small gold cross in the buttonhole (4th degree gentlemen). The St. George ribbon of all degrees of the Order had alternating three black and two yellow (orange) longitudinal stripes. The small and large gold crosses of the order had rays expanding from the center, covered with white enamel. In the central medallion of the order badge (cross) on a pink background, St. George was depicted on a horse, killing a snake with measles.

Initially, consideration of the rights of officers and generals to award the Order of the 4th and 3rd degrees belonged to the Military Collegium and the Admiralty Collegium; in 1782, a special Order Duma was formed for these purposes. Orders of the 2nd and 1st degrees were awarded directly to those who distinguished themselves by the sovereign (empress). The first Knight of St. George was Lieutenant Colonel F.I. Fabritian, awarded the Order of the 3rd degree for the successful capture of the Turkish fortress of Galati with a small detachment on November 11, 1769. As an exception, Lieutenant General P.A. was immediately awarded the 1st degree of the Order. Rumyantsev, who defeated the Turkish-Tatar army in the battle of Larga.

Over the entire history of this award, four Russian military leaders have been holders of all four degrees of the Order: M.I. Kutuzov-Smolensky, M.B. Barclay de Tolly, I.I. Dibich-Zabalkansky and I.F. Paskevich-Erivansky. 25 people were awarded the Order of the 1st degree. After 1877, the Order of the 1st degree was not awarded. The Order of the 2nd degree was awarded to 121 people, the 3rd degree - 653 people, the 4th degree - more than 6 thousand people. The only female holder of the Order, besides Empress Catherine II, was nurse R.M. Ivanova, posthumously awarded the Order of the 4th degree in 1915. Since 1849, the names of all St. George knights, starting from 1769, were placed on marble plaques of the St. George Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace.

In 1807, the lower ranks, awarded the St. George insignia, were assigned to the Order of the Holy Great Martyr and Victorious. St. George's signs initially had one degree of distinction - a silver cross; since 1856, four degrees - gold crosses of the 1st and 2nd degrees and silver crosses of the 3rd and 4th degrees. The insignia of the Order of St. George No. 1 was received by non-commissioned officer of the Cavalry Regiment E.I. Mitrokhin (Mityukhin), who distinguished himself in the battle with the French near Friedland on July 2, 1807. In total, 114,424 people were awarded rankless silver insignia ("soldier's George"). After the imperial decree of 1856, this year alone 151 people who previously had the insignia of the military order received the St. George Soldier's Cross. During the Russian-Turkish War of 1877–1878. 46 thousand soldiers' crosses of all degrees were issued during the Russian-Japanese War - 1904–1905. - about 87 thousand, during the First World War - more than 1 million people. Since 1913, all military personnel awarded the insignia of the Order of St. George also began to be called “Knights of St. George”.

In 1782, in honor of the 20th anniversary of the reign of Catherine II, the Order of St. Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir was established. It was intended to be awarded for civilian activities; since 1855, it was also used to mark military service. He was never removed from his uniform. He had 4 degrees, the lowest could be obtained after 35 years of service. Abolished by Paul I in 1797, restored in 1801.

In 1797, the Holstein Order of St. Anne, established by Duke Karl-Friedrich in 1735 in memory of his wife, daughter of Peter I, Anna, became part of the Russian orders. The order was awarded for military and civil merits. At first the order had 3, and from 1815 - 4 degrees. The lowest grade badge, exclusively a military award, was a medallion with a red cross and crown. It was given only to officers for bravery and was attached to the hilt of a sword or saber.

From 1798 to 1817 in Russia there was the Order of St. John of Jerusalem (Order of Malta), which was introduced by Paul I. A white Maltese cross, outlined in gold, was worn on a black ribbon. He had 3 degrees. The order was supposed to replace all Russian orders. It stood out sharply among other awards. It was understood more as a knightly corporation rather than as a badge of honor. It was possible not only to obtain it, but to join it by paying a monetary contribution and proving noble origin.

The east is burning with a new dawn
Already on the plain, over the hills
The guns roar. The smoke is crimson
It rises in circles to the heavens.
A. S. Pushkin, “Poltava”

It is often believed that discoveries are the result of sudden insights that occasionally visit lonely and unrecognized geniuses. But in this way only general concepts are born, unsuitable for practical implementation. That is why geniuses sometimes remain unrecognized for many centuries until someone brings their fantasies to life. Real, important, revolutionary inventions are born long and hard, but they arrive exactly on time. This is exactly the story of the flintlock rifle with a bayonet.

