Armed Forces of San Marino. In the modern world, only four countries have an army of millions: China, the USA, North Korea and India.

The leadership of Luxembourg has decided to double its military contingent in the African Republic of Mali. A small European state will send two, not one, military personnel to the Dark Continent. The military's task will include training Malian soldiers and police.

Earlier, France asked European countries for help after a series of coordinated terrorist attacks in Paris that killed 130 people. The French authorities appealed to clause 42.7 of the Lisbon Treaty, which provides that member states must come to the aid of the country that needs it.

Luxembourg responded to this call and sent one soldier.

However, jokes soon appeared on social networks about the significance of Luxembourg’s contribution to the fight against international terrorism and the Islamic State (an Islamist group banned in Russia). In particular, ironic posts appeared on Twitter: “Tremble, terrorists!”, “ISIS, the game is over” or “(Arabic abbreviation for ISIS), get ready.” Luxembourg is coming."

According to the Luxembourg newspaper Luxemburger Wort, the second soldier will arrive at his deployment site in Mali on a training mission in early 2016.

Luxembourg also promised to allocate €2 million to the Malian military as assistance in the fight against terrorists. The money will be used for education and training, the purchase of equipment and medical supplies, as well as for propaganda aimed primarily at children and youth in order to prevent the growth of sympathies for radicals.

In total, there are seven so-called dwarf countries in Europe.

These are those states whose population does not exceed 500 thousand people. These include Andorra, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Vatican City, San Marino and Iceland. Some of them have their own armed forces, and the most numerous of them are Luxembourg and Maltese.

Luxembourg

Despite the small size of the duchy, it more than once found itself at the epicenter of various major military conflicts of the Old World - the Thirty Years' War, the Napoleonic and Franco-Prussian Wars.

The Luxembourg army officially appeared in 1881. During the First and Second World Wars, the territory of the state was quickly occupied by German troops, and the army units of the duchy were disarmed.

In 1941, a police battalion of Nazi Germany was formed from Luxembourgers, and a little later the conscription of residents of the duchy into the Wehrmacht began.

However, many of them did not want to serve; Luxembourgers often deserted from Hitler’s army.

After World War II, Luxembourg joined NATO.

He took part in the war in Korea, where an infantry company of 44 military personnel from the Duchy operated together with the Belgian contingent.

In 1967, the armed forces of this country began to be staffed on a voluntary basis.

Currently, Luxembourg's armed forces consist of an infantry battalion, as well as two reconnaissance companies (about 900 people in total).

The country's military uses weapons produced in Western Europe and NATO. Thus, the fighters use American M2 machine guns, Austrian Steyr automatic rifles, Glock pistols, US-made TOW anti-tank guided missiles, and German 81-mm mortars (six pieces). The Luxembourg army uses MAN vehicles, Humvee SUVs (including the armored M1114), Mercedes-Benz 300GD and Jeep Wrangler.

Luxembourg reconnaissance companies have two special forces platoons, which form part of the so-called rapid deployment forces. There are also gendarmerie units in Luxembourg, which, if necessary, can be called upon to protect the state and assist the army. There are a total of 612 gendarmes in the duchy.

In 1996, a unit of the Luxembourg armed forces became part of the Eurocorps. Luxembourg's military spending is just over $550 million.

Luxembourg took part in several military conflicts.

Thus, in the war in Afghanistan, in the summer of 2003, an infantry unit of ten military personnel was sent to the forces. Also, 23 soldiers of the duchy participated in the peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, and women citizens of this state also served there. One of them, Tessie Anthony, later married Prince Louis of Luxembourg. The couple had two sons.

In addition, in 2003, Luxembourg allowed military service in the country's armed forces to citizens of other EU states living in the country for at least 36 months (after completion of service they can obtain Luxembourg citizenship).

As a result, until May 2015, about 300 foreigners enlisted in the Luxembourg armed forces.

The highest military rank in the Luxembourg army is colonel. There is not a single general in this country.

San Marino

With just under 100 men, San Marino's army is one of the smallest in the world.

The main part of the state's armed forces is involved in ceremonial events associated with national holidays and meetings of foreign government delegations.

