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*Lexington Minuteman* representing militia minuteman John Parker

A militia is a group of citizens organized to provide paramilitary service. The word can have four slightly different meanings:

An official reserve army, composed of citizen soldiers
The national police forces in Russia, and other CIS countries, and the Soviet Union: Militsiya
The entire able-bodied population of a state, which can be called to arms against an invading enemy
A private, non-government force, not necessarily directly supported or sanctioned by its government

In any of these cases, a militia is distinct from a national regular army. It can serve to supplement the regular military, or it can oppose it, for example to resist a military coup. In some circumstances, the "enemies" against which a militia is mobilized are domestic political opponents of the government, such as strikers. In many cases the role, or even the existence of a militia, is controversial. For these reasons legal restrictions may be placed on the mobilization or use of militia.

Australia

Militia was an alternate name for the Citizens Military Forces (CMF), the reserve units of the Australian Army between 1901 and 1980. After Australian federation, the six former colonial militias were merged to form the CMF. Initially the CMF infantry forces formed the vast bulk of the Australian Army, along with standing artillery and engineer units.

The Defense Act of (1903) granted the Australian federal government the powers to conscript men of military age for home defence. However, these powers were unpopular and were used only for short periods at a time. The government was also forbidden by law from deploying the CMF outside Australian territories, or using it in strikes and other industrial disputes.

As a result of the ban on foreign service, during World War I and World War II, all-volunteer Australian Imperial Forces were formed for overseas deployment. CMF units were sometimes scorned by AIF soldiers as "chocolate soldiers" or "chockos", because "they would melt under the pressure" of military operations.

Nevertheless, some Militia units distinguished themselves in action against the Empire of Japan during the Pacific War, and suffered extremely high casualties. In mid-1942 Militia units fought in two significant battles, both in New Guinea, which was then an Australian territory. The exploits of the young and poorly trained soldiers of the 39th (Militia) Battalion during the rearguard action on the Kokoda Track remain celebrated to this day, as is the contribution of the 7th Brigade at the Battle of Milne Bay.

Later in the war, the law was changed to allow the transfer of Militia units to the 2nd AIF, if 65% of the personnel had volunteered for overseas service. Another change allowed Militia units to serve anywhere south of the Equator in South East Asia. Consequently they also saw action against Japanese forces in the Dutch East Indies.

In addition to the CMF, the Volunteer Defence Corps, a volunteer force modeled on the British Home Guard, was formed in 1940 and had a strength of almost 100,000 men across Australia at its peak.

After the war, CMF units continued to form the bulk of the peacetime army, although the creation of standing infantry units — such as the Royal Australian Regiment — from 1947, meant that the regular army grew in importance. By 1980, when the name of the CMF was changed to the Army Reserve, the regular army was the more significant force.

Canada

In Canada the word militia refers to the part-time army reserve component of the Canadian Forces. Militia troops usually train one night a week and every weekend of the month, except in the summer; summertime training generally consists of a course and/or a "call out", as well as a longer exercise, usually 8-15 days. A call out can involve any job a soldier might be expected to do: staff member on a course, ceremonial guard duty, etc. In addition, primary reserve members may volunteer for service with the regular force overseas - usually NATO or United Nations missions. Reserve courses are often shortened versions of the same regular force course, but can use regular force staff members.

Most Canadian cities have one or more militia units. Often these 'regiments' perpetuate famous Canadian regiments that are no longer required as part of the regular forces.

New Zealand

Germany

Switzerland

One of the most famous and ancient militia are the Swiss militia. It is not widely recognized, but Switzerland maintains, proportionally, the largest military force in the world, with more than twice as many active-duty soldiers per capita as the next-proportionally-largest force, in Israel, having a trained reserve militia of 36% of the total population. However, it should be noted that Switzerland has a long tradition of political and military neutrality.

United Kingdom

In modern British usage, the term paramilitary is more widely used in regard to non-government forces such as the UVF, UDA and Provisional IRA in Northern Ireland.

The British military is controlled by the government of the day, through Parliament, which has access to the resources to maintain a standing army.

Until the late 17th century, at various times, the Crown and Parliament were in strong disagreement, but Parliament's economic ability to use the army was counterbalanced by the Crown's traditional ability to organise militia forces. The English Bill of Rights (1689) declared, amongst other things: "that the raising or keeping a standing army within the kingdom in time of peace, unless it be with consent of Parliament, is against law..." and "that the subjects which are Protestants may have arms for their defense suitable to their conditions and as allowed by law." The Crown still officially controls the use of the army. However, successive British governments were able to circumvent the intent of the Bill of Rights through annual continuation notices, and the technical legality of the British Army, in times of peace, still rests on these notices. A large standing army had come into existence by the mid-19th century; the British government of the day commands it and both declares and wages wars.

Following the creation of a large standing army, the word militia fell into disuse in the UK, although many units retained the distinction of being designated "militia" units as extra battalions of regular regiments and "Irish" militia were heavily relied upon to suppress rebellion in Ireland. The militia was formally disbanded in 1908 with the creation of a reserve force, known as the Territorial Force, later the Territorial Army, and the units of the militia were transferred to the Special Reserve. The Special Reserve were renamed the Militia in 1921, its units were suspended, and the militia was disbanded in 1953.