IN SEARCH OF A GUN

In the second half of the 17th century, the basis of European armies was infantry, armed with lightweight muskets, suitable for use without support, and three-meter “Swedish” pikes. The cavalry, no longer threatened by the slow but impenetrable “hedgehogs” of battles, felt more confident and experienced a new flourishing. Common in the Middle Ages, but later forgotten, the attack in close formation, galloping, edged weapons and hooves again came into fashion. But the cavalry could no longer regain its dominant position in battle: a horseman was no longer worth ten footmen, as it once was. The musketeer had a real chance of shooting the horse. The pikemen, although “shortened,” also gave their lives dearly.

But, on the contrary, they cost the treasury much less than cuirassiers. Now it was the infantry that was to become the main striking force. But the art of offensive combat was not given to her for a long time. The musketeers had to keep a respectful distance from the enemy; in close combat they were too vulnerable. And it wasn’t even that the dirk was a rather weak argument in hand-to-hand combat. The shooter could not use it at all while simultaneously holding a huge gun, a smoldering fuse and a wooden cleaning rod. Pikemen without fire support were also worth little.

Time required the creation of a fundamentally new weapon - single and universal. The combining properties of a musket and a pike.

THE BIRTH OF A LEGEND

The flintlock rifle allowed every soldier to participate in both skirmishing and close combat. It arose as a result of the combination of several inventions, each of which had a complicated history. The barrel borrowed from the matchlock musket was supplemented with a flintlock and a paper cartridge, increasing the rate of fire, a reliable steel ramrod, and a bayonet. By the end of the 17th century, each of these elements had already existed for at least a century and a half. But they couldn’t find each other for a very long time.

The flintlock was invented in the Middle East almost simultaneously with the advent of the wheel lock in Europe. In 1500, at least, it was already used in Turkey. Four years later, Arabian flint became famous in Spain. A long series of prohibitions on its use helps to track the further spread of this technology throughout Europe.

The last time a flintlock was banned was under penalty of death! - King Louis XIV of France in 1645. But this did not mean at all that anyone who had it was immediately dragged to the executioner. It was not forbidden to produce, store, carry and even use weapons with a flintlock. It was impossible to be with him but to catch the eye of the captain during the regimental review. A soldier with a “non-statutory” musket was not considered equipped. At a time when a warrior received funds from the treasury, but purchased equipment on his own, this was equivalent to desertion.

Why did the rulers not like the convenient and inexpensive (compared to the wheeled) castle? In fact, the claims were significant. The Turkish lock, extremely simple to manufacture and not prone to breakage, was at the same time extremely unreliable in operation. One misfire occurred every 3-5 shots. In practice, this meant that the regiment's salvo would be 25% thinner than if matchlock muskets were used.

The reliability problem was partly solved with the advent of the German or “battery” flintlock in the thirties of the 17th century. The much more massive and complex European version was misfired only once in 7-15 shots.

But the German castle was not without its shortcomings. It consisted of many parts, each of which could fail. Even if a screw was lost during cleaning, a new one could not be made in the camp forge. In addition, the flintlock needed a new type of ammunition: properly hewn pieces of stone. The flint could withstand only two or three dozen shots, and it was not easy to get a new one. While flintlock guns remained rare, sutlers did not supply consumables for them.

The transition to weapons with a flintlock became possible only after the emergence of regular armies that received weapons from government warehouses. Now, if a gun failed, the soldier was punished and... immediately given a new one. After all, an unarmed shooter is of no use. The issue of flint production was also easily resolved.

At the same time, an iron ramrod was also introduced, which was conveniently retracted into the stock of the gun. The thick wooden ramrods used earlier were constantly breaking, and they were inconvenient to wear, although they were cheap and did not damage the barrel. But since the musketeers stopped spending their own money on weapons, these advantages lost their importance.

Economic considerations also contributed to the adoption of the paper muzzle cartridge, known since 1530. The essence of the invention was that instead of a wooden charger, the amount of gunpowder required for a shot was poured into a paper tube - a “case”. The bullet was also glued into it. The use of cartridges made it possible to dispense with a horn with seed powder and a pair of wads. Now the shooter simply took the cartridge out of the bag, bit into it, poured a little gunpowder onto the shelf, the rest into the barrel, and then hammered the bullet and cartridge case into the same place with a ramrod. The convenience of this charging technique was beyond doubt. But in the era of mercenary armies, musketeers, with no less valor than the onslaught of enemy cavalry, repelled the command’s attempts to force them, in addition to gunpowder and lead, to also buy paper, which was expensive at that time.

The bayonet completed the transformation. Musketeers have long found that they need a stronger weapon than the sword. Attempts to attach a point to the support stopped, because the support itself was no longer used. It seemed logical to equip the musket itself with a blade. Already in the 16th century, bayonets appeared - knives inserted into the barrel. But they constantly broke or fell out. In the mid-17th century, the Dutch invented a screw-in mount. But this did not satisfy the military either, since when the muzzle, heated by the shooting, cooled, the thread jammed tightly. Only a bayonet welded to the outside of the barrel could be used.

