A soldier (after the pay, which it refers) is an armed member of an army or the armed forces of a country. In Switzerland it is called frequently military man. In the NVA was soldier besides the lowest crew rank.

History

There are soldiers in the actual sense after the Roman realm more being located in Europe only again with the education army-earlier armies either by feudale structures was briefly obligated or for the respective war course of other national heads bought (mercenaries).

Soldiers felt first only bound to their commander, who gave often also its name to the respective unit. Only with the transition from the absolutist to the national state idea also the picture changed itself of the soldier, who was committed now to its nation. The armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany, the German Federal Armed Forces, understand its soldiers as "“citizens in uniform"”, in order to make clear that differently than in former German armies the soldier is to remain further into the civilian society merged.

Ranks

Most soldiers have a rank, which regulates their position and their powers within the armed force. Usually a soldier with a low rank is not subordinate to the command of a soldier more highly placed, it gives however Ausnahmen.Ein simple soldier ("“crew rank"”) has contrary to officers or NCOs command authority, if he did not receive these for the fulfilment of special tasks (approximately as deputy sergeants of the guard, awake superior, superior due to special field or also with supervision of prisoners of war).

Tasks

The soldier is as defenders in the context of his army as the first a guarantor for the outside sovereignty of its country to repay by the latent threat, a restriction of the sovereignty by the destruction from humans and their material existences to.

It and the army are able the interests of the state, no matter how degenerated to intersperse in relation to other states (or however internal movements) these are presupposed militarily more weakly, like e.g. Germany in 2. World war.

On the other hand the soldier than aggressor often also only the means is to be attacked for the purpose of aggressive powers other countries to conquer and/or destroy, for ethnical cleanings and enriching him using forces.

As a child soldier as in Africa it is often in addition, only the guarantor for the influence of being lords around power, civil wars and cruelties never ending.

In the Kriegsfall the task range of the soldier and its army is very far strewn. Depending upon situation the following things are urgent: - Clearing the enemy up - estimate of the situation - seizing measures those the set goal helpfully - destruction of opposing forces - occupying is tactically, strategic or economically important points - safety device of the position, as well as safety device of the hinterland and the supply lines. - To damage Illegetim under not international right the following employments often also measure-white raping of women around the opponents psychologically or so the re-establishment of the moral of the troop serve.

Career profile

In European or comparable countries soldiers are often shifted to other service places - also in times of peace; this has the consequence that the families often stand for admitting and friend circle under a increased load, since it is heavy to arrange professional activity of the marriage partner and school attendance constant. Also the generally critical attitude of the population in relation to the military does not contribute to the popularity of this occupation. The occupation of the soldier has the advantage that the retirement begins usually very early, arrives it nevertheless on the physical Fitness. Also the soldiers are verbeamtet in many European countries.

The usually good technical training of the soldier becomes estimated also in the economy. The possibility of committing themselves as a time soldier and of being trained thus by the state, is used of many. Therefore former soldiers occur often later again the civilian working life; Air Force pilots work then for example as traffic pilots, also many driving teachers learned their occupation with the German Federal Armed Forces.

Being lord

In countries without central power, as for instance in some countries of Asia or Africa (Afghanistan, Somalia) soldiers their living costs often earn themselves by plunderings and robbery under the direction of being lords so mentioned, who control regions. Also in Europe the own armies for the civilian population of a country were often devastating war, hundred-year war). It was because of the army leaders, where and as they received the payment of their troops. Thus there was a difference in old times hardly whether a hostile or friendly army pulled by the country, since the pay of the soldiers consisted often only of, which was to be taken country and inhabitants.

Quotations

• We soldiers have the peace to the occupation. Dieter Wellershoff (*1933), dt. admiral, general inspector of the German Federal Armed Forces a.D.
• If one regards its nature, the military service is in itself a very honorable, very beautiful, very noble thing. The actual core of the appointment to the soldier is nothing else as the defense of the good one, which truth and above all those, which are attacked to injustice. Johannes Paul II.
• Soldiers are murderers. Kurt Tucholsky in the world stage article the guarded theater
• The soldier, who raises its weapon against the own people, is condemned! Bol­var

See also

• Soldier (computer game)
• Portal: Military

Related links

• www.forschungsnachrichten.de soldiers in 18. Century

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