Military wings of political organizations: Difference between revisions

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While most democratic governments have a strong tradition of [[civilian control of the military]], factions in unstable states often have either avowed or covert military wings.  As with the [[Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps]], even a totalitarian state may have a politicized military force.  Overt political [[Sinn Fein]], in Ireland and Northern Ireland, long had the [[Irish Revolutionary Army]] as its military side.
While most democratic governments have a strong tradition of civilian control of the military, factions in unstable states often have either avowed or covert military wings.  As with the IRGC, even a totalitarian state may have a politicized military force.  Overt political Sinn Fein, in Ireland and Northern Ireland, long had the Irish Republican Army as its military side.  


In the 1920s and 1930s, there were a great many German military factions, some independent ''[[freikorps]]'', but none more important to the rise of the Nazis than the ''[[Sturmabteilung]]'' (SA) "Stormtroopers" or "Brownshirts".  As with many such movements, it eventually lost most power through factionalism. The ''[[Schutzstaffel]]'' (SS) or "Blackshirts", originally a SA-spawned unit for the immediate protection of [[Adolf Hitler]], eventually purged the SA in 1934, in the [[Night of the Long Knives]]/
Some countries have complex official relationships that involved politicized military forces. Traditionally, the Soviet Union was governed by a balance among three elements: the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, the Red Army and the Organs of State Security.  Each maintained a divisional-sized force in Moscow:
*Party via Interior Ministry: Taman Guards
*Army: 106th Guards Airborne Division
*Security: Dzerzhinksy Guards Division
 
In the 1920s and 1930s, there were a great many German military factions, some independent ''freikorps'', but none more important to the rise of the Nazis than the ''Sturmabteilung'' (SA) "Stormtroopers" or "Brownshirts".  As with many such movements, it eventually lost most power through factionalism. The ''Schutzstaffel'' (SS) or "Blackshirts", originally a SA-spawned unit for the immediate protection of Adolf Hitler, eventually purged the SA in 1934, in the Night of the Long Knives.

Latest revision as of 07:33, 18 March 2024

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While most democratic governments have a strong tradition of civilian control of the military, factions in unstable states often have either avowed or covert military wings. As with the IRGC, even a totalitarian state may have a politicized military force. Overt political Sinn Fein, in Ireland and Northern Ireland, long had the Irish Republican Army as its military side.

Some countries have complex official relationships that involved politicized military forces. Traditionally, the Soviet Union was governed by a balance among three elements: the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, the Red Army and the Organs of State Security. Each maintained a divisional-sized force in Moscow:

  • Party via Interior Ministry: Taman Guards
  • Army: 106th Guards Airborne Division
  • Security: Dzerzhinksy Guards Division

In the 1920s and 1930s, there were a great many German military factions, some independent freikorps, but none more important to the rise of the Nazis than the Sturmabteilung (SA) "Stormtroopers" or "Brownshirts". As with many such movements, it eventually lost most power through factionalism. The Schutzstaffel (SS) or "Blackshirts", originally a SA-spawned unit for the immediate protection of Adolf Hitler, eventually purged the SA in 1934, in the Night of the Long Knives.