Field artillery

From the replacement of culverins by rapid-firing short cannons in the 17th century until the advent of rifled guns at the end of the 19th century, the firepower of artillery remained unchanged. And the development of this type of troops was forced to be limited to a gradual increase in maneuverability. Instead of hired horses and oxen, strong, fast, and unafraid of shots, artillery horses were increasingly used. First of all - at the turn of the 17th-18th centuries - field artillery was completely transferred to “official” traction in Russia. Mainly because Russian peasant horses were smaller and weaker than their Western counterparts and could not pull cannons. But by the middle of the century, other sovereigns followed Peter’s example. Field guns from different countries differed in design, but not in characteristics. They almost always weighed about one and a half tons and had a caliber of 122 millimeters (12 lb). The gun fired one shot per minute and “reached” 400 meters with buckshot and twice as far with ricochets. The cannonball could fly two or three kilometers, but at a long distance it no longer bounced off the ground and did not pose a danger.

FROM FUSEIA TO SEVEN-LINE GUN

In the 80s of the 17th century, the “weapons of the future” took on their finished form. The designers had to do a lot of work: after all, the musket itself weighed more than six kilograms, but now a heavy German lock, a one and a half meter steel ramrod and a half-meter bayonet were added to it, weighing another two kilograms in total. Only at the cost of the most severe savings (even sighting devices were sacrificed) was it possible to keep the total weight of the gun within 5.7 kilograms.

It was not so easy to decide on the choice of caliber. At the beginning of the 17th century, “double” 20-23 mm muskets began to be replaced by much more convenient 16-18 mm ones. But the creators of the fusee still settled on an impressive caliber of 20.3-21.6 mm.

Strangely enough, the length of the barrel played a decisive role. It now also served as a “shaft” for the bayonet: the ability to strike a little earlier seemed like a big advantage. At that time they could not mass produce barrels with a caliber to length ratio of more than 1:70.

Of course, the fusee with a 142-centimeter barrel seems like a huge gun. But in order to fully appreciate its dimensions, some additional information is required. For example, the fact that even in 1836 (and this is already the 19th century) only every hundredth of the recruits drafted into the French army was taller than 172 centimeters. The average height of recruits was only 158 centimeters. However, the French were then considered a short nation. The Russians and British were slightly higher.

The caliber of the fusee was not only large “from birth”, but also gradually increased over time. After all, after every twenty shots, the gun had to be cleaned with brick powder, otherwise carbon deposits (a mixture of lead, soot and scale) would clog the barrel to such an extent that the bullet would no longer enter it. And since the barrel rubbed faster near the treasury and muzzle than in the middle, periodically the gun was sent to a workshop and drilled out.

The bullets fired from the fusée caused terrible wounds, but rarely hit the target. Moreover, the result practically did not depend on the efforts of the shooter - the legendary accuracy of Hawkeye (as well as his predecessor Robin Hood) is a myth. Even in an ideal case, the dispersion of bullets leaving the smooth barrels of that era was very large. The best sporting shotgun with a 120-caliber barrel ensured a reliable shot at a tall target from 60 meters. Military 70-caliber - from 35 meters. A short and light hunting or cavalry rifle - only from 20 meters. That is, a bad shooter, of course, could miss from such a distance. But from a greater distance, even a sniper hit the enemy only by accident.

Alas, only new guns, loaded with great care, had such a fight. The barrel of the old fusee, which had seen and experienced a lot, was, as a rule, more than once bent by bayonet strikes. And a bullet dented with a ramrod and covered with paper could be considered “round” only very conditionally. To the above it is worth adding the crushing impact.

Despite the convenience of the new lock and the use of a paper cartridge, the rate of fire remained very low: loading took from one to one and a half minutes, the weapon was monstrously long, and the bayonet made it difficult to use a cleaning rod.

Only in the middle of the 18th century did King Frederick II of Prussia decide that the advantages in bayonet combat could be partly sacrificed in favor of increasing the rate of fire. This is how a new seven-line (17.8 mm) gun with a barrel shortened to 60 calibers appeared.

The effectiveness of shots at a horse decreased somewhat, but now the infantry could fire one and a half salvos per minute. Through systematic, inveterate and intense flogging of the musketeers, the Prussians even managed to increase the rate of fire to four volleys. But... the experiment was considered unsuccessful. That is, the musketeers, of course, continued to be flogged, but infantry were no longer taught to fire more than a salvo per minute until the middle of the 19th century. All the same, the bullets flew away to no one knows where, and frequent fire had no consequences other than smoke and consumption of ammunition. Only point-blank shots and bayonet strikes had a real effect.

