Logistic support of the militia at the Penza province during the Crimean War (1853–1856) 

Ilya A. Sergievskiy, Candidate of historical sciences, senior researcher of the Research Institute (military history), Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (14 Universitetskiy avenue, Moscow, Russia); advisor, Russian Academy of Rocket and Artillery Sciences (building 3, 3 Pervaya Myasnikovskaya street, Moscow, Russia), E-mail: Voenpred1991@yandex.ru 

Background. Nowadays, the regional component of the national military history is an area of historical science that has not been fully studied. In many ways, this concerns the pre-revolutionary period of Russian history, especially Russia’s participation in the wars of the 19th – early 20th centuries. This publication considers the key aspects of logistic support of the militia at the Penza province during the Crimean War (1853–1856). Materials and methods. The realization of this goal was achieved through the use of previously unpublished materials from the Russian State Military Historical Archive, the State Archive of Penza Region and the Scientific Archive of the Military Historical Museum of Artillery, Engineering and Communications Troops. Historical-genetic and systemic methods were used in the prep-aration of the publication. Mathematical and statistical methods were used as auxiliary research methods. Thanks to this, it was possible to fully recreate the picture of Penza militia logistics during the war in the Crimea. Results. The historiography of the problem under consideration is characterized. The reasons that led to the convocation of the state mobile militia in Russia during the Crimean War (1853–1856) are revealed. The composition, for-mation and training of Penza province warriors are established. The problematic issues that arose during the logistics organization of Penza militia were noted. The combat path of state mobile militia squads formed on the territory of Sursky Krai is considered. Conclusions. Thanks to the appeal to historical experience, it has been established and proved that only advance military planning, proper organization of reservists, as well as pre-accumulated logistic reserves at the required level are able to ensure success in wars and armed conflicts. 

the Crimean War (1853–1856), state mobile militia, militia, squads, warriors, logistics, military supply, Penza province 

Sergievskiy I.A. Logistic support of the militia at the Penza province during the Crimean War (1853–1856). Izvestiya vysshikh uchebnykh zavedeniy. Povolzhskiy region. Gumanitarnye nauki = University proceedings. Volga region. Humanities. 2023;(4):125–138. (In Russ.). doi: 10.21685/2072-3024-2023-4-12