There is no conscription in this country; all citizens from 16 to 55 years of age can be drafted or voluntarily join special military units.

The main military contingent is the palace guard corps. His responsibilities include guarding the Republican Palace, patrolling the country's borders, and assisting the San Marino police. The body has different shapes for different ceremonies, mainly using green and red colors. The military is armed with Austrian-made Glock pistols, as well as Italian Beretta BM59 rifles made in 1959, which the military uses on guard duty.

The San Marino Armed Forces has several units composed of volunteers who devote part of their time to service and part to non-military civilian work.

These include, in particular, the artillery company of the palace guard, whose duties include symbolically firing an old cannon at ceremonial events in the Plaza de la Repubblica in San Marino.

In addition, the state army has a company of paramilitary police, which is intended both to participate in ceremonies and to assist the police and gendarmerie. For parades, policemen are issued old muskets with bayonets and sabers, and for daily service - modern dark blue uniforms and weapons.

Service in the police is considered an honorable occupation among citizens of the country.

Only those citizens of San Marino who have resided in the state continuously for six years can be enrolled there. The police recruit both men and women, but among the military personnel of this unit, representatives of the stronger sex predominate.

In addition, San Marino has a gendarmerie, which has two brigades. This structure is not directly part of the San Marino army. One brigade is called the criminal police brigade, and the second is the mobile brigade. Gendarmes can be assigned to reinforce the police if necessary to perform tasks related to ensuring state security, or they can be sent to assist soldiers of the palace guard corps to protect the border.

But the armed forces include the state military orchestra, where more than 40 musicians serve.

According to public data, San Marino's defense spending is approximately $700 thousand.

Principality of Monaco

This state, which is second only to the Vatican in area, nevertheless has its own armed forces, which, unlike most countries, are subordinate to the Department of the Interior.

In total, this state has about 255 military personnel and another 35 civilian army personnel.

Some functions of the army in Monaco have been transferred to special police forces, such as guarding the land border and water borders. For this purpose, a marine and helicopter police company has been created. It has, in particular, four patrol boats and two speedboats.

The armed forces directly include the corps of firefighters of Monaco and the company of the Prince of State's Carabinieri.

The main task of the Carabinieri is to protect the prince and the princely palace in Monaco-Ville, located in the old district of Monaco. In addition, members of the corps are involved in the protection of members of the judiciary who administer justice on behalf of the Prince of Monaco.

The carabinieri company also includes special units: a detachment of motorcyclists (for quick response and escort of the princely motorcade), a detachment of scuba divers and a first aid unit. The Carabinieri company also includes a military band, as well as a squad that participates in the traditional changing of the guard at 11.55 at the Prince's Palace of Monaco.

Most of the Carabinieri previously served in the French armed forces. There is also an agreement on military assistance between the states, according to which official Paris undertakes to provide protection to Monaco in the event of a serious military threat.

And although the military personnel of the principality have not participated in military conflicts for a long time,

in the mid-twentieth century there was a case when the country’s army was put on alert due to worsening relations with France.

The reason was that the leadership of Monaco created a very liberal system for banks and other companies, and French commercial and credit organizations were often registered in Monaco, but operated in the French state. This prevented Paris from collecting taxes from these organizations. This situation, which took place in 1962, is recalled by Jules Richard, who at the time of the events described was working in a branch of a French company in Monte Carlo.

“The fate of Monaco hangs in the balance. French President General de Gaulle threatened to cut off electricity and water supplies to the principality if it did not stop luring bankers to itself and did not introduce an income tax. Eighty Royal Palace carabinieri and 207 Monegasque police officers were alerted. Fortunately, the war did not happen. The prince made concessions...” said Richard. His story was later published in the magazine Around the World.

Malta

The armed forces of this country were formed relatively recently - in 1974, when Malta was declared a republic. The formation of the army began on the basis of an artillery battery located in the ancient fortress of this country.

Now the army of this island state includes land, naval and air force components, which is rare for dwarf states.

True, the Maltese Air Force does not have attack aircraft. They consist of five military transport helicopters and four aircraft carrying out missions to patrol the country's territorial waters.

