ABSTRACT
The most salient conclusion to be drawn from this historical account of Russian and Soviet policies and practices in using and managing the nationalities in the military is that even in the past, when Slavs dominated the population, leaders employed minority soldiers to defend the state. Over the centuries, various regimes have found it necessary to involve more and more ethnic groups in their military operations. In times of crisis, successive governments have repeatedly created national units as a vehicle for mobilizing more minorities in the war effort. Minority manpower, in both national and regular units, appears to have been helpful in certain vital instances, but overall minority soldiers have been of questionable effectiveness, notably unreliable, and sometimes completely disloyal.
