Narodnoe Opolcheniye

The Opoltschenije was one in Russia convened by the Law of January 13, 1874 with the introduction of compulsory military service in case of war Reichswehr.

The Opoltschenije consisted of the entire valiant male population from 21 to 43 years of age who did not belong to the standing army. There have been identified:

• Druschinen walk
• Riding sotnias
• Horse-batteries
• Companies for the fortress artillery
• Companies for sappers

The Opoltschenije was especially designed for the replacement of the reserve troops. Exception, they could also be combined to form a field army. In Poland (then belonging to the Russian Empire ) no Opoltschenije was erected. Corresponding lists were to fill officer positions already performed during peacetime. The officers, to the company, sotnias and battery commander were appointed from among former officers. The lower positions could be filled with former NCOs who could prove sufficient education. To facilitate the installation already existed in peacetime strains of at least two men for each company, sotnia and battery that had to help in the training of exercises to collected annually teams.