Malta's ground forces comprise a full-fledged infantry brigade consisting of three battalions. The soldiers and officers of the unit are armed with Italian Beretta 92 pistols, German Heckler & Koch MP5 submachine guns, Belgian FN-FAL automatic rifles and FN Mini light machine guns. Malta's artillery is represented exclusively by small-caliber anti-aircraft guns. Anti-aircraft gunners of this country use 40-mm Swedish Bofors 40 cannons, as well as Soviet ZPU-4 installations.

The Maltese army also has one Chinese-made T-34 tank

and several Italian Iveco and British Breford trucks.

The Maltese navy consists of eight patrol boats and small patrol ships assembled in Australia, the United States and Finland.

The Maltese army is involved in the European Union's Operation Atalanta against pirates operating in the Gulf of Africa, as well as in training the armed forces of Somalia as part of the training program for the military of this state by specialists from the EU.

The Maltese armed forces number about 2 thousand people.

The country's military budget is €42 million.

Iceland

This Scandinavian island nation is the only NATO member to

officially does not have its own armed forces.

However, Iceland has coast guard units, which also includes the country's air defense. It consists of 130 personnel, three patrol ships, one patrol boat, one DHC-8-300 MSA aircraft and three helicopters. The country's air defense consists of four surveillance radars.

Patrolling of Icelandic airspace and other armed protection are provided by the countries of the North Atlantic Alliance.

Vatican

Pope Paul VI disbanded the armed forces in 1970, but in 2002 another pontiff, John Paul II, restored one component of it, the gendarme corps. He is responsible for security, public order, border control, traffic control, criminal investigation and other general police duties in the Vatican.

About 130 people serve there.

The gendarmes are armed with Austrian Glock 17 pistols, Beretta M12 and Heckler & Koch MP5 submachine guns. In addition, the special forces of the Vatican Gendarmerie use pump-action shotguns of Italian and German production.

To enlist in the Papal Gendarmerie, a person must be between 20 and 25 years of age, have Italian citizenship and at least two years of experience in the Italian police.

The Vatican also has a ceremonial Swiss Guard. This is the military formation of the Pope. However, it is not subject to the structures of the Vatican City State.

In addition, there are two more dwarf states in Europe -

Andorra and Liechtenstein, which deliberately abandoned their own army,

and their protection is carried out by neighboring states.

Modern China has the largest armed forces in the world - 2.3 million people. About a million more Chinese citizens are reservists. The top five in terms of the number of active armies also includes the United States (1.4 million); India (1.3 million); DPRK (1.1 million); Russia (700 thousand).

North Korea leads in the number of reservists - 8.2 million people will be put under arms in the event of war. According to this indicator, the leaders are also held by the countries of East and Southeast Asia: Vietnam (5 million); Bangladesh (2.4 million); India (2.1 million); Taiwan (1.6 million). There are 2 million reservists in Russia - fifth place in the world in terms of this indicator.

The DPRK is also considered the most militarized society, with 45 military personnel per 1,000 people. It is followed by this indicator by South Ossetia (34.7 people); Eritrea (33.1 people); Israel (22.2 people) and Brunei (18 people). In Russia there are five military personnel per 1,000 inhabitants.

The total number of security officials and people working in organizations that use weapons in Russia is equal to 22.7 per 1000 people. In Europe, this figure is higher only in Belarus - 49 people.

The dwarf state of San Marino, located on the Apennine Peninsula, has the smallest army in the world - 80 people. True, the army of a dwarf state performs not so much military as police functions - its main task is to maintain law and order in the country.

During the First World War, the army of San Marino sided with the Entente. 15 people were put under arms. During World War II, despite its declared neutrality, the state was subjected to a two-week German occupation. This became the reason for British aviation to carry out an air raid on San Marino, which resulted in the death of several dozen people.

Today there is no compulsory conscription in San Marino, but all citizens between the ages of 16 and 55 can be called up if necessary or volunteer. According to 2001 data, annual defense costs in San Marino amounted to 700 thousand dollars.

Only 10 countries in the world have armed forces with less than a thousand troops: Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Seychelles and others.