However, by the end of the century, the convenience and practicality of the short gun were recognized throughout Europe, and the seven-line caliber became standard.

However, there was no need to talk about real standardization yet. A feature of the armaments of the armies of the 18th century (as well as many previous centuries) was the lack of uniformity. For each type of infantry - musketeers, rangers, grenadiers - and for each type of cavalry, a special model of gun was developed and approved at the highest level. But only the guards regiments were supplied with it. Most of the soldiers carried weapons of the most diverse, and often mysterious origins. After all, the bulk of it consisted of trophies taken during countless wars, the results of alterations and modernizations, as well as relics of bygone eras. For example, fusees made under Peter I continued to be used until the Patriotic War of 1812. And after it, the situation only got worse: having collected the most impossible weapons trash from all over Europe, the French brought it to Russia and threw it near Moscow.

The trophies captured in 1812-1815 did not lend themselves to any classification. But even before that, in the Russian army, guns were divided by caliber (from 13 to 22 millimeters), and each caliber by type: infantry (the longest), huntsman (shorter), dragoon (even shorter), cuirassier and hussar (with the shortest barrel ). There were a total of 85 "combinations". Some standardization existed only within the regiments. Each of them received guns - albeit produced at very different times in different countries, but with barrels of approximately the same caliber and length.

Naturally, this rule was not observed in practice. Some handed over faulty guns to warehouses, and in return received not the ones they needed, but those that were available. In addition, even among guns of “equal proportions” there were both new and old ones with barrels that had been repeatedly drilled and thinned. Each of them had individual ballistics. As a result, the accuracy of salvo fire did not stand up to criticism. Soldiers who received the ancient 22mm squeakers were regularly injured by the heroic recoil. Those same shooters who were issued 13-millimeter rifles (probably once taken from the Janissaries or Polish partisans) began to have their teeth chattering when meeting enemy cavalry.

Siege artillery

The fight against enemy fortifications in the 17th-19th centuries was entrusted to guns with a four-meter barrel with a caliber of 152 millimeters (24 pounds). Deviations from this standard were rare and generally unsustainable. A gun heavier than five tons would be very difficult to transport by horse traction. A large team did not solve the problem of gun mobility. The “Achilles heel” of 18th-century artillery was narrow wooden wheels - the guns got stuck in ruts. And if soldiers weighed four centners of a regimental 6-pounder, it happened that they carried it in their hands across the ditch and threw it into the breach of the walls, then in order to pass siege parks it was often necessary to strengthen bridges and roads. The energy of the core dropped rapidly with distance. Therefore, the siege cannon fired from a distance of only 150-300 meters. It was not so easy for sappers to build a reliable shelter from wooden log cabins filled with earth at such a distance from the enemy walls.

Horse artillery

If in the 16th century a battery in battle could not change position at all, then in the 18th century the cannon rushed across level ground so recklessly that the gunners on foot could not keep up with it. They tried to find a solution by equipping the carriage, limber and charging box with several seats. This is how “moving artillery” appeared. But this method of transportation turned out to be very uncomfortable and dangerous: when the horses began to trot, the carts, devoid of springs, literally shook the soul out of the passengers. People often fell from them and died under the wheels of the guns Much better results were achieved by placing the artillerymen on horses. Suddenly appearing where the guns seemed unable to reach in principle, horse artillery, created on the initiative of Peter the Great during the Northern War, presented the Swedes with many unpleasant surprises. During the 18th century, other European countries followed Russia's example.

A unique feature of Russian artillery of the 18th-19th centuries is the mixed composition of artillery batteries, each of which included an equal number of cannons and howitzers - “unicorns”. With the same weight as a conventional gun, the short “unicorn” had a caliber of 152 mm and hit three times the area with buckshot. But the cannonballs fired from it flew twice as slow and produced virtually no ricochets. Over long distances, fire was carried out only with explosive shells.

In practice, this meant that Russian artillery had an advantage in close combat, but was inferior to the enemy in long-range firefights - ricochets were much more dangerous than bombs. Cast iron spheres filled with black powder exploded weakly, producing few lethal fragments. If they exploded at all.

On the other hand, the result of firing cannonballs was highly dependent on the characteristics of the soil and topography. The shells got stuck in the sand, flew over ravines, and bounced off hillocks and redoubts. Grenades, of course, also often sank in swamps and broke on rocks, but still they worked more accurately on rough terrain.

