Military Personnel

Categories / Population/Professional Groups
MILITARY PERSONNEL, socio-professional group forming a part of the St. Petersburg population, uniting individuals in military service. Military personnel made up a meaningful part of the city's population from the outset of its foundation. Soldiers' labour was widely employed in city development and in factories (after the Northern War of 1700-21). Until 1917 military personnel belonged to different social strata: individuals, receiving officer's rank, became nobles. In 1792 there were over 39,900 military personnel and their family members in St. Petersburg, related to "the land army" (approximately 29,500 men and 10,500 women), "the fleet" made up approximaely 16,700. (over 11,900 men and 4,800 women). According to the city census of 1869, about 132,100 people belonged to the "military stratum" (19.8% of the population), including combatant and non-combatant lower ranks, servicemen on permanent leave, the retired and their families, soldiers' wives and children, and irregular forces. After the military reform of the 1860-70s, soldiers, upon completion of their service term, usually returned to their social class. In the 20th century, Leningrad retained its role as a military centre; however, the quantitative data on the military personnel was confidential.

References: Юхнева Н. В. Этнический состав и этносоциальная структура населения Петербурга, вторая половина XIX - нач. XX в.: Стат. анализ. Л., 1984; Волков С. В. Русский офицерский корпус. М., 1993; Петербургский, Петроградский, Ленинградский военный округ, 1864-1999. СПб., 1999.

A. Y. Chistyakov. Юхнева Н. В. Этнический состав и этносоциальная структура населения Петербурга, вторая половина XIX - нач. XX в.: Стат. анализ. Л., 1984
Волков С. В. Русский офицерский корпус. М., 1993
Петербургский, Петроградский, Ленинградский военный округ, 1864-1999. СПб., 1999 Great Northern War of 1700-21