75-100 people

Armed Forces of the Republic of San Marino- consist of a permanent contingent of 80-100 people.

The main part of the state's armed forces is involved in ceremonial events associated with national holidays and meetings of foreign government delegations.

There is no compulsory military service, but all citizens from 16 to 55 years of age can be drafted or voluntarily join special military units.

The cost of the army included in the country's budget is 700,000 US dollars (According to 2001 information).

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Excerpt characterizing the Armed Forces of San Marino

The dwarf republic of San Marino is located in southern Europe, on the slopes of Mount Titano (738 m) and is surrounded on all sides by Italian territory (the regions of Marche and Emilia-Romagna). The area of ​​San Marino is 60.57 square meters. km, which is divided into so-called “castles” or districts: San Marino, Acquaviva, Borgo Maggiore, Chiesanuova, Montegiardino and Serravalle. The capital of the Republic, the city of San Marino, is located almost at the top of Mount Titano. 4.5 thousand residents live here. The Adriatic Sea and the city of Rimini are 22 km away. The population is Sanmarinians - about 30 thousand people. 95% are Catholics, 19% are Italians. Every year more than 3 million tourists from all over the world come to San Marino to see with their own eyes medieval monuments (both real and imitations), the government palace and the Walloni palace, the churches of San Francesco and San Quirino, and see the ruins of the castles of Guaita and Cesta and Montale, admire the distant sea from observation platforms, and finally, send home a postcard with a local postage stamp.

According to the legend of the formation of San Marino, a Dalmatian stone carver named Marino, originally from the island of Rab in modern-day Croatia, settled here with a group of Christian supporters to escape persecution by Emperor Diocletian.

Despite repeated attempts to conquer San Marino (by neighboring cities and the papal state), thanks to the proud spirit of its people, the inaccessibility of the territory surrounded by a triple belt of fortress walls, and the brilliant leadership of the state of San Marino maintained its independence for many centuries. In matters of foreign policy, the Republic of San Marino also adheres to neutrality and makes decisions on issues of political asylum on its territory. It has its own army, which is a military unit with special functions. In 1740, a national guard armed with swords was created to protect members of parliament, and the gendarmerie was created to maintain public order. San Marino has its own national flag, but not its own money. Since 1953, an agreement has been concluded with Italy, according to which the latter pays monetary compensation to San Marino for the lack of its currency and restrictions on construction (casinos, radio stations), which, however, was canceled in 1987. But the San Marino postage stamp is known and valued by philatelists.

The state of San Marino has not joined the European Union, but mints a European coin with the image of its main attractions on one of its sides. Only a few people know about the even tinier but charming town of San Leo, located next door to San Marino. The medieval politician and philosopher Machiavelli called the castle of San Leo, which has survived to this day, the most beautiful military redoubt in Italy. And for Dante, the castle, whose steep bastions rise above the town's graceful cobbled square, served as inspiration for writing parts of Purgatory.

Area - 61 km.
Population - 25 thousand people
Official language - Italian

In 64, when Rome was destroyed by a huge fire, Emperor Nero blamed Christians for it. Since then, for many years they were subjected to persecution and painful executions. Tradition says that in 301, a member of one of the first Christian communities, stonecutter Marino, and his friends found refuge in the Apennines, on the top of Monte Titano. Soon the community declared independence. This is how the oldest European state arose on Italian soil. Later, the Catholic Church canonized Christian Marino. This is where the name of the state of San Marino (literally “Saint Marino”) comes from, which has existed since 301.

Almost all of the indigenous inhabitants of this tiny country are relatives by marriage, blood relatives, or, finally, just good neighbors and acquaintances. In other words, the population of the state consists of several expanded large patriarchal families. Traditionally, heads of families meet twice a year to discuss family problems in an informal setting. Sanmarinians consider such meetings to be perhaps more authoritative than meetings of the Sanmarinian parliament - the Grand General Council.

The heads of state in San Marino are two captain regents. For a long time, a tradition has been established that every Sanmarinian, even addressing one of the co-rulers, had to use the plural. According to linguists, it was from San Marino that the custom of using the plural pronoun “you” for polite address spread throughout Europe.