TACTICS OF ARMIES OF THE 18TH CENTURY

With the advent of the fusee, peaks became redundant. Now the infantry could drive away the cavalry with shots and move into the attack with bayonets at the ready. However, strategists still did not fully trust the new weapon. The pike regiments were abolished by 1721 (later in Russia), but pikes were also in service in the musketeer regiments, as were muskets in the pike regiments. Systematically, these weapons continued to be used until the middle of the century, and sporadically (in case of a shortage of guns) even at the beginning of the 19th century.

The techniques of bayonet fighting were not immediately mastered. At the beginning of the 18th century, musketeers continued to wear dirks or cutlasses and even tried to use them in battle. According to Swedish regulations, during an attack, the first row of fighters was supposed to hold a fusée in their left hand and a sword in their right. Physically this was impossible, but in the army they traditionally do not attach importance to such trifles.

Nevertheless, the gun with a bayonet gradually established itself as a universal infantry weapon. Uniformity made it possible to simplify the organization of regiments. In fact, they again became battalions of 900 men with two or four light guns. Larger units - brigades, divisions, corps - already included several branches of troops and consisted of infantry regiments, cavalry squadrons and field artillery batteries.

The regiments were divided into musketeer, grenadier and jäger regiments. Theoretically, the types of infantry differed in their tactics of use: grenadiers in closed columns went for a breakthrough, shooting only at point-blank range, musketeers, lined up in a square, met the cavalry with fire, and rangers acted in chains on difficult terrain. Almost all the infantry had the same training and fought as circumstances required. The only difference (except for the uniform) was that the huntsmen's guns were shortened and adapted for more frequent shooting.

The cavalry was also divided into three types, but there the difference was real. The cuirassiers, who represented the color and pride of the cavalry, on huge “knightly” horses attacked the infantry head-on. The fast hussars carried out envelopment and pursuit. The dragoons occupied an intermediate position. Relatively long guns and “universal” boots allowed them to operate on foot, although dismounting was very rarely practiced.

The most important of all that the 18th century brought to military affairs was the emergence of regular armies. Industry and trade developed rapidly, and the kings seriously improved their financial affairs. Now they had the opportunity to constantly maintain a large army. It only made sense to hire already trained soldiers for a short period of time. Now governments only needed recruits who could be armed and trained. It was unprofitable to let experienced warriors go. Military service, regardless of whether one entered it voluntarily or ended up as a result of mobilization, became extremely long: from 16 to 25 years.

The 18th century is the era of bright uniforms. The armies multiplied, the battle formations spread out, and now it was difficult for the commander even with a telescope to see the banners: only by the shade of the camisoles could he distinguish his troops from those of others.

This is the time of clouds of powder smoke floating over the battlefield, the time of drums and whistling cannonballs. The Middle Ages are over.

Linear tactics were also used by some types of cavalry. At one time, heavily armed cavalry (reitars, horse grenadiers and cuirassiers) used linear tactics on horseback ("reitar formation"). Later, dragoons and lancers began to use linear tactics, being on foot in defense. Accordingly, the name "line cavalry" passed from heavy cavalry to dragoons and lancers. Hussars in the 15th–17th centuries wore armor and often attacked in close formation, but later the hussars turned into light cavalry and stopped using linear tactics. The Cossacks never used linear tactics.

Combat tactics were identical in all European armies. Usually, the warring parties deployed their battle formations against each other and began a firefight with virtually no maneuver whatsoever. Long lines of infantry made it possible to develop maximum fire along the front, but tied the army like shackles: the entire battle formation could move only as a single whole and only on completely flat terrain, like a parade ground, at a slow pace. Any obstacle encountered on the path of the troops' movement could break the formation and lead to a loss of control over them. Changing the order of battle and rearranging during battle in response to changing situations was also considered impossible.

All this made direct contact between opposing armies and hand-to-hand combat an extremely rare occurrence: usually the enemies stopped at a short distance and opened salvo fire at each other. Conducting rifle fire in a synchronized salvo was recognized as the main element of the rifle training of troops: it was believed that it was better to disable 50 enemy soldiers at once than 200 at different times (this had a greater moral effect). The entire battle turned into a dull skirmish, sometimes lasting several hours.

Bayonets were used very rarely: if one army began a slow and cautious advance (as mentioned earlier, more with fear of breaking its own formation than of reaching the enemy), its counterpart always had more than enough time to leave the battlefield, having recognized that thus, his “defeat”. Battles of a truly large scale with stubborn hand-to-hand combat and large losses at this time occurred extremely rarely.

Russian army in the 18th century

In 1705, a new unified system for recruiting the army and navy was introduced in Russia - conscription. In all provinces of the country, special “stations” were set up - recruiting points that were in charge of recruiting soldiers and sailors. As a rule, 1 recruit was recruited from 500, less often from 300 and in exceptional cases from 100 male souls. The initial training of recruits was carried out directly in the regiments, but from 1706 training was introduced at recruiting stations. The length of military service was not determined (for life). Those subject to conscription could nominate a replacement for themselves. Only those completely unfit for service were fired.

