What is demobilization and what is its difference from being discharged to the reserve?

The article describes what demobilization is, when it is conducted, what is its meaning. Also, examples of the mistaken use of this term are discussed.

Start

This word was probably heard by every adult person, and it is associated primarily with the return of soldiers from urgent universal military service. However, if you understand the nature of this term, it becomes clear - the word is often used erroneously, and its meaning has become distorted with time. So what is demobilization, when is it conducted and what does it mean? In this we will understand.

Definition

There is a word from the French démobilization, dé - abolition, mobiliser - to set in motion. In fact, this is the process of transferring military forces to a peaceful position, the universal withdrawal of troops from the lines of collisions and the dissolution of soldiers. But it is not to be confused with surrender, since demobilization is carried out after the victorious end of the war or its completion, as a result of which the armed forces were not crushed.

Also, when answering the question about what demobilization is, it is worth mentioning the fact that it involves not only the army, but the entire state as a whole, as there is a transfer of the economy and other spheres to a peaceful position.

Mistaken use

In our time, this term is often confused with dismissal in the reserve, but about everything in order.

What is demobilization? This is the dissolution of part of the troops, the transfer of the army and the economy to a peaceful position after the general mobilization. But if it was not, then the term "demobilization" is mistaken. For example, in the Russian Empire, the USSR and the Russian Federation, demobilization was carried out only three times: after the end of the Russo-Japanese War, the Civil War and the Great Patriotic War. And in all other cases, it is correct to talk about dismissal in the reserve, as it happens with soldiers on a regular basis.

And nevertheless, dismissal in the reserve in all years was called demobilization. The process of preparing for the return from military service has given rise to whole rituals, which are transmitted by the soldiers of the older call to the young, these are "demobilized" albums, various non-statutory modifications and decoration of the form, unofficial memorable dates, etc.

Order

Probably the most famous and significant order for demobilization was issued by the People's Commissariat of Defense of the USSR after the end of the Great Patriotic War. In connection with it, first of all, people of a certain age were dismissed from the armed forces, they received a monetary reward and delivered to their place of residence.