Narodnoe Opolcheniye

The People's Militia (Russian: Народное ополчение, romanized: Narodnoe opolcheniye, lit.

'popular regimentation', IPA: [nɐˈrodnəjə ɐpɐlˈtɕenʲɪjə]) was the irregular troops formed from the population in the Russian Empire and later the Soviet Union.

They fought behind front lines and alongside the regular army during several wars throughout its history.

The People's Militia is of the type known as "national troops" such as German Landwehr, and although often translated as the "people's militia",[1] "home guard",[2] "people-in-arms",[3] or "national popular army",[4] its members never belonged to an organised military force, but were in all cases selectively accepted from a body of volunteers during a national emergency.

It was used for political purposes when the Grand Duchy of Moscow assumed the leading role in the 16th-century Russia.