The recruiting system established in the Russian army until the 90s of the 18th century. was advanced compared to the recruitment system of Western European armies. The latter were filled with rank and file and even command personnel through recruitment, which was legally voluntary, but in fact largely forced recruitment. This system often brought together declassed elements of society under the banner of the army - vagabonds, fugitives, criminals, deserters from the armies of other states, etc. - and was an unstable source of recruitment.

The most important advantage of the recruitment system adopted in Russia was that it formed a solid mass of soldiers, monolithic in its social and national composition, with high moral qualities inherent in the Russian peasant, who could be led into battle under the slogans of defending the Fatherland. Another significant advantage of the recruitment system was that it provided the state with the opportunity to create a large army and a relatively accessible way to make up for the loss of personnel from its ranks.

The new Russian regular army was created according to the European model. The army was divided into divisions and brigades, which, however, did not have a permanent composition. The only permanent unit in the infantry and cavalry was the regiment. Before 1704, the infantry regiment consisted of 12 companies, consolidated into two battalions, after 1704 - of 9 companies: 8 fusiliers and 1 grenadier. Each company consisted of 4 chief officers, 10 non-commissioned officers, 140 privates and was divided into 4 platoons (platoons). Each of the plutongs had 2 corporals. In 1708, grenadier regiments were created in the Russian army, which had great firepower.

The cavalry (dragoon) regiment consisted of 10 companies, including one horse grenadier. Every two companies made up a squadron. Each company had 3 chief officers, 8 non-commissioned officers and 92 dragoons.

In 1701, the first artillery regiment was formed in the Russian army. According to the staff of 1712, it consisted of 6 companies (1 bombardment company, 4 gunner companies, 1 miner company) and engineering and pontoon teams. The total number of Russian armed forces by 1725 (the end of the reign of Peter I) reached 220 thousand people.

In the 30s of the 18th century. Some reforms were carried out in the Russian army, initiated by Field Marshal B. X. Minich. Cuirassier regiments (heavy cavalry) and hussar light horse companies were formed from Georgians, Hungarians, Vlachs and Serbs who had left for Russia. The Sloboda Cossack Army was organized on the southern border.

By the middle of the 18th century. The Russian army numbered 331 thousand people (including 172 thousand people in the field troops). Divisions and brigades became regular formations, but had different compositions. Corps and armies were created during the war. The infantry consisted of 46 army, 3 guards and 4 grenadier regiments, the cavalry - 20 dragoon, 6 horse-grenadier and 6 cuirassier regiments. Light Jaeger infantry appeared, which by the end of the 18th century. consisted of more than 40 battalions.

In the cavalry, in addition to dragoons and cuirassiers, hussar (light horse) regiments were formed. In 1751–1761 they were formed from Serbs, Moldovans and Vlachs and were of an irregular nature. After the liquidation of the Ukrainian Sloboda Cossack army, the so-called settled hussar regiments were created from former Sloboda Cossacks. Since 1783, hussar regiments became regular.

XVIII century was one of the most important stages of military affairs in Russia, the construction of the Russian armed forces, and the development of domestic military art. Solving the most important foreign policy tasks of the state - ensuring the country's national interests, the possibility of comprehensive economic and cultural ties with other nations, securing its own borders - turned out to be possible only with the help of a powerful army and navy.

In the 18th century The process of forming the Russian regular army, which began in the 17th century, was completed, and a regular navy was created. This process included changes in all aspects of military affairs. A harmonious structure of the armed forces is taking shape. Legislation regulates the principles of combat operations, combat training, the procedure for serving, the relationship between various governing bodies, as well as between military personnel. A new procedure for recruiting and supplying troops is being introduced, a military education system is being created, and military science is being developed. These reforms went in the general direction of a deep reorganization of the state apparatus associated with the development of absolutism. They raised the armed forces to the level of the highest requirements of their time and allowed Russia to successfully resolve foreign policy problems, and at the beginning of the 19th century. repel the invasion of the "grand army" of Napoleon and his allies.

How was conscription carried out into the army of Imperial Russia at the beginning of the 20th century. Who was subject to it? Those who had conscription benefits, monetary rewards for military personnel. Collection of statistics.

"Of all the subjects of the Russian Empire who had reached conscription age (20 years), about 1/3 - 450,000 out of 1,300,000 people - were called up for active military service by lot. The rest were enlisted in the militia, where they were trained at short training camps.