Naturally, with such nepotism it is very difficult to be impartial in legal proceedings. Therefore, according to the law and in the name of justice, only foreigners can work here as police officers and judges. The population of this tiny country is employed in small engineering and chemical industries, in agriculture and serving tourists, and there are up to 3 million of them a year!

During the First World War, the Republic of San Marino became an ally of the Entente; 15 soldiers stood up under arms. During World War II, the republic declared neutrality, but this did not save it from a two-week German occupation. Today, 51 soldiers and 34 officers serve in the San Marino army. A military parade is held four times a year. Soldiers dressed in bright uniforms and armed with 19th-century carbines march through the narrow streets of the capital, San Marino, to music.

The Republic of San Marino is surrounded on all sides by Italian territory. In order to visit Rome, Venice or visit the beaches of the Adriatic Sea on a day off, all you need to do is buy a train ticket. The railway tunnel runs under Monte Titano. However, relations with Italy were not always cloudless, and the borders were not “transparent”. In 1951, the government of San Marino decided to open a casino (gambling house) and build a powerful television and radio station. Italy protested and announced a blockade of San Marino. The borders were closed for several months, and eventually the dwarf state succumbed to force.

There are small, strong, numerous, highly intelligent, weak armies, with different levels of combat capability, and there is the most beautiful army, in which women serve equally with men.

The most beautiful army

Few people manage to avoid service. Almost everyone is subject to conscription, regardless of health difficulties. In the Israeli army there is a job for everyone. This army has a high level of material and technical base and the latest types of weapons.

The Israeli army is the most intelligent, and also the most beautiful army in the world. This army was awarded the title of the most beautiful thanks to the female contingent in its ranks. And this is not surprising, because it’s nice to watch young girls perform combat missions.

The smallest army

The republic has its own army. This is a military unit with special functions. Members of Parliament are protected by the National Guard. It is known that the republic was an ally of the Entente during the First World War; fifteen soldiers took arms.

Today the army of San Marino consists of seventy-nine people - officers and soldiers. A military parade is held four times a year. Dressed in colorful uniforms and armed with nineteenth-century carbines, they march through the streets of San Marino. There is no mandatory conscription in the republic. This is voluntary.

Monaco also has a small army, where the army is only eighty-three people. One hundred and ten men make up the Vatican army.

The most efficient army

To determine the level of combat effectiveness of armies in peacetime, one can take into account such basic factors as numerical strength, quality and quantity of weapons, and the quality of training of command personnel.

The armies of such powers as China, Russia and the United States are often compared. It is known that China is in first place in terms of army size. Russia leads in the number of tanks, and America leads in the number of combat helicopters, airplanes, and naval warships. The USA also has the highest quality weapons.

There are much more Russian-made weapons in China than in Russia itself. The armies of China and America are professional. The military has many benefits and a good salary. There is no universal conscription.

We can conclude that it is China and America that have the most combat-ready armies, but this assessment is relative. So, we must not forget about the Israeli army, which has never lost a single war. The troops of NATO, North Korea, Pakistan and India deserve attention. We must not forget about the partisan army, which has shown itself to be very combat-ready in the light of recent military conflicts. So far no one has managed to defeat her.

A certain rating has been compiled, where the armies of countries are lined up in descending order depending on their combat capability as of 2013. The US Army is in first place. The second position was taken by the huge Chinese army. Israel is in third position, and Russia is in fourth. In fifth place is the North Korean army. The Indian army took sixth place in terms of combat effectiveness, and the Turkish army took seventh place.

The largest army in the world

The United States has one million four hundred thousand military personnel, and India has one million three hundred thousand. Next comes the North Korean army. The Russian army is in fifth place in size, with one million two hundred and seventy thousand people. Next come the armies of South Korea, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq and Turkey.

The Russian Ministry of Defense plans to increase the number of contract soldiers in the coming years. At the same time, the authorities will modernize the system of staffing the army with conscripts.

But an army is made not only by people, but also by weapons. Some rifles have bullets leaving the barrel at a speed of 900 meters per second. You can also read more about the most powerful rifles on the website.
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