A number of old Militia units remain in existence, two in the Territorial Army: the Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers — which was first formed in 1539 — and the Jersey Field Squadron (The Royal Militia Island of Jersey), 73rd Regiment, Royal Engineers (formerly the Royal Militia of the Island of Jersey and first formed in 1337). Also, the Royal Alderney Militia — created in the 13th Century and reformed in 1984 — is part of the Army Cadet Force, thus ensuring the continuation of the name. Additionally, the Atholl Highlanders are a (ceremonial) private army maintained by the Duke of Atholl — they are the only legal private army in the United Kingdom.

United States

There is a long history of militias in the United States, starting before the country became a country with the colonial militias normally consisting of all adult male citizens. This practice was continued after the signing of the U.S. Constitution, and remained relatively unchanged until the late 1800s. After the civil war, State guard units of select milita were created. After 1903 the militia was divided into two groups, unorganized and organized. Organized units were created from portions of the former state guards and became state National Guard units. Some states later created State Defense Forces for assistance in local emergencies. Private militias, not affiliated with any government organization, and usually formed by citizens suspicious of the activities, and politics of Federal and state governments, blossomed in the mid 1990s, then faded.

Private Militia organizations

Private militia organizations are organized militia groups which may or may not be condoned by their respective government. Most private militia groups are armed or espouse the use of arms, however some groups(mostly U.S. groups) espouse political protest and more peaceful means of bringing about political change.

All private militia organizations hold themselves to a political, social, or religious ideology.

Left wing militia

The left wing militias generally consider themselves to be freedom fighters and run the gamut of leftist causes, from the national liberation movements under foreign occupation, to the various terrorist groups such as the Red Brigades, and communist guerillas in Central America. As their funding and armament in the 20th century came almost entirely from the Soviet Union, Maoist China (1949-1976) and other Marxist-Leninist states, many of these organizations declined in their activities during the 1990s, as these governments fell or changed their nature.

(For information on U.S. left-wing "militia" groups see

Efficacy of militias against modern armies

As noted above, there is much disagreement about the ability of even the best organized militia to resist a modern regular army. However irregular forces do have several points in their favor, including familiarity with local terrain, dedication (assuming one's home is being threatened), entrenchment, and no obligation to fight "by the rules". The famed successes of Boer and American snipers against British volley fire during their respective wars for independence are prime examples.

In more modern times, during the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising a handful of untrained and poorly armed Polish Jews held off an entire Wehrmacht division for roughly six weeks during the liquidation of that city's Ghetto. Although the uprising was eventually ended by artillery fire, the German Ninth Army was able to accomplish very little throughout most of 1943 as a direct result of this action. Many modern observers have pointed out that the invasion of Poland took only three weeks, and speculate that such resistance early in the war could have stopped the Blitzkrieg in its mechanized tracks. Indeed, the USA is facing a similar situation in Iraq, i.e. a swift victory over conventional military opponent followed by an intractable insurgency.

Also, in WWII the French Resistance, armed mainly with captured German weapons and supplied by Allied air drops, were able to cause many disruptions to the Nazis which aided greatly during and after the Allied invasion of 1944.

In the United States there were widespread fears of a Japanese invasion of the largely undefended West Coast. Some military experts at the time suggested entrenchment at the Mississippi River in case of such an invasion, on the assumption anything west of that point would be impossible to defend. Such an invasion never materialized, and there are rumors of uncertain authenticity suggesting that the Japanese feared "a rifle behind every blade of grass" -- a reference to the ubiquity of skill-at-arms in the American West at that time, although this theory completely disregards the impossible logistics of such an operation.

Furthermore, when an Allied invasion of Japan appeared to be imminent later in the war, the Japanese government began arming its populace with bamboo spears. Even to the well-armed and mechanized Allied forces, the prospect of facing such a foe was daunting, and millions of Allied and Japanese casualties were expected. This was a major factor in the decision to use nuclear weapons at Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Another case of the effectiveness of irregular forces is that of the anti-government forces in Iraq although the regular forces and Republican Guard were quickly crushed in the open by the invading Coalition, the insurgency is estimated to continue perhaps another 12 years.

Switzerland's continued neutrality during World War II is often seen to be due to the well-armed and well-trained citizenry.

Even when militarily insignificant, irregular action can be highly effective as a demoralizing factor, as famously seen in Vietnam, Iraq, Somalia, and Algeria.

List of militias

Some famous militia organizations:

Official army units

State sponsored militias

Private militias

Colorado Minutemen [1] ([United States]}
North Carolina Citizen's Militia [2] ([United States])
Militia of Montana [3] ([United States])
Michigan Militia [4] (United States)
Indiana Militia Corps [5] (United States)
Unorganized Hawaii State Militia (United States)
Connecticut 71st Militia [6] (United States)
Tatenokai (Japan)
Mahdi Army (Iraq)
Badr Organization
Lebanese Forces

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 Most Canadian cities have one or more militia units.  Often these 'regiments' perpetuate famous Canadian regiments that are no longer required as part of the regular forces.
+==New Zealand==
 ==Germany==