Call once a year - from September 15 or October 1 to November 1 or 15 - depending on the timing of the harvest.

Duration of service in the ground forces: 3 years in infantry and artillery (except cavalry); 4 years in other branches of the military.

After this, they were enlisted in the reserves, which were called up only in case of war. The reserve period is 13-15 years.

In the navy, conscript service is 5 years and 5 years in reserve.

The following were not subject to conscription for military service:

Residents of remote places: Kamchatka, Sakhalin, some areas of the Yakut region, Yenisei province, Tomsk, Tobolsk provinces, as well as Finland. Foreigners of Siberia (except for Koreans and Bukhtarminians), Astrakhan, Arkhangelsk provinces, Steppe Territory, Transcaspian region and the population of Turkestan. Some foreigners of the Caucasus region and Stavropol province (Kurds, Abkhazians, Kalmyks, Nogais, etc.) pay a cash tax instead of military service; Finland deducts 12 million marks from the treasury annually. Persons of Jewish nationality are not allowed into the fleet.

Benefits based on marital status:

Not subject to conscription:

1. The only son in the family.

2. The only son capable of working with an incapacitated father or widowed mother.

3. The only brother for orphans under 16 years of age.

4. The only grandson of an incapacitated grandmother and grandfather without adult sons.

5. Illegitimate son with his mother (in his care).

6. Lonely widower with children.

Subject to conscription in the event of a shortage of suitable conscripts:

1. The only son capable of working, with an elderly father (50 years old).

2. Following a brother who died or went missing in service.

3. Following his brother, still serving in the army.

Deferments and benefits for education:

Receive a deferment from conscription:

up to 30 years of age, government scholarship holders preparing to take up scientific and educational positions, after which they are completely released;

up to 28 years of age, students of higher educational institutions with a 5-year course;

up to 27 years of age in higher education institutions with a 4-year course;

up to 24 years of age, students of secondary educational institutions;

students of all schools, upon request and agreement of ministers;

for 5 years - candidates for preaching of Evangelical Lutherans.

(In wartime, persons who have the above benefits are taken into service until the end of the course according to the Highest permission).

Reduction of active service periods:

Persons with higher, secondary (1st rank) and lower (2nd rank) education serve in the military for 3 years;

Persons who have passed the reserve warrant officer exam serve for 2 years;

doctors and pharmacists serve in the ranks for 4 months, and then serve in their specialty for 1 year 8 months

in the navy, persons with an 11th grade education (lower educational institutions) serve for 2 years and are in the reserve for 7 years.

Benefits based on professional affiliation

The following are exempt from military service:

• Christian and Muslim clergy (muezzins are at least 22 years old).


• Scientists (academicians, adjuncts, professors, lecturers with assistants, lecturers of oriental languages, associate professors and private assistant professors).


• Artists of the Academy of Arts sent abroad for improvement.


• Some academic and educational officials.

Privileges:

• Teachers and academic and educational officials serve for 2 years, and under the temporary 5-year position from December 1, 1912 - 1 year.


• Paramedics who have graduated from special naval and military schools serve for 1.5 years.


• Graduates of the schools for soldiers' children of the Guard troops serve for 5 years, starting from the age of 18-20.


• Technicians and pyrotechnicians of the artillery department serve for 4 years after graduation.


• Civilian seamen are given a deferment until the end of the contract (no more than a year).


• Persons with higher and secondary education are accepted into service voluntarily from the age of 17. Service life - 2 years.

Those who pass the exam for the rank of reserve officer serve for 1.5 years.

Volunteers in the navy - only with higher education - service life is 2 years.

Persons who do not have the above education can voluntarily enter the service without drawing lots, the so-called. hunters They serve on a general basis.

Cossack conscription

(The Don Army is taken as a model; other Cossack troops serve in accordance with their traditions).

All men are required to serve without ransom or replacement on their own horses with their own equipment.

The entire army provides servicemen and militias. Servicemen are divided into 3 categories: 1 preparatory (20-21 years old) undergoes military training. II combatant (21-33 years old) is directly serving. III reserve (33-38 years old) deploys troops for war and replenishes losses. During the war, everyone serves without regard to rank.

Militia - all those capable of service, but not included in the service, form special units.

Cossacks have benefits: according to marital status (1 employee in the family, 2 or more family members are already serving); by property (fire victims who became impoverished for no reason of their own); by education (depending on education, they serve from 1 to 3 years in service).

2. Composition of the ground army

All ground forces are divided into regular, Cossack, police and militia. — the police are formed from volunteers (mostly foreigners) as needed in peacetime and wartime.

By branch, the troops consist of:

• infantry


• cavalry


• artillery


• technical troops (engineering, railway, aeronautical);


• in addition - auxiliary units (border guards, convoy units, disciplinary units, etc.).



