Quote:
Originally Posted by 95th Rifleman
It wasn't always that way, the concept of the modern, professional soldier is very much a 20th century creation.
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A late 20th century remake (we love remakes). In fact, it is a fluctuating idea that come and go with time. Conscription was introduced after 1789 by the French while the Kingdom of France had relied on professional armies for centuries. Then, it still took some times before the other kingdom of Europe would rely on conscription.
What is funny is the silly current idea implying that professional armies are superior to conscripts. Over history, Professional armies often ends up being defeated by armies composed by a majority of conscripts and volunteers.
The Persian army facing the Greek
The Roman Legions defeated by the German invasions.
The French Chevalry defetaed by British Yeomanry.
British troops defeated during the American revolution.
The entirely professional armies of Europe defeated by the French revolutionary armies and, then, by the largely conscripted napoleonic armies.
I don't think I'll be wrong if I state that during the American Civil War volunteer and militia regiments put up some more than outstanding fights.
The coalition of professional armies defeated by the Bolchevik between 1917-1920
The British expeditionary force defeated by Germany in 1940 during the military campaign in France.
The more professional (not entirely professional so), well equipped Arabic forces defeated by Israel in 1948.
Then, we might end up winning in Afghanistan but it already took ten years of bitter fighting in front of an oponent which is outnumbered, underarmed...
The thing with conscripts resides in motivation. Conscripts fight for their homes and families (In 1941, the situation started to move in favor of the Soviets only when Stalin asked its troops to fight for mother Russia, they didn't give shit about the communist party). As long as you can convince conscripts that the reason of their fight is just and fair, they fight to death.
The problem with professional armies is motivation. Professionals fight to get land, to have the right to a booty, for the pay, for glory, to have access to higher education... These are all high motivations but only as far as you stand a good chance to get back home. Moreover, their funding depends on public opinions (another important and major weakness). While conscripts are heroes fighting for the Nation (or whatever it may be), professional soldiers are just that, professional soldiers.
While I have never seen entirely conscripted armies winning over a professional one, I have often seen professional armies loosing over an army composed of a strong core of professionals reinforced by a mass of conscript.