The rear militia was a category of military service in Soviet Russia and the Soviet Union in 1918–1937.
The composition of the rear militia called various so-called "unearned elements" (kulaks, clergy, former nobles, and so on) that were not subject to conscription in combat units of the Red Army, the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union. The rear militia was formed after the introduction of universal conscription in 1918. In 1937, after changes in the law on universal conscription by Order of the People's Commissariat of Defense No. 020, of February 20, 1937, the rear militia department was reorganized into the Directorate of the Red Army building units.
Creation of rear militia
Initially, the Red Army was formed on a voluntary basis, but soon, in the conditions of the expanding Civil War, the Soviet government turned to a forced recruitment into its ranks. Universal military service was enshrined in the first Soviet Constitution of 1918, article 19 of which reads:
All "non-labor elements" (the so-called disenfranchised) were subject to conscription in the rear militia. During the civil war, the labor militia was used on various military and civilian constructions.
Rear militia after the end of the Civil War
After the end of the civil war in 1923–1924, the deprived were serving conscription in special non-military "service teams".
In 1925, during the implementation of military reform and the general reduction of the armed forces, the existence of such teams was deemed inexpedient. According to the law on compulsory military service, who have been deprived since being called up to military service of their peers, they were subject to mandatory admission to the rear militia. Since in peacetime the creation of parts of the rear militia was not provided for, then those enrolled in the rear militia were subject to a special war tax. This tax was levied by the financial authorities at a rate of between half and the basic income tax salary and went to the social security fund to help people with disabilities of the civil war. The people enrolled in the rear militia were on a special military account. Instead of the usual registration and military tickets, they were given "white tickets" (white forms were used).
Rear militia in the early 1930s
In connection with the forced industrialization, on December 7, 1931, a resolution was adopted by the Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars of the Soviet Union "On the Use of Labor of Citizens in the Logistics Militia". It stated that part of the rear militia carried out defense-strategic works through the High Council of the National Economy of the Soviet Union, the People's Commissariat of Communications and the Central Administration of Highways and Dirt Roads and Automobile Transport. The tenure in these parts was set to three years. After this period, the militiamen, "who showed a conscientious attitude to work", should have been restored to the right to vote. It was noted that "the labor regime and political education in the parts of the rear militia should pursue the goal of making non-labor elements useful in all respects citizens of the Soviet Union". The People's Commissariat of Labor of the Soviet Union organized the recruitment and subsequent distribution of militiamen by squads between departments.
As of February 1, 1933, there were about 42,000 people in the offices of units of militiamen of the three commissariats and departments (the People's Commissariat of Heavy Industry, the People's Commissariat of Communication Routes and the Central Highway and Dirt and Road Administration).