The infantry is divided into guards, grenadier and army. The division consists of 2 brigades, in the brigade there are 2 regiments. The 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.



• b) cavalry is divided into guards and army.


• 
  
  • 4 - cuirassiers
  
  
  • 1 - dragoon
  
  
  • 1 - horse grenadier
  
  
  • 2 - Uhlan
  
  
  • 2 - hussars
  
  





• The Army Cavalry Division consists of; from 1 dragoon, 1 uhlan, 1 hussar, 1 Cossack regiment.

  Guards cuirassier regiments consist of 4 squadrons, the remaining army and guards regiments consist of 6 squadrons, each of which has 4 platoons. 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. Minor boats.

  7. Barriers.

  8. Submarines.

  9. Gunboats.

  10. River gunboats.

  11. Transports.

  12. Messenger ships.

  14. Training ships.

  15. Port ships.

  
  

Source: Russian Suvorin calendar for 1914. St. Petersburg, 1914. P.331.

Composition of the Russian Army as of April 1912 by branch of service and departmental services (by staff/lists)

Source:Military statistical yearbook of the army for 1912. St. Petersburg, 1914. P. 26, 27, 54, 55.

Composition of army officers by education, marital status, class, age, as of April 1912

Source: Military Statistical Yearbook of the Army for 1912. St. Petersburg, 1914. P.228-230.

Composition of the lower ranks of the army by education, marital status, class, nationality and occupation before entering military service

Source:Military statistical yearbook for 1912. St. Petersburg, 1914. P.372-375.

Salary of officers and military clergy (rub. per year)

(1) - Increased salaries were assigned in remote districts, in academies, officer schools, and in the aeronautical troops.

(2)- No deductions were made from the additional money.

(3) - Additional money was given to staff officers in such a way that the total amount of salary, 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, and lieutenants received a salary 1 step higher.

(5) - The military clergy received a salary increase of 1/4 of their salary for 10 and 20 years of service.

Officers were issued the so-called when transferring to a new duty station and on business trips. passing money for hiring horses.

When on various types of business trips outside the unit limits, daily allowance and ration money are issued.

Table money, in contrast to salaries and additional money, was assigned to officers not by rank, but depending on their position:

• corps commanders - 5,700 rubles.


• heads of infantry and cavalry divisions - 4200 rubles.


• heads of individual teams - 3,300 rubles.


• commanders of non-individual brigades and regiments - 2,700 rubles.


• commanders of individual battalions and artillery divisions - 1056 rubles.


• commanders of field gendarmerie squadrons - 1020 rubles.


• battery commanders - 900 rubles.


• commanders of non-individual battalions, heads of economic units in the troops, assistants of cavalry regiments - 660 rubles.


• junior staff officers of the artillery brigade department, company commanders of fortress and siege artillery - 600 rubles.


• commanders of individual sapper companies and commanders of individual hundreds - 480 rubles.


• company, squadron and hundred commanders, heads of training teams - 360 rubles.


• senior officers (one at a time) in batteries - 300 rubles.


• senior officers (except one) in artillery batteries in companies, heads of machine gun teams - 180 rubles.


• official officers in the troops - 96 rubles.

Deductions were made from salaries and table money:

• 1% per hospital

• 1.5% on medicines (regimental pharmacy)

• 1% from canteens

• 1% of salary

to pension capital

• 6% - to the emeritus fund (for increases and pensions)

• 1% of canteen money in disabled capital.

When awarding orders, an amount is paid in the amount of:

• St. Stanislaus 3 art. - 15 rubles, 2 tbsp. — 30 ​​rub.; 1 tbsp. - 120.


• St. Anne 3 Art. — 20 rub.; 2 tbsp. — 35 rub.; 1 tbsp. — 150 rub.


• St. Vladimir 4 tbsp. — 40 rub.; 3 tbsp. — 45 rub.; 2 tbsp. — 225 rub.; 1 tbsp. — 450 rub.


• White eagle - 300 rub.


• St. Alexander Nevsky - 400 rubles.


• St. Andrew the First-Called - 500 rubles.

No deductions are made for other orders.

The money went into the order capital of each order and was used to help the gentlemen of this order.

Officers were given apartment 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. 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).

Military personnel taken prisoner and who were not in the enemy's service, upon returning from captivity, receive a salary for the entire time spent in captivity, except for table money. The family of a captive has the right to receive half of his salary, and is also provided with housing money, and, if anyone is entitled, an allowance for hiring servants.

Officers serving in remote areas have the right to a salary increase depending on the length of service in these areas for every 5 years of 20-25% (depending on the location), and for every 10 years a lump sum allowance.